2025 Artist-in-Residence: Year in Review
Every year, the South Carolina State Parks Service hosts the Artist-In-Residence program. This program provides artists with the opportunity to gain inspiration from the natural and cultural resources of the South Carolina State Parks. In return for a week-long stay at a state park cabin, each artist produces an original piece of artwork that is presented to the park. This competitive program attracts outstanding artists from all over the state and beyond. Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of meeting the 21 artists who were selected for the 2025 Artists-in-Residence program. Here is how they enjoyed their residency.
*The Artist-in-Residence program application is released in the fall of each year. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow our Facebook, Instagram, or X accounts for updates on when the 2027 application opens.
For more information about the program, visit our Artist-in-Residence page.
Paul Atkinson - Givhans Ferry State Park
"This residency was an unexpected challenge. I had completed artist residencies at several National Parks, photographing the landscape under dark night skies. So I had an idea of how I might approach this residency. But rain, clouds and branches everywhere limited my opportunities for clear, unobstructed skies. And besides, the essence of the park wasn’t the sky. It was the river. And so I looked to the river to find my inspiration.
Each day the river’s falling water level presented a slightly different shoreline and new revelations previously hidden beneath its tannic blackwaters. And so each day presented me with something new. The morning light touched first the treetops on the opposite bank, descending in a curtain of light that eventually danced across the water. In the evening, that process reversed as it gradually lifted from the woods where I stood, sometimes imperceptibly, sometimes dramatically, as it let previously-illuminated surfaces fall into shadow.
I spent most of my time along the river, following this light in the wooded overbanks. But I wanted to engage the imagination, to show what I found in a different light, in a way that people aren’t used to seeing it. And so I explored the park through the lens of a custom-modified digital camera that can see light from the near-infrared spectrum, as well as a sliver of the adjacent visible spectrum. It was quite literally a different light!
My donated piece was shot one evening from the edge of the boat ramp, the one place where I could get out from the bank for a clear view of the river. I love how the light illuminated the woods in that shot, as if it were revealing a hidden world right there among the trees, as well as the abstracted reflections in the water. And just minutes later, that light was gone. I am so glad that I, and my camera, were there to see it.
This was my first visit to a South Carolina State Park, but I doubt it will be my last."
Jami Childers - Devils Fork State Park
During my artist residency at Devils Fork State Park, I was immersed in an environment that was as peaceful as it was inspiring. The park’s breathtaking scenery fueled my creativity, and during my stay, I was able to complete four paintings. One captured the movement and energy of a cascading waterfall, while another focused on the soft beauty of mountain laurels blooming along the trails. My favorite was inspired by my first morning on the water. I captured the quiet beauty of the sun rising over the lake. The last one was a sandpiper that was running along the water's edge. Each painting became a reflection of the serene moments I experienced there. I’ve since painted several more from my photos of my residency. I made time to paddleboard every single day—gliding across the crystal-clear water, surrounded by mountains and the sound of nature, was as rejuvenating as it was unforgettable. My cabin was both beautiful and cozy, providing a perfect space to rest and reflect after long hours of painting and exploring. This residency was truly an extraordinary opportunity, blending art, adventure, and tranquility in a way that deepened both my creative practice and my connection to the natural world.
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KC Christmas - Colleton State Park
KC Christmas enjoyed her time with family at Colleton State Park. From the playground to the Cypress trail, they were able to take it all the local sights and sounds. They also used Colleton as a jumping off point to explore 3 other nearby SC parks and historic sites (Edisto Beach, Givhans Ferry, and Battle of Rivers Bridge). It was inspiring to take in the Edisto River at different times of day and weather (from a bright sunset to a foggy morning). KC loved the way the light dappled on the dark river, which ultimately inspired her painting.
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Suzanne Dillman - Colleton State Park
Colleton State Park is a beautiful State Park and a wonderful campground. My time there was completely enjoyable, taking in all that Mother Nature presented on a daily basis. I enjoyed kayaking the Edisto River, where I witnessed plenty of wildlife. The Edisto River was also accommodating for my landscape photos; cool, misty mornings were beautiful. I also had the pleasure of seeing Yellow Water Lilies for the first time. Relaxation at its best with love from Mother Nature.
