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Artists of the Month for December 2020
Our December Artists of the Month are the 1st Place and Best in Show Winners of the Mt Pleasant Artist Guild's Virtual Member Art Show
Best in Show
"Southern Hands", 9x12, Donna Keohane
Donna Keohane’s love of art emerged at a young age. Her fondest memory of school was when a collage she created was chosen to be in an exhibit in the Netherlands. In high school Donna was part of a fine art program where she was expose to various mediums and fell in love with watercolor. After high school she turned to hairstyling which allowed her creative ability to grow even further over her 30-year career. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Keith where they raised three sons. When life slowed down some, she decided to reignite her love of painting. She studied under Charlyn Knight and Becky Taylor and has attended workshops given by other acclaimed artists. She is on the board of the Mt. Pleasant Artist Guild and feels blessed to join many talented local artists in displaying their work at the Perspective Gallery.
Donna Keohane’s love of art emerged at a young age. Her fondest memory of school was when a collage she created was chosen to be in an exhibit in the Netherlands. In high school Donna was part of a fine art program where she was expose to various mediums and fell in love with watercolor. After high school she turned to hairstyling which allowed her creative ability to grow even further over her 30-year career. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Keith where they raised three sons. When life slowed down some, she decided to reignite her love of painting. She studied under Charlyn Knight and Becky Taylor and has attended workshops given by other acclaimed artists. She is on the board of the Mt. Pleasant Artist Guild and feels blessed to join many talented local artists in displaying their work at the Perspective Gallery.
1st Place-Acrylic
"Mica", 12x16, Pat Exum
Pat Exum, a Washington, DC native, loves photographing the beauty of nature, architecture, old cars and just about anything that she think others might not notice. She is alway looking for something different and unusual when photographing, such as the wonderful colors of an old piece of rusty metal, a tiny little bug on a leaf or an unusual reflection or cast shadow. Pat has won numerous photography awards in exhibits in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and Charleston, SC. She has been published in “Digital Photographer Magazine”, “Washington Gardner” and in “Best Of Virginia Artists and Artisans”. Pat is a member of both the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild and the Charleston Artist Guild. Pat took up painting after moving to Charleston in 2008 and has taken lessons from several well known Artists, such as Andie Weathers, Joyce Hall, Helen Beacham and James Pratt.
Pat Exum, a Washington, DC native, loves photographing the beauty of nature, architecture, old cars and just about anything that she think others might not notice. She is alway looking for something different and unusual when photographing, such as the wonderful colors of an old piece of rusty metal, a tiny little bug on a leaf or an unusual reflection or cast shadow. Pat has won numerous photography awards in exhibits in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and Charleston, SC. She has been published in “Digital Photographer Magazine”, “Washington Gardner” and in “Best Of Virginia Artists and Artisans”. Pat is a member of both the Mount Pleasant Artists Guild and the Charleston Artist Guild. Pat took up painting after moving to Charleston in 2008 and has taken lessons from several well known Artists, such as Andie Weathers, Joyce Hall, Helen Beacham and James Pratt.
1st Place-Alternate Media
"Hoo Hoo Hoooo", 11x14, Scratchboard, Esther Doyle
I don’t remember a time that I was not drawing something and, of course, coloring with crayons. My first “exhibit” was 1st grade when I drew and painted at least 40% of an entire circus that covered the 4 walls of our classroom. What FUN! By the age of 13, I was drawing very detailed graphite drawings of anything I saw. I said at the age of 5, “I want to be an artist”. My parents, being the practical people, they were, didn’t discourage my art but steered me toward a career that was more predictable and dependable. Thus, I spent 5 years as a legal secretary before pursuing a career in nursing that lasted 30 years. I am self-taught largely but have attended workshops with internationally known and recognized artists such as Heidi England, Heather Reddick, Johnnie Liliedahl, and Linda McDonald. I have also attended regular lessons with local artist Joyce Hall and workshops with Mark Horton. I have art hanging in private homes and businesses across the country and internationally. I’ve been represented in several galleries in several states over the years and spent many years attending juried art festivals across the southeast. My mediums are many and I don’t limit myself to any one. I’m always ready to experiment and learn new techniques, any subject matter, any materials, and any techniques. Each medium has exciting qualities and possibilities, and I enjoy them all. I’ve produced works in graphite all my life, but since about 1995 I’ve produced works in acrylics, oils, watercolor, colored pencil, pastels, clay, wood, pyrography, and scratch art. I spent several years doing decorative art on children’s wall hangings and furniture, which I built in my workshop, and murals in private homes, children and adult day care centers. I have spent the past couple of years focused on scratch art primarily, turning wooden bowls, and recently incorporating my art on my turned wooden pieces by burning my art into the wood. There’s just no end to the fun and satisfaction of learning something new. I see my artistic endeavors as a challenge to improve, and a gift not to be squandered.
