Tanesha Henry - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
TANESHA HENRY, a young woman whose soul is fashioned by art, has set out on a path of reaching her goal in life: that of being an interior decorator. Not just any interior decorator, but one who is knowledgeable about all the subject areas associated with the topic including architecture, fabric, nature ... One who can actually smell and feel colour ... Her trail which she is confident will place her among the best in the profession, started at high school in Kingston. Follow her story.
My name is Tanesha Henry. I am a 2004 design graduate of Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. I went into textile design because I am very interested in interior decorating.
I started off at Wolmer's Girls doing CXC arts and also clothing and textiles to try and build on stuff pertaining to interior design.
At first, I though that interior design was just the building of cushions and the whole interior concept. (But) as I got more exposed to the art, I realised that it was much more. Interior design is not only decorating but design. There is also some relationship to architecture. You need to have a basic idea of the structure and history of the buildings which you wish to accessories.
After doing textiles at CXC, I furthered my studies at Edna Manley in Textile and Fibre Arts. This was one of the closest things that is available in Jamaica for interior design. I also had a love for fashion design so everything was tied into fabric.
The course was an interesting one. I never knew before that I could draw. My brother and sisters are artistic but I thought that I could not do it. But my father, Joshua Henry, who is an art lover, told me that whatever I set my mind to, I could achieve it.
He took me, put me in a room and told me to try drawing. It came out very well. It encouraged me to develop it some more. I developed confidence and then a love for drawing.
At Edna Manley, first year was very challenging. You will be doing things that you believe you can't do. But I apply the same concept of working hard at what you want to do.
In first year we learnt three and two dimensional design. We also learnt about colour co-ordination and what colours to do for different designs. We also listened to music and drew our concept of what the music was doing.
In first year, we also learnt basic art concepts such as foreground, background and perspective. These basics allowed our creativity to blossom.
As textile artists, we had to come up with our own designs at schools. Multiple designs for particular locations all had to be done in five weeks. By this method we were able to develop a strong body of work. We were doing design from scratch and also sketches in our sketchbook. One could see everything from the stage of sketching to finished product. As we went along our signature also became evident.
Third year was more exciting, harder, intense. One was more willing to work harder than ever before. By fourth year which is final year, I had a body of work in place but it was still nerve wracking, preparing for the final show.
Remember, I wanted to do interior design. I wanted to be as flexible as possible, so I also did ceramics. I also did dancing to keep mind and body flexible for the creative process. I did two different kinds of surface design because my aim was to do two different kinds of design to accessorise my space.
(For my final year show) my aim was to have everything in the room done by me, which was accomplished. The room was supposed to represent someone who was exhausted who and comes home to find a totally different world. The colours for walls and ceiling, green and lavender were chosen for relaxation. My theme was Elements from Nature. I also had some pictures of shells in their natural habitat, accessorise with words of the feeling of relaxation and calm.
There was a meditation area with cushions on the floor, woven mats, shells on the wall, candles and shells on the shelves. This was the meditation area with a window above it and a tree behind.
On the bed, I also used relaxing colours and colours that complimented each other to put the design together. I used cushions and covering. The mat on the floor with screen printing on the edges in the colour of the sea. The intention was to give the feeling, on stepping off the bed, of stepping into the depths of the sea.
There was also some photography. I believe that an artist should be as flexible as one can be. You should grab a little bit of everything and that is what makes your work different. That's what I try to do with my space.
I am excited about the things that I can do with what I have. I would like to further my studies too. I want to go to the Savannah College of Art and Design (in the United States). I visited and the instructors are impressed with my work .
I need a scholarship to further my work I am currently a product development officer at the Jamaica Business Development Centre whose principals came to the final year show and were impressed with my work too.
I am on the path of becoming an interior designer. My next step is to do actual designs.
In Jamaica now, the market is not very art oriented, but I think I can make a change. I am reaching there. I can almost touch it. But, I am not there yet.
