A native of Michigan, I moved to Pawleys Island, South Carolina in 1989 and spent over 25 years in the Real Estate and Property Management Business, but never thought I could achieve a dream of mine since early childhood.
As a child I was always drawing something and won many contests and awards but never had an opportunity to study Art or take classes. My father who was living in Minnesota at the time came to visit us in Pawleys and challenged me to pick up a brush and some oils and paint him a Loon. I was hooked, especially painting birds. My Dad is gone now but I still have that painting.
Living on the Marsh in Pawleys Island has inspired a love of the Low Country landscape, the ocean, and the abundant and beautiful marsh birds. As much as I enjoy painting birds, I try to incorporate the mossy old Oaks and sabal palmettos which have become synonymous with the Low Country whenever possible. Pawleys Island is a wonderful almost magical place to find inspiration, not just the landscape and wildlife, but the ghosts and other legends. A favorite subject of mine is The Gray Man legend. Many locals have commissioned paintings for good luck in their beach homes. I've painted and sold over 50 originals at last count, each ghostly face different and unique.
In February of 2014 a group of us created a partnership of professional Artists to form Island Art in Pawleys Island. Art as a business like any other is a lot of hard work and many hours, but has been a labor of love. We have a total of 26 full time Artists able to show their work in our Gallery and we provide workshops and private lessons to the public and who knows, we may inspire others to go for their dream
