Rose Escalante

    Rose was born in Belize City on May 13th, 1934 to Jessie Batty and Charles Stolf. She fondly recalls enjoying the "freedom of childhood," growing up among two sisters and five brothers.

    Rose attended St. Catherine's Academy for both her elementary and secondary schooling, graduating in 1950. The day after she graduated, Rose went to work as a secretary for the Royal Bank of Canada, a post she proudly held for the next five years.

    On June 18th, 1955, Rose was joined in matrimony with the love of her life, Wilfredo Escalante. Together, they are the proud parents of four sons: Wil (47), Jules (42), Danny (39) and Andy (33).

    After leaving the bank, Rose worked at Belize Supply Hardware for approximately one and a half years. In 1959, she began a new chapter in her life when the family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States, so her husband could pursue a career in law. Although she worked full-time as a secretary, family was always Rose's number one priority. It was during this time that her husband discovered Rose's talent, as he observed how she helped their sons with their art projects and assignments. Because of his persistence, she began to pursue her interest in painting.

    For the next five years, Rose studied oil painting under the tutorship of renowned New Orleans artist James Kendrick III. With each passing day, her skills improved and her passion for art grew stronger. Rose eventually enrolled at Delgado Community College, where she earned an Associate's Degree in Fine Arts. Her husband insisted that she keep "moving forward" and she later received a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from the University of New Orleans, where she majored in Painting.

    With enthusiasm and natural talent, Rose soon began exhibiting her work. For years, she created several realistic paintings which she eventually entered in competition at art shows. These paintings depicted plantation homes and New Orleans "French Quarter" scenes - her Louisiana lifestyle - and earned the artist several blue ribbons and honorable mentions. Rose's popularity grew and today, her artwork hangs on the walls of homes and businesses in the United States, Australia and Belize.

    Every summer for the next twenty years, Rose and her family returned to their Belize homeland for vacation. Eventually, she and her husband ended up living in his hometown of San Pedro for eight months out of the year. In 1985, the couple retired from their jobs and decided to make Ambergris Caye their permanent home. Rose immediately began making improvements to their beach house. She painted murals on the bedroom and bathroom walls, depicting the Mayan way of life and her love for the crystal, clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.

    In 1999, Rose joined the Belize Island Artist Watercolor Society, which consists of a group of friends who get together every Tuesday to paint and critique each other's work. The Society members pride themselves on improving their art by tapping into each other's special talents. The group has participated in several community beautification projects, which include the mural of colorful vines and flower prints on the walls of the San Pedro Lions Den and the marine life decorating the outside walls of the San Pedro Town Library building. These artists also contributed the illustrations included in the AnimalZ of the Reef, a reference booklet distributed by Green Reef Environmental Institute.

    Apart from painting, Rose enjoys sewing, gardening and cooking. In her free time she loves passing on her artistic knowledge to her six grandchildren. Rose explained, "My first instructor taught me that I did not need talent; all that I needed was the will to learn to paint. That is what I pass on, all you need is the motivation to accomplish whatever you set your mind to."

    Rose is a devoted mother and grandmother, always placing her family first. Her personal drive and ambition are an inspiration to all who wish to follow their own dreams. "Only perseverance will get you to where you want to be in life," she commented. It is this passion, devotion, and inspiration that has helped Rose Escalante "paint" her way into the hearts of "Our Community."