Michael Gambrell - Cheraw State Park
Sarah Gersbach - Poinsett State Park
My artist residency at Poinsett State Park was absolutely magical. Everything aligned perfectly for the ultimate week of creativity. I was able to fully immerse myself in the artistic process. The cabin, the weather, the solitude, and the stunning natural beauty of the park, all of these elements combined, made for an unforgettable experience. I was inspired by the trees, the Spanish moss gently blowing in the warm breeze, the reflections of fall foliage in the pond, and the sunlight shining through the leaves. The first day, I found a pinecone from a longleaf pine. It was still closed, solid, and green. I brought it back to my cabin and was determined to draw it from life, something that I haven't had the time or motivation to do for several years. That night, although I was exhausted from a day of travel, I drew the pinecone and put a few glazes down with watercolor paint. The next day, I set up my painting station at the picnic table and completed the painting in the sun, listening to only the sound of birds singing and leaves dropping. The opportunity to completely focus on my work was the most rewarding part of my residency. The beauty of my surroundings was the icing on the cake.
I will always look back fondly on my time at Poinsett State Park, and I hope to return again!
Dave Gombka - Hickory Knob State Resort Park
Hickory Knob was such a great experience. Rob and everyone was great!
I think for me, the Lakeside trail was my favorite for hiking. The golf course made for some nice scenes, especially early in the mornings. And this ended up being my inspiration for my residency. As I was there in October, I got to see the changing leaves, cool mornings, warm afternoons, and a quiet version of this special place.
Thanks for having me this year!
Jose Green - Sesquicentennial State Park
Great blue herons are typically the standout. They are my favorite birds to paint and watch. I didn’t know exactly what I would paint during my time as the Artist in Residence at Sesqui (Sesquicentennial) State Park, but I knew it would incorporate the wildlife and landscape in the woods.
My campsite was next to a large area of pines. In the predawn hours, the bird list on my Merlin App was registering songs I’ve never heard before and birds rare to the area. Once the sun was out, the birdsongs would soften. Our breakfasts would transition to reading in the camp chairs, and in that late morning quiet, the summer tanager first appeared. When he came out on one of the pine branches, I saw red and just assumed a cardinal. After a few seconds, I realized it was much different. The tanager flew from one low branch to another, showing off every angle of himself. He was the standout in these pine woods, and I could see he wanted me to know every angle, so I could choose the one to paint.
Mr. Summer Tanager came to visit us every morning for the rest of the week. One day, he landed briefly on the arm of my camp chair, I believe, just to confirm I was getting the message for the painting. I took some great pictures to use as references. The painting took me several days from start to finish, and I was able to remember meeting the most outgoing bird in the woods. His portrait hangs in the camp store at Sesquicentennial now.
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Greg Hammond - Oconee State Park
"In preparing for my residency in May, I began learning everything I could about Oconee State Park. Although my wife and I had camped there twice before, I knew there would be new experiences we could discover. While browsing the park’s website, I came across a ranger-led hike around the Lake Trail scheduled for April. The hike was timed to coincide with the blooming of the rare Oconee Bell, and I couldn’t resist making the trip. We were not disappointed—the flowers were in full bloom, and I was fortunate to capture their rare beauty in one of my pieces.
I chose to return in the spring to photograph the park’s many wildflowers and diverse wildlife. On my first day, I hiked the Lake Trail again and was thrilled to discover a family of Pileated Woodpeckers. Their nest was ideally situated for photography—facing east, about 15 feet up, with a clear line of sight. I spent hours quietly observing as both parents fed at least two fledglings. Over the next three days, I returned to the site and took hundreds of photos. While I captured many memorable moments of parenting, I ultimately selected an image of the male parent with two fledglings peeking out of the nest for my final artwork.
It was a truly unforgettable experience—one I had never witnessed before—and my excitement was overwhelming. I look forward to returning to Oconee State Park to continue exploring its many natural treasures"
Ailyn Hoey - Poinsett State Park
I had the honor of spending a week at Poinsett State Park as artist-in-residence in February 2025. I traveled there with my teenage son and mother, and we had a lovely time exploring the park, learning about its history, and discovering the region's flora, fauna, and minerals. So many species of pines! The visitor center is constructed out of Coquina, which was interesting to see.
