VOLUME ONE
Cover Art: Stephanie Justice Shank Fresh Cut: Garden Party
South Carolina Art Education Association Artists Anthology 2024 Volume 1
Currated by: SCAEA Members
Edited by: Kevin Morrissey, Stephanie Shank, Amy Stewart,
Formated by: Ben Visser at Social Design House www.socialdesign.house
To the talented art educators of South Carolina—
This first volume of the SCAEA Art Anthology is a testament to your passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication. We honor you, the artists who find moments of inspiration amid lesson planning, grading, and supporting your students, often carving out precious minutes to breathe life into your own creative visions. Your dedication to the arts goes beyond the classroom walls; it is a light that sparks imagination and ignites a love for artistic expression in your students and communities.
This collection serves as a reminder of your tireless compassion, your ability to transform obstacles into opportunities for creation, and your resolve to nurture the next generation of artists and thinkers. To the mentors who shaped our artistic journeys and continue to inspire with their wisdom, and to the educators whose work embodies both art and education in their truest forms—this volume is for you.
May this anthology reflect the beauty of your artistry, the resilience of your spirit, and the legacy of creativity you cultivate daily. Thank you for making the world a more inspired and vibrant place.
The South Carolina Art Education Association Artist Anthology was born out of a shared passion for creation and a collective dedication to keeping the spark of creativity alive. This inaugural volume stands as a celebration of the hard work and commitment of South Carolina’s art educators, who continue to find inspiration and joy in their craft while guiding the next generation of artists.
In the fall of 2024, SCAEA members were invited to submit their artwork for publication in this first-ever anthology, resulting in a collection that highlights the vibrant talent, artistic expression, and resilience of educators who balance their roles as artists and teachers. Through this effort, we honor those who embrace creativity as a way of life, inspiring us all to create, reflect, and grow.
This anthology represents not just a collection of artwork but a testament to the power of community, passion, and the transformative impact of art. It is with deep gratitude and respect that we recognize the efforts of every contributor who brought this vision to life.
Ashley Quam
April Cross
Vickie Hickman
Stephanie Justice Shank
Debi West
Mary Young
Carlon Steller Gray
Mary Lou Hightower
Rebecca Cantley
Kate Callahan
Josh Drews!
Jeane Mitchum
Amy Stewart
Allan Anderson
Crystal Thompson
Kelli Brosnan
Patricia Schoelkopf - Lewis
Suzannen M. Glenn
Jess King
Natalie Schieger
Shannon Leigh Hopkins
Jen Dauberman
Kelley French
Alana Adams
Suzanne Floyd Gunter
Stacey M. Walden
Robert Urban
Andrew Frye
Scott Lykens
Lara Hammond
Staci Purvis
Dr. Andrea Elliot
Kevin Morrissey
Rhythm River 2024
Embroidery
6 in. x 9 in.
I believe it’s so important for art educators to continually create and push themselves to try new mediums and techniques. By putting myself in the vulnerable position of facing unknown outcomes, I can better relate to the struggle my students encounter in the classroom. It’s so easy to become overwhelmed with responsibilities and push art making to the side but it is a sacred act that deserves to be practiced daily. Without commitment to the act of creating, we run the risk of stagnation and I’d rather be a constantly moving stream than find comfort in inactivity.
www.mrsquam.com @MrsQuam ashley.quam@kcsdschools.net
I recognized the significance of art in my life at an early age. Bringing an idea to life with my hands provided a sense of achievement, unlike any other experience. The principles I gathered from art have been integrated into all facets of my life and education. Art, for instance, serves as a creative avenue for me to express my emotions and alleviate stress during difficult times.
As an artist and educator, I deeply revere the importance of arts education. Challenging myself creatively has fostered the confidence to inspire and encourage others to find joy in learning through the arts.
aprildcross@gmail.com
As an educator, I strive to create learning environments that foster creative exploration and self-expression. I believe the act of making art is not only a means of personal fulfillment but also a powerful tool for self-discovery and growth. By encouraging my students to engage in the creative process, I hope to inspire them to tap into their own unique perspectives and to find their voice as artists and individuals.
