Frederick B. Richardson Sr. stands in front of some of his paintings in his home in Texas City. Richardson enjoys using acrylics, pencil and pastels for his art. Photo by Kelsey Walling

Inspired by his mother and teachers, retired preacher pursues his art

Each piece of art displayed in the rooms of Frederick B. Richardson Sr.’s Texas City home tells a different story through creations he has painted from thoughts and ideas in his mind. [Read more…]

Leroy LeFlore is a self-taught artist who lives in Galveston. LeFlore specializes in oil painting, watercolor, pen and ink, wood carving and plank-on-frame ship modeling. Photo by Kelsey Walling

Island painter captures the daily scenes of coastal life

Take a look at one of artist Leroy LeFlore’s paintings and you’ll learn a lot about what Galveston scenes inspire him. His art is a journal of his life — whether it’s a morning on the 10th Street jetty, a walk through an East End alley, a glimpse of the sunset from a West End beach, grazing cows in a field, or a view of the city from his third-floor studio. [Read more…]

Some of Chris Whatley’s creations are displayed outside his East End island home. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

These artful flowers bloom year-round in Gulf Coast gardens

Chris Whatley thinks he has a solution to Gulf Coast gardening. His flowers don’t die, need water or sunshine. [Read more…]

From wood shop classes in middle and high school, to his grandfather and uncle who were carpenters by trade, working with wood isn’t new to Norman Bloom III. It wasn’t until last year, though, after the death of his grandmother, that he began building and creating pieces for friends and family. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Loss of beloved grandmother propels island artist

Norman “Snooze” Bloom III has always loved working with his hands and creating things with wood or other materials. [Read more…]

Jennifer Nichole Head stands with some of the art she created from cigar boxes at Havana Alley in Galveston. Head sells her creations online and at Havana Alley. Photo by Kelsey Walling

Islander puts creative, coastal touch on cigar boxes

With Jennifer Nichole Head’s hand-decorated cigar boxes, the smokes aren’t the main attraction. [Read more…]

Shaifer Goalen, left, is a budding young artist working with mentor Amy Owens, owner of Clay Cup Studios in Galveston. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

How an island mentorship program helped a young artist sell her first work

“Andromeda” draws you in. Its whimsical subjects — an octopus, fish and ocean flora — conjure up a fantastical world below the sea. The painting is named after an Ethiopian princess, who in Greek mythology is saved by a sea monster after her parents try to sacrifice her to save their kingdom from the wrath of god Poseidon.

The painting’s textural, three-dimensional quality and vibrant mix of consciously chosen colors beckons to be touched. It recently sold at ArtWalk in downtown Galveston for $225. [Read more…]