Friends of the Coastal Branch Library are pleased to announce their artists for the month of March: Bett Appel and Didon Comer.
Painting by Bett Appel
Bett Appel has lived and created artwork in various parts of America. She is currently a member of the Cultural Arts Alliance in Walton County, the Women’s Art Network in the Panhandle, and the Lakeland Art League in Minocqua, Wisconsin, among others. After graduating from Michigan State University in East Lansing, she moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where she began painting in oils.
Bett’s life journey carried her to many new places over the following 20 years. She enjoyed life in California, New York, Washington, the Twin Cities as well as her home state of Michigan. During these years she continued painting with oils but sought professional instruction which introduced her to other paint mediums.
When Bett arrived in Santa Rosa Beach some 17 years ago she began growing and evolving as an artist. She experimented with pastels, watercolor and acrylics. Ultimately, she found the most pleasure when working with acrylics which allowed her the the ability to utilize an impasto style as she paints on canvas, paper and gesso board.
Bett’s artwork has been on display in art galleries in Minocqua, and Rhinelander, Wisconsin and is currently on display in a gallery in Chicago, Illinois. She also has displayed exhibits at several local galleries and shops as well as our Walton County Coastal Library here in Santa Rosa Beach.
Painting by Didon Comer
Didon Comer, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, moved from her home of 29 years in Atlanta, Georgia, to Seagrove Beach in 1979.
Her interests and skills are varied and include acrylic painting, photography, clothes design, furniture design, pottery, and sculpting. Didon is a self taught artist who began painting in 1993 and has become well known in the local art community in South Walton.
Didon has attended many workshops throughout the years. She has studied with Santa Rosa Beach artists Susan Lucas and Donnell Clark. And twice a year she attends the Springmaid workshops in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Since Didon first began painting, she has been recognized for her work throughout the art community. She was named artist of the year by Otto’s Gallery in Ellijay, Georgia. Her art has been featured in several southeastern venues such as Ceruleans Gallery, Lynn Field Reddoch’s Gallery, and Collaborations Gallery in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and “The Gallery” in Tryon, North Carolina. She has also had the honor of being chosen to participate in Artsquest in Destin, Florida and the Eastern Shore Art Showin Fairhope, Alabama.
Didon currently lives in old Seagrove Beach where she paints from her seaside studio in her home on the gulf.
