After 21 years as an English teacher in the public schools of South Carolina and Alabama, Judy Bolton Jarrett turned her part-time business as an artist into a full-time second career in 1986. In 1990 she opened her own studio and gallery, ArtCan Studio & Gallery, on Beaufort St. in Chapin, SC. It is located in the historic Chapin Bank building, built in 1908. She is a native of Winder, Georgia, but has lived in SC for most of her adult life.

Primarily working in watercolor for many years, Judy now uses different watermedia and incorporates collage and decorative papers in her designs, working on canvas and paper. Painting subjects currently include landscapes (her favorite subject, trees) as well as abstractions of floral designs and more contemporary works. She is inspired by her surroundings here and also travels to Europe, specifically England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy.   Her latest major solo exhibition was in August-September 2011, “280 Seasons,” which featured the “Silent Sentinel Series” of tree paintings, with the tree being one that overlooks her parents’ graves in Winder.  Other recent solo exhibitions include one at Presbyterian College, her alma mater.

Judy has studied with a number of different instructors throughout the past 35 years, including Charles Reid, Robert E. Wood, Alex Powers, Virginia Fouche Bolton, Frank Webb, Barbara Nechis, Tony Couch, Jeanne Dobie, and Christopher Schink. She continues to study and learns the greatest lessons from continuing to experiment with various media forms.

She is a signature member of the South Carolina Watermedia Society and the Georgia Watercolor Society and an exhibiting member of the Southern Watercolor Society. Recent commissions include the limited edition print to celebrate Public Health Month 2008, using the theme “Putting A Face on Public Health – YOURS!” The State Botanical Garden of GA also commissioned a painting of the Cherokee Rose (“Celebrating Our Heritage”), which was released  as a limited edition print and notecards. She has a limited edition print of Neville Hall at Presbyterian College (“The Essence of the Spirit”) in memory of Thomas Aurelius Stallworth, longtime professor, alumni director, dean of students (and more), who died in 2007. A recent commission, “Instilling the passion to learn…,” is for Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence, Inc. Limited edition prints are presented to annual Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Schools in recognition of their achievements.  A limited edition print of the Day Chapel at the State Botanical Garden of GA in Athens was commissioned by The Lukas’ Fund.

For 30 years, until his untimely death from cancer at age 51 in 1992, she was married to Mike Jarrett. (At the time of his death he was Commissioner for the SC Dept. of Health and Environmental Control.) In 1994 she married Dr. John F. Brown, a 1956 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at UGA, who is her staunchest supporter. Her daughter, Deanna Jarrett Kuhlman, is also an artist; her son, Dendy Jarrett, is a musician. Her two grandchildren, Jake and Jody, are the two most precious grandchildren in the world!!

Judy is represented by the SC Artisans’ Center, Walterboro, SC, and Ellen Taylor Interiors+Design, Columbia, and regularly exhibits with the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation in Watkinsville, GA, as well as the State Botanical Garden of GA in Athens. She continues to participate in other regional art fairs and exhibits.

More information is available on her website, www.judyjarrettgallery.com and her blog, www.jbjart.blogspot.com.

Gallery: ArtCan Studio & Gallery, 108 Beaufort St., Chapin, SC;803.345.6588

Mailing address: 2 Carl Weed Court, Columbia, SC 29212
Website: www.judyjarrettgallery.com  Blog: www.jbjart.blogspot.com

This could not have happened without the support I have enjoyed over this past 25 years from members of the SCWS.   Thanks to all who give me support.   My daughter  lives a few hours out of New York city so we arranged my  spring visit so we could attend the ceremony.   Wonderful experience.

Also presently in an one-person exhibit until Jun 30th, sponsored by the Coldwell- Caine Real Estate Gallery– 428 S. Main St. Greenville, SC.  Opening reception is Thursday May 3, 5-7 pm.  Public is invited.

Marilyn is a signature member of this group as a result of my “Best in Show” in the 2011 14th Annual Open Exhibit in Santa Cruz, California.

Sunny Spot

Dale Cochran joined The Artist Guild Gallery of Greenville and was the featured artist in March.

His painting “Sunny Spot” was accepted in the Anderson Arts Center 37th Annual Juried Exhibition and the 35th Annual Southern Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition.

The Greeter

He also had the painting “The Greeter” accepted into the In-and-Out exhibit at Gallery 313 in Anderson, SC. In October 2011, Dale lead a watercolor session in Phoenix, AZ at the 2011 UCDA (University and College Designers Association) Design Conference and will be a presenter along with the design team from Clemson University’s Creative Services, where he is the Senior Creative Director, at the UCDA Team Workshop in Atlanta, Ga on May 4th, 2012.