Artists :

Lee Arthur is a self taught artist currently living and working in McClellanville SC. Throughout his career, he has developed a broad studio practice that includes painting, sculpture and functional design. Lee Arthur’s love for the ocean has inspired his life-long pursuits as a boat builder and continues to inform his creative decisions as a fine artist.

nnnnBuddy moved to the South Carolina coast when he was about 10. He was inspired by his older brother to begin surfing, skating, and painting. He took the normal creative route of drawing, watercolor, acrylics, and finally oils. Buddy didn't take art serious in high school because all he really wanted to do was surf.  In College he still didn't care that much about art and was lucky enough to be naturally talented and skate through his art classes. After Graduation he began airbrushing surfboards , traveled a bit, and did the occasional mural and painting. Then he went to the MOMA and there was a painting on display by Egon Sheile titled 'Tree in Winter' which had a profound effect on him. He couldn't wait to get home and start painting. He Started ordering canvas by the roll, stretching it himself, got a warehouse, the whole 9 yards. Buddy began studying all the old masters as well, Klimt, Gaugin, van Gogh, Modigliani. Surfing slowly waned as painting became more and more important. His art changed from guys ripping waves to the other aspects of surfing that you appreciate as you get older. The road trip, last wave at sunset, cup of coffee while checking the surf. His painting technique evolved as well, changing from Classicism to Impressionism and today edging toward the Abstract. Buddy paints almost everyday, and realizes that he is blessed to make a decent living doing what he loves.                 

Keels Culberson Swinnie   -      Chambre' Designs

       Keels Culberson is a native of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. She first realized her love of art when she underwent major hip surgery at the age of six and was in a full body cast for nine weeks. With the energy of a six year old and the inability to move, she channeled that energy into artistic endeavors and has been creating art ever since. She draws artistic inspiration from many places, such as the beaches of her hometown and from her travels around the world, including the landscapes of Italy, Greece, and Costa Rica.                                                                                                                                 nnnnIn 2004 she graduated from Converse College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and Art History, and then went on to study Studio Art at the College of Charleston. Keels and fellow artist, Adrian Dorman, have recently started Chambre’ Designs a small business specializing in hand painted furniture and murals. Keels also began Painted Pets by Keels, commissioned pet portraits and has opened a small gallery in Mount Pleasant. Keels has been featured as the cover artist for Sasee magazine numerous times and has displayed her work in galleries all over South Carolina.

Ted Watts 

Ted Watts is a native of the Grand Strand and grew up as the son of a contractor. He attended Virginia Art Institute and Ringling School of Art in the early 70's and began honing his furniture building skills in the late 70's. His popularity for his special artistic touches to furniture pieces began with bar tops and tables for local restaurant owners. His work made it's way into many homes in the area as well as golf clubs, banks, and churches. His work includes spiral staircases, Cabinets, armoires, mirrors, coffee tables, beds, mantel pieces, desks, dining buffets, tables and chairs. He was awarded best of show at the Atalaya Arts and Crafts Festival in 2003 for his drop leaf pineapple table. Ted takes a great deal of pride in any piece he is commissioned to do, as he feels that the furniture he crafts today will become a family heirloom... as he likes to say he is....."Creating tomorrows antiques".

Adrian Dorman    -      Chambre' Designs

nnnnAdrian Dorman is a native of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. She attended College of Charleston, where she graduated with a degree in Communications, as well as attended Trident Technical College, where she graduated with a degree in Graphic Design.                    nnnnAdrian, along with Keels Culberson Swinnie, makes up Chambre Designs, a flourishing business that specializes in hand-painted furniture and wall murals. On her own, she enjoys painting abstract canvases, and draws inspiration from the unique sights and colors of the Carolina coast. She also owns her own graphic design company, Adrian Dorman Graphics, and regularly incorporates her graphic skills into her painted works.

