Sandra McIntyre opens at the SoBA Gallery
The Society of Bluffton Artists is presenting “A Private View,” a collection of figures, portraits and still life in watercolor and acrylic by Sandra McIntyre, now through October 7.
Sandra is an award-winning painter who has studied with many notable artists including local favorite Ted Jordan, who, during the past eight years has been her most influential teacher. She has done commission painting of individual and family portraits and maintains, “I see such beauty in people and things, but I am drawn to people.”
The public is invited to a reception for the artist from 3 – 5 pm, Sunday September 9 at the SOBA Gallery where refreshments will be served. The gallery is located at the corner of Church and Calhoun Streets in Old Town Bluffton. Call 757-6586 or visit sobagallery.com for more information.
A budding artist at a young age, Sandra Mays McIntyre grew up in Plant City, Florida and sketched 
the horses she came to love on a cattle ranch outside of Plant City. As a teenager, Sandra rode her horse in rodeo barrel races and parades, was crowned Rodeo Queen and made her first submission to an art show—a drawing of one of her beloved horses.
Although Sandra expressed her desire to become an interior designer, her father encouraged her to pursue a more traditional career, as her aunt was struggling to make a living as a painter. Beginning her college work as an education major at Florida State University and the University of Georgia, Sandra later became a student of Art and Interior Design at Georgia State University and began to collect paintings, porcelains and antiques as a young adult.
Sandra worked in sales at Saks Fifth Avenue in Atlanta for eighteen years, then moved to Hilton Head Island in 1993. After learning of Sandra’s desire to learn how to paint, Betty Walter, a neighbor, encouraged Sandra to accompany her to a watercolor painting class taught by Peggy Baggett, a fashion model artist, whom Sandra credits with getting her started in painting. The three women became friends and painted together often.
During her retirement years, Sandra has studied painting with artists such as Charles Reid, Uschi Niner, Mary Whyte, June Vercellotti, Joyce Nagel, Janet Rogers, and Ted Jordan, who calls Sandra a “decorative art painter.” She considers herself especially fortunate to have met Ted Jordan, a local artist, whom she said, during the past eight years, “has brought me to where I am today and has been the most influential teacher in my art development. Painting has been my passion ever since.”
Sandra, a member of the Art League of Hilton Head Island, is the featured artist in “A Private View,” a collection of watercolor and acrylic paintings, including still life, figures, and other subjects, at the Society of Bluffton Artists, her first solo exhibition, which runs from August 27 through October 7.
Sandra won the Blue Ribbon Award at an exhibition sponsored by the Art League of Hilton Head Island in 2012.
Sandra has done commission painting of individual and family portraits in the past five years, and maintains, “I see such beauty in people and things, but I am drawn to people.” She is a member of the Art League, Sea Pines Garden Club, and the Herb Society on Hilton Head Island.
Sandra volunteers her time and shares her talents with others on the on Hilton Head Island. She has taught painting at The Seabrook Senior Living Community and is currently co-teaching painting classes at the S.H.A.R.E Senior Center.
Sandra’s paintings adorn the walls of businesses, including the Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island, and private homes throughout the United States and Canada.
