Artist Statement
I am an award winning artist who resides in High Point, North Carolina. I work primarily in drawing, painting and printmaking and I have 30 years experience teaching courses in Art, Design and Creativity. My work is in numerous private collections and my work has been featured in interviews with NPR, NBC and many other media outlets.
My daily practice includes working in my studio and working with clients. I also run a successful travel company Insightful Travels and Tours, where I lead trips and retreats with eager world explorers. ITATs has been in operation since 2012 with over 1.2 million in revenues and dozens of trips traveled in the US and abroad.
My work explores the relationship of color and lyrical forms that exist in complex spatial arrangements. The idea of the artist studio is an important element in my work. The idea of the sacred space of the artist’s studio full of symbolic objects that are in constant conflict with each other is appealing to me. I also enjoy working in plein air.
I work in traditional media and my imagery includes still life, portraits and plein air landscapes.
My work is held in numerous private collections (a symphony conductor, a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a celebrity chef are some of the more fun collectors I have) and I have have recently exhibited my work in over 70 museums and galleries nationally and internationally.
A few recent exhibitions:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, Drawing in Curator Exhibition
- Plein Air Exhibtion, St. Augustine Arts Association
- Plein Air Exhibition, Art Aware, St. George, Utah
- Blue Mountain Gallery
- Sunny Art Center, London UK (small group show)
- Brevard University, NC (2 person show)
- University of Mobile, AL (solo show)
- San Diego Museum of Art, CA
- Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
- MFA in Annapolis, MD
- Gallery 301 in Mobile, AL (solo show)
- Greenhill Center for NC Art
Social Media
With over 86,000 followers across several platforms my social media focuses on my art and the art history that I love to engage. You can find me on Instagram @profscottraynor and Youtube at Scott Michael Raynor Artist and TikTok at Raynorshinestudios. Let's connect!
My social media series include:
- Sargent in 5 sittings
- 50 Artists you should know
- 50 Paintings you should know
Teaching and Workshops
- Professor and Chair of the Art Department, High Point University, 2006-2025
- Instructor of Art, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 1998-2001
- Instructor of Art, GTCC, 1998-2005
- Grand Tour of Italy, Drawing course in Italy, 24 years (Summers), HPU
- Watercolor in Monet's Garden, Giverny, France. Watercolor workshop with students
- Sketching tour of Italy, Art Teacher Workshop, 2018, 2019.
- Color Theory Workshop, North Carolina Art Educators Association Conference
- Social Media for Artists, 2024, High Point Arts Council
Educational Background
My formal training began during my undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I studied under a number of excellent artists who studied with Max Beckmann and Phil Guston and I am forever grateful for my art education. My graduate degree is in Painting and Printmaking from UNCG and Johnson State College in Vermont. Art History also became an area of great interest for me. It was during this time that I discovered many artists that would go on to be a great influence for me.
Artist Residences
I have completed Artist Residences at the following locations:
- Scuola di Ars Grafica, Venice, Italy
- Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
- Montmartre Artist Residency, Paris, France
Awards and Honors
- Slane Innovation and Creativity in Teaching Award, 2020, HPU
- Ruth Ridenhour Scholarly and Professional Achievement Award, 2023, HPU
- Guest Juror, Piedmont Plein Air Tournament, 2013
- Juror, Undergraduate Student Art Exhibiton, Georgia Southern University
- Participant, Plein Air event in St. Augustine and St. George Utah
Thank you for coming by and wanting to learn more about my art and my practice.