Press Release
The winning Lowcountry artists from The Society of Bluffton Artists' (SOBA) 27th Annual Judged Show will be announced live from a special awards ceremony from 5 pm – 7 pm on July 7th at the gallery in Old Town Bluffton.
Winners will be awarded first, second and third place cash awards in the following categories: acrylic, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, watercolor or 3D.
An exhibit of the award-winning work will be on display from July 5-Aug. 1st at the SOBA gallery. These events are free to attend and open to the public.
The judge for the show is nationally renowned artist David Rankin. Rankin's award-winning watercolors are in public and private art collections in the U.S., India, and China, have been featured in more than 150 museum exhibitions, and are included in the North Light's series, Splash: The Best of Watercolor, and Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing, and in numerous art magazines.
Rankin is offering a “Watercolor Dazzle” demonstration at 2 p.m. July 3rd at the Center for Creative Arts. The demo is free for SOBA members and $10 for non-members. Immediate and advanced painters also might like to take advantage of Rankin's transparent watercolor workshop called “Painting Lowcountry” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 6-8 at the Center for Creative Arts. To register for the class, go to sobagallery.com.
About the judge:
David Rankin promotes conservation and appreciation of the natural world through his paintings and has worked with organizations such as the International Crane Foundation, the Wild Bird Society of Japan, the Corporate Conservation Council-Japan and the Smithsonian Institution. He is a Signature Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, Artists for Conservation, and the Society of Animal Artists where he has served on the board since 1990. David is one of the true modern-day masters of transparent watercolors, exuding a dynamic passion for the medium in his lectures, demonstrations, and workshop instruction. His art reflects his profound passion for both watercolor and nature. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, Deanna.
About The Society of Bluffton Artists:
SOBA is the heart of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton's historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. As a non-profit art organization, SOBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more. The gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays. Please visit www.sobagallery.com for a complete calendar of events and other information or call 843-757-6586.
