Boyd creates painting for auction here

Joel Boyd at work on painting to be auctioned Thursday night. [Click to enlarge]

A stunning painting of a country church in the woods, by Rector native Joel Boyd, will be auctioned by the Rector Woman's Club during Rector's annual community Christmas party Thursday night following the Rector Christmas parade.

Boyd will graduate in March 2010 from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., and members of the Woman's Club, who provided financial assistance for his college education, were anxious to tap into his talent to help raise funds for future scholarships.

From the time he began art classes at Rector High School, it was evident Boyd possessed a unique talent. His paintings quickly earned him recognition and his work was always a favorite in area art shows.

The painting for the auction is sure to create a lot of interest, and the highest bidder will have the double satisfaction of enjoying the painting for years to come, as well as helping the Woman's Club with its many worthy projects.

"My inspiration for the work is old churches like Mary's Chapel and Oak Grove Church out where my grandmother and mother used to go to church when they were both girls," Boyd said. "I have heard many good stories of those days and the wonderful community of the small country church. This painting represents a place of spiritual and social community of a simpler time, a time greatly cherished."

A 2006 graduate of Rector High School, Boyd is the son of Rick and Janet Gunn of Rector and Kendall Boyd of Paragould. He is the grandson of Linda Greenway of Rector and Leo and Ruby Boyd of Paragould.

Boyd recently was married to Christina Muniz. In the fall the two will move to Chicago, where she will attend graduate school in social work and Boyd will begin working out of galleries as a fine art painter.

Boyd works primarily in oil and says he is "all over the board" when it comes to subject matter. "I love portraiture, narrative, abstract and figurative painting," he said.

Boyd added that his experience at Savannah College of Art and Design has been "a pleasure and an honor."