Submitted Photo/Clarendon Citizen
Campbell displays at Water Lily Gallery
The art scene in Clarendon County has emerged strongly over the last few years. Much credit is due to the Water Lily Gallery founded four years ago, which displays the works of 20-25 local artists.
Gene Phillips of Summerton Drugs provided the space, and the Lake Marion Artist Guild, founded by Anne and Jim Darby, set up the gallery.
Although she does not work with a brush herself, Darby appreciates what art has to offer.
“Art raises the quality of life in many areas,” she said.
Everything from paintings, to crafts and pottery are displayed in the gallery, and all artists are welcome to display their work. The gallery only charges a commission if an artist’s work is sold at the gallery.
Each month a wall is dedicated to an artist of the month. April 2010 is Susan K. Campbell’s month.
Campbell, 58, paints everything from horses, to landscapes, seascapes and portraits. Over a 30-year career painting, she has completed 90 pieces of work, in every medium imaginable: oil, charcoal, pencil, color pencil, pen and ink, pastels and watercolor.
Being a self-described eclectic artist, she has a hard time settling on one specific genre.
“I may see a certain scene and say ‘Wow! That could look really good on canvas’ and paint it,” she said.
Campbell uses ideas from personal photographs for many of her pieces, and elaborates on those ideas, creating backgrounds and scenes for the main subjects.
Although it was passion that made her want to be an artist, it was not always a career choice for her, she said.
In her teenage years she wanted to study fashion design, but soon realized that this was not for her. Campbell went into the Air Force instead where she served in the law enforcement division. She was sent to serve in the divisions’ horse patrol in the Philippines. This is where her passion for horses was born.
After being discharged, Campbell got back into art, completing her studies at a junior college in California. Campbell continued to pursue her passion, getting a bachelor’s degree in art from California State University in Long Beach.
After graduating, Campbell was offered a position teaching art in a public school in Los Angeles. But the school was in one of the worst parts of the city, and Campbell said that that was not for her. So she worked as an accountant for a number of years and moved to Las Vegas where her work was displayed in the Las Vegas Art Museum and various shows throughout the city.
Vegas is also where she met her future husband, Donald Campbell, a distributor for casters and wheels.
Both wanted to escape from the hustle-and-bustle of the big city, though, and Summerton provided the perfect getaway. They have resided there for four years.
Campbell will hold a reception displaying her work on Saturday, April 10, at the Water Lily Gallery, from 6-8 p.m. on Summerton’s Main Street, next to Summerton Drugs. The event is free and open to the public.
On Thursday, April 15, the Water Lily Gallery will present “Under Southern Skies,” a celebration of southern music, southern literature and southern food. The event is $20 per person and doors open at 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Water Lily Gallery.
For more information about the Water Lily Gallery, its programs and upcoming exhibits, contact Anne Darby at 478-7613 and leave a message if necessary.
