Going Out
Don’t Step Away from the Easel Bringing Back Creativity
O 44
VERHEARD FROM THE NEXT table, “I haven’t held one of these in my hand since the eighth grade.” Te 60-something-year- old gentleman was talking about a paintbrush as he sat in front of his blank canvas at Fear No Easel.
Many in the room expressed similar sentiments: not having painted since high school; not feeling this creative
BY MARGARET ANN MICHELS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LES ORR
since helping their child make a volcano for the middle school science fair.
Tis is exactly what Les Orr had in mind when he opened his studio in Te Shoppes at Seaside Farms in November 2011. Les was working an overwhelming job and looking for a way to channel his creative juices into a new career. As a youngster, he had taken paint- ing classes and had shown some talent. But, like many, he gave up art somewhere along the way to becoming a responsible adult. Tanks to Les, his wife, Gina, and others who have launched similar ventures in Mount Pleas- ant, former artists of all ages can create beautiful, crazy, compel- ling, decorative or just plain col- orful art to display on their walls. Or, in many cases, on someone else’s walls.
A woman wants to paint Mor-
ris Island Lighthouse for her boy- friend, who spent his childhood gazing at it from Folly Beach. A newlywed couple intends to re-create all the zoo ani- mals for their still-incubating son’s bedroom: giraffe,
Local artists such as Steven Jordan (above, center) teach the acrylic and watercolor classes. Saturday
afternoon’s paintings are kid-friendly and the studio is available for private parties.
elephant, zebra … the list continues to grow. Another aspect of the world of art that makes Fear
At Fear No Easel, Les Orr is promoting social art
No Easel different is that Les doesn’t mind if you don’t paint what the instructor is teaching. If you have a photograph – or a memory – that you want to create with acrylic or watercolor paints, he’s happy to accom- modate. If you suggest an item that others might want to duplicate, he may just add it to the collection. At a watercolor class, one stu- dent expressed interest in paint- ing a red beach umbrella instead of the blue one local artist Steven Jordan was demonstrating. Min- utes later, Les was supplying all sorts of pastel and vibrant colors. Te end result was a cornucopia of colored umbrellas – and a group of happy painters posing for a photo before taking home their Steven Jordan replica, each matching their own décor. Whether you’re a professional
through social media. After each class he posts group, couple and individual photos on Facebook so painters can immediately share their art online.
artist or the last time you mixed colors was in kindergarten, sitting in front of an easel brushing your first stroke on the canvas is an exhilarating experience – and one you can enjoy over and over. “Tis is social art, not serious
art, and everybody has a good time,” Les explained. Participants can purchase wine or beer and relax as they visit with old friends, make new ones and create a masterpiece – or a bright blue peacock named Picasso.
For the schedule of paintings and more information about Fear No Easel, visit
www.fearnoeasel.com. See more of this story at www.
MountPleasantMagazine.com for a list of other local spots for channeling your inner artist.
www.MountPleasantMagazine.com |
www.iLoveMountPleasant.com |
www.MountPleasantNeighborhoods.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84