After retiring from a demanding and exciting forty-year career in High School administration I longed to try my hand at something new. Never having an art course or any art instruction of any kind, I woke up one morning and wondered if I could possibly paint. I had always admired and gravitated towards watercolor, so here we go. That was four years ago after a few classes and hundreds of questions from many accomplished artists, my journey begins. Inspiration for my paintings comes from nature and the beauty that surrounds our everyday lives . Everywhere you look in our beautiful low country there is something to inspire a painting. I am an active member of the Mount Pleasant and Charleston Artist Guilds. My paintings can be seen at Perspective Gallery in Mt. Pleasant as well as Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Dorothy-Cromartie-Art-101207531626476) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cromartiedorothy).

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.

Rich Dye has had a passion for art and the visual arts since his childhood in Oyster Bay, Long Island in New York. After winning the Art Award in High School, he didn’t pursue the Fine Arts path until much later in life, instead worked in the Graphic Arts Industry and in Sales as a career after college. Rich moved to his current home in the South Carolina low country with his wife in 2019 from New Hampshire. His love with the coast of South Carolina started in childhood where his family vacationed with his cousins on Folly Beach, SC., and later Rich attended the College of Charleston and played Basketball for the C of C Cougars.

While living in New England he rekindled his passion for Fine Art, specifically painting. From 2013-2019 Rich joined several NH Art Associations and worked in acrylics and oils and won several awards, while taking classes at the NH Institute of Art and learning from other NE Artists.

Today Rich is enjoying the opportunity to live and paint in the beautiful surroundings and the vibrant Art Community near Charleston South Carolina. His work focuses on the beauty and diverse landscapes and the wildlife of the South Carolina seacoast captured in a style in which shows you something different or unexpected.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, I always loved to draw growing up. While attending Purdue University, I majored in fine arts for a semester, but ultimately took the practical route and became a pharmacist. After graduation and marriage, I followed my husband in his career to various cities including Nashville and Makakilo. Later I obtained an MBA at the University of South Carolina. Raising 2 kids and working didn’t leave much time for art, but I took a painting class whenever I could. After moving to Charleston, a tragic accident forced me to reconsider my vocation and I began taking classes with Elizabeth Bronson which have continued for over 15 years. Traveling to visit the world’s great museums, art galleries, workshops, and seminars have been an inspiring source of continuing education.

Donna Geriner seeks to give the viewer of her paintings an experience.  It could be the sense of beauty from seeing an elegant floral or feeling the warmth of the sunlight on a quiet lowcountry marsh.  Whatever the subject, Donna approaches each one with the anticipation of discovering the beauty, color, texture and mood that make each one unique and special.  Donna seeks to pass this sense of excitement and discovery on to all who view her works.    

Rita began her artistic journey in her twenties drawing pencil and charcoal portraits for friends and family. She feels that portrait drawing was the foundation of her artistic journey, and it helped her learn and develop correct values in drawings. She grew up in Michigan and worked as a graphic designer for two printing companies spanning 25 years. During this period of her life she was skilled in technical ink drawing, airbrush illustration, typography and printing methods. Now retired and living with her husband in Mt. Pleasant SC, she spends most of her time working in her art studio. She has developed a love of painting with soft pastels and it has become her favorite medium of choice. She began by painting pet portraits, and soon expanded her interests to include painting wildlife birds, animals, and seascapes. Her paintings are detailed and realistic in style exhibiting the beauty and harmony of her subjects.

Four years into her career as a full-time painter, Cynthia Huston has become known for her bold brushstrokes, creating work that is impressionistic and usually very driven by her love of color. Cynthia is best known for her beautiful landscapes of the Low Country and has won awards for her figurative and portrait work. Her work is owned by collectors across the country, both privately and commercially.

Cynthia loves to take commissions and approaches each commission as a collaboration with her client. “Making people happy is what inspires me to paint.”

Huston also teaches children’s art. She first became an art teacher at Palmetto Christian Academy, where she taught for six years before turning her focus on becoming a full-time artist and now teaches children’s art out of her home studio.

Huston has exhibited as a featured artist in Charleston, SC, and has been juried into local and national shows. She is a member of the American Impressionist Society as well as Oil Painters of America. Her work can be found at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery, the Christenberry Collection in Columbia, SC and The Perspective Gallery in Mt Pleasant, SC.


www.BetsyJonesMcDonald.com

J. Michael Kennedy has been painting full-time since 1997, but his interest in art started from the first time he held a crayon. He never outgrew a fascination with drawing and color. After receiving a BFA in Graphic Design in 1981 from Youngstown State University, he worked in advertising for 14 years as a designer and later Art Director, while continuing to study painting. His work encompasses landscapes and cityscapes of the Southeast Coast, emphasizing the color that our subtropical sun brings to life in this region. He has studied with Albert Handel, Martin Ahrens, Joyce Nagel, William Jameson and Kim English. He has won a number of awards over the years including the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Juried Art Exhibition “Best in Show” Mayor’s Purchase Award. This is Michael’s first Solo Gallery Exhibition in the lowcountry in more than 10 years.

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.