As an artist, John Crum strives to develop paintings that speak about the world and the moments that affect our lives and environment—personal moments that have made a fond memory or lasting imprint. He believes a painting should evoke thought, awaken a memory, or spark an idea.

“My subjects begin as an observation or in a passing moment. Capturing that image and putting the message onto canvas is my most gratifying accomplishment. I consider a painting successful when the viewer stops, takes a closer look, and smiles,” said John.

Pink Magazine is excited to feature local mixed-media artist Lennie Ciliento. His dynamic artwork is bursting with intricate details and fun vibes—a colorful salute to summer featuring layers of intriguing elements.

Raised in Rutherford, New Jersey, Lennie headed south to Hilton Head as soon as he graduated high school—more than 30 years ago. His interest in art began at home with a basket of broken, wrapper-less, Crayola crayons and drawing on whatever he could find, even the occasional piece of furniture. (Horrors!) “I remember being about eight-years-old when we were given a coloring sheet in school. I watched a boy in my class carefully outline each shape and color it lightly. He mocked my heavy-handed coloring, telling me it wasn’t the ‘right’ way to do it. Sadly, I believed him. Worse, I was jealous. His page looked neat and ‘proper,’ while mine was a thick, waxy mess of color, drawn hastily and well outside the lines. Last I heard, his artwork wasn’t put on the cover of Pink Magazine, so it just goes to show how far persistence and individuality will get you!” laughed Lennie.

Pink Magazine is ecstatic to dive into July with the dynamic design work of local Bluffton artist Lisa Henderling.

Born in Queens, NY, Lisa has known she wanted to be an illustrator since she was 7-years-old. She came from a creative family—her parents were professional dancers. Her mother was especially supportive, nourishing her creative spirit through dance and art lessons starting at age 8. “My desire was always to be an illustrator, not a fine artist. As a kid, I had favorite fashion illustrators whose work I would save from magazines or newspaper ads, and I would try to copy them. My favorite thing in the world was to draw, and usually, I was drawing women, often with pink hair!” exclaimed Lisa.

With a lifelong creative spirit and inner self-drive, artist Sheri Line took her early artistic queues from her mother and grandmother, both artists themselves. They lovingly encouraged her toward her own artistic journey. Post four children and an international executive career, Sheri now enjoys being a full-time artist. Whether in her home studio on Hilton Head Island or painting plein air, Sheri is living her best art-filled life by the sea.

Cassandra M. Gillens is a celebrated artist known for her vibrant depictions of Gullah culture and life in the Lowcountry, particularly in the coastal regions of South Carolina. Her work is deeply rooted in the traditions, history, and community of the Gullah people, descendants of enslaved Africans who lived along the southeastern coast of the United States.

Ladies, raise your wine glasses in salute to Jill Haney Neal, this month’s Cover Artist who’s whimsical, bodacious babes have graced a variety of artworks, including paintings, wine labels, coffee mugs and Pink Magazine’s October 2016, June 2020, and August 2023 magazine covers: Welcome back, Jill!

Jill believes women were created in God’s image with a universal spirit and are equally loved regardless of size, ethnicity, or background. “There is an edginess to my art, and from what I’ve been told, I’m still breaking barriers. When you get women together, they are funny and sexy, it’s just part of our essence.”

It’s not every day you can befriend a giraffe, enjoy a bubble bath with five dogs, or birdwatch with feathered friends. This month’s cover artist, Canadian Lisa Finch, loves to create scenes like these. Inspired by fond memories of childhood summers at a family cottage, along with her passion for animals, old films, and favorite books, her oeuvre is a happy mélange of vintage couture, charming animal portraits, beach scenes, and cozy interiors. Today Lisa paints in a small studio in her home, which she shares with her husband and two dogs, nestled close to Lake Ontario near a large conservation area, where she spends many afternoons feeding the birds and talking to the deer.

Aziz Kadmiri, a contemporary impressionist artist, is renowned for his vibrant cityscapes and compelling figurative works. Utilizing oil and acrylic, he skillfully blends mixed media on canvas, often enriching his pieces with gold and silver leaf. His art vividly reflects his Parisian influences, capturing the energy of urban life and the allure of fashion.

Exhibited and collected worldwide, Aziz’s work invites viewers to reimagine their perceptions of the world.

When it comes to art, Lori Portka has two mantras: 1. Happiness Through Art; 2. Art and Love from Me to You! Both are unmistakable the minute you see her vibrant, colorful, playful works. Her work literally radiates with happiness and exuberance, which she credits to her daily practice of gratitude. We’re excited to bring Lori’s joyful artwork to Pink Magazine’s cover for the second time.

