Cassandra M. Gillens is a celebrated artist known for her vibrant depictions of Gullah culture and life in the Lowcountry, particularly in the coastal regions of South Carolina. Her work is deeply rooted in the traditions, history, and community of the Gullah people, descendants of enslaved Africans who lived along the southeastern coast of the United States.

Ladies, raise your wine glasses in salute to Jill Haney Neal, this month’s Cover Artist who’s whimsical, bodacious babes have graced a variety of artworks, including paintings, wine labels, coffee mugs and Pink Magazine’s October 2016, June 2020, and August 2023 magazine covers: Welcome back, Jill!

Jill believes women were created in God’s image with a universal spirit and are equally loved regardless of size, ethnicity, or background. “There is an edginess to my art, and from what I’ve been told, I’m still breaking barriers. When you get women together, they are funny and sexy, it’s just part of our essence.”

It’s not every day you can befriend a giraffe, enjoy a bubble bath with five dogs, or birdwatch with feathered friends. This month’s cover artist, Canadian Lisa Finch, loves to create scenes like these. Inspired by fond memories of childhood summers at a family cottage, along with her passion for animals, old films, and favorite books, her oeuvre is a happy mélange of vintage couture, charming animal portraits, beach scenes, and cozy interiors. Today Lisa paints in a small studio in her home, which she shares with her husband and two dogs, nestled close to Lake Ontario near a large conservation area, where she spends many afternoons feeding the birds and talking to the deer.

Aziz Kadmiri, a contemporary impressionist artist, is renowned for his vibrant cityscapes and compelling figurative works. Utilizing oil and acrylic, he skillfully blends mixed media on canvas, often enriching his pieces with gold and silver leaf. His art vividly reflects his Parisian influences, capturing the energy of urban life and the allure of fashion.

Exhibited and collected worldwide, Aziz’s work invites viewers to reimagine their perceptions of the world.

When it comes to art, Lori Portka has two mantras: 1. Happiness Through Art; 2. Art and Love from Me to You! Both are unmistakable the minute you see her vibrant, colorful, playful works. Her work literally radiates with happiness and exuberance, which she credits to her daily practice of gratitude. We’re excited to bring Lori’s joyful artwork to Pink Magazine’s cover for the second time.

As a child, Lori loved drawing so much she did it nearly every day. “You could find me huddled over a sketchbook with colored pencils, pencil shavings, and crayons spread all around the table. I loved to pretend I worked for Hallmark and made cards for my family, complete with a logo on the back,” Lori said. However, after she lost her father at the tender age of 15, she decided to set aside her art as she pursued a more traditional and solid career. She worked as a teacher and counselor for many years.

The image on our cover this month is by prolific artist Kathy Womack. It is titled “Women and Wine: The Grove Edition” and is part of a series of more than 90 paintings. Kathy began her artistic career as a fashion illustrator, working at the Austin American-Statesman in the mid-90s. She explains her move from print to canvas: “After working in advertising for a decade as a fashion illustrator, I craved freedom from the nine-to-five and looked to a different outlet. I picked up my brushes and never looked back.”

The image on our cover this month is by prolific artist Kathy Womack. It is titled “Women and Wine: The Grove Edition” and is part of a series of more than 90 paintings. Kathy began her artistic career as a fashion illustrator, working at the Austin American-Statesman in the mid-90s. She explains her move from print to canvas: “After working in advertising for a decade as a fashion illustrator, I craved freedom from the nine-to-five and looked to a different outlet. I picked up my brushes and never looked back.”

This month’s fantastical and festive cover art is by June Valentine-Ruppe, a self-taught artist who was born and raised in California, where she always had a passion for art. For more than 30 years, June illustrated over 120 children’s books for Disney, Scholastic, Golden Books, and more. In the books, she illustrated beloved characters from Sesame Street to Disney, and Lamb Chop to Barney the Dinosaur. She even created artwork at special backstage VIP events at Disneyland. When I asked if she still worked as an illustrator, June replied, “For many years now, I have devoted myself to creating my own original artwork.”Her original paintings are a far cry from Mickey, Minnie and Barney, as evidenced by the work on our cover entitled, “Mardi On”. Displayed in Gallery Orange in New Orleans, Louisiana, June tells us she always tries to create art to represent the location of the gallery, and this one is no exception—it’s all about New Orleans and Mardis Gras.

Joyce Huntington, whose artwork is founded in energy, is always looking for ways to get her energy out there. She’s excited to debut her second Pink cover and share her special energy with our beloved readers.

