Meet Our Instructors
Mary Burrell – Children’s Art School Manager & Instructor
Award-winning artist Mary was born and raised in New York before relocating to Bluffton, SC, with her husband in 2017.
Mary was born and raised in New York before relocating to Bluffton, SC, with her husband in 2017.
In New York, she taught at Once Upon a Dish Studio, worked with two faux interior painting companies, and completed numerous commissioned pieces. She was also an active member of the Nyack Art Collective and the Colored Pencil Society.
After moving to Bluffton, Mary was accepted into the National Association of Women Artists and became a founding member of its South Carolina chapter.
She began teaching art to Pre-K students at Cross Schools and is now in her sixth year instructing 6- to 12-year-olds at the SOBA Art School. Mary enjoys challenging young artists and watching their growth.
“The best part of teaching,” she says, “is seeing the proud faces of the kids.”
Marie Camenares – Pastels and Alcohol Ink
Marie Camenares – Artist & Educator
Marie Camenares is a passionate artist specializing in pastel and watercolor painting. She is drawn to the vibrancy of pastels and the luminous quality of watercolors, using both mediums to capture the beauty of landscapes. Inspired by the breathtaking scenery of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Marie focuses on painting the marshes, waterways, and skies of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Her expertise also extends to rendering billowing clouds with striking depth and movement in both watercolor and pastel.
In addition to her artistic career, Marie holds a degree in horticulture and has been a professional florist for over 50 years. Her deep connection to nature and color informs her artistic process, bringing a unique perspective to her work. Marie also has extensive teaching experience, having led workshops on Long Island, New York, for several years. She is dedicated to sharing her love of art with others, inspiring students to explore their creativity through the beauty of pastel and watercolor painting.
Lynne Drake – Acrylics
Creating art is a passion I discovered at a very young age – it gives me purpose, calm and joy. I tend to illustrate and enjoy painting nature and organic forms, figures and expression – beauty.
I’ve dabbled in many mediums including drawing, pastels, acrylics, oils and watercolors. Educational credits include a BFA and MALS in art and education. I’ve also received multiple art and academic scholarships.
Currently, I am semi-retired and teach acrylic painting in Sun City, Bluffton SC and SOBA Gallery also in Bluffton. I’m fortunate to have a supportive husband who is also an artist and sculptor – together we keep ourselves busy in the local art scene.
Missy Gentile – Oil Enamel
Missy is an abstract painter currently based in Bluffton, SC
She draws inspiration from her life experiences and her core values of service and human connection.
After receiving her B.S. degree she took off alone for Paris, France with a one way ticket and lots of moxie. Her experiences living the cultural life in Paris for 3 years served as a foundation for her life.
After Paris, Missy settled in Houston, Texas for 20 years and devoted herself to her art and serving others. She created her first studio/gallery and volunteered in hospitals with cancer patients and at OMEGA HOUSE, a hospice for Aids patients , where she facilitated connections and emotional care through sharing the creative art experience.
Missy taught in the Houston school system and began her life as a working artist, exhibiting and selling her work. Her paintings are in collections internationally. In 2002 Art Business News featured her works inspired after 911. Her paintings have appeared in other publications throughout the country, including the cover for local PINK Magazine with a piece called “Feeling Her Power”.
Currently Missy teaches Abstract Painting at SOBA (Society of Bluffton Artists) and privately to children and adults. Her beginning statement for each class is a quote from the artist Helen Frankenthaler: “One of the first rules is no NO RULES”.
Missy’s art reflects her vision of no boundaries. What the eye sees is what it is…..how it moves you is most important.
Barbara Pecce – Watercolor
Barbara studied art history, fashion illustration, and painting at Florida State University. Barbara developed her painting style in Puerto Rico, where she lived for 47 years with her husband and children.
Barbara paints in the traditional transparent watercolor method. The rich colors and reflections of sunlight and shadows she observed in Puerto Rico continue to inspire her paintings.
“This seems to me the perfect medium for capturing the tropical colors that surround us.”
Barbara was a founding member and president of the Puerto Rico Watercolor Association.
She also taught watercolor at the Liga de Arte in Old San Juan and at the Museo de Arte. Barbara currently volunteers as Education and Workshop Coordinator at the SOBA Art School.
Carol Iglesias – Plein Air Impressionists
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.
Sandra Campeau – Multimedia
Sandra is a multimedia artist. She minored in art at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee and continued her art practice over the years.
Sandra believes in “skill building art”, different small projects that can be completed in a short period of time, to try new techniques. So many people think they should just be able to paint. But doing small exercises, studying composition, and color theory; this leads to great paintings. Without a regular practice, it is very difficult to improve skills. She teaches these techniques to enable artists to grow in their skills and understanding of how to create great art.
Natalia Hicks – Expressive Artist and Educator
Natalia Hicks is an accomplished artist and educator originally from St. Petersburg, Russia. She earned a BA in Education and an MA in History from Leningrad State University. Before moving to the United States, Natalia worked as a tour guide in some of St. Petersburg’s most iconic art museums and palaces, including the world-renowned Hermitage, where she met her future husband, John.
Relocating to Georgia, Natalia spent 17 years inspiring young minds as an art teacher at Whitefield Academy, a private school in the Atlanta suburbs. She also taught high school students at Stonehaven School before retiring and moving to Bluffton, South Carolina.
In retirement, Natalia shifted her focus to painting, creating realistic landscapes that reflect the natural beauty of the Lowcountry. Her artwork can be seen at local venues such as SOBA Gallery, Alexander’s Restaurant, and Rose Hill Clubhouse, as well as in private collections.
Though retired from full-time teaching, Natalia’s passion for education remains strong. She believes that with the right guidance and dedicated practice, anyone—at any age—can become a successful artist. Her goal is to inspire her students to embrace their creativity and capture the world’s beauty through colorful, expressive art.
