Dad inspires daughter's love affair with art
Published:Monday | December 13, 2021 | 12:09 AMJudana Murphy/Gleaner Writer
The father-daughter artist duo Hilroy and Jacey Bulgin stood out at the Association of Jamaican Potters annual art and craft fair on Saturday.
Bulgin, a 40-year-old fine artist based in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, recalled that his mother, a retired teacher and art lover, often prompted him to draw.
He began dabbling in art during his high-school days at Cornwall College, and even sold a couple of pieces.
“I didn’t take it seriously until about 10 years ago. I got a sale that was really good. My mom is my mentor and she kept on saying, ‘Why not do it?’, and I decided to give it my best shot. Art is really fun for me, but it has turned into a business,” he said.
Bulgin told The Gleaner that his work has evolved immensely over the years. Lately, he has been delving into African culture as a means of inspiration.
An engineer by profession, he delicately balances his time at home between family and art.
“Some pieces take three months, some six months, and others a year. It all depends on the style and the theme that I’m working on, and sometimes I work on several pieces at once,” he said, adding that canvas and masonite are the main materials he works with.
Bulgin works on his art at home, and that means Jacey, the second of his two children, is naturally around.
“She’s always watching me and taking my paintbrush to do her own thing, so I decided to encourage her to follow my footsteps,” he said.
“It has been three years now and she has been doing well. She was adamant that I showcase her work at the fair today, and she has been getting sales.”
Young Jacey warmly greeted each customer as they approached the tent, explaining what inspired each piece. She proudly listed the prices and even provided recommendations on which painting to purchase.
Jacey told The Gleaner that it is a pleasure to observe her father create masterpieces, and that it didn’t take very long for her to become involved.
“He just encouraged me to do some art and then I started to enjoy it. I do art mostly on the weekends and during the summer holidays,“ she said.
Bulgin’s daughter also has a deep interest in the field of medicine. Ideally, he wants her to do both.
“To be an artist only is a struggle. Art is not like food, where people just go to the supermarket and buy. It is really an investment, and if people are not educated enough about art, then they won’t buy. Only a small percentage of the Jamaican population really buys serious art,” he said.
The Montego Bay fine artist, who wants to tap the Kingston market, also urged the Government to implement policies that facilitate the use of art as collateral.
Bulgin said that’s a loan option his clients in foreign countries have been able to exercise, he said.
“I have clients in the United States, India, England and Italy. I’m trying to tap into the European market some more, but when I have shows in Montego Bay, I get to meet people from all over through tourism,” he said.
Bulgin’s pieces range from US$1,000 to US$30,000, while Jacey’s cost between J$3,000 and J$7,000.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop doing art. It’s therapy and it really soothes me,” he said enthusiastically.
Contact: 876-356-6531
Email: hilroybul@yahoo.com
Instagram: @hilroybulgin