Editor-in-Chief Katy Sunnassee steps into the slow lane and reconnects with her creative side on a visit to the newly rebranded StolenTime by Rendezvous in Saint Lucia
Words: Katy Sunnassee. Images: StolenTime by Rendezvous and Katy Sunnassee.
The last time I painted was some 30 years ago, if you don’t count painting walls at home, that is. At school, I loved art and was proud of my GCSE A-star, which I got for painting a vase of red and yellow tulips in acrylics, with the ones on the left still in bud, the ones in the middle opening out, and the ones on the right limping down, petals curling and shedding. Our theme was “journeys” and my picture was meant to represent the journey of passing time.
When I painted that picture, I was the tulip on the left, so to speak, still in my “first spring”. I couldn’t conceive what life would be like 10, 20, or 30 years ahead, as I passed through the tulip phases (I’d say I’m now middle-right of the vase, tail end of summer and into autumn – hoping for a “second spring” as many writers call it).
And although tight, youthful tulip buds are beautiful, I’m always fascinated by two-week-old tulips. They create such interesting shapes; their color fades but becomes richer somehow. And you can see their insides, which you don’t see when the flowers are in bud. Old tulips for me are like a work of art and I keep tulips way longer than most people. Try it for yourself and watch their transformation as the petals peel open.
Humans are like tulips: although youth is beautiful, it’s an obvious beauty. The aging process allows us to display greater complexity, more intricacies, increasing depth.
But why am I talking about tulips? Or art at all? I haven’t painted or drawn anything in decades, so when I receive an invite to an art holiday, I think why not? The fact it’s in St Lucia is a bonus, of course, but I’m keen to see what it will be like to reconnect with my artistic side. I spent my childhood drawing: mostly flowers, people, and dresses (I harbored a desire to be a dress designer).
Being a magazine editor is creative in its own way, but it’s far more words-based and doesn’t require me to design or draw anything. The invitation says we’ll be “connecting with our imaginations to create whimsical landscapes” and “reigniting our creativity in a meditative painting session”. I’m in.
Naked ladies
Off I fly to StolenTime by Rendezvous – formerly just Rendezvous – for my first art holiday, which, it turns out, is also a first for the venue. Having rebranded and seeking to create more wellness and mindfulness offerings, the hotel has scheduled in art-based holidays, the inaugural one being with London-based painter Venetia Berry, who’s voluptuous nudes in vibrant shades of red, orange, turquoise, and pink are not only a celebration of the female form but seem to capture the essence of the Caribbean spirit.
Our first workshop, in the air-conditioned environment of the Champagne Bar, is to imitate Venetia’s vibrant style with a scene of our own. Inspired by her nudes, I hark back to a print I’d seen in a gallery almost two decades prior. It was by the renowned fashion photographer Bob Carlos Clarke, who created black and white erotic images of women often in black latex outfits.
One of them was for sale – of a naked woman sat on the edge of a bed facing away from the camera, wearing only black latex gloves on her outstretched arms, voluminous curls spilling down her back. I’d wanted to buy it but thought the £1,500 price tag was too high for my meager first journalism salary, so I didn’t.
Later that year I deeply regretted not having stuck it on a credit card as I not only liked the image, but Carlos Clarke died so all his work shot up in value and, had I wanted to, I could have sold it and paid off my student loan with lots left over! But that’s rather morbid, and I digress…
Bob’s image is what springs to mind when I sketch out my naked lady, facing away from the camera, then begin to add color from the many acrylic paint tubes at our disposal. The whole point isn’t to be realistic with the colors, so my trees are orange, my sky pink and my sand purple, although I still paint the lady in semi-realistic tones. I’m quite pleased with my outcome although can’t help but feel a tad envious of one of my fellow journalist’s green and blue leafy creation that looks amazing (I have to remind myself it’s not a competition).
Material girl
Our next workshop is meant to be held out under the sprawling 150-year-old saman tree, but due to heavy on-and-off rain, we relocate to the Champagne Bar again – and yes, we sip Champagne while we paint. This time we’re on canvas and it’s all about abstract.
My first attempt is somewhat realistic: a red sun hanging over a turquoise sea with yellow sand, but my second is a wash of lilac (very in this season) with dark purple and pink spots and squiggles.
I get a bit frustrated trying to create an even wash of color, which seems impossible as you need so much paint and water, yet Venetia loves how the lilac blends from dark to light, all quite unintentionally on my part! Perhaps that’s a lesson for life: to not try so hard to create set things but to let it flow and see what comes.
I do try to get my circles perfect though and find it quite meditative focusing on the brush strokes. I can see now why artists get lost in the moment and find the creative process so relaxing. It’s a break from all the logical thinking and analyzing (at least it would be if I did it more regularly). When there’s a break in the rain, we head out to take pictures of our creations under the tree.
