The Walton Sun
November 4, 2006
Story and photos by Deborah Wheeler
Hats and Horses
At Home in Paradise
Sometimes the desire to live at the beach requires lifestyle adjustments. Such was the case for Birmingham residents Eddie and Sally Powell.
Their story is a familiar one. After visiting for several years and falling in love with the County Road 30A area, the couple gave up careers in marketing and interior design to make the move and follow their hearts. They moved to South Walton with their dog, Henry, the last of March and opened eddieandsally Fun and Fine Art on April 3 at the Shops of Grayton.
The gallery is a working studio showcasing their work, but they also carry the work of other local and regional artists in their network.
Their artwork is a study of balance between masculine and feminine, with Sally's trademark "hat ladies" and Eddie's racehorse series. A balance between the beachy and inland look is also present.
Sally's hat ladies' colorful broad brims cover the canvas in most of the peices. A study in the feminine mystique, the women's faces are not discernable and the setting plays a second to the statement the hats make.
Sally said her inspiration for hat ladies came from looking through magazines and party pictures. Her first were "Derby Ladies" drinking mint juleps. Since moving to the beach, the hats have become sun hats.
"It's about a circle of friends and festivities," Sally explained. "People like dressing up in costumes. You become a different persona and leave your troubles behind. Hats make people feel festive."
She said the hat ladies will remain her trademark until they run their course.
"You can change their outfits, hats, colors and settings so it's different. I love to do commissions for them from a girls' weekend at the beach," she said.
While they are her trademark, Sally also does florals, sunbathers, large-scale abstracts and trees.
Eddie's racehorse series offer something unique in a beach gallery. It was a series he began while still in Birmingham and he says they have experienced a positive reception at the beach.
His works also includes views of Western Lake, sea life and he has done several commissions of Seaside Chapel.
The Powells have also put their artwork on T-shirts they sell in the gallery, along with ceramics, pottery, metal art, decoupage picture frames and jewelry by different artists.
"We didn't have much inventory when we moved here," said Eddie. "We have had to stay late and work hard, but it's worth it. When you enjoy what you do it's not a matter of hours in the day. In order to do what I Iove to do you have to work hard at it. It can be a volatile market. All you can do is work hard. But if you love what you do, you won't get stale," said Eddie.
"We like it here. We want to stay. We feel we've found our spot," agreed Sally.
Eddieandsally's is participating in the Shops of Grayton's holiday open house today at 3 p.m.
