PAINTINGS BY Joe DiSabatino
Artist Bio: Joe DiSabatino
Joe DiSabatino is a self-taught artist. He has exhibited his art work in the Washington, DC area; Lewes, Delaware; Chapel Hill, NC; Myrtle Beach; and India. His paintings are in private collections throughout the United States, England, and India.
His artistic strength is his use of color. He paints in an expressionist style in a variety of genres: realistic, semi-abstract and imagined landscapes, abstracts either with figures or non-representational patterns, and portraits.
Joe is a student of Western visual art and has visited many of the major art museums in the United States and Europe. He has taught Art Appreciation courses through the Adult Education Department at Coastal Carolina University and currently on a Zoom platform.
Paintings by Lauren Skipper
Lauren Skipper is a self-taught artist from Myrtle beach, SC and currently lives in Conway with her husband and two children. Lauren has had a passion for art for several years but just recently started painting seriously within the last year. Lauren paints with both acrylic and watercolor and in the styles of realism and impressionism. She is inspired by the natural beauty of the south and strives to convey that beauty through her artwork.
Paintings & Jewelry by SHARON SORRELS
Sharon raised two sons and pursued careers in the arts and education in Washington, DC. She earned a BFA in Design with minors in Art History and Education receiving instruction from renowned artists Lois Mailou Jones and David Driskell at Howard University leading to positions at the National Gallery of Art and the National Endowment for the Arts. Later, a Masters Degree in Library Science led to a rewarding career with the DC Public Schools.
Sharon and her husband, Anthony, recently moved to South Carolina, enjoying the beauty and cultural significance of the coastal area. Sharon is a board member of the Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild and the Seacoast Artists Guild, and vice president of the SC District Chapter of the Colored Pencil Society of America. She has participated in exhibitions and juried shows where she has been honored as featured artist and has received various awards, including Best In Show. Her oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings can be viewed at the Mercy Care Art Gallery in Myrtle Beach, SC, Seacoast Artists Gallery (The Market Common), Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Georgetown Art Gallery in Georgetown, SC.
“I never tire of exploring and photographing the rural and low country landscape, people, towns, rivers, and beaches, and historical and cultural sites of this beautiful area. Most of the paintings I have completed recently illustrate these experiences.
I love to use color, light and expressive brush strokes in landscapes, figurative paintings, and portraits. Many of my landscapes feature pathways, roads, and meandering waterways intended to pull the viewer into the scene.
Needless to say, I love to paint! And lately I have been exploring other creative activities and media as well, including block printing, pastels, colored pencil, and jewelry.” …Sharon Sorrels
Paintings by vickie wright
Like most artist I grew up with crayon in hand ... leading to pastels ... charcoal ... and paints. I loved and love art so I attended The University of South Carolina at Coastal studying art. But, after college I put my painting away to “ get a job “ and raise a family , in 2005 I began to pick it back up slightly after 27 yrs. In 2006 feeling the need to do my paintings more often and with the boys grown, I put “ the job away “ and a plan was make. With a phone call involving my childhood friend, a cross country road trip was in the works. Leaving the husband at home I flew to Montana, also my home away from home, and met up with my friend Ann. Inspirations where made with a camera and map in my hand ....steering wheel in hers, we set out on a 14 day road trip. Collecting photos I came home and put my memories on canvas These photos ..... growing up in Myrtle Beach and a young life spent on farms and then moving to the country permanently .... gave me the inspiring coastal and rural landscapes which inspires the artistic side of me.
Artwork BY Debbie Hicks- O Gourdie Me
Debbie Hicks
North Myrtle Beach,SC native
B.A. in Art Studio
Coastal Carolina University
Painting is my passion. I paint on wood, canvas and gourds, gourds and more gourds.
My style of art varies from whimsical to realistic.
My goal is to bring you joy and make you smile.
I attend most local Farmers Markets and Festivals.
You can follow me on FaceBook….
O Gourdie Me/Debbie Do’s Designs.
