18 Jan Meet Our Featured Artists: Meredith & Douglas Piper
Each quarter, we display work from a different local artist at our Main Street Real Estate Gallery. This quarter we are featuring two artists – husband and wife duo, Meredith and Douglas Piper. Be sure to stop by our Artist Reception on January 25th from 6 to 8 p.m. to see their show, “A Marriage of Mediums.”
photo by Eli Warren
Both Meredith and Douglas have drawn inspiration from their every day lives for their art. Their individual and unique styles complement one another – hence the name of this reception, “A Marriage of Mediums.”
The use of various mediums gives their work a unique feel – especially when their art is shown together. Meredith’s work consists mostly of acrylic and oil paintings on wood panels, as well as woven textile pieces. Douglas’ art is shared through photography, woodworking, and printing.
The Pipers are glad to be living and working in Greenville – a town that has supported their artistic endeavors and provided inspiration for their work!
To learn even more about our featured artists, we asked them to answer some questions about their work.
1. What piqued your interest in art?
Meredith: It was the endless possibilities as a child that drew me to art. My blank canvas could become anything, and boy, did I have quite the imagination. I could get lost making high fashion designs with my textured rubbing sheets. There was awe in creating the appearance of texture on a flat piece of paper.
Douglas: I have always been around art in my family. My grandmother is a painter and my grandfather was a carpenter. But it was not until I met Meredith that I really began to pursue my own art. She was so busy painting and creating while we were dating that I needed to do something while she was doing all of this art, so I starting block printing.
2. How would you describe your style of art?
photo by Cameron Reynolds
Meredith: My work is a mixed bag. My acrylic and oil paintings are slightly impressionistic and contemporary, usually revolving around landscape, flora, or the human figure. My handwoven textile pieces are much more abstracted, representational of landscapes, fractured light, or patterns one would see in natural stones or elements of the earth. My work is distinguished by bright and pastel hues and the over emphasizing of understated details.
Douglas: My style is a mix of outdoors and folk. I love the outdoors, and it shows up in all of my artwork, between the mountains to the ocean. My linoleum block printing weaves together layers of found paper, graphic block prints, and handwritten text to create a vintage feel. I collect a variety of found paper, maps, books, and letters to create unique linoleum carving collages.
3. Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your work?
Meredith: Being made from dirt, I can’t help but be drawn to the great outdoors for inspiration. My work explores the beauty of nature that is all around us: light, colors, textures, and patterns.
Douglas: For my work, I draw inspiration from my adventures; camping, hiking and biking to places such as the Colorado Mountains and the Appalachian Trail, exploring the local lakes and the Carolina Coast. Old weathered cabins, well-worn backpacks, and seasoned boats are all layered on old maps to lure the onlooker in and hopefully spark memories of their own past travels and experiences.
4. What’s an interesting fact about you or your work?
Meredith: I am also an avid plant lover and propagator. A lot of the plants in my artwork are from our own collection we have nurtured over the years.
Douglas: I use my grandfather’s 1920’s topographic maps in my prints that represent the outdoors. I also use my grandfather’s carved wooden spoon to press each and every print I make.
5. In what ways does your art work together and complement each other?
photo by Douglas Piper
Meredith: Douglas and I share very similar inspirations for our artwork, nature, but how we approach this same subject matter gives our work a lot of contrast. Our styles are very different, but our color palettes are very similar and bring cohesion to our pieces.
Douglas: Meredith’s work is beautiful and the colors she paints with are perfect. My work is simpler and connects really well with hers.
6. What do you enjoy most about both being in a creative profession?
Meredith: There are so many blessings in this profession, one of my favorites is having a studio downtown. Having an open door where community and relationships can be made over a shared passion is pretty special.
Douglas: That we get to work together and the freedom to march to our own drum. Creating artwork is a gift the Lord has blessed us with and inviting people into this brings us such joy. We get to put our personalities into each piece and hopefully, people walk away knowing us better and seeing the Lord through it.
To learn more about Meredith Piper, visit her website.
To learn more about Douglas Piper, visit his website.
Come meet Meredith and Douglas at our Artist Reception on January 25th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Real Estate Gallery. Their art will be on display at the gallery from January – March.
