Miroslava (Mira) Bozena Scott

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You just can't help but smile when you see Mira's whimsical, colorful works of art. The subjects and the generous size of the piece beacon you to come have a closer look. When you do…you start appreciating the fine details and her masterful execution.

Miroslava "Mira" Scott began her journey in art while a young girl in the Quebec countryside of Canada. She developed a love of nature and wildlife there on Calumet Island where she spent her free time. Mira's work has been influenced by this and the assortment of animals and birds that her father brought home to observe from the Montreal Zoo. Later when her father was a dolphin trainer at the Montreal Aquarium, Mira had the opportunity to observe these incredible creatures up close. Her father called her "eagle eyes" because she had learned from him at an early age to sit still and watch for any subtle movements in the woods, sky and water. "It would give me great pleasure to spot something before he did. My father placed me in a canoe on the Ottawa River at five days old; all bundled up like a papoose." This influence can be seen in her most recent works, "Big Dipper, Little Dipper" (Loggerhead turtles coming ashore) and "Miss Swiss" (cow in pasture in Switzerland).

Her early works were landscapes and wildlife done in watercolors and were very "traditional." A critique by a very well known, nationally collected Canadian artist stated, "What an interesting touch of eroticism." when noticing a touch of red polish on a self portrait that was otherwise a very calm, monochromatic piece. Mira was quite taken aback by this comment and it took her two years before she painted again.

Nevertheless, she became very proficient at working with etchings as a medium. She liked the graphic nature of it. "It was like doing sculpture on paper. It was a very black and white way of thinking," Mira felt. She was asked to teach an etchings class at Technical College of the Lowcountry and accepted the position. When she found out she was expecting her first child, she felt that the complications of working with toxic material would affect the baby's health so she put away her etching materials.

The forthcoming baby led her to painting furniture, first for the baby's room but soon any unpainted furniture piece was an opportunity to use a more colorful palette. During this time she owned a framing shop in Hilton Head Island while living in Beaufort, SC and in Palm Key, SC (a very well known artist community). She admired a painting of a sunflower that a North Carolina artist had created because of its whimsical nature and the inspiring quotations painted in the picture. She considered buying it but decided she could create something herself. Having owned the frame shop she thought a mat board would be an interesting surface upon which to paint, but it was not smooth enough. After some research, she came up with the idea of using AFX3 …illustration board that was sturdy, archival quality but lightweight. She started creating pieces that had a push and pull in the color - high contrast - to create movement. Her sunflower was very pleasing and provoked a new style and color scheme for Mira's work. Next came orange Orange Poppies, Playful Cat, Daufuskie Porch. Ideas started coming fast. Sometimes she would be working on 6 - 12 pieces at a time. In her day to day life, she would encounter objects and would start thinking how they would be perfect to incorporate in one painting or another. Sometimes the symbolism was apparent, sometimes not.

Her latest works return her to the beginning… diptych's of a Loggerhead Sea Turtle coming out in the moonlight to lay her eggs and then the young hatchlings making their way to the surf, "Place in the Woods," memories of her childhood on the Ottawa River. "Because we are so connected to nature here on Hilton Head Island, it is easy to be inspired, Mira noted. "Bubba Duey's Little House" is an example of being inspired by local scenes without painting the traditional shrimp boats and marsh scenes. It was inspired by a photograph she took 25 years ago of a small traditional Gullah house on Hilton Head Island. This giclee helps raise funds for the Gullah Museum which in turn helps sustain the fragile, vanishing culture of the Sea Islands. She feels that her turning point was when selling art was no longer her focal point - instead pleasing herself through design and free thought was her mindset.

Mira has owned "Picture This Gallery" in Hilton Head since 1985. It is a place where many artists, friends and patrons gather on a daily basis. Whether a new art exhibit, lecture or book signing, it is a much anticipated and well attended event. Ms. Scott's works of art are displayed in many private collections internationally. Her love of nature is seen in all of her work - showing great detail in her subjects, capturing emotions and moods ranging from serenity to joy. A variety of galleries have showcased Scott's work. "The Checkered Moon" in Beaufort, SC and Savannah, GA, " Barrett Antiques" in Bluffton, SC, "The Audubon Nature Store" on Hilton Head Island and most recently "Art Downtown/Gallery 209" in Brunswick, GA.

Mira feels there is a great need for continuing art education in our school systems, and has participated as a contributing artist for most of the 29 years that the Island School Council for the Arts has existed. She has held the position of Solicitation Chairman for the annual "An Evening of the Arts" auction and dinner, which gives support to this educational need.