Inspired by a recent trip to India, the Arteva Club Collective has produced an impressive exhibition of works for the upcoming group show Dust and Divineat Principle Gallery Charleston. The club is an artist-led collective bringing together some of today’s leading painters through travel, cultural exploration and shared creative experience.
Suzie Baker, Afternoon Break, oil on panel, 20 x 24 in.
“In March of 2026, this international group of artists embarked on a journey of discovery and camaraderie in India,” explains Carson Reeder, the gallery's assistant director. “To their surprise, what they saw and experienced surpassed all expectations. Despite Arteva Club being a collective, and the fact they all painted together throughout the state of Rajasthan, this collection of paintings, in a variety of media, is a reflection of their individual impressions from that trip.”
Christine Lashley, Nights Together, oil, 24 x 18 in.
Artist Brienne M Brown, best known for her watercolor paintings of landscapes, architecture and everyday scenery, found inspiration at the Amer Fort in Jaipur for her painting of the structure, Dust and Amber Stone. “I was enthralled by the immense yellow stone fortress and the way it sprawled across the hillside,” she recalls. “The sheer scale and presence of the historic structure was captivating, and I wanted to emphasize that by allowing it to fill most of the picture plane. Watercolor was the perfect medium to capture the subtle amber and rose tones of the stone walls. The small elephants and riders ascending the path help convey the enormous scale of the fortress while adding a sense of life and movement.”
Aimee Erickson, Ribari Tribeswomen, oil, 8 x 10 in.
Christine Lashley, who typically explores light and nighttime ambience, also found inspiration in architecture. Her oil painting, Nights Together, began as an on-location study in a courtyard at a palace just outside Jaisalmer, India. “After the heat of the day, a cool breeze moved through the space while warm, glowing lights contrasted with the last blue traces of the night sky,” says the artist. “The courtyard buzzed with life—figures gathered at café tables—yet the atmosphere felt calm and inviting.”
Lashley continues, “I worked quickly to capture the moment, laying down as many color notes as possible before the light faded, and I joined my group for dinner. This courtyard became a constant source of inspiration. In the desert, shifting light throughout the day and the cool evenings created a rhythm of life—both protective and expansive—offering a serene refuge from the intensity beyond its walls. The instant I saw it, I knew I had to paint it.”
Harsh Agrawal, First Light, Pink City, watercolor, 12 x 16 in.
Suzie Baker presents her piece Afternoon Break, depicting two men at rest with their camel among the hilly, sandy landscape. “My family lived in the Middle East for several years, so I had the opportunity to paint camels in both Bahrain and Petra, Jordan,” she explains. “It felt both familiar and exciting when our group in India saddled up and then settled in to paint our transportation. Watching our camel guides take a well-earned break in the shade made for an appealing subject—not only on location, but later back in my studio as well.”
Brown adds that overall, she hopes viewers leave with a “greater appreciation for the beauty and character of India’s landscape and culture that captivated all of us as artists. It will be fascinating to see how each artist responded to the same journey through a different artistic voice. Although we shared many of the same experiences, each of us saw India through fresh eyes, and I hope viewers enjoy discovering both the similarities and the unique perspectives within the exhibition.”
Brienne M Brown, Dust and Amber Stone, watercolor, 14 x 18 in.
Dust and Divine will open with a reception on September 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Principle Gallery’s Charleston, South Carolina, location. The show will hang through September 30. —
Principle Gallery 125 Meeting Street Charleston, SC 29401 • (843) 727-4500 www.principlegallery.com
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