Gullah

Thanks to the Coastal Community Foundation for awarding me an Expansion Grant to continue work on my illustrations of Gullah life.

Gullah Princess painted on sand

The grant allowed me to maintain and supply a studio and participate in the annual convention of the Portrait Society of America in Philadelphia 2012.

The experience was invaluable in so many ways. I watched close up as America's most celebrated portrait artist captured likenesses with diverse techniques and style as they painted from live models. Portfolio reviews offered frank assessment and pointers from these pros. Three days of submersion  into lectures and demonstrations left me eager to return to my studio in South Carolina where I could begin to use the new ideas exploding in my mind. Meeting portrait artist from all over the world, I made new connections and compared experiences with galleries.

I spent my last day visiting Nelson Shanks Studio Incaminatti and the superb Philadelphia Museum of art where I rubbed noses with the likes of Chagal, Manet, Picasso, Cezanne, Van Gogh and more. I don't know that I can adequately describe what it is like to be close enough to see the brush strokes of these masters. It is quite surprising. The grant allowed me to produce the following collection. If your organization is interested in hosting an exhibition
contact me at gertswerks@gmail.com. limited edition Prints are available and can be ordered here.

Dashiki