Hi, I’m Lora Gay
I’m a Georgia artist, born and raised.
From forest and field to saltmarsh and sea, living in harmony with nature has always moved me towards artful expression.
These landscapes inspire me to capture them in oil and acrylic paint, and in more subtle ways, they inspire my charming animals and poetic portraits.
I make enchanting fine art paintings that move you closer to our beautiful creation
I began Giles South Studio in 2021 as a digital hub of hands-on, artful, simple living. In writing about the creative lifestyle and encouraging others in their pursuit, it became clear that the natural outflow was to offer my original artwork -the fruit of the lifestyle – to those who followed me. I now offer collections of original paintings released seasonally as well as fine Art glicee prints of my artwork.
Origins
Creativity was a way of life as a kid. Me and my little sister made worlds out of everything we could get our hands on, tree forts, beanie baby wardrobes, musicals, model cars. If we were inspired, Mom (a textile artist herself) made sure we had everything we needed to chase it. I come from an independent-minded, development-oriented, entrepreneurial family- and I had a ball!
Being sixteen doesn’t exactly get you official recognition for your hard work, but knowledge and growth has always been more valuable to me than a piece of paper. And boy was I gaining experience, too! I lived and breathed music through leading worship, leading youth band, directing choir, writing songs, and playing keys and bass guitar onstage.
But even though leading worship services and youth bands was rewarding, I found more joy through keeping church music a ministry. So at seventeen I switched gears and started a business teaching piano and voice, and hopefully sharing the joy that creating song can bring.
Through this background in music performance and instruction, I’ve found that the things that make a song capture your heart are the same things that make a painting “sing”.
Graceful lines are a stirring melody.
Brushstrokes are rhythm.
A strong composition gives harmony and balance.
My title may now be “artist” instead of “music instructor”, but it feels surprisingly similar. The making, celebrating, and sharing of beauty is woven into both creative processes.
A Sense of Place
The studio is where the magic happens.
It’s nestled in the 1861 farmhouse my husband, Skipp, and I restored in our 20’s, and where we still live with our two crazy pups.
I find sanctuary in the morning light glowing through old windows and the soft green and pink of the apple trees outside them, and this calm inspires the serenity my artwork is rooted in.
Restoration and rootedness are central to how my husband and I live our life.
Making the old new again, honoring the stories of the past, and ensuring they remain for the future are threads that weave through everything we do.
(I named my studio after the original builder of our home, the Giles family, to honor their story.)
We love this simple life and how meaningful the honesty of it has become to us.
I hope to express this love into oil and acrylic paintings that tell stories of heritage, simplicity, and the deep connections that bind us to creation.
Beyond the Brush
When I am not in the studio with my pups you can find me wandering the trails with my beloved dogs (notice a theme?) and my husband. We’re a curious bunch, and together, we jump into adventures that breathe life into the imagination, whether we are hiking the spellbinding Blue Ridge Mountains, kayaking down a river, or meandering along the wild Georgia shore.
I also love to capture these stunning places through photography, framing the beauty of the landscapes that surround us often woven together with the graceful lines of historic architecture.
At the core of my existence is a spiritual connection to Jesus, the source of inspiration that influences my art and my life. This pursuit of peace, much like a river, flows through my work, allowing me to express the freedom and grace Jesus gives, and the connection to nature we were created to have.
An Invitation to Pause
In every canvas I create, I hope to express this connection to nature, woven with stories of restoration and moments of soulful serenity. My art is an invitation to others to pause, to feel, and to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us, urging them to find their own “peace like a river” amidst the chaos of modern life.
It’s my intention that each painting will add a sense of place, peace, and natural beauty to your home. Fine art is an heirloom to pass down for generations, so I’m honored that you are spending some of your time with mine!
