St. Cyprian's Church

St. Cyprian's Church. A 16 x 20 acrylic painting on canvas by Mark Phillips

St. Cyprian's Church started construction in 1890 and was consecrated in 1894.

Unlike many of the churches in Barbados, which were built to accommodate an already existing and rapidly growing community, St. Cyprian's Church was built as an expressed part of a planned residential community. This community was to be called Belleville and was to later become one of Barbados' exclusive neighbourhoods.

This church located on the corner of Seventh Avenue Belleville and George Street, St. Michael in Barbados, continues to serve the residence of the Belleville community and its environs even though the Belleville area has undergone massive changes in recent times which have seen this once thriving residential neighbourhood changed into an equally thriving centre for commerce, as many of the stately homes in the area have been converted into medical and business offices.

Like many of my paintings, this one started with me driving through the area on business and being hit with the realization that the scene before me would be an excellent study in one point perspective. I parked, reached into the backseat for my sketchbook and pencils and did a quick sketch

Pencil sketch of George Street, Belleville, Barbados by Mark Phillips

As you can see, I realized that the sketch was way too ambitious and would not have made a good painting. Believe it or not, when I was doing the initial sketch, I hardly noticed the church! I was concentrating on the perspective, (how objects appear smaller, the further away they are.) Only when I did the final layout for the painting did I realize that I could make the church the focal point of the piece.

One day I may revisit this sketch and paint the other side of the road. Maybe..

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reading. Until next time when I will again share a little piece of Barbados through the eyes of an artist, please feel free to

Next time I will share my finished work of Skeete's Bay and show you my latest work in progress!

Mark Phillips
Artist

Email:- mark@phillipsbajanart.com

Website:- www.phillipsbajanart.com

Online Store:- PhillipsArtStore