In The News
Chasing a dream pays off for artist Hegler
The Moultrie News Article, October 9, 2002, by Jeff Vari: Will Hegler, a 29-year old Isle of palms native and Mount Pleasant resident, quit his job of five years as a biologist for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources in order to pursue his dream of being a professional artist. It all paid off for the young artist a couple weeks ago when he won the Cooper River Bridge Run's 11th Annual Design Contest with his unique style of painting. "It was one of the hardest things I've ever done," Hegler said about his decision to quit his day job. "I'd come home from work and stay up until two in the morning painting," he said. "I had a good job but I had this strong feeling that what I was meant to do was paint, so I decided to make the leap." Hegler, who has no formal art training, developed a style of oil painting combining inspiration from the mosaic art pieces of early Italy and Greece and his love of beautiful landscapes and wildlife in the Lowcountry. "When I first started this I did a lot of reading about the history of art and I was just really taken by that look, the stained glass and mosaic, how it looked with all the fragments and color," Hegler said. "I decided to experiment and try to develop a style of painting that gave that effect." He has since perfected his distinctive style and recently placed first at the Mt. Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet 2002 Art Show. He also won second place and a People's Choice Award at the Mt. Pleasant 2002 Arts Festival Show. Hegler thinks this most recent honor, with the painting being reproduced on about 30,000 Bridge Run T-shirts and 2,000 posters, is the kind of boost his short career needed. "This is a huge break for me," Hegler said. "I'm just real excited about the opportunity to get my work out there and get exposure to a lot of people, which is hard when you're starting out as an artist." Hegler contributes his success to the love and support of his wife, family, and friends, and members of the Mt. Pleasant Artist's Guild. He especially wanted to thank local artists Shannon Smith and Tate Nation as well as gallery owners Hume Killian, Karen Boals, and Julie Cooke for their continued assistance. Hegler's painting was chosen from among 67 entries in the contest. When the Bridge Run rolls around again on April 5, the artist himself will be running- wearing his award winning design on his shirt....Isle of Palms native wins 2003 Bridge Run Design Contest
The Post and Courier Article, October 1, 2002, by David Quick: A former marine biologist won the Cooper River Bridge Run's 11th annual Design Contest last week. Out of 67 designs submitted for the contest, judges picked a painting by Will Hegler, a 29-year-old, Mt. Pleasant-based artist. The painting resembles a mosaic and shows runners coming off the bridge, a palmetto tree, a large morning sun and a couple of church steeples. For the honor, Hegler received $500 and the attention of having his painting reproduced on about 30,000 T-shirts and 2,000 posters. Hegler, an Isle of Palms native and 1991 Wando High School graduate, formerly worked as a biologist for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, but quit two years ago to pursue his dream of being an artist. Hegler said his artwork is inspired by the Lowcountry and its natural beauty and that he developed a painting style giving an impression of a mosaic or stained glass. He has won awards at juried art shows at the Mount Pleasant Arts Festival and Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet Art Show..... On Monday, Hegler said winning the bridge run design contest will give his young art career a shot in the arm. Unlike many of the artists who win the contest, Hegler is actually a runner and has participated in the last two Bridge Runs. He particularly looks forward to next year's race - which will be April 5, 2003 - and plans to wear the T-shirt with his design on it.Sienna Restaurant Hosts Special Evening of Art and Cuisine
Home Team Communications Press Release, December 13, 2005, by Angel Postell: In a delicious concoction of cookery and painting, ten of Charleston’s top chefs and artists will come together on Sunday, January 22, for the Chef’s Jacket Auction + Dinner. This special evening features five local chefs and five local artists who will collaborate to raise money for the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.Following in the tradition of Dutch Master Chef Cas Spijkers, who first created this painted chef jacket and cuisine concept in the Netherlands years ago, Chef Ken Vedrinski of Sienna celebrates art and cookery as he recreates this concept in Charleston. The five participating chefs for the evening will be paired with five extraordinary artists, including: Donald Barickman, Magnolia’s paired with Karin Olah, Eva Carter Gallery; John Marhsall, Al Di La paired with Shannon Smith, Smith Killian; Patrick Owens, Langdon’s paired with Will Hegler, Will Hegler Studio; Ken Vedrinski, Sienna paired with Robert Lange, Robert Lange Studio; and Mike Lata, FIG paired with Jeff Kopish, Lime Blue.
Together, the paired chefs and artists will craft a concept for the jacket, which the artist will then paint. At the dinner in January, the chefs will prepare a course that mimics or evokes the theme of the jacket, and the jackets will be auctioned off in a silent auction. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Gibbes Museum of Art. Tickets for this five-course, prix-fixe dinner and auction are $100 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. There will be an opening reception beginning at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Sienna at 843-881-8820.