Hues of the Sea: A Lafayette artist is making waves along the Gulf Coast

Our Louisiana, October 2011
Hues of the Sea: A Lafayette artist is making waves along the Gulf Coast
Written by: Lisa LeBlanc-Berry

Candace Greer’s enchanting paintings of boats, seafood, and flowers pays homage to Louisiana’s bounties. “Water has always influenced my art. I have always been obsessed with the water, being on it, and in it,” she says. “I would always go fishing with my dad when I was little, and we used to go to the beach in Destin. We have a very special place here in Louisiana with our culture, our food, and our landscape. We have such heart-warming people here who love to have a good time; it is almost symbolic of nature.”

Greer’s paintings, bathed in pastel hues, have a calming effect for those who love the sea. Small wooden boats float gracefully on the water, while dreamy seashells on the sand recall walks on snow-white, silky beaches. “My work is very coastal,” she says. Collectors of nautical art are often enamored by Greer’s work, especially while visiting the Florida panhandle where her works are exhibited. “I am trying to keep up with the commissions, and I am also working on a new series.”

This summer, Greer had two outdoor exhibitions at Rosemary Beach. “The exhibits were at outdoor events at the West Indies Market,” Greer explains. Her work is also displayed at Tracery Interiors, which features the works of regional artists at Rosemary Beach.

The eastern-most beach town on Scenic Highway 30A, Rosemary Beach is a growing center for cultural events, concerts, writers’ conferences, and the popular West Indies Market that takes place several times a year. Much like Seaside on Highway 30A (closer to Destin), the beachfront planned community established in 1995 was founded on the principles of New Urbanism and Traditional Neighborhood Development, and features 12 distinct neighborhoods that are interconnected by a network of pedestrian lanes, footpaths, and boardwalks. The thriving art community at Rosemary Beach is attracting artists throughout the South such as Greer, whose nautical art has become a hit among residents and visitors there.

“Aside from exhibiting at Rosemary Beach and in Lafayette, I have also been getting into galleries in Jackson and Atlanta,” Greer says. Born and raised in Lafayette, Greer became an artist at a very young age. Originally trained in watercolors and oils, she has worked in several mediums including pastels, acrylics, photography, and watercolors.

“I’m currently using acrylic and watercolor on wood,” Greer says. “I get asked all the time if it is just watercolor. But I am also using thin acrylics, and I use salt to eat away the paint. The wooden canvases are built for me by a man in St. Martinville. I just love working on the wood because I am always into texture. It is so easy to create pops of color and that really washed look.”

Greer points out that her art has been inspired by the works of Matisse, Renoir, Monet, and Degas. “I am a huge lover of the Impressionists. I love their colors,” she notes. “Spring is my favorite time of year. I get so inspired by the colors of the flowers, the water, and the trees.” Greer adds, “My favorite part about being an artist is that it helps me to express, heal, and add just a little of what I believe is beautiful to this world.” For information on Greer’s work, visit candacegreerart.com or call 337-849-8245.✦

This article was published by Our Louisiana magazine at http://ourhouse.biz/stories/home-garden/gallery-arts/hues-ofthe-sea-a-lafayette-artist-is-making-waves-along-the-gulf-coast.html.