She jumped into oil painting in an intensive summer workshop offered by the Cleveland Institute of Art. Hooked on the process of painting, she has taken many classes with various artists in Northeast Ohio. She is the illustrator of Mischievous Mimi Explores Seabrook Island, a children’s book released July, 2014. The Lowcountry of South Carolina is now her home and many of her paintings reflect historic Charleston and natural surroundings. Her styles range from whimsical and folksy to semi-realism. Regardless of the medium, color is a predominant feature.
ROBERT LEFEVRE: Bob started taking private art lessons at the age of nine under the encouragement of his ninth grade teachers. He was enrolled into what now has become a famous teaching atelier in Ridgewood, NJ. Here, at this very early age, he was trained in the "academic" way that built his drawing and perceptual skills, by drawing an endless array of plaster busts in charcoal. This was followed by the introduction to oils, painting still life subjects monochromatically and eventually in color (sounds like lots of fun for a kid approaching puberty!!) He stayed interested and focused because he loved the art of creation.
Bob has always had a true love for the water always living or vacationing near the ocean. At the age of 18 he took a painting lesson from a retired sea captain on Cape Cod, Mass. where he painted a large clipper ship. It was at this time that his love for, and desire to paint marine art started.
After 33 years as a business man with Procter and Gamble, Pepsico and as owner of The United States Playing Card Co., Bob retired at the age of 55 to pursue his true passion...painting! He immediately enrolled in the Art Academy of Cincinnati taking life drawing classes for over 8 years while at the same time teaching art to a talented group of young teenagers.
He continues to hold weekly oil painting classes at his home on Seabrook Island and regularly offers drawing and oil painting demonstrations through the Seabrook Island Artists Guild. He exhibits at the Seabrook Lake House.
To see many more of Bob's work go to his on-line gallery at: www.lefevrepaintings.com.
DONNA LEFEVRE: Several years ago Donna was taught the craft of glass beading on flatware serving pieces. Since then she has taken this fun hobby to new levels by using only the highest grade stainless steal flatware, sourcing new, exciting and colorful glass beads of all sizes and shape and adding small pewter thematic characters to many pieces. In addition, she sources, from around the world, ceramic serving pieces with colorful and thematic elements that she marries with her beaded flatware. Her newest additions are beautiful straw baskets surrounded along the top with oyster shells and various decorative shell pieces.
CYNTHIA REDDERSEN: Cynthia had a full time job as Communications Manager with several organizations including a Consumer Law Association in DC and a Software Developer in Reston VA. After retiring from that she has gone back to an early love of creating art, whether it’s a seashell encrusted box, a framed photograph of a live oak, or a watercolor.Cynthia started painting with watercolors, and then took up oils. She draws her inspiration from the nature she sees around her, especially here at Seabrook Island. She has participated in several art classes and demonstrations. And is also a member of the Fairfax Art League in Fairfax VA, where she has exhibited at shows.
LAUREN SMITH-NAGEL: Lauren had a full time career in the behavioral health field. In 2013 she returned to her childhood interest, art. Her initial exploration was with encaustic painting, but now, most of her work is oil and cold wax. She is drawn to expressive, abstract landscape painting and the use of color. Although her main home is in Greenville, SC, her home on Seabrook Island and it's beautiful surroundings, has inspired much of her work. The low country's marshes, estuaries, ocean and beaches are a main part of inspiration. It is this love for nature that inspires her to create. She has taken many art classes and workshops over the last few years exploring different mediums, techniques and materials.
SALLIE SYDNOR: Education Eckerd College – B.A., 1971; Texas Christian University, M.Ed., 1973. Sallie rediscovered art after teaching special education in the public schools and raising three children. She began persuing a lifelong desire to learn to paint by attending art classes and workshops frequently. She has studied at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, The Lynchburg Art Club, the Lynchburg Academy of the Arts, Springmaid Art Workshops in SC, and the Nimrod Hall Summer Arts Program in Bath County, Va. Her instructors in Lynchburg have included Rosalie Day White, Bertha Crockett, Edith Smith, and Ron Boehmer. Other instructors have been Laura Loe, Fielding Archer, Andy Bality, Curney Nuffer, John Morgan, Henry Isaacs, Albert Handell, Judi Betts, Alex Powers, Skip Lawrence, and Fran Larsen. Galleries and shows. Riverviews Artist Co-op, Lynchburg Art Club, Isabella's Italian Trattoria, Lynchburg Humane Society, Pearson Cancer Treatment Center Current work. Sallie continues to work in oil, with varied subjects including still life, landscapes and figures. A relatively new direction is collage using mixed media. Update. Since retiring recently, Walker and Sallie are spending more time in SeaBrook Island, SC, at their condo in Bohicket Marina. Sallie is enjoying painting the abundant subject matter in the area, and has recently become a member of the Seabrook Island Artist Guild.. She exhibits at Carolina Clay Gallery located in Freshfield Village near Seabrook.
PAT VAN DE GRAAF: Pat usually does etchings as her primary medium but loves to do watercolors also. She went to The Art Student's League in NYC, Syracuse University and University of Bridgeport, Conn. receiving a BFA in Printmaking with a minor in Art History. Her work can be found in the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery on East Bay St. in Charleston.
ROBERT BAVIER
Debbe Falls
Retiring from a career in education and moving to Seabrook Island provided Debbe with opportunities to explore more personal interests. Not wasting any time she began local oil painting classes and joined the Seabrook Island Artist Guild. Finding so much joy in painting she continued developing her artistic skills taking art classes at the College of Charleston and attending artist’s workshops with prominent artist in North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and Florida.
During her artistic adventure she moved from traditional oil painting into experimental abstract art using acrylics and alcohol inks.
Wanting to enhance the motion and depth of her ocean and landscape paintings, Debbe began layering metallic pigments into clear resin to create a three-dimensional effect. Infusing different colors and textures into fluid resin produces the uniqueness of her work.
Debbe most recently embraced creating resin art on a variety of art substrates including sculpted wood and Polycarbonate.
She is known to say, “Art always provides a challenge to explore skills and techniques.” It is the challenge that keeps her level of expertise flourishing.
Exploring types and styles of painting provide endless ways to enjoy creativity. Debbe plans to continue enjoying the many facets of painting.
Patti Ratcliffe | Ratcliffe Art
a contemporary impressionistic artist
Patti's colorful canvases reflect her passion for design and mark-making. Starting at an early age, her love of art provided the curiosity and confidence a to continue making art later in life. Combining painting with her interest in travel, she enjoys searching for the perfect plein air location to capture striking color and playful light wherever it may be. Continual learning, growing and improving brings pure joy. Teaching others and small group/private studio lessons also brightens her journey.
Before becoming a full-time painter, she was a graphic designer who ran a successful independent studio for more than 30 years.
She is a member of AIS, the American Impressionist Society, Inc.
PATRICK J. CONNELLY
Patrick Connelly was raised in northern New Jersey, graduated from Bucknell and Northeastern Universities, and lived in the Boston area before moving to South Carolina in 2010. He has been married for 46 years and is the proud father of two sons and grandfather of five grandchildren. In 2018 Connelly retired from his 41- year career as a professional civil engineer and chief operating officer of an engineering consulting firm.
Connelly began painting upon his retirement after being encouraged to so by a talented artist. He never looked back and continues to enjoy the process of visual observation, mixing paints to create colors, and applying paint to canvas to express the beauty and variety of God’s creation.
After joining the Seabrook Island Artist Guild in 2018 he was elected to serve as President of the Guild in 2020. He enjoys painting in both oils and acrylics, and is grateful to collaborate with so many talented artists.