Welcome, Singers & Songwriters, to the 5th annual 30A Songwriters Festival! Voted #1 Hottest Annual Event on 30A, The Blue Giraffe is proud to support this incredible music festival. Our artists and their inspired creations are the heart and soul of our gallery. Thanks to their generosity, original artwork was donated to the singers’ “goody bags” by the following artisans:
Ginger Jackson Sinton, Ginger Leigh Designs, Holly Rhodes, Jeanie Posey, Lee Downing, Little E Studio, Mary Hong, Modus Photography, Sassy Jewels, SeaGrass Candles, The Moore Family Folk Art, The Salty Bean, Tricia Robinson, and Yvonne Cole.
Each year, Visit South Walton honors a local artist that represents the style, sophistication and scenic beauty of South Walton to bring attention to 30A’s thriving arts community. The 2014 Artist of the Year is mosaic glass artist Mary Hong!
The Blue Giraffe discovered Mary several years ago and has been carrying her work ever since. Her passion for glass and unconventional mosaic techniques has gained her notoriety in South Walton and beyond. In November, Mary will be featured in Southern France at “A One Woman Exhibition of Contemporary Art” at the Galerie Arthe in GAUJAC.
Mary has been a professional artist for more than 20 years and has been working with glass the last 13 years. She uses dimensional glass techniques to stand glass rigidly on its edge to allow light to pass through the glass while reflecting colors and textures onto a surface.
We especially enjoy Mary’s coastal color palette, unique subjects and one-of-a-kind-style. We think Mary is the perfect choice to represent the South Walton artist community and the Artists of 30A. We invite you to stop by the Blue Giraffe to see some of her latest creations.
You won’t want to miss the super-popular MEYER Board Painting Workshop, featuring the super-rad artist Alan Moore!
On August 7th from 11:30 -3:00The Blue Giraffe will host one of Meyer’s last workshops of the year. Come on out and have a blast creating some cool artwork on a skim or skate! Complete skateboards start at $120, skims start at only $60!
Please call us at 850.231.5112 for more info or to pre-register.
Learn to paint with local artist, Aaron Sutton! Sign-up for a semi-private class with an incredibly gifted, colorblind artist. Aaron will meet you at one of the gorgeous coastal areas along 30A and teach you a simple technique using acrylics on canvas. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful artwork you will create and you’ll have such fun doing it! No experience is needed and supplies will be provided. You only need to bring sunscreen, water, and a positive attitude.
Classes are on Thursdays from 2:00 to 5:00 and the cost is $200 per person. Space is limited so sign-up now by calling The Blue Giraffe at 850.231.5112.
Aaron has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Texas Tech University. He has been painting for over 10 years and is a full time artist and graphic designer on 30A. He is also red/green and blue/violet color blind. If he can do it, you can too! Read more about Aaron Sutton by visiting our ARTISTS page and our BLOG.
We would like you to meet Rob and Ginger … they had a blast learning to paint with Aaron while recently vacationing on 30A :
Testimonial from one of Aaron’s former students:
“I am an art major at Union University. For my spring break I got to spend a couple of hours meeting Mr. Aaron Sutton as well as painting with him at a local park on the beach. I am not an experienced painter, but it is one form of art that I enjoy doing. I have taken a couple of art lessons and classes while growing up, but I learned more from Mr. Sutton in just one lesson. I enjoyed viewing his work that was in his gallery as well as a few current pieces he was working on. He guided me while I painted a landscape of the beach. I got to experience techniques that he uses himself, which were very new to me. I had a great time and I was impressed that I painted the painting I did. Mr. Sutton was not only a good teacher, but also very encouraging and intentional. As an art student i appreciated that because pursuing art as a career is my goal and it is usually not an easy one. As soon as I got back home I bought certain things Mr. Sutton uses and I am now practicing the methods and techniques that he practiced with me. Overall my experience with him has given me way more confidence as a painter and helped me explore things about paint I did not know before.” – Kenzie Carter
Have you ever been fascinated by a work of art and wondered … “How did they do that? I wish I could do that!” Have you ever looked out across Western Lake or one of the beaches along 30A and thought … “Gosh, I wish I could paint that scene!” If so, it’s never too late to learn where to start.
Local 30A artist, Aaron Sutton has developed a very simple method to help you enjoy painting and take out most of the guesswork. Once you have spent one afternoon with Aaron, you will not only return home with your very own original painting, but also a “recipe” that you can use to enjoy creating artwork for years.
“Once I discovered this method for myself, I truly began to enjoy painting. It removed stress and allowed me to be creative with the paint.”
Aaron, who is both red/green and blue/violet colorblind, believes that anyone can enjoy painting with his simple method. Even with severe colorblindness, using this technique, Aaron can paint just about anything you put in front of him.
Contact the gallery today to sign up for the next painting adventure with Aaron. You don’t need to bring anything but a positive attitude, water and sunscreen! Most of the classes will be Thursday afternoons from 2:00 – 5:00. Cost is $200 per person, paid in full at time of sign-up. For more details and to sign-up, call The Blue Giraffe at 850.231.5112.
