‘The Essence of Water’ explores beauty, intricacies of tides

By Sarah Richard

The calm ocean waves along the shore of our beloved Southwest Florida beaches are a sight that stirs the soul – it’s a reminder of the peace and tranquility that makes our region feel like home. It’s even apparent where the Caloosahatchee meets the Gulf, the two waterways connecting and forming an even greater world of life. Similar to life, the beloved river doesn’t just form a straight line – it spreads throughout neighborhoods, dipping into creeks and canals.

In a way, water is an art form. Take Southwest Florida, for example. Just like the Caloosahatchee, art flows through our region in so many ways, from murals depicting the area’s history, to weekly art walks in beautiful downtown Fort Myers. The art that surrounds us – and the virtuosos holding the paintbrushes – deserves a chance in the spotlight.

Art galleries are just one of many ways to celebrate and pay respect to the talented artists that flood Southwest Florida. Presented by Gulf Coast Village and the North Fort Myers Arts Association (NFMAA), the “Gulf Coast Gallery,” serves to connect artists and community members through rotating art exhibits.

Its upcoming installation, “The Essence of Water,” will celebrate water in all of its forms – calm, powerful and lifegiving. The exhibit launches on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and features Jasmine, owner of Jasmine’s Art n’ Designz Studio, an acclaimed artist of more than five decades.

Jasmine, a Quebec native, first picked up a paintbrush at the tender age of six and was an award-winning artist throughout her adolescent years. Her artwork could be found hanging in the halls of her primary school, a reflection of her hard work and artistic intelligence. Her love and motivation to continue creating has persevered over the last several decades, even when taking a decade-long hiatus to live in Haiti as a missionary, where she met and adopted her daughter. Her time in the Caribbean inspired her to dive deeper into her passion for art, but also to further explore her philanthropic side.

“I don’t want my art to just be some pretty pictures on a canvas,” said Jasmine. With every purchase made through her studio, 5% of proceeds are donated directly to impoverished children through her connections with missionaries across the world, including those in South America, the Middle East, Haiti and more. Wherever help is needed, Jasmine wants to provide it. And what better way than to connect her two passions?

Art is more than just a passion for Jasmine. It’s her life. For more than 30 years, she’s been a full-time artist who explores all mediums. She finds the most joy and fulfillment in the creative process, which speaks to her true love for the talent she recognizes as a gift. Her creative process is a journey. It’s detailed, but there's a freedom to it that resembles life’s journeys. Jasmine writes poetry to go with each work of art – sometimes the poem is written before the art is created, or the art comes first. It all depends on where the process takes her. The same applies to the medium she chooses and the amount of time it takes her to complete a project.

Her varied process results in artwork that covers all aspects of life, from nature and water to portraits and real-life scenes. Jasmine describes her work as eclectic, soulful and emotional. Through each piece, she invites the viewer on a personal journey, one that she hopes will stir and spark a meaningful connection.

“I hope that people feel seen when they see my art,” shared Jasmine. “I want people to feel inspired. Everyone has different successes, different failures and different memories, and my deepest desire is that when they stand in front of my art, one of those pieces will stir a feeling inside of them and make them happy.”

Jasmine will be displaying several paintings at “The Essence of Water” this August, some of which will be available for purchase. Attendees can enjoy wine, cheese and the beautiful artwork that Jasmine, the NFMAA and Gulf Coast Village resident artists have created. The exhibit’s grand opening is from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, at Gulf Coast Village, located at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Cape Coral. The exhibit will be available to view from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 28.

To register for “The Essence of Water,” visit GulfCoastVillage.org/Event/Artist-Meet-and-Greet-The-Essence-of-Water-Art-Exhibit. To view Jasmine’s artwork, visit JasminesArtNDesignz.com.

About the author

Sarah Richard is the executive director of Gulf Coast Village, Cape Coral’s only life plan community. Visit GulfCoastVillage.org or call 239-510-8712 to learn more.