In February, foliage was sparse, and the colors of the landscape were subtle and muted, which made for optimal viewing of the contours of the land and the branch structure of the trees and shrubbery. I found much inspiration in the tree forms, the dappled light, and reflections on the water. I took many reference photos, sketched, and created several finished drawings. It was wonderful to be immersed in a new and inspiring landscape and to have the time to explore the park and create new work.
bb Kristin Holzer - Chester State Park
I didn't know much about Chester State Park before going into my residency, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I got to stay in a little cabin on the lake, and it was such a peaceful weekend. My husband and I both play disc golf, so we were so excited to try the disc golf course. It was an incredible course, and we have been back to Chester to play since my residency! I didn't spend any time painting while I was in the park since I only had the weekend and wanted to experience the park fully. I took plenty of reference photos to take back to the studio and decided to paint Chester's most iconic view (in my opinion), the bridge going across the lake. It was a beautiful late spring day, so I tried to capture the different shades of green in my painting. The water, as usual, was a bit tricky to paint, but I tried my best to paint the subtle ripples and movements in the water's surface. It was a lovely time at Chester overall, and I can't wait to go back again!
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Lindsey Maldonado - Givhans Ferry State Park
"In April 2025, I had the privilege of serving as an Artist-in-Residence with South Carolina State Parks, immersing myself in the landscapes and waterways that make this state so extraordinary. My residency was spent alongside the Edisto River, exploring shaded trails, and watching how light transformed the water’s surface throughout the day. These moments of stillness and movement became the foundation of my work.
The piece I created, a soft pastel rendering of a sunset paddle, captures the quiet magic of being on the water. I was inspired by the way the colors of the sky merged with the reflections on the water as those who enjoyed this space felt a sense of peace.
My creative process began with time spent on-site, sketching and taking reference photographs of all of the boats, floats and kayaks on the water, as well as daily hikes with frequent stops to observe those things rarely noticed. The goal was not only to document a scene, but to preserve the sense of calm, connection, and adventure that the park inspires.
The residency deepened my appreciation for South Carolina’s natural beauty and gave me the opportunity to translate that experience into a piece that I hope will encourage others to explore, protect, and fall in love with these wild spaces."
Teresa Mancuso - Table Rock State Park
I am so thankful to have been chosen artist-in-residence for the 2025 Table Rock State Park. My visit was in the middle of September, and true to South Carolina, the leaves were beginning to change on the side of the mountain, but it was still warm enough to swim in the lake. The nights were cool enough for a fire, but the days were too hot to wear long sleeves. On our hikes around the Lakeside and on the Carrick Creek trail, I was enraptured by the bright, late summer blooms. Around one bend, we had to pause to watch the fluff of the thistle blow across our pathway like a snow flurry. Our cabin (#5) had a marvellous, clear view of Table Rock Mountain and a backyard of bright, blooming, swamp sunflowers. The sky at night was so dark it was hard to distinguish even the basic constellations amidst the stars, but the field was wild with lightning bugs! I could never imagine a more perfect location for an artist to set up an easel! I was able to find more than enough scenes for inspiration!
Sarah Mandell - Myrtle Beach State Park
"It was such a pleasure to spend a week as Artist-in-Residence at Myrtle Beach State Park. My days revolved around the sunrises and sunsets. I was sure to be on the beach when the sky started to change color so I could watch the sun appear and disappear every single day. It seems so slow at first but then you realize once it’s happening, it’s happening fast. The light changes dramatically in just a minute or two and if you look away, you will miss something good. I really enjoyed matching up my wool fiber colors to those vibrant sunrises and sunsets!
During the daytime I I explored the maritime forests, salt marshes, nearby towns, took a variety of tours and created lots of fiber art inspired by my surroundings and the creatures I met along the way. My favorite animal sightings included at least 50 dolphins on a boat tour in North Myrtle Beach, a pair of roseate spoonbills in Murrells Inlet, and getting unexpectedly close to 7 very calm deer while on a hike.
Because I lucked out with perfect weather (the first of my 7 State Park residencies where it didn’t rain once the entire week!), I produced slightly less work than in the past, but I enjoyed my time at the coast even more so because I was outside the majority of the day, soaking up the beautiful scenery and taking nearly 600 reference photos to work from later. No joke!
While on-site, I created 14 needle felted landscapes and 3 bird portraits, but I know more pieces inspired by my time at the beach will certainly be in my future."
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Emily Martin - Oconee State Park
I sat down in Oconee State Park on day one of my artist residency and realized I didn’t know how to paint.
Gone were the ten years spent practicing landscape watercolors, and gone was the lifetime before that laying foundational art skills. Gone were the painting classes I’ve both given and taken, and gone was any concept of how to begin. That first sketch I made of the park lake was trash.