I don’t remember a time that I was not drawing something and, of course, coloring with crayons. My first “exhibit” was 1st grade when I drew and painted at least 40% of an entire circus that covered the 4 walls of our classroom. What FUN! By the age of 13, I was drawing very detailed graphite drawings of anything I saw. I said at the age of 5, “I want to be an artist”. My parents, being the practical people, they were, didn’t discourage my art but steered me toward a career that was more predictable and dependable. Thus, I spent 5 years as a legal secretary before pursuing a career in nursing that lasted 30 years. I am self-taught largely but have attended workshops with internationally known and recognized artists such as Heidi England, Heather Reddick, Johnnie Liliedahl, and Linda McDonald. I have also attended regular lessons with local artist Joyce Hall and workshops with Mark Horton. I have art hanging in private homes and businesses across the country and internationally. I’ve been represented in several galleries in several states over the years and spent many years attending juried art festivals across the southeast. My mediums are many and I don’t limit myself to any one. I’m always ready to experiment and learn new techniques, any subject matter, any materials, and any techniques. Each medium has exciting qualities and possibilities, and I enjoy them all. I’ve produced works in graphite all my life, but since about 1995 I’ve produced works in acrylics, oils, watercolor, colored pencil, pastels, clay, wood, pyrography, and scratch art. I spent several years doing decorative art on children’s wall hangings and furniture, which I built in my workshop, and murals in private homes, children and adult day care centers. I have spent the past couple of years focused on scratch art primarily, turning wooden bowls, and recently incorporating my art on my turned wooden pieces by burning my art into the wood. There’s just no end to the fun and satisfaction of learning something new. I see my artistic endeavors as a challenge to improve, and a gift not to be squandered.
1st Place-Oil
"Reflections of a BeachWalk", 8x10, Richard Dye
Rich Dye has been recognized for Art since his childhood days in Oyster Bay, NY. His relationship with coastal S.C. began in childhood also as his summer vacations were spent at Folly Beach S.C. and later he attended the College of Charleston. After winning the Art Award in HS, Rich didn’t pursue Fine Art as a career, instead he worked in Graphic Arts and Sales as a career. But after his children grew up, Rich was interested in developing his Fine Arts interests and starting painting in Acrylics and Oils in 2014, he joined Artists Associations in New England where he lived then and was recognized with awards and studied at the NH Institute of Art. Rich and his wife Heidi moved back to the Low-country of S.C. in 2019 and since then Rich has been juried in as a exhibiting member of the Mount Pleasant and Charleston Artists Guilds. Rich’s work often depicts land and sea scapes and wildlife, as well as the effects of light on water and skies. “I want to portray the beauty I see in the world day to day, but often overlook in our busy lives, another chance to admire the gifts around us.”
Rich Dye has been recognized for Art since his childhood days in Oyster Bay, NY. His relationship with coastal S.C. began in childhood also as his summer vacations were spent at Folly Beach S.C. and later he attended the College of Charleston. After winning the Art Award in HS, Rich didn’t pursue Fine Art as a career, instead he worked in Graphic Arts and Sales as a career. But after his children grew up, Rich was interested in developing his Fine Arts interests and starting painting in Acrylics and Oils in 2014, he joined Artists Associations in New England where he lived then and was recognized with awards and studied at the NH Institute of Art. Rich and his wife Heidi moved back to the Low-country of S.C. in 2019 and since then Rich has been juried in as a exhibiting member of the Mount Pleasant and Charleston Artists Guilds. Rich’s work often depicts land and sea scapes and wildlife, as well as the effects of light on water and skies. “I want to portray the beauty I see in the world day to day, but often overlook in our busy lives, another chance to admire the gifts around us.”
1st Place, Pastel
"Country Bluebird", 8x10, Rita Ginsberg
Rita’s journey as an artist began in her twenty’s drawing portraits in pencil and charcoal. She worked as a graphic designer for printing companies for many years. Finding time to develop her love of art was limited while raising three children and working full time. Now retired, she plans to devote her time to the enjoyment of pastel painting. After discovering pastel, it became her favorite medium of choice. She enjoys painting wildlife and domestic animals most but also displays a strong interest in landscapes and seascapes. Rita has a studio in her home in the low country of South Carolina where she lives. She currently displays much of her artwork for sale at Perspective Gallery in Mt. Pleasant.
Rita’s journey as an artist began in her twenty’s drawing portraits in pencil and charcoal. She worked as a graphic designer for printing companies for many years. Finding time to develop her love of art was limited while raising three children and working full time. Now retired, she plans to devote her time to the enjoyment of pastel painting. After discovering pastel, it became her favorite medium of choice. She enjoys painting wildlife and domestic animals most but also displays a strong interest in landscapes and seascapes. Rita has a studio in her home in the low country of South Carolina where she lives. She currently displays much of her artwork for sale at Perspective Gallery in Mt. Pleasant.
1st Place-Watercolor
"Southern Hands", Watercolor, 9x12, Donna Keohane
Donna Keohane’s love of art emerged at a young age. Her fondest memory of school was when a collage she created was chosen to be in an exhibit in the Netherlands. In high school Donna was part of a fine art program where she was expose to various mediums and fell in love with watercolor. After high school she turned to hairstyling which allowed her creative ability to grow even further over her 30-year career. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Keith where they raised three sons. When life slowed down some, she decided to reignite her love of painting. She studied under Charlyn Knight and Becky Taylor and has attended workshops given by other acclaimed artists. She is on the board of the Mt. Pleasant Artist Guild and feels blessed to join many talented local artists in displaying their work at the Perspective Gallery.
Donna Keohane’s love of art emerged at a young age. Her fondest memory of school was when a collage she created was chosen to be in an exhibit in the Netherlands. In high school Donna was part of a fine art program where she was expose to various mediums and fell in love with watercolor. After high school she turned to hairstyling which allowed her creative ability to grow even further over her 30-year career. She resides in Mt. Pleasant with her husband Keith where they raised three sons. When life slowed down some, she decided to reignite her love of painting. She studied under Charlyn Knight and Becky Taylor and has attended workshops given by other acclaimed artists. She is on the board of the Mt. Pleasant Artist Guild and feels blessed to join many talented local artists in displaying their work at the Perspective Gallery.
Additional MPAG Member Art Show Winners as well as a Gallery of all submitted artwork cane be found on the MPAG Web Site
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