In searching for a compelling view of the marsh at sunset along Mosquito Creek, I felt that a reflective bend in a tidal creek created an inviting composition—drawing my attention out across the tranquil marshes of Mosquito Creek to numerous cedar hammocks and the distant shore of St. Simons Island. The tranquil aspect, however, is somewhat misleading. As the sun set and the breeze dropped, swarms of biting no-see-ums arose from the spartina. Both the dimming light and the insects compelled me to beat a hasty retreat. I finished the painting later on in the controlled environment of my studio.
Sunset hangs in one of the guest rooms in LSSI’s Hunting Lodge.
The viewpoint in the painting can be reached on foot, just west of South End Launch. (Google Maps 31.24401, -81.30265)
Exhibition History
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The Wild Treasury of Nature: A Portrait of Little St. Simons Island
February 20 - May 22, 2016
Morris Museum of Art
Augusta, Georgia
July 9 - September 11, 2016
Marietta Cobb Museum of Art
Marietta, Georgia
Publication History
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The Wild Treasury of Nature: A Portrait of Little St. Simons Island
Published in conjunction with Philip’s 2016 exhibition at the Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, Georgia, and the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, Marietta, Georgia. Contributors include: Philip Juras, essay and artwork; Wendy Paulson, foreword; Kevin Grogan, introduction; Dorinda Dallmeyer, essay; and Janice Simon, essay. Published by the University of Georgia Press, 2016.
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Picturing the Prairie: A Vision of Restoration
Published in conjunction with Philip’s 2021 exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Contributors include: Philip Juras, artist and author; Hank Paulson, foreword; and Stephen Packard, essay. Published by Little Bluestem Press, Athens, GA, 2021.
