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The Society of Bluffton Artists

2025 Featured Artists

Gloria Owens – January

Jan 5th – Feb 1st.

Artist Reception is Sat, Jan 11th from 3-5 – Open to the public

As a visionary artist, photographer, and dedicated yoga teacher, Gloria Owens explores the intersection of art and spirituality, weaving together her lifelong passions in each creation. Raised in New York City and a graduate of The State University of New York at Purchase with a BFA, Gloria’s award-winning graphic design career spans over 35 years, encompassing branding, packaging, and marketing for clients both large and small. However, it is her profound journey through yoga and meditation that has unveiled layers of consciousness, awareness, and dreams that ignite her personal art.

Gloria’s work, rooted in photography, emerges as intricate mandalas, collages, and surreal landscapes that interlace sacred geometry with her original images. Her art reveals themes of growth, transformation, creation, and serenity, capturing the raw beauty and harmonious energy of Nature. Often described as “transcendent,” “luminous,” and “evocative,” Gloria’s work draws viewers into a kaleidoscope of inner and outer worlds. Her creations invite viewers to pause, breathe, and experience the present moment as a meditative experience.

In her latest show at SOBA, Elemental Alchemy, Gloria weaves the five elements—Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Ether—as metaphors for the intricate balance of emotions, thoughts, and energy dancing between the physical and the Divine. Her intent is to inspire the imagination, open the heart, and soothe the soul. “In times of uncertainty, my art reconnects us to awe, peace, possibility, and a sense of something greater than ourselves,” she shares.

Along with her photographic mandalas and collages, Gloria also loves classic black & white photography. Whether it’s the play of light on a flower, the patterns of tide & sand, reflections on the water, or the dance of dune grass shadows, she is fascinated by texture, composition, and light. Her fine art photography often captures the delightful moments we might miss, and her deep reverence for the natural world.

About Gloria’s Technique:

While skilled in traditional drawing, painting, and photography, Gloria’s current tools of choice are Photoshop, a stylus, and tablet, allowing her to “draw” and manipulate visuals digitally. Though some artists resist technology, Gloria has fully embraced it. “The computer allows me to experiment with imagery in ways that offer more creative freedom than ever before,” she explains. “I don’t use A.I. or filters in my work; each piece is a unique photographic creation, crafted with my eye and refined techniques honed over decades as a graphic designer.”

Once a piece is complete, Gloria prints her work on various substrates—such as canvas and metal—in a range of sizes for limited edition prints. She notes, “This process is not unlike how we used to create photographic prints from an original negative in the darkroom.” Each print is signed and numbered, adding a personal touch to every piece. 

About Gloria Owens

The daughter of an electrical engineer and a highly creative spiritual seeker, Gloria Owens found her unique path by blending math and technology with mysticism and art. From her early days of drawing and painting, she pursued visual arts at SUNY Purchase, known for its creative curriculum, and later worked in New York’s high-pressure graphic design industry. It was during these demanding years that she discovered yoga, which led her on a lifelong journey exploring stress-reduction techniques, meditation, natural wellness, and Eastern philosophy. Gloria trained at the renowned Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA, becoming a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher, and later co-owned YogaSpace, a beloved yoga studio in Connecticut, where she was an integral part of its growth for 15+ years.

In 2010, Gloria was honored to present her visionary artwork at the United Nations’ Culture of Peace symposium during the Week of Spirituality, Values & Global Concerns. Her inspiring 4-minute multimedia presentation can be viewed here.

After 3 decades in CT, raising a family, running multiple businesses and shoveling snow, Gloria and her family, moved to Bluffton, SC in 2020 where she joined the Society of Bluffton Artists and continues to teach Gentle Yoga classes tailored for beginners, boomers, and seniors. Balancing a semi-retirement that is anything but boring, Gloria remains immersed in the physical, spiritual, and artistic realms, whether on the yoga mat, at church, or exploring nature’s wonders.

Gloria’s art is ideally suited for yoga studios, spas, retreat centers, and personal spaces, bringing an essence of the sacred into any environment; for contemplation, inspiration and illumination.

Learn more at GloriaOwens.com, where she showcases her unique blend of yoga, graphic design, and visionary art. Gloria is available for interviews, podcasts, and her enlightening presentation on Sacred Geometry as it appears in nature, architecture, art, and consciousness.

Gloria will be giving a special talk “”Wonders of Sacred Geometry” 

For more information call the SOBA Gallery at: 843-757-6586

Sign-up for Gloria’s talk here:

Wednesday, January 15th, 1:30pm – 3:00 pm
Free to SOBA members and the public at the SOBA Art School

SOBA Hosts High School Art Show Featuring Emerging Talent from Local Schools

The student art show will run Feb. 3-28; opening reception from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 8 at the SOBA Gallery

The Society of Bluffton Artists’ (SOBA) annual High School Art Show will return from February 3-28. This much-anticipated exhibition showcases the creative works of talented students from Bluffton High School, Cross High School, and May River High School. The public is invited to celebrate these young artists at a reception from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, February 8, at the SOBA Gallery, located at 6 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton.
“SOBA’s mission is to provide art education and art appreciation to the local community,” said Lynn Newsom, SOBA event organizer. “With this annual high school art show, we’re able to give students an opportunity for public recognition for their talents and achievements, the same that is given to student athletes, science projects, and music concerts.”

Janet Stevens – April

Coming Soon

Lynne Drake – May

Earliest memories include large chalk figures on pavement. My 1st one woman art show was in 5th grade and did posters and HS yearbook illustrations. Both my husband and I were voted class artists. I earned several scholarships and attended Columbus College of Art & Design briefly. Later in life, I returned to school earning a masters degree in art and education. I am a certified NYS art teacher and have taught K-12, adults, art parties, group homes, privately and currently teach acrylics in Sun City. I work in multiple mediums. Experience includes teaching K-12, diverse populations, group homes, privately an community groups. 

I also owned an art studio on Long Island-taught a variety of classes, hosted receptions for local artists. I’ve judged shows and work in most any medium. I believe art is transforming, therapeutic, and love teaching all levels!

Marie Camenares – June

I love the vibrancy of pastels creating beautiful landscapes and still life and I love working with watercolors lending itself to a unique luminosity.

Jan Urbanic – July

I love the vibrancy of pastels creating beautiful landscapes and still life and I love working with watercolors lending itself to a unique luminosity.

Nancy Huson – August

My first art class was when I was 9 years old. I minored in art at Colgate University. I have studied under Harry Fredman and Joyce Greer for Portraiture. In addition, I have studied under Carol Douglas and Greg Barnes for plein aire landscapes. I paint primarily in oils and enjoy many different subject matters. My style varies from realism to impressionism.

Carol Iglesias – September

A Plein Air Impressionist, Carol was awarded a prestigious Artist Residency at “Les Amis de la Grande Vigne” in Dinan, France, the former home and studio of famous French artist Yvonne Jean-Haffen. Her painting was selected for the Museum’s collection and was on exhibition in France during 2013 and 2019. Carol is a member of American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, Pastel Society of America and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Her paintings are in collections throughout the U.S. as well as five other countries.

Karen Magill – October

Karen was born and lived in the Cleveland Ohio area and moved to Bluffton in 2020. Following a corporate career in the food industry, while raising six sons and a daughter with her husband Doug, Karen now focuses on her love of art and paints in several mediums. Her work can be seen at SOBA, Coastal Exchange, Alexander’s restaurant and Signature Gallery in Savannah.

Karen loves to paint Plein Air (outside) to capture the local landscape as well as the beauty of places she’s traveled.