South Carolina Artists: West Fraser
How do you see the lowcountry? The wild sea islands and lush coastal forests of this distinctive region have served as inspiration for countless artists throughout the centuries. Painter West Fraser explores the visual wealth of the lowcountry, from the tangled flora of Carolina woodlands, to quiet studies of skies over salt marshes, to the energy of historic coastal cities. His plein-air paintings convey the warmth and atmosphere of Southern landscapes, and delight in bringing extraordinary attention to quotidian urban scenes.
Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1955, Fraser’s family can trace their lineage to some of the earliest settlers in the lowcountry. His childhood was spent exploring the sea islands of Georgia, and later South Carolina, when the family moved to Hilton Head Island. Fraser earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1979, and worked in Savannah as an independent illustrator. He began painting initially in watercolor, and with a move to Buck’s County, Pennsylvania, started to explore a greater variety of subjects. While living in the north, he traveled the New England coast, painting maritime scenery and harbor views in detailed watercolors. This early work gained the artist critical recognition, and Fraser showed pieces at gallery shows and exhibitions in New York and Charleston.
Fraser returned to South Carolina, settling in Charleston in 1984, continuing to depict coastal scenes as he developed a looser, more impressionistic watercolor technique. By the end of the 1980s he was experimenting with oil painting, leaving the studio to work en plein air: from direct observation within the environments he painted. The shift in working method is apparent in the intimate character of his oil paintings, which richly depict the changes in colors, angles of light, and distinctive atmospheric patterns of the lowcountry.
Since the 1990s, Fraser has continued to develop his formal and expressive skills to capture the lush landscapes and energetic city scenes of Charleston and the surrounding lowcountry, and gained recognition for his distinctive style and luminous works. Throughout his decades of painting in the city, Fraser has also become a documentarian of sorts, recording the endless cycle of change and charm within its streets.
Join us on a walking tour in conversation with West Fraser, bringing the city’s history, art, and architecture into new light as we explore Charleston through the artist’s eyes. View more of his work at his website. Inquire about works available for purchase at Helena Fox Fine Art.
