Images of Eyes Gallery--fine art by international artists

Images of Eyes Gallery I
Portrait Paintings from Seychelles Islands
by Stephen Bennett of New York, United States

A native of New York, Stephen Bennett majored in fine arts at Russell Sage College and the State University at New Paltz.  On a vacation to the Caribbean island of St. Martin, Bennett decided to spend the winter months living with the people and painting their portraits.  His exhibit, "Faces of St. Martin," was seen by then-President of Panama Ernesto Balladares, who invited Bennett to visit Panama.  Bennett painted a portrait of Balladares and spent nine months painting portraits of the people of Panama.  The series of 110 portraits, "The Spirit of Panama," was exhibited in the capital and memorialized in book form.

As a portrait painter, Stephen Bennett believes his mission is to look into all the faces of the family of humanity and paint them, thereby immortalizing their lives -- "every single person is of indispensable importance and radiant with astonishing beauty."

Bennett calls his portrait paintings "super portraits" because "...by the time they are finished they have a life of their own, an inner movement.  As the subject and I collaborate, a creative energy flow is created.  It builds as the subject relates to the portrait and is completed when a viewer observes the finished painting.  The movement embedded in the very brush strokes of the portrait persists -- empowering the subject and touching the observer."  Critics have described his paintings as "striking, creative, innovative and original, and showing an astonishing sense of expression."

Bennett has also painted the portraits of people from Mexico, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, and Seychelles.  His portrait paintings have been exhibited in Paris, New York, and Oregon in the United States.  His media are oil on linen, oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, and watercolor on paper.

The portrait paintings in this exhibit, painted in 2001, are of the people of the Seychelles Islands.

 

Painting entitled Beach Baby, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"Beach Baby" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

 

Painting entitled Beau Vallon, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"Beau Vallon" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

 

Painting entitled Theresa, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"Theresa" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

 

Painting entitled Santol Fruit, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"Santol Fruit" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

 

Painting entitled Tobacco in Little Bags, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"Tobacco in Little Bags" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

 

Painting entitled On the Way to the Market, painted in Seychelles by artist Stephen Bennett of United States

"On the Way to the Market" painted in Seychelles
by Stephen Bennett of United States
Image Copyright © by Stephen Bennett

This link will take you to Stephen Bennett's biography and his website
His email is theportraitpainter@gmail.com 

For more of Stephen Bennett's works, see his portrait paintings of the people of Namibia in Images of Eyes Gallery I.

The Republic of Seychelles (say-shells'), pop. about 80,000, is a nation of about 100 islands in the Indian Ocean, 600 miles North of Madagascar and 1,000 miles East of Kenya.  The population is mainly of mixed Asian, African, and European descent.  Most of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic and speak a creole language; English and French are the official languages.  Seychelles was a British crown colony from 1903 until 1975, when they became self-governing.

Lonely Planet describes Seychelles as a " luxuriant, tropical paradise...with dazzling beaches and crystal-clear waters--there are more shades of blue and green in the Seychelles than it is possible to imagine.  Forming a backdrop to the relaxed tropical image of the Seychelles are the rhythms, colours, and flavours of Africa and gris gris, the local brand of black magic."

 

Island of Praslin in the Seychelles

This image is of Praslin, an island of the Seychelles, 
photographed on July 22, 2003.  Thanks to Wikipedia Commons

Information that will help plan your trip to Seychelles:

  http://www.seychelles.com/en/home/index.php  -- the "Official Destination Website" for Seychelles

  http://www.africaguide.com/country/seychel/ 

Original exhibit Feb 18, 2005
Page updated Apr 23, 2008

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