By HEATHER RUPPE
A budding Colleton artist has designed a massive new art project that is grasping people’s attention throughout Walterboro.
Luke Mixson is 14 years old and is a free-hand silhouette artist. Recently, he won the People’s Choice Award at the WHAM! Festival in Walterboro. In collaboration with the City of Walterboro, leaders at the Colleton Museum and Farmer’s Market reached out to Luke, and asked him to create and design the mural.
“He grabbed a piece of paper and started cutting,” said Doug Mixson, Luke’s father.
The project, or mural, is located at the corner of E. Washington Street and North Walter Street in downtown Walterboro. It is part of a multi-effort plan that includes leadership from the Colleton Museum and Farmer’s Market; however, museum officials say they will provide more details and information on the project when it is complete.
As for the artist himself, Luke attends Cotesworth Christian Academy in Lodge. He is a self-taught artist who discovered his artistic abilities in 2018.
“The first time I did it, my Great Uncle Johnny, who could cut silhouettes, came to our house and I thought, ‘That looks fun.’ I tried it and I could do it,” he said, adding that he was surprised at his abilities. “It was definitely God who gave me the talent to do it,” said Luke.
Since uncovering his talent, Luke has been communicating with people via Facebook who are asking that he use his silhouette talent to create designs for them. In response to those requests, Luke is now doing custom silhouettes, in classic black and white cuts. They are all done free-hand. However, this is the first time he has ever designed and painted e a mural.
“Mr. Matt asked me if I wanted to try it. I scribbled down some designs … they measured the building and I traced it on the wall,” he said, speaking about the process of turning his free-hand sketch of the mural into reality.
In the last week, Luke and other community leaders have painted the mural using a free-hand approach. “It was a team effort,” he said, giving credit to those at the Colleton Museum and Farmers Market who are helping to paint the mural.
“When people see the mural, I hope they see the Lowcountry of South Carolina and God’s beautiful creation,” he said.
To reach Luke for a custom silhouette, contact him at Silhouettes by Luke on Facebook or on his Web site, www.silhouettesbyluke.com.
The cost of each silhouette piece is determined by the complexity and the size of each piece. Normally, prices range from $35 to $150.