Jason Moore uses acrylic paint on canvas to recreate life on the water. His artwork is inspired by surfing, fishing, boating, and other aquatic activities that he has loved since he was a young boy.  Come see for yourself a collection of beautiful water related paintings, rich in color and concept. 

Sara Mclean has always made things. She took this love of "making things" to Converse College and earned a BA in Studio Art in 2005. While at Converse, she took two silversmithing courses and got hooked on silver. After college, Sara went to Ghost Ranch, of Georgia O'Keeffe fame, and took a month-long course on silver and inlay.

This course took her to the next level. She then had the need to create jewelry, rather than just the desire to create it. Sara enjoys the process, the hand tools, and making something beautiful and functional from raw materials. She cuts, grinds, and polishes her own stones for many of her pieces, and builds their vessels from silver sheet and shaped wire. Sara has very little waste in this process and melts down the scrap silver and makes abstract castings.

Bobbie Holt is a self-taught artist popular for her one of a kind eco friendly mixed media techniques. Bobbie creates ceramic like work with the faux effects of firing and glazing without the use of clay and kiln. All materials were primarily discarded from homebuilding sites and salvaged to reduce waste in landfills by reusing home builder's unwanted materials, and in turn recycled into original artwork including the custom built frames. Another way of re-using materials come right from her kitchen. The color palatte in each piece is artwork in itself created by mixing household spices, teas, and day old coffee with watered down acrylics made specifically for each piece. No color can be duplicated. The finish over each work is simply resin/epoxy better known as surf board glazing. This effect not only deepens the handmade color it makes each piece water proof.

Susan Willams

Kristen Montisinger 's earliest memory as an artist is lacing up cardboard pictures with a piece of yarn as a very little girl. From there she has explored nearly every kind of craft. Growing up Kristen was always making something. Most of her artistic exploration has been self-guided and inspired by her famous last words, "I can make that."  Also dating back to her little girl days is an insane love of jewelry and accessories. After receiving her millionth piece of jewelry as a "new mommy present, "Kristen was inspired to try to make and design her own. Jewelry making has become Kristen’s newest (and most addictive) medium.  Kristen lives in Garden City, South Carolina, with her husband and son, Lucas. She is blessed and inspired daily with views of the Atlantic Ocean and life in the low country. Simplicity at its best!

Richard Kuhn attended the Newark School of Fine & industrial Arts in the 1960’s. Following that he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Maryland Institute, College of Art in 1968 and began teaching in Baltimore City at Hamilton Junior High.  In 1969 he was hired to teach art in Anne Arundel County where he continued for the next 27 years; retiring in 1996. During the teaching period he went back to school and was awarded a Masters of Fine Arts Degree from the Maryland Institute. Majoring in Ceramics, Rich started showing and selling pottery and ceramic sculpture, and has exhibited at many shows through Maryland, D.C. Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  In 1985 he sold his pottery equipment and took a 14 year hiatus from art; developing a professional career in Real Estate. In 1999 he was introduced to Anne Schuler and the Schuler School, by his wife Jolyn. Their Classical approach to Fine Arts was re-inspiring and he began taking evening classes with Anne and Carole Thomson.  During this period he was also reintroduced to landscape painting by David Goode, and has since studied still life painting with Andy Gurien, Matt Zoll, David A. Leffel, and Carole Thompson.  Rich is a current member of the Oil Painters of America, and has exhibited regionally, and as far west as the Tubac Center for Cultural Arts in Tubac, Arizona. Rich’s work is represented in numerous private collections throughout thUSA & Canada.

Jolyn Kuhn has always had a passion for Art. She attend Arts High School, the nation’s first art magnet high school, followed by Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, where professional artist taught in their field. There she met her husband Richard Kuhn. She put aside her career as an illustrator to raise a family of five children.  During that time she continued to do freelance art work while substitute teaching.   After twenty five years she returned to college to complete a BFA degree in art education at Maryland Institute College of Art.