ROCKINGHAM — Two featured artists from Richmond County have several of their paintings in the Arts Richmond window gallery.
Jane Moss is a nurse at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital-Richmond and has worked there for 35 years.
Moss discovered her love of art at the very young age of 4.
“My mother would give me a sheet of notebook paper and a pencil, and I would sit in the floor and draw,” said Moss.
Moss took art class as an elective at Richmond Senior High School under teacher Shirley Tyner. After graduating, Moss realized she didn’t have as much time for her love of art, so she put it on the back burner.
“I quit for a long time due to work, everyday life, and a lack of space to paint. I recently started back about three years ago,” Moss said, adding that her favorite medium is oil.
Moss currently paints on a regular basis and has sold several paintings. Her work has also been displayed in other art exhibits.
Lula Smith’s work has been featured in numerous folk art festivals along the East Coast. She has also sold several pieces as well as having collectors of her artwork.
Smith worked at the same hospital as Moss for more than 25 plus, but has since retired. Over the years, her work has been featured at Arts Richmond multiple times.
“I began painting at age 5 when I made my first papier-mache at Ashley Chapel School; it seems like just yesterday,” Smith recalled. “I started with watercolors at around age 9 and also painted a lot of murals. The teachers would come and get me out of class to do the bulletin boards.
“I became a mother at an early age which didn’t allow me a lot of time to do artwork for several years, but I did start back around age 26 and haven’t stopped since,” Smith continued. “Dr. John Stevenson was my inspiration, and he told me that anybody could paint flowers and birds, but I had to find my spot. I then began painting folk art; that was my spot.”
When both artists arrived with their artwork to submit for display, they realized they both knew each other from working at the hospital.
Karen Adams met the artists and created the display windows with the help of Moss and David Warren. Randy Warren also helps with the window displays, but was unavailable on this day.
Susan Perkins, president of the Arts Richmond Board of Directors, was speaking to Adams after the display was set up. She mentioned that the display should be called “Friends Who Paint” since they both knew each other.
The paintings will remain on display for the public to view throughout the months of July and August.
All are encouraged to come out in support of the artists to view the displays. More artwork is on exhibit throughout the Arts Richmond building and there are upcoming workshops in pottery, painting and collage later this year. There is also a monthly photography group for anyone interested in photography.
“If there is anything else someone would like for us to offer, please contact us to let us know,” said Perkins.
The gallery is at 123 E. Washington St., Rockingham. For more information, contact Arts Richmond on Facebook or ArtsRichmond.org.