My work tends to be non-representations., focusing on creating marks using saturated color palette and texture within my compositions. Over the years, I have incorporated sewing in my paper, which brings me back to mom who was a seamstress. I believe it was my mom’s love of sewing that gives me joy and inspiration.
hickmanvickie1962@gmail.com
Vicki Johnson Hickman Facebook/Instavgram
My experiences creating photographs have been pivotal in shaping my development as both an artist and educator. The artistic processes continually deepens my understanding of visual language as a powerful medium for communicating complex ideas and emotions. In parallel, teaching has underscored the importance of fostering an environment that encourages risk-taking and self-expression. These experiences inform my instructional approach, emphasizing creativity as a critical tool for intellectual and emotional development. The reciprocal relationship between my personal artistic practice and teaching continually reinforces my belief in art is vital in cognitive and expressive growth.
StephanieJShank@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/stephaniejshankphoto
Art Nourishes the Soul
2023
Mixed Media
36” x 36”
I’ve been an artist my entire life and have been blessed to call myself an art educator for over 3 decades. I emphasize the ordinary, every day experiences of life, depicting our joys and challenges and purposes through a combination of color, texture and symbolism. I document my life journey visually by layering my drawings, paintings, prints and photographs into unique collaged imagery. Every mark we make is a part of art history and documents our now. Art Matters and Art Education is essential, and the right of every learner!
dewestudio@gmail.com
www.WESTpectations.com
FB: Debi Dunavant West Insta: dewestudio Twitter: dewestudio
Anam 2019 Photography
11” x 14”
Perspective is a fascinating concept, highlighting that there are multiple ways to view the world. This understanding has profoundly shaped me as an artist, educator, and person. I often turn to Nature as my muse, as it reveals subtle details that inspire my creativity. I capture these nuances through my camera, allowing my perspective to emerge in my artwork. Observing and interpreting Nature has enriched my self-expression, teaching me to appreciate diverse viewpoints and encouraging a deeper connection with the world around me. These experiences continually influence and refine my artistic voice and personal growth.
What inspires me most as an active teacher-artist is capturing those beautiful, calm moments in life. Whether it is the bloom of a flower or a student’s progress, I grow from the journey in a life that connects and treasures it all. I love most when my travels spark inspiration in my art and classroom. These adventures flow onto my palette and into my classroom with enthusiasm. I hope that my “artsy self” radiates the color of my life.
2023
Patchwork 40” x 20”
I combine watermedia and love of quilts creating what I call “watercolor patchwork” to pay homage to my grandmother who was a quilter throughout her life. Drawing on the folk arts, I create pieces based on what themes touch my heart. The process begins with a design in mind, painting layers then adding stitching to enhance the piece.
As an artist/educator for over 50 years, I am a signature juried member of South Carolina Watermedia Society. Retired Doctor of Education and Professor Emeritus of Art Education at USC Upstate, where I taught Southern Folk Art History and Art Education courses.
artdocsc@gmail.com
@art_marylouhightower- Instagram
Facebook: Mary Lou Hightower
Studiok: Mary Lou Hightower
Too Ya La Kalt
(Thunder Arriving on the Plains)
2018 Acrylic paint
24” x12” x 1.5”
My goal as an art educator is to provide my students with the technical skills necessary to confidently express themselves through art making. Just as I have found my artistic voice, it is my hope for my students to unlock their unique voice as well. Each one of my students has their own understanding of the world and how they fit into it and art is a valuable outlet for them to make their voices heard. I hope they will discover that the art they create deriving from personal experience can have a profound social impact.
As an artist I hope to inspire mu students to try new mediums and methods i hope to encourage them to take a closer look at not only their heritage but to gain a better understanding of cultures all around the world.
As well through my own practice as an artist who is visually impaired, I hope that my students will be encouraged to not let obstacles stand in their way of finding their own artistic style, passions and their voice.
The Last Saturday in America
2023
Marker, Crayon, Watercolor, Digital Pencil
Drawing in Adobe Fresco
14” x 11”
My development as both an artist and educator has been deeply intertwined. I feel a constant need to create alongside my students. Being a practicing artist while teaching allows me to serve as model of what an artistic journey can look like. It keeps me current in my field, ensuring that my instruction remains relevant and engaging. Teaching has undoubtedly made me a better artist, but my own children have been an even greater source of inspiration. Creating alongside my 4- and 7-year-old daughters has opened new dimensions in my artistic expression.
