Mission
hang art. wear art. save wildlife.
I am a Charleston born and raised wildlife portraiture artist. I have been painting full time since I received my art degree from the College of Charleston in 2011. I paint with Chinese watercolor on paper - in a style I call Modern Gongbi.
My vision is to create intimate portraits of animals whose paths I cross - in hopes that my portraits will inspire appreciation, education, and conservation.
Conservation is woven into the heart of my work. Monthly, I donate 15% of what I receive from every sale to wildlife conservation. I am fulfilling my lifelong dream of "working for the animals". The more I donate, the happier and more productive I feel.
I donate 15% of my proceeds from every bird collection piece you purchase to the Avian Conservation Center & The Center for Birds of Prey.
In 1991, Jim Elliott began the Charleston Raptor Center in his own garage. Today, Jim's vision has grown into an internationally respected wildlife hospital and so much more. The Avian Conservation Center's medical team treats more than 1,000 birds annually - 365 days a year - and houses over 120 raptors (50 species) as a part of their educational collection. The list goes on and on.
I have 2 websites.
This website, Christinahewson.com, has 3 Sections: Originals (from my hand to yours), Limited-Edition Prints (from my hand to yours), Lust for Wildlife Collections (factory direct to you).
When you click the "Lust for Wildlife Collections" section, you actually leave Christinahewson.com and enter Lustforwildlife.com with two new sections: "Shop Art & Gear" and "Shop by Animal".
See My Work in Charleston.
Charleston Art Guild Gallery - East Bay St
Antiques of South Windermere - West Ashley
City Market - Joyce's Choices booth C-31
Avian Conservation Center & The Center for Birds of Prey - Awendaw
Thank you for supporting wildlife through my art.
Commissions
I treat commissions as requests. Once I hear your vision, I will do my best to find your animal in a pose that inspires you. Once we iron out the details (size, frame, price, delivery), I will paint. I do not require a deposit and if for any reason the completed piece does not fulfill your vision, you are under no obligation to acquire the piece.
BIO
In 1988, I was born in Charleston and raised 20 miles north of Charleston in Awendaw - on the Intracoastal Waterway near Bulls Bay and the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. Our backyard was a menagerie of Lowcountry wildlife. Being homeschooled enabled me to complete my mandatory studies and to have plenty of time for the things I loved most: art, piano, and swimming. I began selling my wildlife portraits in my teens.
I began college with a piano scholarship, but after just one year, I returned to my art. Since receiving a College of Charleston Studio Art degree 2011, I have painted full-time. From 2011 to 2015, I showed my work in a number of venues including Charleston's Southeastern Wildlife Expo (2012 thru 2015), Thomasville's Wildlife Arts Festival (2012 thru 2014), my Antiques of South Windermere Gallery (2012-2015), and many smaller Charleston shows.
In 2015, I abruptly moved to Boston due to a sudden illness and stayed there for five years. I honed my ink/watercolor skills by painting human and animal portrait commissions. I also painted animals that I was enamored by at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo. It was in Boston that I envisioned my "Lust For Wildlife Collections", which I had hoped would eventually enable my art to support conservation. Boston became my second home.
In 2020, I returned to Charleston and my family. Ever since, I have been busy painting portraits, building my "Lust For Wildlife Collections", and delving into the exciting world of wildlife conservation. During my daily walks around the city, I am truly amazed at Charleston's beauty and bountiful wildlife. There is no place like home - especially when it is Charleston.
Christina