In The Eye of the Beholder Art Gallery & Studio

Claudette Hopkins (a. k. a. “CHOP”) I was born and raised in Dallas, TX. I attended Dallas public schools and spent most of my free studies in the Art department. I continued my study of art at Texas Southern University in Houston, TX, majoring in Art Education. I did some studies under Dr. John Biggers. I have always worked with some form of art, in fact, I can’t remember not drawing or designing. After moving to San Antonio, I created set designs, designed and made costumes for pageants, such as Miss Black San Antonio and local dance groups. I did not exhibit my work to the public until 1992. Since that time, I have had
several one-woman shows and have been involved in numerous group exhibits. I also taught art in after-school programs to young children for various schools and organizations.
 

   As a member of the San Antonio Ethnic Art Society (SAEAS), I served as president for 15 years and secretary for a number of years. While serving as president, the Society began its annual “Lunch With the Artist” where money is raised to provide scholarships to students with a talent and interest in visual art. I currently serve as Chair of the SAEAS Scholarship Committee. Although I have completed many works of art using acrylics, pencil, and ink, my medium of choice is pastels. Most of my work is focused on portraying the beauty of women of color, a subject I have been drawn to for most of my artistic life. My subjects range from dancers, mothers, models, and children. I like to intensify life as I see it in my realistic portraits. Emphasis on facial details and the sensuous lines of bodies distinguishes my work and maximizes the personalities of the figures I create from images of people from all walks of life.

   I have enjoyed many one-woman shows and, exhibited extensively with SAEAS. I received both first and second-place awards for three consecutive years in USAA’s ‘Own my Own Time’ exhibits. I received an award for best in show in a SAEAS exhibit in 1997, at the Carver Cultural Center. In 2007, I created the JAZZ’s ALIVE poster for the city of San Antonio, and in 2011, I had personnel showing at St Philip’s College in celebration of Black History Month, this exhibit was held over through the month of March in celebration of Women’s history month. One of my latest ventures was to illustrate the children’s book “When a Deer Rings Your Doorbell” written by Dr. Raye Adkins. Currently, I am teaching ‘Pastel Drawing’ to students in the SAEAS scholarship program. My art has been featured in several publications, most recently, The International Review of African American Art, Vol. 27, Black Art in San Antonio. St, Philip’s college has honored me once again as the featured artist for the school’s 2021 Virtual Black History Month Celebration. I am proud to say that I am now a member of a new art group in San Antonio, The Art of Four. This group will provide many new ventures for artists in San Antonio.