Behind The Easel

A conversation with AGGG artist, Edith McBee Hardaway 

Q: Tell us about your path into art.
A: I grew up in a very artistic family. My father loved painting in oils, and my mother loved watercolor. There were always paints, paper, brushes, and art supplies scattered around the house, so from a very early age I was immersed in creativity. Art was simply part of everyday life.

About 25 years ago, I returned to painting and began experimenting with mixed media. Over the years, my work has become much more intuitive. I combine poured paint, texture, collage, photo transfers, and found materials, often letting the materials themselves help guide the direction of a piece.

I’m especially drawn to subjects that tell a story—from botanicals and landscapes to Greenville’s textile history and the old, forgotten places that are quickly disappearing.

In 2007, I helped found the Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville, which has been an important part of my life as an artist ever since. My path into art hasn’t really been a straight line. It began in a house filled with paints and brushes and has continued as a lifelong process of experimenting, changing, and finding new ways to tell a story through art.

Q: What motivated you to pursue art more seriously? 
A: My path back into professional art began while I was living in California. I was homesick—really missing the South Carolina mountains and coast—when my sister encouraged me to pull out my paints and create something. I took her advice and painted a piece inspired by home, then entered it into the Georgia Coastal Art Show. To my surprise, it was accepted, won a Second Place ribbon, and sold. That moment reminded me how much I love making art and gave me the motivation to pursue it seriously again.

Q: What is your favorite medium and sources of inspiration?
A: I love all mediums—oil, watercolor, pen and ink, colored pencil, photo transfer. I use it all. I’ve never been able to tie myself down to one particular medium, or even one particular style.

For me, the fun of being an artist is having the freedom to create in whatever way inspires me at the moment. I’ve been told that it’s better for an artist to develop a recognizable style and stay with it, but I just can’t do that. I get bored too easily!

I’m always experimenting, always exploring different materials and techniques, and always trying something new. That sense of discovery is a big part of what keeps me inspired and excited about making art. 

Q: How has your artistic style evolved?
A: My artistic style has evolved over the years, but the biggest change has been my confidence. I no longer second-guess myself as much. I trust my instincts, my materials, and let the work develop naturally. I’ve never been a tight, highly realistic painter. I prefer that place between realism and abstraction, with room for texture and spontaneity. While I enjoy florals, landscapes, and still lifes, I especially love creating work that reflects Greenville’s history and textile heritage.

As I’ve evolved, I’ve become less concerned with following rules or fitting into a particular style and more comfortable simply creating what speaks to me.

Q: What story or emotion do you want to convey through your artwork?
A: I want people to enjoy my work simply because they find it beautiful, but the pieces that mean the most to me tell a story. I’m am drawn to the history mainly the Textile Heritage of the Upcountry—its textile mills, water towers, old mill houses, historic buildings, and images that are slowly disappearing.

I love the research behind these pieces—digging through South Carolina pictorial directories, old photographs, paychecks, and other pieces of textile history. I enjoy uncovering the past and finding ways to incorporate them into my work.

I also enjoy creating commissions for local companies that capture their history and journey. For me, art is a way to preserve a bit of forgotten history.

Q: Who are your artistic influences?
A: I am drawn to artists who experiment with materials, layering, and mixed media. I enjoy Robert Kushner’s very large botanical works, combining monoprint botanicals with paper and gold leaf. Hannah Höch’s photomontage (Photo transfer) work fuels my interest in manipulating and combining photographic imagery—something that today’s computer technology makes so much easier. Kurt Schwitters inspires me with his use of old newspapers, textured papers, collage, and layering.

Robert Rauschenberg is my absolute favorite. I love the freedom in his work and the way he combined painting with photographs, magazine images, newspapers, fabric, found objects, and even trash. These artists make me the excited and give me freedom to experiment, using all materials, and never feel limited to way of creating.

Q: What art instruction or practice helped you become a better artist?
A: Paint every day, or as often as you can. If nothing else, keep a sketchbook in your purse and use it. Draw, make notes, collect ideas—just keep creating. The more you practice and “play”, the more confident you become and the less you second-guess yourself. You learn by doing, experimenting, and even making mistakes.

Q: What are your biggest challenges as an artist?
A: I have to watch the comparisons. I love learning from other artists and being inspired by their work, but I try not to judge my own work against theirs. Pushing back against self-doubt can be difficult, and there are times when I just want to throw in the towel.

I’ve learned to resist that urge. Sometimes I simply need to step away, take a breath, recharge, and then come back to my work with fresh eyes.

Q: What would you like people to know about AGGG?
A: Helping to open the AGGG nearly 20 years ago with ten other artists, who became good friends, has been one of the biggest influences on my development as an artist. Today, only five of the original founders remain. They have pushed me to grow and refine my work while teaching me the professional side of running an art business.

What makes the AGGG different is that it is outward focused. We support our member artists, encourage other artists in the area, and give back to the Greenville community. We’ve always wanted the gallery to be welcoming and approachable—never stuffy or intimidating. We want everyone who walks through the door to feel comfortable, enjoy the art, and feel like they can interact with the art and artists freely.