One of my recent works, digitally drawn in Adobe Fresco, builds upon scanned marker, crayon, and watercolor drawings by my daughters. This piece responds to the challenges of suburban life, bullying, gun violence, and the complexities of living in the South. I found a deep resonance in the poetry of Ray McManus, who speaks to a desire to “burn it all down and start something new,” only to realize that the new beginning we seek often lies within us all along.
drewsj1@gmail.com www.joshuadrews.com Instagram @mrdrews
Having worked as a professional photographer for well over 20 years, I’ve seen how my experiences and teaching have intertwined to not only deepen my understanding of creativity, but it has also helped give my students a glimpse into a career path that is very much attainable even right out of high school. I absolutely love sharing my knowledge and at the same time I get to learn from their perspectives. Helping them grow in their creativity has also made me a better artist because I learn from them just as much as they learn from me.
Jeanne@jeannemitchum.com www.jeannemitchum.com Instagram:
Dear Detroit 2024
I transitioned to secondary education after a long career in the field of illustration and graphic design. Being in the classroom has allowed me to step away from digital design and reconnect with a tactile approach to art making, fostering a sense of authenticity and intimacy in my work. Each piece becomes a personal narrative, reflecting my emotions and experiences. Inspired by the idea of coordinates on a map, I blend personal stories with abstract representations, inviting viewers to embark on a journey through both physical space and the landscape of memory.
amy@amystewartart.com www.amystewartart.com Instagram: @empressofcreativity
The most significant impact of my art-making and teaching has been the way both practices fuel each other. Guiding students through projects connects me to the technical and expressive aspects of art, helping me grow as both an artist and educator. Being immersed in art daily, I am constantly learning and always inspired to do more. More for myself, and for my students.
artist.jaa@gmail.com allanandersonart.com
Tension within Our Dreams
2024
Mixed Media
9” x 7” x 5”
The most significant impact, of my own all encompassing art experiences, is to be unapologetically me. As an artist you learn to be vulnerable, expressive, and confident. These skills are not only important to the art making process but also to being an art educator. Art education is special in a way that I believe no other content matches, it does not matter if you are naturally talented or making art for the first time. Everyone can make art, and have it mean something even if it never reaches an audience but is reserved for only you. Art is an intimate experience to communicate, discover, and understand the complex world around us.
https://educatorthompson.weebly.com/
ART is my creative outlet. It helps me process the many challenges, changes, and experiences of life. When I am creating, I feel understood. I have never felt confident expressing myself through written or spoken word, but through my art, I have a voice.
As an art teacher, I give EVERY student a voice. In my classroom, ART is a window to explore other cultures or time periods. ART is a mirror to see how people have grown and changed. ART is a bond between us that highlights our similarities, even when we see differences. Together we explore the power of ART!
ms.brosnan.art@gmail.com
Patty Schoelkopf-Lewis prefers the tangible aspects of photographic media while searching for the true meaning of each of her subjects. She often highlights the fluidity of water and the timelessness of her subjects. She is intrigued by all creative and technical photographic processes.
x 11”
Throughout her career, she has created photographic artworks with traditional and digital negatives while exploring a variety of alternative processes. In addition, to documenting the world around her, she has mastered the bromoil, encaustic, mordancage, and cyanotype process. She strives to challenge and motivate her students with almost everything she explores photographically. Being open to exploration and a plethora of creative processes has kept her not only motivated in the classroom, but also driven as an artist.
patty@pattyschoelkopfphotography.com https://pattyschoelkopfphotography.com
In college I was fortunate to have wonderful art professors in both undergraduate and graduate school who were not only instructors but mentors that shared their love and passion for making art and their processes. Whether in the classroom with my students or in my studio I am always exploring and striving to allow my art to grow in techniques and media to ignite emotion within the viewer. I strive to continue what my professors instilled in me to my students to energize their own creativity and self-expression in their art by sharing my art and art making process.
24” x 18”
Suzanne.m.glenn@gmail.com www.suzanneglenn.com
Life
Relationships are EVERYTHING in the worlds we live-in. Relationships with any & everything or everyone to include our personal language of expression, where it comes from & how to communicate with those or the things we relate to & or with. To communicate or express is the thread that builds a strong relationship because the fruits of expression are what a relationship will or won’t look like or be visible at all maybe just heard, felt, or smelled.