Pottery by David Ruigrok
Hi. My name is David Ruigrok. Although I was raised in a small town southwest of Boston, Massachusetts, I spent most of my professional years, after attending college, working in the Maryland area. Over six and a half years ago, when I retired, Myrtle Beach became my home.
Finally, with time to explore my other personal interests, I began to explore my creative interests and found the joys of pottery. I started the journey of working with clay at a studio in Calabash, N.C. I then continued my study of ceramics under several talented ceramicists, at Coastal Carolina University. Gaining more wheel throwing, hand building and glazing techniques for over five semesters. Finding that there is always more knowledge to learn and realizing you can never play with clay to much.
Pottery has gotten me through some personal difficult times and has given me an outlet to create something beautiful from a single lump of clay. Over the past year I was able to set up a small studio in part of my garage and started “R D Pottery” in honor of my late wife, who encouraged me to try working with clay. My passion is putting mixed colored clay together on my wheel and creating a functional work of art. And now with my own studio I have gained recognition for my work the past two consecutive years with the winning of “Honorable Mention” in juried shows at the William Miller Studios & Fine Arts, in Myrtle Beach. I am a member of the Waccamaw Arts and Craft Guild and Seacoast Artist Gallery in Market Common. I am able to create one-of-a-kind pieces, that continue to be inspired by the interactions of my life’s journey.
Long Leaf Pine Needle Basket Maker: Sandi Blood - Dizzy Weaver
Long Leaf Pine Needle Basket Maker: Sandi Blood - Dizzy Weaver
I have been a photographer for several years. While most of my free time is now spent in basketry, I still enjoy my camera and have incorporated some of my photographs in basket bases. I am fortunate to live on a golf course, where the hole behind my house includes several long leaf pine trees, offering an opportunity for collecting the needles close by. I also found another location only a few miles away, where there is a long stretch of long leaf pine trees along the road. That's where you can find me when my supply is running low!
aka The Dizzy Weaver
In May of 2017, a lovely woman who goes by the name "Zada Mae", came to our neighborhood clubhouse and taught a 3 hour class in Pine Needle Basketry. It is an understatement to say I was "hooked"! I enjoyed the class and the process so much, that I signed up for several more classes that she taught at Hobby Lobby, learning how to start a basket base from the beginning, and mastering different stitches and techniques. After less than two years, my friend Nancy nicknamed me THE DIZZY WEAVER, because by then, I had already completed over 350 baskets! (Note: as of October, 2019 I am over 500!!)
Jewelry by Helen Crisman-Janssen
Formerly from New York State, I was a Certified Nurse-Midwife of 25 years, and a Registered Nurse of 50 years. In 2016 I decided to both retire, and move to Conway, South Carolina, where I live with my daughter and her family, and my sweet Yorkie – "Pippin." I have always been encouraged by my multi-artistic and talented family to create. Having much time on my hands has inspired me to express myself through the arts.
I have been crafting for over 60 years. It all started when my mother enrolled me into 4H at age 8. I learned how to sew, knit, crochet, and create small crafts. I have been “crafting” ever since. I loved to paint, especially in watercolor, but have found my niche now in later life to work with Precious Metals to express my other side.
In 2004 I began creating beaded and silver jewelry. I started selling my jewelry at local craft fairs as well as in-home shows where I developed a successful following. In 2010 I branched out and began creating Fine Silver (99.9% pure) jewelry from Pure Silver or Pure Copper and Bronze “Clay.” This Precious Metal Clay** is unique in that it allows me the ability to imprint, texture, sculpt and mold it into any design I choose. Once Fired it becomes Pure Silver or copper. Living a few miles from the "art hub" of Woodstock, NY gave me the opportunity to meet several artisans and to take classes as well. At the Woodstock School of Art, I studied alongside Statts Fasholdt. I was also fortunate to take classes with local artisan from Kingston New York - Elke Hekler, and with Bianca Terranova (Bianca Nova Jewelry) in Rhinebeck, NY. Although I have created my own line called, “This Heart Matters," I am particularly partial to re-creating nature’s gifts."
