“The St. James-Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville, SC” oil on canvas painting was chosen for the Art Show at Cultural Council of Georgetown County in Georgetown, SC in 2016.
Beneath the sheltering canopy of live oaks draped in Spanish moss, the historic St. James-Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville, South Carolina, emerges like a quiet Southern sanctuary suspended in time.
When I painted St. James-Santee Episcopal Church in McClellanville, South Carolina, I wanted to capture not only the beauty of the historic structure itself, but also the feeling of peace that surrounds it. The moment I saw the church resting beneath the ancient live oaks draped with Spanish moss, I felt as though time had slowed down.
I was drawn to the warmth of the wooden church against the deep greens of the Lowcountry landscape, the graceful Gothic windows, and the quiet pathway leading to the entrance. The old trees seemed to embrace the church protectively, as if they had been standing watch over it for generations. I added the small cardinal because to me it symbolizes spirit, hope, and the quiet presence of life within stillness.
As an artist, I am often inspired by places where history and nature exist together in harmony. Historic churches especially speak to me because they carry stories — of faith, community, hardship, celebration, and endurance. I try to paint not just what I see, but what I feel when standing in those places.
This painting was reflects my love for Southern landscapes, historic architecture, and the timeless beauty found in peaceful moments. I hope viewers feel invited into the scene and experience the same calm and reverence that inspired me while painting it.
The real St. James-Santee Episcopal Church was built in 1890 in the historic fishing village of McClellanville as a “chapel of ease” for the St. James-Santee Parish, one of South Carolina’s oldest Anglican parishes dating to 1706. The church is known for its Carpenter Gothic architecture, native longleaf pine and cypress construction
Currently, this painting is part of the private collection of Lynn and Ron Roman of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
— Janis Clary “O”
The Lord’s Prayer — When Art Becomes Music
As I painted, I thought about how music can fill a room even after the last note has faded. A violin may be silent, a trumpet may rest, and the pages of music may lie still, but the emotions they awaken remain with us.
St. James-Santee Parish Episcopal Church
This painting was reflects my love for Southern landscapes, historic architecture, and the timeless beauty found in peaceful moments.
Majesty in White: A Divine Masterpiece of Nature.
Here, supremacy is not aggression or dominance—it is the extraordinary presence of a rare creature portrayed at the height of his natural dignity.
The Power of Freedom
Throughout history, the horse has represented courage, loyalty, and freedom. In this painting, it becomes a universal reminder that our greatest strength often comes from the freedom to choose our own path.
Jam-Ups Shih Tzu
In 1983, a little Shih Tzu, whom I named Tzusie Wong, came into my life. Tzusie was the beginning of a love affair with the Shih Tzu breed!
When you are visiting Downtown Stuart, Florida, stop by The 1895 Church of StuArt, also known as the historic Pioneer Church, and experience my original paintings in oil and acrylic displayed within one of Martin County’s oldest surviving historic buildings.
Art and history have a special way of speaking to one another, and this historic Pioneer Church church provides a lovely setting to enjoy nature-inspired works filled with color, emotion, and storytelling. 311 SW 3rd St., Stuart, Florida 34994
