Art show focuses on nostalgic Clayton

From the horses in front of the Clayton Saloon to the girls in pioneer aprons playing at the old schoolhouse, Carlene Honeychurch’s artwork captures the spirit of historic Clayton.

The locally themed watercolors always drew a crowd to her booth at the Clayton Art and Wine Festival, where she exhibited from 1995 until she moved to Grants Pass, Ore., several years ago.

Honeychurch also used to display at her Marsh Creek Gallery, a collective of more than 20 artists.

On a recent visit here, Honeychurch donated several boxes of prints to the Clayton Historical Society. In honor of the gift, the Historic Society is hosting an art show and sale 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Endeavor Hall, 6008 Center St. Wine and appetizers will be served.

“Her pictures are folk art watercolors of all kinds of different places in Clayton. She has tons and tons of them,” says JoAnn Caspar, a member of the art show committee. “They’re just adorable. And they were very, very popular.”

Over the years, Caspar purchased three to hang in her own home. One features the town clock, and another highlights Main Street with the mountain as a backdrop. “There’s one I really like that shows Skipolini’s with some people out front and a couple old cars. It’s really cute,” she adds.

While the Skipolini’s image includes cars from the 1920s, a print in front of Ed’s Mudville Grill showcases cars from the 1940s. “The reason why I went with the old-style cars, besides them being so beautiful, was that downtown had the car shows all the time,” Honeychurch says. “I took many, many pictures of those cars, so I didn’t make those cars up. They had been on the streets at different times.”

In her Clayton works, Honeychurch eliminated other modern features such as telephone poles. In addition to her large collection focusing on the historic downtown, she also contracted to paint residential home portraits. “I think I painted every building that was in town while I lived there,” the 25-year resident says with a laugh.

Since moving, Honeychurch has created scenery backdrops for the local theater troupe and painted murals for her granddaughter’s nursery. “I’ve sort of retired as an artist – that’s why I donated so much of my work to Clayton’s Historical Society,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed and supported the Historical Society.

For the Nov. 9 show, all prints are matted and signed and a few are framed. Sizes are 5 by 7 and 8 by 10, with prices ranging from $20 to $50. Proceeds benefit the Historical Society.

“We want it to be kind of a dressy event,” Caspar says. “You can wear your formalwear or your cowboy outfit.