Right around the corner is an amazing opportunity to acquire beautiful artworks that capture the sights and culture of the American South.
Whether it’s capturing a freshly baked pie or the dim glow of a fading day across a sandy beach, a full range of subjects and styles are available for purchase during this year’s Hilton Head Art Auction at Morris & Whiteside Auctions, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Organizers of the event say, “For over 15 years, Morris & Whiteside Auctions, LLC has produced premier fine art auctions on Hilton Head Island and in Charleston, South Carolina. Offering significant paintings, sculpture, and vintage prints by deceased and contemporary masters of the South, the annual fall event attracts an extensive database of proven collectors from throughout the United States.”
Barry Thomas, “Reflections,” oil, 36 x 48 in. (c) Hilton Head Art Auction 2015
Eighty-four artworks from over 45 artists will feature in this year’s sale, which is expecting spirited bidding despite the state’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Joaquin’s flooding. A complete list of the artists can be found here.
The balance of color and feathered brushwork characterizes Barry Thomas’s “Reflections.” From a low point of view, the audience find themselves along the shoreline of a slow-moving, swampy river, populated by dancing arrangements of lily pads. The palette of the painting is its strongest attribute; noteworthy are the strong vertical and blended strokes of pastel purple, blue, and fiery orange found in the reflections in the water. Creating a sense of wonderful three-dimensionality are the soft branches of a low-hanging tree that enters the piece from the left edge. Auction estimates are between $3,000 and $5,000.
Dan Gerhartz, “From the Fields I,” oil, 40 x 22 in. (c) Hilton Head Art Auction 2015
Another breathtaking painting is Clark Hulings’s “Near Woodville.” The viewer is placed along a dirt road deep within the Southern wilderness. In our view to the right is a well-used cottage, nestled comfortably among a variety of weeping willow and maple trees, with ivy and other grasses and shrubs. Coming down the path is an empty carriage, pulled by a donkey and horse draped in afternoon shadow. Two roosters dart about the path as well, attentively monitoring their surroundings. Particularly outstanding is Hulings’s masterful skill in capturing the light of a midday sun. A beam of light cascades across the picture from the left, creating a river of illumination over the road and the front porch of the home. Estimates range from $80,000 to $120,000.
Michael B. Karas, “Beach Harmony,” oil, 11 x 14 in. (c) Hilton Head Art Auction 2015
The Hilton Head Art Auction begins with a preview of the lots tomorrow, October 9, at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. The auction will take place Saturday, October 10, at 10 a.m. To view the full catalogue of available works, click here.
To learn more, visit the Hilton Head Art Auction.
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