Joyce’s work is always a meditative process. Many of the images she paints are given to her during meditation, or come during those moments between worlds, when one is just waking up. “I don’t try to figure out their meanings, I just paint the vision. Time stops when I start mixing colors; intuition guides my strokes. Painting is all about discovery, making connections between the subconscious mind, the hand, and the canvas. There’s always a surprise when I put down the brush and move back, always more and less than I intended,” said Joyce. It is usually at this point she begins to see and understand what her subconscious was manifesting during her state of deep thought.

Beauty abounds in our little slice of paradise, and local Bluffton artist and designer Leli Holmes (pronounced Leh-li) is here to capture it. From extraordinary oysters and vintage boat paddles to majestic octopi and graceful Roseate spoonbills, her artwork embodies the Lowcountry’s soul; that being nature.

After majoring in Fine Arts, Leli started her career as a graphic designer and spent decades creating behind a computer screen. “As much as I enjoyed design work, I dreamed of creating something that was mine and not dictated by design clients,” Leli said. She began her journey of creative independence with small watercolor notecards she sold in local stores and at outdoor pop-up markets, squeezing her artwork between homeschooling her three children during the pandemic years. Over time, she began painting larger pieces, selling prints, and eventually took on commissions. Her background as a designer came with years of turning people’s thoughts into pictures; a valuable asset as she began to listen to clients’ ideas and turn them into custom pieces for their homes. “I love doing commission work, bringing people’s visions to life in my unique style. I felt I had found myself when I began working on a larger scale,” said Leli.

“Creating joy…apply as needed” is the mantra for Bluffton artist Nancy Patrick Carney’s imaginative artworks. Her original, mixed-media paintings invite us to dive in and enjoy the people, places, and animals of the S.C. Lowcountry in a fun and fanciful light.

After graduating with a degree in art from Miami University (Ohio), Nancy began working as a commercial artist, package designer, product and book illustrator, and art teacher to both children and adults. Throughout her career, she and her husband lived and raised their family in six different states. After retirement, Nancy and her husband found Sun City while traveling. Little did she know, she’d be shoveling sunshine instead of snow within the year; they moved to Bluffton in 2016.

“Rebecca Stringer Korpita, a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, uses her talent, coupled with her culture and humor, to create pieces that spread warmth throughout the heart.”

We’re excited to bring back Rebecca Korpita for her second Pink Magazine cover. Originally featured on our August 2013 cover, Rebecca is a graduate of William Carey College, where she earned a degree in Fine Art and Graphic Design. She worked as a graphic designer, an illustrator, a creative director, and a registered nurse before returning to art full-time. She paints in acrylics, and licenses her art on a variety of home goods, gifts and accessories, bringing bright, vibrant colors and cheerful subjects into your home.

Artist, writer, yoga teacher, and sometime “therapist”, Gioia (pronounced Joy-a) Albano surrounds herself with good vibrations— a balm for healing, connection and soul searching. “I’ve always been inhabited by the certainty that we are in this material world for a reason, and I enjoy exploring the meaning of our presence here through various paths and stages,” Gioia said.

Born in Italy, Gioia began her artistic journey at an early age through drawing and writing. Then, at the age of 16, a mentor opened the door to painting. She studied fine art in Milan, and after meeting her husband and having children, (2 girls and a boy) she took a 15-year hiatus from art. Throughout those years she moved her art supplies from country to country, as they lived in Denmark, Isle of Man, and Paris, finally landing in the South of France. Gioia said each time they moved, her supplies would be there, just waiting for her to be “ready” again.

Pink is excited to celebrate our 20th anninversary by inviting back the talented Steve Henderson for his second Pink cover. An incredibly prolific artist, working in charcoal, oil and watercolor to depict landscapes, seascapes and the human experience in different environments. When discussing his process, Steve often uses words like “we” and “our.” He explains: “That is what Steve Henderson Fine Art is—a partnership with my wife, Carolyn. Marketing, writing, making contacts, social media, the books all require a lot of time. So does painting. So, I paint, Carolyn writes. A marriage made in heaven.”

Catrin Welz-Stein is known for her unique talent of combining her drawings with inspiration from art of past days, making many of her pieces have a nostalgic or vintage feel and look. With a German childhood background from Weinheim, Germany, she has always been a painter and crafter.

Catrin’s career was as graphic designer, finishing her studies in Darmstadt, and working for various agencies in Germany and the USA. Once she became a mother, she rediscovered the world of magic and fairy tales while reading to her children and became enthralled with those book illustrations which began to infiltrate her graphic design style. Nowadays, Catrin is designing illustrations for magazines and books. “I’ve never stopped working as a graphic designer completely, because I still do commissioned work and have clients, as well.”