Art must be created by teachers, creators, to help build up & teach or facilitate art with & to others in our spaces. Teachers cannot just be masters of knowledge sharing information but living examples of their relationship with knowledge exhibiting workmanship using knowledge to create which will inspire others to find the desire to create using their language & freedom, to self-express & communicate in the world they live in. Then we have living, breathing, seeing & hearing sounds of free self expression making creations relational and reactive to others who experience our art both educator and student alike. Choose life, it is full of relationships.
Jesseibellllc@gmail.com www.jesskingart.com Instagram @jess_king_art
Self Love 2023 Watercolor
8” x 10”
In my artwork, I am exploring healing concepts of the spiritual awakening process through pen and watercolor. Self-love is a journey, that can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. The single swan represents independence, grace, and beauty, reminding us of the importance of nurturing our individuality and self-reliance. Art has always been a critical part of my personal growth and healing journey. Teaching my students how to express themselves through art is a rewarding experience. I find as I teach my students concepts, I also grow as an artist and as a human.
natalieschwieger@gmail.com www.wherethejonquilsgrow.com Instagram @wherethejonquilsgrow
Dead Gestures of Dolls
2024
Mixed Media Oil Pastel on Joined Paper and Cardboard, Ceramic, Yarn, Foam and Other
Repurposed Materials
80” x 60” x 3”
As an artist-educator, my core aims are to inspire, create, and empower. Whenever I can, I use found materials to convey my personal narrative. My artwork serves as a conduit for me to express my unique experiences and highlight humanity’s deep interconnectedness with nature. Modeling an active artistic practice within my community is essential for me as an educator.
As a mixed media artist in particular, I find great excitement in showing my students that pursuing ideas unconventionally is what propels the world forward. While I certainly value classical art and illustration skills, I’ve observed that students often pigeonhole themselves as “non-artists” if they can’t draw realistically. It’s incredibly rewarding for me to share my artistic journey - from traditional charcoal portraits to my current focus on upcycling and material synthesis. To see my students start to appreciate and acknowledge their creativity as a higher form of intelligence is truly inspiring.
shannonhopkinsart@gmail.com https://shannonhopkinsart.my.canva.site/mixedmedia Instagram @s_hop_art
“Threads of Cyan & Earth” 2024
Mixed Media Cyanotype Weaving 12” x 12” x 1.5”
The biggest impact of my art making and teaching has been learning how creativity and self-expression are connected. Making art lets me explore personal stories and nature, while teaching helps me guide others to find their own voice. These experiences have shown me that creativity is a flexible, ever-changing process based in curiosity. Both creating and teaching constantly inspire each other, helping me grow as an artist and educator. I’ve learned to encourage others to take risks and explore their individuality, which keeps me excited and motivated in my work.
“Weaving is the art of connecting threads, much like art connects us to the stories and traditions of those who came before us. Each piece is a tactile expression of time, memory, and craft.” ~Jen Dauberman
Water Faculties 2022
Charcoal and Pencil
30 x 22
Taking professional art courses to learn from other artists has the most significant impact on my own art making over the years. Engrossed in another artists planet is an extraordinary learning experience. The knowledge I acquire from these experiences carries over without a doubt, to how and what I teach to my students because I am invigorated again. Experiencing the didactics of another professional artist is both creatively entertaining and can be self - experissistic in instruction.
kfrench@horrycountyschools.net
Finding time to make art as a full time art education professional can be challenging. However, carving out the time to do so can be such a rewarding and reinvigorating process. I particularly enjoy mixed media printing and painting as it provides the platform for me to explore my thoughts, feelings, and ideas creatively. My goal in art education is to create similar platforms for my students while fostering a supportive environment for this exploration, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking, and critical thinking
Mixed Media on Canvas
24” x 36”
Media on Primed Paper
22.5” x 30”
Using a phenomenological approach during my healing from cancer in 2016, I began a journey of reviewing my life, my art, and how I wanted to continue to develop my role as an artist/researcher/ teacher. Landscape figured significantly in my work even when it was not the main subject matter; however, my new views reflected the impressions, colors, land and water forms that held meaning in and of themselves and that were not tied to particular places in the real world but would be an assimilation of places in my past or mind’s eye. It has been a long, strange trip.
susanne.gunter@converse.edu www.theartistindex.com/susannegunter/portfolio.htm @sfgunterart
Teaching and working with my students each day inspires my own passion for creating. I challenge myself with the same expectations as my students-developing craft and expansion of creative ideas. My personal work focuses on abstract portraiture, sharing a moment in time infused with the expression of my perception.