I knew why, logically, I was experiencing this block—I was setting my expectations too high for myself. An artist-in-residence, I thought, should be an extension of the other park highlights, a reliable installation like the historic bath house and old waterwheel. I forgot that art is a process, and not even a linear one. It’s a ramble—up and down, round and round, achieving one thing only to start on the next challenge.
Thankfully, Oconee reminded me what art is over the course of the week. It lured me in with twisting laurel branches heavy with pink and white blooms, over Cherokee land and among CCC-built cabins. It sang to me in the evening chorus of spring peepers and the cackle of pileated woodpeckers. It caught my eye in the trailing wake of the beaver that made its evening commute across the lake, and it drummed my skin in a downpour on the trail to Tamassee Knob. It reminded me to stop obsessing over what I was supposed to be, and to enjoy just being.
I re-found my art skills over the course of the week. I painted eight studies and seven larger pieces, some great, some okay, some technically bad but fun to paint, some arduous but nice to look at. It was a ramble, like art is supposed to be. On the final day, I painted the piece I knew I wanted to leave behind. I was hiking the Old Waterwheel Trail and came around a bend to find the stone pillars that once held up the wooden race. Green with moss, cradled by Virginia creeper and lady fern, they reminded me of old soldiers still standing at attention as the forest gently overtakes them. I hope it captures a tangible piece of Oconee and entices viewers to take their own ramble, enjoying the quiet thrill of being present.
Anna Newell - Calhoun Falls State Park
Staying at Calhoun Falls state park was a wonderful experience that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I was lucky to have a campsite on the very edge of the lake. The views were beautiful and are what inspired my final piece. I wanted it to capture the different ways the lake looked at different times of day, and also the colors that can come from it. We also found and rescued a fish that had washed ashore, which inspired the final out of four pieces framed together. Overall, the colors of the area were so vibrant and inspiring, and I am very glad I had the opportunity to stay there.
Ben Panter - Devils Fork State Park
My residency at Devils Fork State Park gave me the opportunity to explore the pristine water of Lake Jocassee and a few of the other natural treasures in the region. My family spent each day on the water, fishing, swimming, and canoeing along the coast, exploring the many hidden coves and beaches. It was amazing to observe the different locations change as the water level shifted throughout the week. We especially fell in love with a little island up the western side of the lake and spent many hours there just enjoying the sun and the crystal clear water together. We also adventured out beyond the confines of the park to explore some local trails, and especially enjoyed Twin Falls, King Creek Falls, and Spoonauger Falls. Artistically, it was very inspiring to be surrounded by such beauty every day, and I enjoyed responding to the changing views and light with my camera. Using both my digital and pinhole cameras, I took the opportunity to experiment with long-exposure photography to show the movements of water over time.
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David Schuppert - Table Rock State Park
During his fall residency at Table Rock, artist David Schuppert set out to capture the mountain’s iconic silhouette. Weather delays required some flexibility, but an early scouting trip allowed him to gather the photos and sketches he needed. He and his wife, Patti, returned the next week following the sudden loss of their golden retriever, Charlie. From Cabin 4, David spent time painting en plein air, ultimately completing a 24x48 acrylic on canvas framed in walnut. He extends his gratitude to everyone who helped make the residency possible.
Lindsey Spears - Dreher Island State Park
My stay at Dreher Island can only be described as AMAZING! When I decided to bring my kids I was initially afraid they wouldn't find enough activities to fill a 6 night stay while I worked but I ended up having to drag them away when we finally left. Waking up to the sounds of nature, painting off and on between swimming, fishing and catching toads with my boys left me feeling a new level of peace I'm still chasing after! I ended up painting George the local blue heron and of course a bass to represent my stay. I do art professionally and found myself reaching a point of burnout but the creative freedom and calm environment of the park was a total factory reset for me. I left my stay feeling recharged and ready to create! Being able to combine my colorful funky style with the beauty surrounding us was truly a pleasure, I cannot wait to do it again.
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Margaret Vetter - Dreher Island State Park
I spent the last week of October at Dreher Island State Park. Since it was later in the year, the weather was cooler, and the island was quiet. We lived in Lexington for 17 years, and I’d never been there; it was beautiful! The first couple of days were rainy but the villa was spacious, allowing me plenty of space to work. The lake view was stunning! The weather cleared up, and I went on quite a few walks and saw many blue herons, the inspiration for my work. I enjoyed a much-needed relaxing and inspiring stay!
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