Renowned Local Artists Spend Easter Painting Famous Tree at De Soto

Nestled deep in the grove of Gumbo Limbo trees at , Graciela Giles and Herbie Rose spent Easter Sunday sketching outlines for their latest masterpieces.

The cooling gulf breeze boded well for a day of painting in the natural abundance of Bradenton’s coastline. It has been years since the artists, famous for their watercolors of local landmarks and nature scenes, have painted at the National Park site.

“When I am surrounded by nature such as this, I become the tree, the leaves, and the smells," Giles said. "Everything contributes to feeling the essence of nature.”

Although much of the park’s natural wonders warrant artistic interpretation, it is the large Gumbo Limbo that they turned their attention to on Sunday. Officially designated the largest Gumbo Limbo in the United States by the National Forests Association, the tree has been a centerpiece of the park since its inception.

“Rarely do I look out of the window and not see someone taking a picture of our Gumbo Limbo,” said Scott Pardue, the park’s superintendent.

Roses' and Giles’ visit to De Soto is yet another sign that the park is experiencing a resurgence in visitor numbers. Rose and Giles, from Jamaica and Argentina respectively, have owned an art gallery in Bradenton for decades, the location of which provided the inspiration for the creation of the Village of the Arts.

Rose, who designed the 1992 Jamaican Olympic posters in Barcelona, honed his skills at the Pratt institute, one of the top art schools in America. His work can be found hanging all over the world. The Rose/Giles gallery displays an abundant collection their watercolors, the latest addition to which will be their paintings of the grand Gumbo Limbo at De Soto.

Many artists, from professional photographers to painters, have derived inspiration from the trees at De Soto, but none as skilled as Rose and Giles. All of the park staff are excited about seeing the painting in its finished form.