About the Artist/Ensemble

Everett is a folk/outsider artist who brings driftwood to life.   He graduated from William Fleming High School where he was a first rate athlete, excelling in football, track and field and basketball.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1980 where he began his boxing career.  When his father died tragically in a construction accident, he left the Army and returned to Roanoke to help with the family construction business.  In 1987, he moved to Richmond, VA where he returned to his love of boxing and represented Virginia in the Olympic trials.  He later went on to become the heavyweight boxing champion of Virginia. In 1992, Everett subsidized his income by completing home repairs while training for a world title fight.  He was in line for a chance at the heavy weight world title when he suffered injuries in a construction accident.  While repairing the roof of a two-story house, a nail flew from beneath his hammer and was embedded in his left eye.  The nail had to be surgically removed and rendered him legally blind.  With his chance at the title gone and his boxing career over, he was led to reignite his love for art and began to paint driftwood.

He introduced himself and his work to Martha Mabey, owner of the Mabey Gallery, Richmond, Virginia.  She encouraged him to produce a body of work and sponsored his first public exhibition with a show of painted animals in the spring of 1993. That show was followed by many other exhibits to include: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, The University of Virginia, The Miles Carpenter Folk Art Museum, The Virginia Science Museum, The Virginia Heroes Program, Pine Camp Cultural Center, North Carolina Wesleyan Sisters Gallery and other galleries around the country. In 1996, he participated in the Virginia Art Residency program and provided workshops for children in Central and Western Virginia.  He has also provided in school workshops in primary, middle and high schools in St. Helena, South Carolina and Galveston TX.  He also made a guest appearance on the former “Parent’s Choice” award winning Nickelodeon show “Gullah Gullah Island” with a segment highlighting the imagination and spontaneous creativity.  Everett opened an Art Gallery (Cre8tive Works) in Surry County, VA where he showcased his various art forms and held art workshops.  He has assisted and encouraged people of all ages to  enjoy creating driftwood masterpieces.  Everett currently offers workshops and paint parties to the public and private sectors.

Technical Requirements

The only requirements to creating a driftwood masterpiece is the ability to use one’s imagination, a paint brush and some paint!  It’s just that fun and easy.

Educational Programs

Over the years, I have had so many awesome experiences introducing driftwood painting to all ages with the same results – creation of a masterpiece.  Some of the participants readily express their inability to paint or create anything, but at the end of the activity, they are extremely excited about or surprised at what they were able to achieve.  One thing that I always stress is that there are no wrong creations.  It’s all in what each person’s examination and imagination sees and creates.  Everyone can create a fine work of art – in my words “A Masterpiece”!

• Some people are not familiar with the term “driftwood”, so we first talk about exactly what it is and where we can get it.
• I generally bring an ample supply of  raw driftwood that I have gathered from local beaches and river banks. I present them clean, but unpainted wood
• Participants will choose a piece of unpainted driftwood, examine it and determine what it will be.  They will be asked to name their selection.
• The sculpture to be created can be a replica of something real or imaginary creature or item.  The imagination rules.
• The selection will be primed and painted into whatever the participant decides, thus creating a masterpiece
• I especially encourage school aged children to write an exciting story about his/her masterpiece (if time permits)
• The World of Driftwood Painting is fun, exciting and thought provoking.  It has never disappointed the participants, making it the perfect activity for all as well  mixed age groups.