SMWartwork@gmail.com
https://staceywalden.wixsite.com/waldenart @smw.artroom
A Song At Dusk
Statement
Being a creative artist and teaching art, go hand in hand. Each discipline informs the other for insight, knowledge, and self-improvement. roberturbanart@gmail.com www.roberturbanart.com @robert_urban_art (Instagram)
As both artist and teacher, I’ve learned that creativity is about taking the raw, messy parts of life and turning them into visual expression. I’m in the trenches with my students, practicing what I preach— pushing them to face discomfort and confront their own stories. Art is about survival, resilience, and making sense of a chaotic world. It’s not just about creating something beautiful, but about offering a deeper way to see and understand the world and your place with in it.
Cone 1 Red Earthenware, Majolica
2” x 7” x 7”
When I was in Graduate School and Artist in Residency programs, I had seemingly unlimited time to spend in the studio, developing as an artist and a maker. I held out as long as I could but eventually started teaching as employment that would allow access to ceramics facilities and produce works for scholarly juried exhibitions.
I quickly discovered that when teaching I developed ideas and abilities faster than making a body of work. Working in the studio informs the teaching practice and that exchange of teaching and learning informs the studio practice. The two became symbiotic.
4scottlykens@gmail.com 4scottlykens.wixsite.com clay_as_canvas -Instagram Scott Lykens- Facebook
Maine Lighthouse 2022
Needle Felting
11” x 17”
I am an artist because it is my greatest passion and something I can have fun with and it is a joy to share this passion with others.
My artwork is a compilation of the things in life that inspire me most. I love experimentation, and therefore my works vary in media, theme, and style. As an art educator, I try to learn something new with every work. Since beginning teaching, my focus is growing my artistic repertoire and finding ways to pass each experience on to my students.
Creating and passing on my knowledge is what I aspire to do with my life. It makes me happiest when I know someone else is enjoying or getting inspiration from my work.
lahammond@greenville.k12.sc.us Instagram @laragoynehamart
Statement
I believe the act of making art is intertwined with the practice of teaching it. I have spent 23 years teaching art. Through my paintings, I explore color and memory, often incorporating blue willow china, which reminds me of my mother. This connection between personal history and artistic expression informs not only my work but also my understanding of the power of creativity. Continuing my art practice while teaching is essential because it allows me to stay connected to the creative process. By maintaining my own artistic journey, I model for my students the importance of lifelong creativity and self-expression.
spurvis5@sc.rr.com @s_p_originals
Zaanse Schans, Amsterdam
2024
8” x 8”
I think it is important that my students see that I am not only a professor and a researcher, but they see that I am also a practicing artist. As educators, we must model the behaviors and studio habits that we want our students to learn. One of the most significant sources of inspiration and creativity for me as an artist occurs when I travel. I often paint the scenes and landscapes of places both near and far not only to visually document the memories those places hold for me, but to also illustrate that travel is a transformative experience.
Although I can never fully depict the beauty and experiences a place holds for me onto a canvas, it is through the process of reliving those memories and sensory experiences through an art medium that allows for growth and new understandings as an artist and educator. As I take students on study travel experiences, I always tell them to sketch, record, and keep even the smallest momentos. Traveling transports us to new places, but helps us shed our old selves as we change and adapt to new situations, places, and people. Art has always been the first travel agent as it has shown us worlds we never knew existed. I aim to do that with my paintings. I want to depict a time and place that holds memories and forces me
andrea.elliott@converse.edu @andrea_elliott_art2020
For me, the creative process is not complete until I can share the experience with someone else and they can in turn create their own pieces. The art studio classroom setting is the synthesis of the creative journey. Others poured into me, and now it is my turn to give others the same opportunities for discovery and expressionto see the world with a sense of wonder through the vehicle of an empty canvas.
2023
clawbearclaw@gmail.com www.kevinmorrisseyart.com Instagram @clawbearclaw
