Ave Hurley
Born and raised in New York City in a family consisting of 14 siblings, I began doing artwork before I started school.My grandfather , John Cosgriff, was an artist in Brooklyn NY and supported his family by his artwork even during the Great Depression when many lost jobs, he continued working his artworks til his death in 1968. That same year I began to sell my own artworks.
I was given his drawing board and his desk, which I treasured and was further inspired to continue on as an artist.
I began doing commissioned works while still in high school and have been painting and drawing now for 50 years.
While growing up my family vacationed in New England every summer during the 1960's & early 70's and I spent much of my time painting scenes from along the Maine coastlines and drawing some of its lighthouses.
We relocated to North Central Pennsylvania in the mid 80's and began doing rural landscapes, my seascapes, as well as some sign painting, while enjoying the more laid back, relaxed country lifestyle.
Now that my children are grown, I have become almost totally immersed in my artwork and have begun traveling around the nation, sightseeing to gain new inspirations & illustrate where ever I go.
The O'Regan Floral Cottage -
I am dedicated to doing my artwork. I have done some large volunteer art projects in churches, schools and for civic organizations.
Some of my larger projects that were done as a volunteer were:
From 1992-98 I painted all the sponsor signs for the Knoxville Little League.
In the mid 90's I painted the scenery for the Christmas play for the United Methodist Church of Knoxville.
In 2005 I was the lead artist in the production of "Two from Galilee" a large musical theatrical production sponsored by the Victory Highway Wesleyan Church in Painted Post NY which was raising donations for the local food pantries. This project included 2 story high sets, scenery was life size including the nativity, 32 x 16 feet of 'sky' painted from their ceiling down as well as fabricating a storefront toy store, a Bethlehem backdrop and homes for the families of Mary & Joseph.
Later 2006 I painted the scenery for a dinner theater they hosted to raise missions funds for another church they were helping.This including 16x 8 ft painted sections modeling a 1950's style diner and some life size dancers.
In 2007 I created the scenery for the Light of Life Performing Arts Dance School , in York Pa., for their annual production of the Nutcracker Suite, by creating a 16x8 ft interlocking set of the Land of the Sweets and also a section of a Victorian window with a snow scene showing through the painted window.
Most recently, I completed a 10 ft x 12 ft mural up on scaffolding at Charleton Chapel in Lock Haven Pa.
I have this scene now available in prints and postcards on
www.AveHurley.etsy.com and at my other websites listed below~