For artist Julie Jones, inspiration doesn’t require looking far from home. It can be found in the sweep of a Lowcountry marsh, a heron standing at the water’s edge, the unexpected colors of an oyster shell or a horseshoe crab discovered along the beach.
Those familiar pieces of the coastal landscape take center stage in “Love Where You Live – Oil Paintings by Julie Jones,” on exhibit October 4-31 at the Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) Gallery, 7 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton.
The public is invited to meet Jones and celebrate the exhibition during a reception from 4-6 p.m. October 10 at the SOBA Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.
A native of Hilton Head Island and current Bluffton resident, Jones has spent her life immersed in the landscape she now captures on canvas. Her colorful paintings celebrate the marshes, waterways, wildlife and natural details that make the Lowcountry distinctive.
“I am fortunate to love the place I call home and to have the opportunity to capture pieces of the Lowcountry on canvas,” Jones said. “While I often explore a variety of subjects, I continually find myself drawn back to the landscape and creatures of this unique environment.”
That connection is at the heart of “Love Where You Live.” Rather than simply observing the Lowcountry from afar, Jones experiences it as part of her everyday life.
“I walk our beaches. I wander Pinckney Island. I collect shells, watch birds, turn over horseshoe crabs, and take in the countless small details that make this place special,” Jones said. “I am surrounded by inspiration to paint where I live and what I love.”
Her subjects range from coastal landscapes and dramatic Lowcountry skies to shorebirds, oyster shells, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs and other creatures synonymous with life along the South Carolina coast. Vibrant color gives the familiar subjects an energy that reflects Jones’ own affection for her surroundings.
Jones primarily works in oils, which she favors for their smooth blending qualities and rich color. Her process begins long before the first brushstroke, however, with the experiences and observations she gathers while exploring the coast.
“Every painting began with a grateful feeling, a thoughtful sketch, a generous mess of color, and usually very loud music,” Jones said. “For me, there is something almost indescribable about being completely immersed in the act of painting: surrounded by inspiration, color, music, and the desire to create.”
Jones holds degrees in Studio Fine Arts and Art History from the College of Charleston. In addition to her studio work, she creates commissioned paintings through a highly personal and collaborative process. She works with clients to consider subject matter, palette, style, scale and eventual placement, creating pieces connected to the environments and memories they represent.
Her artwork can be found in hotels, businesses and private collections throughout the country.
With “Love Where You Live,” Jones brings the focus home to the landscape that has influenced her since childhood. The exhibition is both a collection of Lowcountry paintings and an invitation to look more closely at the beauty that surrounds us every day.
Exhibition Details
- What: Love Where You Live – Oil Paintings by Julie Jones
- When: October 4-31
- Reception: Saturday, October 10, 4-6 p.m.
- Where: Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 7 Church Street
- Admission: Free and open to the public
About Julie Jones
Julie Jones is a native of Hilton Head Island and resident of Bluffton, South Carolina. Inspired by the coastal environment she has known since childhood, she creates vibrant paintings of Lowcountry landscapes, marine life, shorebirds, oyster shells and other subjects that celebrate the region’s distinctive natural character.
Jones holds degrees in Studio Fine Arts and Art History from the College of Charleston. Her work is held in private collections and displayed in hotels and businesses throughout the country. She also creates commissioned artwork for clients seeking pieces with a personal connection to meaningful places and memories.
Learn more about Jones and her work at juliejonesartwork.com or follow @juliejonesartwork on Instagram and Facebook.
About the Society of Bluffton Artists
The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the visual arts in the Bluffton community and throughout the Lowcountry. SOBA provides opportunities for local artists to display their work while offering exhibitions, educational programs and events that connect artists with the community.