Creatures inspired by the sea

This fall, La Petite Gallerie is featuring two sculptors, both drawing inspiration from the waters surrounding the Lowcountry.

Black is still a fresh face at the gallery, an emerging talent whose creativity knows no bounds. His art features large resin and fiberglass sculptures of ocean creatures: beautifully painted deep-sea fish, bronzed horseshoe crabs, a clownfish swimming among sea anemones and, most recently, an imposing octopus that stretches 40 inches from toe to toe.

Sanders is always thinking of his next piece. Currently, he is working on a graceful betta fish approximately 3 feet wide. This one may be his most beautiful yet, with flowing fins that belie the wire, mesh and fiberglass components. He is not yet sure whether this one will be freestanding or hanging. His art evolves as he works on it, using intuition and artistic license to make creative and practical decisions.

Wally Palmer is a veteran La Petite Gallerie artist who has continued to delight customers with his bas-relief sculptures depicting Lowcountry life. His pieces are poured in resin using molds he has carved over the years. It is a multistep process ending with the bronze coating and patinas Wally is known for.

Many of his recent reliefs are done in collaboration with his partner, Denise Pope, who finishes them with luminescent paints, creating another dimension of realism. Wally is also known for large sculptural fountains and other freestanding pieces.

The work of these artists is prominently on display this fall at the Gallerie. Stop by to see their art as well as the latest work of the four other owner-artists, plus pottery, jewelry, garden art and more. There is something for everyone in the gallery and garden.

Murray Sease is an artist at La Petite Gallerie, 56 Calhoun Street, Bluffton, SC. lapetitegallerie.com