By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
The talents of nearly 20 young artists will be on display today during a student art show at Inner Banks Artisans’ Center.
The show features the work of art students taught by Pat Boyd of Washington. According to Boyd, the youngsters range in age from 6 to 18 and are residents of Beaufort, Martin, Hyde and Pitt counties.
Boyd said the key to success is encouragement.
“Ever since I was old enough to hold a pencil, I was interested in drawing and art,” she said. “I grew up on a tobacco farm, and I remember picking mud up out of a ditch to make some pots. I asked my daddy to ‘cook them’ in his tobacco barn. Of course, they broke but he never said anything to discourage me. He never said anything negative about my interest in art.”
Today’s show, which runs from 2 to 4 p.m., is open to the public, said Boyd, a practicing artist whose work is displayed at the Artisans’ Center. Students taking part include Emily Alligood, Jonah Armstrong, Mary Michael Bilbro, Joy Dodge, Libby Crisp, Kara Fath, Gunner Hardt, Zachary Hardison, Brandy Johnson, Emily Jackson, Colston Lyons, Lilly Frances Lobos, Richard Mann, Sam Martin, Riziki Omonde, Tripp Pippin, Grace Wilder and Ryan Hendrickson.
Each student averages 15 separate pieces, representing such mediums as drawing, acrylics, watercolor and sculpting, Boyd added.
Boyd has offered private art lessons to children and adults at her studio on Lizard Slip Road since 1984. She usually holds a public showing of the younger artists’ work once a year.
“It’s like a recital in music,” Boyd said. “I do my best to make them feel important.”
Turnout usually averages around 200 people, and it’s Boyd’s tradition to give each student a journal to be displayed with their work. Those attending the show are encouraged to sign each journal and write positive remarks about the students’ work.
“This is a special time for them, and each child gets to keep the book as a memento,” Boyd said.
While teaching art, Boyd said she is careful not to thwart each individual students’ natural instincts.
“I try to let each child do what is interesting to them, their own likes and dislikes,” she said. “I try to use their personalities and teach art at the same time. If they’re not interested in something they’re not going to work at it.”
The Inner Banks’ Artisans Center is located at 158 W. Main St. in downtown Washington.