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Claire Miller Hopkins lives in Spartanburg where she teaches and creates art. Known regionally as a portraitist, she works in oils, pastels and watercolor. Her paintings and drawing are widely known throughout the southeast and have won awards in a number of national and regional exhibitions.

South Carolina artist and arts educator MacArthur Goodwin once said that Claire's work "reflects her sensitivity to figure painting. [She] can best be described as the painter's painter because of her masterful handling of media, subject, and composition."

Her many memberships include the Pastel Society of America (NY) in which she has been bestowed the designation of Master Pastelist.

She was a featured artist in The Artists' Magazine in Fall of 1994, and was a contribution artist in the 1993 book by Madlyn-Ann C. Woolwich, Pastel Interpretations.

Prof. of Art Jane Nodine of the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg said of Claire: "Her paintings and pastel work define some of the rich traditional experiences of women that have meant so much to her throughout her life. The women in Mrs. Hopkins' work are strong, noble, and thoughtful. At times they are caught in pivotal moments of change, uncertainty, and wariness where they seem to be seeking something about themselves or the world in which they live."

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

  • workshop instructor
  • juror
  • artist-in-residence for South Carolina public schools

AFFILIATIONS:

  • Elected or Signature Memberships
    • Pastel Society of America  
      (Master Pastelist)
    • Knickerbocker Artists USA  
      (Signature Member)
    • Southeastern Pastel Society
      (Member-in-Excellence)
    • Pastel Society of the West Coast
      (Distinguished Pastelist)
    • South Carolina Watercolor Society
      (Member-in-Excellence)
    • Artists' Guild of Spartanburg County
  • SC Arts Commission Artists' Roster
  • Southern Exposure, Spartanburg, SC
  • Spartanburg Museum of Art Exhibits Committee

 

 

 

PUBLICATIONS: NATIONAL

  • 1999 - THE PASTEL JOURNAL (included in article on portraiture)
  • 1998 - THE BEST of PASTEL 2   Quarry
  • 1998 - THE BEST of PORTRAIT PAINTING   Northlight
  • 1997 - THE ART of PASTEL PORTRAITURE   Watson-Guptil
  • 1995 - THE ARTISTS' MAGAZINE (feature article on technique)
  • 1993 - PASTEL INTERPRETATIONS   Northlight REGIONAL
  • 1996 - HUB CITY ANTHOLOGY   Holocene
  • 1993 - BECOMING A MASTERPIECE COLLECTOR
  • 1990 - ARTISTS of THE CAROLINAS
  • 1980 - ART VOICES/SOUTH (feature article)

SELECTED NATIONAL and REGIONAL JURIED EXHIBITIONS:

  • 1998-2000 Pastel Society of America, NY;
    PASTELS ONLY exhibition
    • 2000 (award)
    • 1997 (award)
    • 1991 (designated MASTER PASTELIST)
    • 1991 (award)
    • 1989 (BEST in SHOW)
  • 1998-1991 Pastel Society of the West Coast   
    PASTELS USA exhibition
    • 2001 (award)
    • 1998 (award)
    • 1996 (award)
    • 1995 (award)
    • 1994 (designated DISTINGUISHED PASTELIST)
    • 1993 (BEST in SHOW)
    • 1992 (award)
    • 1991 (award of EXCELLENCE)
  • 1998-1992 Southeastern Pastel Society   
    INTERNATIONAL OPEN exhibition
    • 1998 (award)
    • 1997 (award) Member's Exhibit
    • 1994 (Designated Member-in-Excellence)
    • 1992 (BEST in SHOW)

GALLERY AFFILIATIONS :