Artist Phyllis Shipley
Phyllis Shipley has been producing fine art paintings for the past thirty (30) years and has been a successful gallery owner, a successful art show participant and award winner, and a continual student in the details of watercolor and acrylics. Phyllis Shipley began painting in the early 1980’s. Always loving the arts, following years of playing and teaching music with the organ and piano, raising children, and a successful career as a purchasing executive with a major chemical corporation, the time was right to pursue her new found passion of painting.
Artist Shipley, a native of Johnson City, Tennessee, opened her first gallery in 1984 in a gift shop in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she painted a large 12’x28’ mural in the Tea Room. Later, becoming a full-time artist, she opened her gallery in October of 1992 in Johnson City. Nestled amongst some major chain stores the simple white building with the maroon awning was often described as a “hidden jewel” by customers. Stepping inside, the gallery showed the artist’s vivid imagination in using the vivacious colors of her palette. Her inclusion of nationally known bronze and glass sculptures, jewelers, carvings and raku pottery artists completed the essence of her gallery vision.
Shipley often describes her childhood with the house being full of music and the garden full of flowers. Her mother, grandmother and aunts all had large flower gardens. This instilled in her a feeling of love of color and rhythm. “Flowers are a symbol of strength as well as delicacy and beauty. The rains come, beat them down but then the sun shines and they perk back up again, showing their strength”. Phyllis applies her “Inner Vision” to create juicy and loose paintings with a musical fluidity of expressions. Her “inner vision” subjects may be referred to as “figurative abstracts”. She “delights” in working with her collectors, personal and corporate, along with interior designers and decorators to create specific needs enhancing the home or business of their clients.
Besides being a successful gallery owner, Phyllis has participated in many art shows in the Eastern U.S., averaging 18 to 20 shows annually. She also participated in the Wholesale Art Marts in Atlanta, New York City, Dallas, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. Closing her gallery, after a family loss, and then moving to Florida in 2003, her attention has been focused more on using the acrylic medium. “Using the variety of textures and the wonderful action and reaction of acrylic is nothing but fascinating and fun. I lose all sense of time when I paint, being totally intrigued with the process. The freedom is indescribable. Having met and made so many wonderful friends who also enjoy the accessibility of wonderful music and musicians in the Cocoa Beach area, I am excited to express that joy in my paintings.” Phyllis states “my desire in painting is to express the zest, the energy, and the joy of life that is all around us and be thankful for that beautiful gift”.
This wonderful artist passed in late December 2023. Phyllis had so many collectors, admirors and friends that enjoyed her large body of work. Her loss is going to felt throughout the art world.
