HWA L K E started painting outside for pure func-tionality;
he wanted people to see his
work, so he thought he’d paint where
the people are. People came up to him
often to start a conversation and buy
his work, so for a while it just made sense. Most of the
time, things went as planned, but painting in public
often came with territories both good and bad.
“Some days are great and you’re out there painting
on the waterfront at Morehead (City) out at Captain
Bill’s and the sun is out and the seagulls are squawk-ing,
and you just think to yourself life doesn’t get any
better than this, and then the next day you’re getting
in trouble,” he said. “It’s an exciting life.”
But before Rooney was a successful, full-time plein
air painter, life looked a bit different. He was immersed
in art, but he spent a bit less time on the highway and
in his car. He ran a homeless shelter and ran a busi-ness
making signs on the side, working half the day at
the homeless shelter and painting signs for the other
half. He soon gave up the sign business, continued
at the homeless shelter for half a day and started
painting for the other half. After 13 years, he gave up
the homeless shelter to go full time with his art. He
continued to paint outside, but when he outgrew his
on-the-street sales, he put his art into galleries. New
Elements Gallery in Wilmington was the first gallery,
he remembers. But that wouldn’t be enough, so he
began to travel.
Down Easter, 18 x 18 inches, oil on canvas.
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com
Eclipse Artisan Boutique
More than 200 local and regional artisans:
203 Racine Drive, 910-799-9883, EclipseArtisanBoutique.com
Golden Gallery
Cotton Exchange,
311 North Front Street
910-762-4651,
www.thegoldengallery.com
“The Blockade Runner”
Archival pigment prints in
several sizes
from a watercolor by
Mary Ellen Golden
Handmade
sterling silver and
sleeping beauty
turquoise
toggle bracelet
$459
“Water Lily” by Angie Sinclair, 18 x 24 inches, oil on canvas.
Works
Advertising
SOLD
after being seen
in the pages of
Wrightsville Beach
Magazine
Find the right buyer for your
masterpiece in WBM’s Gallery Walk
special advertising section
Call 910-256-6569 to advertise
53
WBM