Gail Heminger Cunningham was born in Mishawaka, Indiana, and has lived in Columbia, South Carolina, for the past 26 years. Gail’s love of art began at an early age with her mother who shared her love of painting. Gail is a full time artist who works in watercolor, acrylics, collage and mixed media.

Gail is a member of Trenholm Artists Guild and Seven Oaks Art League, where she served as president, newsletter editor, membership chair and juried show chair. She is currently Regional Director of the South Carolina Watermedia Society. Gail's artwork has been juried into the South Carolina Watermedia Society and the South Carolina State Fair Fine Arts Division, and included in the juried art exhibits at Crooked Creek Art League, Trenholm Artists Guild and Seven Oaks Art League, where she won awards in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Gail’s pen and ink artwork was chosen for the cover of Trenholm Artists Guild’s 2007/2008 membership directory and also their juried show program. Her acrylic painting "Seascape" is featured on the TAG membership brochure. In 2008, she won the award for best “Fabulous Fake” at Seven Oaks Art League for Diego Rivera's painting "The Flower Carrier". She also won a Merit Award and Purchase Patron Award for "Welcome to Greenyville" at the SC State Fair in 2009. In 2010, Gail won a Purchase Patron Award from the Fine Arts Division at the State Fair and also a Merit Award from the Trenholm Artists Guild for "Singing in the Rain". Juror John Hall, Professor of Studio Art at College of Charleston, made this statement about her painting: "Strong composition. Well organized and dynamic. I enjoyed the colored grays playing off against the small moments of pure color. More abstract, but reminiscent of Thiebauld’s compositions."  In 2010, Gail became a Member in Excellence of the South Carolina Watermedia Society.  Also in 2010, she was elected President of the Board of the Village Artists Gallery in Village at Sandhill in Columbia, where she exhibits her art. In 2012, Gail was elected Secretary of the SC Watermedia Society and continues to serve as the Regional Director for the Midlands area.

Gail has studied with many nationally known artists including Gerald Brommer, Linda Doll, Warren Taylor, Marilyn Phillis, Margaret Martin and Carole Barnes.  She has exhibited her paintings and jewelry at many venues in the Columbia area and throughout the state. She is currently represented in Columbia, South Carolina at Village Artists at Village at Sandhill and in North Carolina at Sunset River Market Place in Calabash.

You may contact the artist at gacunningham@mindspring.com

I put equal importance on the viewer's interpretation as I do my own, rarely being specific as to the art's meaning. The mystery is part of the appeal, it helps the viewer bring their own life to the art. Making art is a wonderful process for me. I love working in a variety of mediums to create multiple layers and textures in my work. I have been influenced by family and wonderfully creative artsy friends who have supported me throughout this process. I believe my art has come full circle, back to the days of doodling with my mother at the kitchen table and trying to find recognizable shapes and creatures in our creations. I enjoy the process of mixing colors on paper, letting the paint flow, finding shapes and patterns and running with them. I am captured by the freedom of creating abstracts.

Gail Heminger Cunningham