Venetia also holds a paper-cutting workshop – cutting shapes and patterns into card to create pieces of art – but I skip that one as it clashes with my second massage. I’m at a spa hotel after all and must check out the facilities. The spa itself is bijou with just four treatment rooms (I think they plan to expand) although it looks large from the outside: a beautiful two-story colonial-style building with a huge pool directly in front, flanked by comfy sofa beds, loungers and a raised hot tub off to one side that’s ideal for warming up your muscles before a treatment (if you suffer from super-stiff shoulders, ask for Leona as she’ll work her magic!).
Most people sunbathe on the beach or around the pool bar, so the spa pool for me is the best spot for some peace and quiet. Not that the rest of the resort is noisy; quite the contrary. This adults-only hotel offers a relaxed, low-key vibe, although there’s lively evening entertainment if you want some singing or dancing (and I do dance happily by myself one evening, enjoying the tunes, as most guests have gone to the nearby Friday night street market).
Ditch the screens
It takes until day three of the holiday for me to notice there’s no TV in my room – probably because I never want to watch TV on holiday – but it’s unusual to find an upmarket hotel room that doesn’t have a whacking great LCD screen dominating the space. The only TV I see all week is tucked away in a small room above the gym, where die-hard sports fans go to watch important games.
The screen-free vibe carries on throughout the hotel, which has a total of six bars and restaurants to explore, as I barely see anyone on their phones – perhaps the odd Kindle here and there. Again, it’s unusual in this day and age of technology but I think this is part of the reason people come to StolenTime, and then return: to enjoy being in the now and soak up the atmosphere, free from distractions. (If you want more reasons to switch off, read why you should take a social media break.)
Of course, people take the odd picture here and there, which you’ll find on Tripadvisor, but this is not where the Insta crowd comes. I’ve been to places where it’s like everyone is on their own private photoshoot, engrossed in posting content rather than just “being” (and yes, I do that too sometimes). But here the crowd is almost anti-screens. One guest takes umbrage at a fellow journalist who’s filming the tai chi class. It’s difficult not to want to film or take pictures when you’re in paradise but I get why people want a break from that.
StolenTime is the oldest all-inclusive couples’ resort on St Lucia, and, I believe, the whole of the Caribbean, and a lot of the guests have been returning for decades – one couple are on their 40th visit, we’re told. They perhaps want to maintain that connection to the past, to a time when life seemed simpler, less technical, less intrusive, always “on”.
This is their escape, their time – which is perhaps why the hotel was renamed StolenTime, as these days you literally feel as though you have to “steal” time to get any to yourself. And guests don’t want annoying journalists going round filming everything.
If you want a true experience of old-world charm and great hospitality – ‘Tasha Nice’ who works by the pool bar is someone you simply must meet, she makes you feel like the most important person alive! – where you don’t have to book all your meals and treatments on an app (I’m looking at you Maldives!), then go now.
Room with a view
Some on Tripadvisor have said the original Oceanfront Terrace rooms need a little refreshing – they are the oldest of the accommodation, although they benefit from a direct sea view and the beach on your doorstep. I’m happy with my Premium Verandah Suite at the back of the complex as it’s super-spacious and has its own terrace.
If you don’t want people walking past your window (though there are very few), opt for a first-floor Verandah Suite as they face out towards the beach and you get a great view of the gardens and bird life. The Signature Poolside Suites are also great as you’re a stone’s throw from the beach and can easily go nab yourself a lounger each morning (which people do!).
You can even get a Beachfront Cottage, tucked away at the edge of the property if you want even more seclusion. Wherever you stay, you can lie on a lounger, read a book all day, hide away by the ‘Lazy River’ on a secluded sofa, and perhaps even reconnect with your arty side.
While most of the world is obsessed with upgrading, modernizing, and being “tech-enabled”, StolenTime still offers old-world, old-school, classic yet understated luxury that I hope doesn’t change too much. But even if the time comes when they do digitize, I’m sure the outstanding St Lucian charm and hospitality will remain in place.
What have also remained are my pieces of art, which are now displayed in my home office as reminders to myself to slow down, switch off, and reconnect with my inner creativity.
TRIP NOTES
Rates start at US$465 per person per night, on an all-inclusive basis, which includes full-board accommodation, all beverages (including premium-brand alcohol and wine by the bottle at dinner), land and watersports (including motorized watersports and SCUBA boat dives with personalized instruction), unlimited tennis, weekly cocktail party, and nightly entertainment. Visit stolentime.com for more information.
Find out more about Venetia Berry and see her work at venetiaberry.com.
You can find more of Katy’s photos and videos (taken discreetly away from other guests!) in the StolenTime highlight at instagram.com/thehealtheditor.
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