As a child, Lori loved drawing so much she did it nearly every day. “You could find me huddled over a sketchbook with colored pencils, pencil shavings, and crayons spread all around the table. I loved to pretend I worked for Hallmark and made cards for my family, complete with a logo on the back,” Lori said. However, after she lost her father at the tender age of 15, she decided to set aside her art as she pursued a more traditional and solid career. She worked as a teacher and counselor for many years.

The image on our cover this month is by prolific artist Kathy Womack. It is titled “Women and Wine: The Grove Edition” and is part of a series of more than 90 paintings. Kathy began her artistic career as a fashion illustrator, working at the Austin American-Statesman in the mid-90s. She explains her move from print to canvas: “After working in advertising for a decade as a fashion illustrator, I craved freedom from the nine-to-five and looked to a different outlet. I picked up my brushes and never looked back.”

The image on our cover this month is by prolific artist Kathy Womack. It is titled “Women and Wine: The Grove Edition” and is part of a series of more than 90 paintings. Kathy began her artistic career as a fashion illustrator, working at the Austin American-Statesman in the mid-90s. She explains her move from print to canvas: “After working in advertising for a decade as a fashion illustrator, I craved freedom from the nine-to-five and looked to a different outlet. I picked up my brushes and never looked back.”

This month’s fantastical and festive cover art is by June Valentine-Ruppe, a self-taught artist who was born and raised in California, where she always had a passion for art. For more than 30 years, June illustrated over 120 children’s books for Disney, Scholastic, Golden Books, and more. In the books, she illustrated beloved characters from Sesame Street to Disney, and Lamb Chop to Barney the Dinosaur. She even created artwork at special backstage VIP events at Disneyland. When I asked if she still worked as an illustrator, June replied, “For many years now, I have devoted myself to creating my own original artwork.”Her original paintings are a far cry from Mickey, Minnie and Barney, as evidenced by the work on our cover entitled, “Mardi On”. Displayed in Gallery Orange in New Orleans, Louisiana, June tells us she always tries to create art to represent the location of the gallery, and this one is no exception—it’s all about New Orleans and Mardis Gras.

Joyce Huntington, whose artwork is founded in energy, is always looking for ways to get her energy out there. She’s excited to debut her second Pink cover and share her special energy with our beloved readers.

Joyce’s work is always a meditative process. Many of the images she paints are given to her during meditation, or come during those moments between worlds, when one is just waking up. “I don’t try to figure out their meanings, I just paint the vision. Time stops when I start mixing colors; intuition guides my strokes. Painting is all about discovery, making connections between the subconscious mind, the hand, and the canvas. There’s always a surprise when I put down the brush and move back, always more and less than I intended,” said Joyce. It is usually at this point she begins to see and understand what her subconscious was manifesting during her state of deep thought.

Beauty abounds in our little slice of paradise, and local Bluffton artist and designer Leli Holmes (pronounced Leh-li) is here to capture it. From extraordinary oysters and vintage boat paddles to majestic octopi and graceful Roseate spoonbills, her artwork embodies the Lowcountry’s soul; that being nature.

After majoring in Fine Arts, Leli started her career as a graphic designer and spent decades creating behind a computer screen. “As much as I enjoyed design work, I dreamed of creating something that was mine and not dictated by design clients,” Leli said. She began her journey of creative independence with small watercolor notecards she sold in local stores and at outdoor pop-up markets, squeezing her artwork between homeschooling her three children during the pandemic years. Over time, she began painting larger pieces, selling prints, and eventually took on commissions. Her background as a designer came with years of turning people’s thoughts into pictures; a valuable asset as she began to listen to clients’ ideas and turn them into custom pieces for their homes. “I love doing commission work, bringing people’s visions to life in my unique style. I felt I had found myself when I began working on a larger scale,” said Leli.

“Creating joy…apply as needed” is the mantra for Bluffton artist Nancy Patrick Carney’s imaginative artworks. Her original, mixed-media paintings invite us to dive in and enjoy the people, places, and animals of the S.C. Lowcountry in a fun and fanciful light.

After graduating with a degree in art from Miami University (Ohio), Nancy began working as a commercial artist, package designer, product and book illustrator, and art teacher to both children and adults. Throughout her career, she and her husband lived and raised their family in six different states. After retirement, Nancy and her husband found Sun City while traveling. Little did she know, she’d be shoveling sunshine instead of snow within the year; they moved to Bluffton in 2016.