I am inspired by nature’s infinite woodland beauty and seashore. Through the use of Precious Metal Clay, I create leaves for my collection called “Please Don’t Leave Me." My creations have a timeless appeal and are affordably priced with the buyer in mind. I also enjoy recreating Jewelry in the Art Deco style. While these are both my signature lines, I specialize in personal design items created especially for my clients such as fingerprint jewelry or incorporating their heirloom pieces into a new creation.
In 2019 I was judged by nationally renowned artisans and received the honor of Finalist/Honorable mention From the International 2019 Jewelry Making Contest of Fire Mountain Gems and Beads for my “Copper Serene Moonlight” Creation. This winning creation is featured in their 2020-2021 catalog.
**All metal clays are composed of micron-sized particles of pure silver, a cellulose-based binder and water. When the clay is dried and placed in kiln at 1600° for at least an hour the piece is .999% pure Silver.
E-Mail: Catcher713@gmail. FB: Avalon Arts: designs by Helen Crisman-Jassen,
Festivalnet.com/AvalonArts
Jewelry by Brenda Long
My name is Brenda Long and my hobbies are as eclectic as my jewelry pieces. On any given day you might find me traipsing through an old cemetery documenting tombstones, vigorously researching genealogy in the library, working on my Poshmark store, or making jewelry in my office – AKA my comfy chair with a lap pad and a cluster of cats at my feet.
I was introduced to jewelry making about ten years ago. I had fun creating items and people said I had a knack for it. At first I made simple pieces to give to friends and family but within a year I had moved on to venues like Brookgreen Gardens’ Artists Under the Arcade. I began traveling to bead shows and bead stores looking for unusual pieces that called out for me to buy them (my husband said I didn’t have to listen to ALL of them).
When asked how I decide which pieces to use when making something I have to say I really don’t know, I just know what feels right. I’ve always been good with matching colors and my friends will tell you that if something stands still long enough I will try to decorate it. I am a perfectionist; I have been known to take a piece apart two or three times before I’m satisfied with its presentation. I always try to make time to wear my pieces tomake sure there are no unforeseen problems but sometimes that is a problem within itself because I fall in love and can’t stand to sell it!
I love working with gemstones and Hill Tribe Silver the most. Hill Tribe Silver is made by Karen tribes living in the hills of Thailand. In some instances this is the family’s only source of income and a “family business” that has gone on for generations. Whereas sterling silver is about 92.5% pure silver mixed with copper or other metals and formed by a machine, HT silver is 98 or 99% silver and formed by hand using crude tools. As for the gemstones, well I’m just a rock hound; I love them all.
I am originally from Conway; my family has deep roots here. We moved to Savannah when I was seven and I like to say I grew up in both places as we came home to Conway often. I received a BA and a MEd in History and School Counseling from Georgia Southern University and moved back to the area in 1998. Although I miss working with the little ones, retirement has given me the opportunity to do all the things I love! I have two children, twenty eight year old twins. Brian is a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed in Nevada and Caileigh is a teacher and a stay at home mom to the most beautiful little girl in the world, my sixteen month old granddaughter Emma Claire. Caileigh and her husband Jay Dennis live in Alexandria, Virginia.
Meet our Artists
jewelry by hannah millner - sea to seed
Hannah Millner - Sea to Seed
I’m Hannah, owner and designer behind Sea to Seed. I love making things with my hands, spending time in the ocean, growing food, and dancing my heart out to latin music.
After years of jewelry design as a hobby, Sea to Seed came to life in the summer of 2016.
Sea to Seed is inspired by my love for nature and the beauty of a simple life. The happiest years of my life have been spent covered in soil and rinsing off with sunset surf. My intention with each piece is to channel some of the joy and inspiration I've found while planting the tiniest of seeds or paddling into the foggy abyss in the chilly North Pacific. All of my jewelry is made by hand in my sunny studio in Blue Lake, California.
paintings by Caitey Ronan
Caitey is a student and artist living in Charleston, SC. She studies studio art at the College of Charleston with a concentration in painting. Working primarily in oils, pastels, and acrylic, she aims to portray the things she loves through art. In this series, she combines a passion for both art making and florals.