I was born in Elkin, North Carolina, and I grew up there. My wife and I now live in Tucson, Arizona.
I learned to draw from my mother, who is herself a very accomplished painter.
Later in life, when I moved to Hickory, North Carolina, I attended and graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College (now University) with a BA in French with a minor in English. During that four years, one semester was spent in Aix-en Provence France, where I studied the French language as well as French Literature and Art. I also visited many of the sites of paintings by Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. I even had a midday glass of beer at Van Gogh's "Night Cafe" in Arles.
My website, then titled Carolina Pacifica, first went online in 2000, and I had it in my mind to create a site which encompassed the two polar extremes of my life - growing up in small town North Carolina, and living four years in New Zealand. Aside from six months in France, those two places have had a very strong impact on my life and art.
However, in 2003 my wife and I moved to the American Southwest, where we explored New Mexico and Arizona. Now we live in Tucson, Arizona.
I've had the good fortune to know and be influenced by the extraordinarily talented Jean-Claude Quilici. Jean-Claude has been a dear friend and has never ceased to offer his advice and encouragement to me. Much credit in the love of art should also go to my two French professors (and early collectors) from Lenoir Rhyne College in North Carolina, Dr. Bohdan Kuropas, and Dr. Augustin Quilici. A student is a lucky one if he or she has such great mentors as Dr Kuropas and Dr Quilici.
Even though I am moved by many landscapes, I am most particularly drawn to New Mexican and Arizonan vistas. My favorite subjects are Southern Arizona, Giant Saguaros, old Missions, like San Xavier and Tumacacori, as well as the red rock images of Sedona, and the great sweeping views of the Grand Canyon. In recent years I have found that I am influenced by almost any landscape that can be found to be compelling - from the giant stone monoliths of Easter Island, to the Southwestern Deserts, to the Sierras of California - to the jungles of Vanuatu.
And last but not least, I must say a warm thanks to my dear wife Jelena, who has been my most ardent supporter, harshest critic, and dearest friend. Thank you so much!
Art Exhibts:
Maggie's Gallery, Elkin, NC 1994
Dripp's Coffeehouse, Featured Artist, Hickory, NC 1998
Pictures & Frames, Browns Bay, Auckland, New Zealand, 1999
Art of this World, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand, 1999
Art Mystique, Tucson, AZ 2003
Tohono Chul Park, Old Pueblo Exhibit, Tucson, AZ 2003
Rosequist Galleries, Tucson, AZ 2003
"Desert Vistas" Exhibit, Joel Valdez Main Library, Tucson, AZ 2004
Rosequist Galleries, Tucson, AZ 2004
The International School of Tucson, AZ 2005
Rosequist Galleries, Tucson, AZ 2005
Lisan Gallery of Art, West St.Paul, MN 2006
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2005
The Max Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005
The Solo Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC 2005
The Max Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2006
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2006
The Solo Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC 2006
The Max Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2007
Wild Holly Gallery, Carefree, AZ 2007
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2007
The Solo Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC 2007
The Max Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2008
LeKAE Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2008
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2008
The Solo Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC 2008
Wild Holly Gallery, Carefree, AZ 2008
Marshall-LeKAE Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2009
The Max Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2009
Tansey Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2009
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2009
Marshall-LeKAE Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2010
Tansey Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2010
Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery, Tubac, AZ 2010
Jane Hamilton Fine Arts, Tucson, AZ 2010
Publications:
Southwest Art Magazine "21 Under 31" Young Artist Issue 2005
Oro Valley Magazine, Feature Article 2006
Tucson Home Magazine, Feature in the "3 of a Kind" Artist Series 2007
Southwest Art Magazine "Best of the West" feature, 2007
Awards:
Recipient of the 2010 Young Alumni Rising Star Award from Lenoir-Rhyne University, in Hickory, NC, for contributions to the arts.
Group Affiliations:
In 2010 Neil Myers became a proud member of the "New Fauves" group of artists.
