Summer Colors, now in its 10th year, was an idea born out of passion for both art and the patients of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Founded in 2009 by Jenny and Loren Koziol and Jill and Dupree Scovell, this silent art auction raises awareness about the hospital, while also exposing the Dallas community to up and coming local artists. Each year, local artists donate original pieces of art to be featured in the auction, with all the proceeds benefiting our hospital. Over the next few weeks, we will be introducing you to all of the artists. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, July 26, at Scottish Rite Hospital. Additional information and tickets can be found at scottishritehospital.org/summercolors

DESMOND BLAIR

Desmond is a Dallas based 2D artist that specializes in oil painting. Desmond experiments with various types of composition but most of his work centers around the human figure. He attempts to capture the emotion of specific moments and is heavily influenced by 2D animation. Desmond also channels the creativity from his art work into his work as a Project Manager for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. He believes creativity is just as much about solving problems as it is exploring possibilities.

Desmonds inspiration comes from his family, mentors, friends and he also find inspiration from people I meet. He feels that people are passion because people carry stories with them that can have so much wisdom and opportunities to learn more about life.
 

KATHLEEN MEKAILEK

As an artist, I tend to draw inspiration from the land around me. I see the beauty in an abandoned well, a piece of sand, a damaged tree. I believe the world is a place of beauty and want to bring my interpretation of this for others to see. I try to capture beauty in rustic and abandoned places and want to seize moments in time before they are lost forever. I believe that by bringing attention to things that are often overlooked or taken for granted, others will have their minds opened and appreciate the special world they are surrounded by every day.

 

NICOLE MORROW DAVIS

Nicole Morrow Davis is an abstract portrait artist from Dallas, Texas. Her gestural pieces have been described as ethereal, young, fresh and mysterious. Nicole works primarily with acrylic paint, but also employs the use of thread, veneer, and lacquers to achieve the desired look. Her work can be found at Curated as well as the NYLO hotels and the June 2008 issue of TIME magazine. Ms. Morrow studied under the direction of Dr. Joseph Pomara and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas - Dallas.  She is currently, represented by Caldwell Arte Exposicion. When Nicole isn’t painting she is usually contributing to the Dallas Art community through various creative projects or conducting private art lessons with her young students.
 

April Henegar

April is a local artist here in Dallas. Her background in interior design is an influential factor in her creative process.  She uses heavy texture in various mediums and creates beautiful impressionistic artwork inspired by travels, nature & landscapes. 
 

PHYLLIS MABUS

Phyllis Mabus studied oil painting under Clara Stovall at the Garrett Art Gallery in McKinney for 7 Years. She then studied one semester under Janet Reynolds. She also took drawing (MLA) at Southern Methodist University.
Phyllis is in love with color! When she retired from teaching, she never expected to find something as meaningful to my soul as painting. She discovered God’s world in a whole new way. Though I only paint as my schedule allows, it is one of my greatest joys. She paint from her husband’s photographs, which are another inspiration. They bothare becoming nature lovers and so appreciate what God provides for us every day.
 

Carolyn Joe Daniel

Carolyn grew up in Dallas where her love for whimsical illustration began as a child. She earned a BA in Studio Art and Art History at Wake Forest University and was fortunate to experience art while traveling and working abroad as a curatorial assistant in galleries in Sydney, Australia. A sense of exploration and adventure can be felt in her vibrant & playful use of color.

 
Carolyn flourished as a painter and shared her enthusiasm while teaching and developing children’s art curriculum at Providence Christian School of Texas. Today she enjoys creating works for residential and commercial spaces while collaborating with designers and retailers. Her work has been adapted to fashion and commissioned by Roma rain boots, athleisure leggings, home decor textiles, and she was recently commissioned to create brand assets for Bertolli's new line of organic Carapelli olive oil. Her work is featured as large-scale wallcovering as part of a new artist series by LOOK WALLS for commercial hotel spaces. She paints in her home studio, alongside two mini muses // budding artists.

"I'm happy to have a small space & a few quiet hours late at night to create. I love thick sticky paint that takes weeks to dry. It's life-giving and brings me joy."
 
Carolyn is represented in the Southeast by Markay Gallery in Atlanta, and her work can be seen at Ross Towers and Mockingbird Towers in downtown Dallas. Her art is available in fashion and textile/décor at Roma Boots, Zazzle, and Talulah & Hess in Lakewood.  Commercially as large-scale wallcovering via Look Walls and Zazzle. Fine art giclees are also available via The Odee Company’s CanvasKick.
 

Bree Smith
 

Bree Smith is a Dallas-based mixed media artist. She received her BFA in Studio Art from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Bree is enamored with the ideas of what the future looks like for Earth. She enjoys exploring the belief that Earth will be made new again one day. This series explores her imagined extension of our world at its end through abstracted hints of a colorful utopian and slightly Suessian world.

 

Catherine Seals

Catherine is inspired by colors and the moods that they create together. Raising three small children can by exhausting, but at the same time gives her energy and brightness to her art work. 

 

Kathleen Zierhut

Texas.  

Click here to view Part I of our Summer Color Artist Bios