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August Issue 2004

Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC, Features Paintings by Sue Coley

The Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, NC, is featuring acrylic paintings by Sue Coley from Aug. 3 - 31, 2004. The show, entitled, The Disappearing Carolina, is the artist's quiet, but pointed, response to more roads carrying more people to more places.

When questioned, the North Myrtle Beach, SC, artist said, "I moved to this area in the 70s. You could still go shrimping in the creeks. There were old barns along the highway. And trees, there were huge beautiful trees everywhere. It makes me sad that it's changing so drastically. That's something we won't be able to change back."

Her love for things local is evident in the quiet peaceful scenes she loves to paint. One painting titled simply, Tobacco Barn, depicts one of the historical structures, which used to stand at Nixon's Crossroads in Horry County. House on Highway 9 is another nearby South Carolina scene.

Coley is primarily self taught, but studied with three artists whom she credits with helping her develop her style: Alex Powers, watercolorist; the late Virginia Givens, acrylic artist and Hubert Mock, oil painter.

Painting both en plein air (outdoors, from life) and in her home studio, she uses a subdued palette incorporating warm shades such as burnt umber, yellow ochre and raw sienna. "I've been using basically the same palette since my first class with Alex Powers," says the artist, "I love warm, peaceful colors and I love the local countryside. They just seem to work together."

Coley is a popular fixture at the local outdoor shows including Art In The Park at Chapin Park in Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Waterway Labor Day Show (being held this year at Ingram Planetarium), where her many repeat customers look for her year after year. According to Ginny Lassiter, owner of Sunset River Marketplace, "Sue's work has a calming effect on everyone who looks at it. Customers tell me that's why they want it hanging in their homes. . . They want to bring that warm, peaceful feeling into their homes."

Coley is one of more than 150 local and regional artists who display their work at the 10,000 square foot Sunset River Marketplace.

For more info check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call 910/575-5999 or on the web at (www.sunsetrivermarketplace.com).


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