Two receive JCAG Artist of the Year honors

Jan. 23—The Johnson County Art Guild saw history made in 2023 thanks to two local artists.

"There was a tie, which, that's the first time that's ever happened," Art Guild President Charlotte Lawson said. "Both artists are very talented and deserving so we decided to give them both that recognition."

That recognition being the Johnson County Art Guild's Artist of the Year Award. Receiving the award for 2023 were Connie May of Keene and Alice Hoener of Burleson.

Both were on hand Saturday at Cleburne's JN Long Cultural Arts Center for a reception celebrating their achievements.

"We have our mini shows each month, actually that usually ends up being eight or nine shows a year," Lawson said. "The art from the entrants placing first through fourth in those shows is exhibited around town in different banks. But the first place winners from each of those mini shows go on to compete in December for artist of the year."

Painting, sculpture and all other artistic mediums are eligible for entry into the mini shows.

"Both Connie and Alice are watercolorists," Lawson said. "They're both very talented and I encourage people to come see our exhibit of their work."

The free exhibit runs through Feb. 10 at the JN Long Cultural Arts Center, 425 Granbury St.

May's passion for art took hold early and remains strong to this day.

"My love of art stretches back to the encouragement my mother gave by praising my childhood drawings," May said.

After earning a degree in art from Andrews University in Michigan, May went on to teach art to children in Washington and Florida. She and her husband, Roger May, moved to Keene in 1978 after Roger accepted a position with Southwestern Adventist University's math department.

During that time, Connie owned and operated her own interior design company while raising the couple's two children.

Art, much like life and learning in general, remains ever evolving, May said.

"Watercolor was new to me, something I had not taken in college," May said. "But, in 2017, I began studying watercolor with [Art Guild teacher Ann Winchester]."

May said she loves the impressionists but hasn't dipped into or copied that style.

"Flowers, landscapes, seascapes and a few cats," May answered when asked her favorite artistic subjects. "Right now with watercolor it's following [Winchester's] instructions and learning the skills she has to teach us. I'm still searching out my style in watercolor."

Hoener, a fellow student of Winchester, also developed an early fascination with art.

"Ever since I can remember I always loved to draw with a pencil, crayon or anything I could draw with," Hoener said. "When I was a little kids I remember always wanting coloring books so I could just color, color, color."

Her grandfather provided early inspiration.

"My favorite subject to draw was my grandfather," Hoener said. "I guess it was through my loving eyes that I saw such a perfect subject. I just figured out from there and would draw him all the time. Even now I love to draw faces, anyone who has an interesting face, interesting smile, something like that."

High school art classes proved a mixed blessing.

"I didn't get the encouragement I would have loved to get from my teachers so art went on the back burner of life," Hoener said.

Though not entirely as Hoener went on to become involved with interior design, flower arranging, cake decorating, ceramics and other artistic pursuits. Hoener for the most part, however, spent adulthood raising two sons while working for the post office.

Retirement, following 25 years at the post office, reignited her passion for art.

"I walked into Hobby Lobby, saw a sign that read "Art Classes," called to sign up, and the rest is history," Hoener said.

Hoener subsequently discovered the JN Long Cultural Arts Center.

"Absolutely really impressive place," Hoener said. "They offer opportunity to local artists and have so many other things in that center, which is just a great thing for us to have in Johnson County."

Although she stepped away from drawing and painting for a time after high school, Hoener joked that she called it right early on.

"When I was a kid I had a book on Grandma Moses and how she started painting later in life," Hoener said. "I remember telling my siblings back then that I was going to be a famous artist like Grandma Moses. Well, I'm in my 70s now and I think she was about that age when she started getting notice. So, I wanted to aspire to be like her. By the time I retired from the post office I knew I was ready to start my career in art."