Photograph of original Oil by Edna Reed Whaley (1884-1979)Edna Reed Whaley is my grandmother who was born in New Orleans. She graduated with an art degree from Sophie Newcomb College in 1903, married Marcellus Seabrook Whaley of Edisto Island, SC and moved to Columbia, SC.
Petite and energetic, Mrs. Whaley was known for her dedication and passion toward the causes she embraced. Her husband, Judge Whaley, was her advocate and most ardent champion.
Talented and versatile, Mrs. Whaley worked in oil, watercolor, charcoal, pen and ink, woodblock printing, etching and pottery. Her subject matter was varied including still life, landscape and portraits. Many of her landscapes were inspired by summers at Edisto Beach, SC.
In addition to painting and teaching art classes, Mrs. Whaley restored many of the historic oil portraits housed in South Carolina collections.
Mrs. Whaley was one of the founders of the Columbia Art Association and one of 4 founders of the Columbia Museum of Art. She was a member of the Columbia Art Association Advisory Board, the Columbia Artist Guild and the Quill Club. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia and the Vanderpoel Art Museum in Chicago.
Courtyard Art Gallery, of which I am a member, is part of Charleston's French Quarter 20th Anniversary Celebration this weekend, "The Charleston Experience: A Walk Through Time". Our gallery chose the sub-theme "The Past is Ever Present," and we each highlighted a short biography of and painted an artwork inspired by the work of an artist from the past who lived in Charleston or had Charleston connections.
The next post will have my watercolor inspired by the above oil painting.
