Abstract expressionist Sterling Edwards featured June 29 – July 30

Sterling Edwards (photo by Linda Young)Sunset River Marketplace art gallery in Calabash, NC is featuring works by Hendersonville, NC artist Sterling Edwards from June 29 – July 30 in a show titled Sterling Edwards: Intuitive Experience. Edwards, who works in both watercolor and acrylic, is primarily self-taught and has developed a unique style of painting that has earned him international recognition and the respect of his peers, students and collectors. He is often commissioned to jury national and international art competitions.

Edwards has been featured in Watercolor Magic magazine’s “Ones to Watch” and in Watercolor Artist magazine. He was awarded membership in the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor as well as the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. He was selected as a featured artist in the book “Best of America Watermedia Artists,” and is the author of the best selling North Light book, “Creating Luminous Watercolor Landscapes, a Four Step Process. He is also featured in “Masters of Watercolor,” written by Russian artist and author Konstantin Sterkhov.

He employs stylized shapes, bold lights and darks, and dramatic color rhythms to build his sought after abstract expressionist paintings. Edwards’ expressive calligraphy and splattering are signature techniques.

When asked about his recent works, the artist offers, “My non-representational paintings combine shape, line, color and texture to create a personal visual statement that allow me to say much more with a brush than I could every say with words.

 “I often refer to my abstracted paintings as an intuitive and spontaneous artistic statement. They’re a vision on display composed of energetic and expressive brushwork in some areas that are complemented with subtleties in other areas. What I demand from one of my abstracted paintings is that it truly is a spontaneous and intuitive artistic statement.”

Sterling Edwards: Intuitive Experience at Sunset River Marketplace includes over a dozen new works as well as a few from his personal collection.

Since opening in 2002, Sunset River Marketplace has been an active supporter of performing, literary and visual arts in the area. The 10,000 square-foot gallery features work by over 150 North and South Carolina artists. Its on-site pottery studio has two kilns and four wheels for use by students.Sterling Edwards, Cruising, watercolor on paper Ongoing oil, pastel and watercolor classes are also provided, in addition to workshops by nationally known artists. The gallery’s Coffee With the Authors program features presentations by local and regional offers. A Paint & Party series provides a fun after-work experience for those with no previous art background. The gallery’s framing department offers full-service, on-site custom frame design.

Sunset River Marketplace is located at 10283 Beach Drive SW (Hwy 179), Calabash, NC. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the website (www.staging.careful-crib.flywheelsites.com) or “like” the gallery’s Facebook page, which is updated daily. Reach the gallery by telephone at 910.575.5999. (Bottom photo is a detail of Cruisin, watercolor on paper by Sterling Edwards.)