Artist's Biography 
 Alan and Deborah Rabon

    Alan has always had an aptitude for art since childhood. He won art contests in school and then at county fairs in Charleston, S.C., his home town.

   At the age of 13, Alan’s 8th grade art teacher encouraged Alan to take additional classes in the evening for watercolors. The only problem was that the class was for adults. He was allowed to take the classes much to chagrin of his classmates. It wasn’t long before they began to admire his use of the watercolor media. Even though they were obviously jealous of this 13 year old kid’s natural talents, they were as equally proud of his accomplishments and very encouraging. As a result of his success with painting watercolors he was offered $50.00 for one of his paintings of a small stone church on the campus of the boarding school where he lived. It was the first sale of his artwork.

   Alan continued to sell his artwork sporadically for the next few years. He didn’t like to charge for his paintings especially if someone was completely in love with a particular painting. He felt that their admiration was payment enough. However, from time to time he would accept money if somone insisted.

   After a year at college Alan returned home because of his ailing grandmother. His grandmother had been his strongest advocate in a time during the seventies when artists were considered “flakes” and “freeloaders“. Everyone else told him that art was not a career, it was a hobby. But his grandmother encouraged him to continue his artwork. After she passed away, it would be nearly ten years before Alan would pick up his paints and brushes again. He listened to the wrong people and ended up working in retail management for ten years. Altough the experiance he gained in managing a business was grueling for him, Alan learned a lot about how to practically manage a retail business and eventually his own. Alan was very unhappy with the direction his life was going and he decided to change it. This is when he began his second career at age 30 as a decorative artist.

   After spending ten years mastering all he could learn about decorative painted finishes Alan became a Master Decorative Artist. As a result of that experience Alan decided to start the very first Decorative Artists Guild in the United States. It took three years but Alan was able to successfully found the South Carolina’s Decorative Artists Guild. Many decorative artists worked with Alan over the years and apprenticed under him. He taught classes in decorative painted finishes and faux finishes. As a result, there are hundreds of decorative artists throughout the country who owe their career to Alan. His faux finishes and murals can be seen in some of the finest private homes in the southeast, as well as, restaurants, banks and other businesses.

   In 1994 Alan was the first artist in the state of South Carolina to recieve a grant for a faux finishing project. The project was to renovate the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's main offices by applying his unique brand of faux finishing and trompe'loeil paintings. Once completed, the offices went from dark brown wood paneling to marbled columns and inlaid marble floors with ralistic three dimansional arches and ivy growing along the walls. All, of course, created with just paint. Alan had approximately twenty volunteers help with the project in exchange for learning his faux finishing techniques. The only paid staff on the project were College of Charleston art students. After the Director of the South Carolina Arts Commission toured the facility she commented, "The best money we have ever spent on an artist's project." What she didn't know was that Alan was behind a door nearby doing some touchup work. Although he never made his presence known, he was beaming with pride!

   At the age of 37 Alan was injured in a car accident that resulted in several surgeries and several fused vertebrae in his spine. He struggled to continue his work as a decorative artist with the help of a very generous benefactor Ruth Irvin, who was very successful interior designer in Charleston. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with cancer and finally succumbed to the disease. After the death of his friend and colleague, Alan's career as a decorative artist came to crashing end. It took two years before he would be able to work again.

  After an evaluation at the S.C. Department of Rehabilitation Alan was discovered to have such a high apptitude for art that there wasn't a grade high enough on the charts for his natural artistic abilities. He was encourage to find a career that he could continue to be creative. After some rehabilitation Alan was able to begin a career as a bench repair jeweler. Even though he wasn’t doing what he loved he found a niche where he could use his artistic talents as a custom jeweler creating one of a kind pieces of jewelry.

   After eight years on the bench Alan has become an excellent custom jeweler. He still hand carves the waxes that are cast into spectacular one-of-a kind jewelry. He once again had another outlet for his art.

   Marcus Rabon, Alan's older brother, was an accomplished artist living in Atlanta. He constantly nagged at Alan to paint on canvas again. Finally, Alan did just that.  He began to paint in oil on canvas which he still does occassionally today. 

"Egret At Dawn"

24" X 36"

Oil On Canvas

Original: $6000.00

Full Size 24" X 36" Print On Canvas Available $250.00 each

   It was after four years at the bench that Alan discovered his love for carving eggshells. Since then, Alan has carved eggs for First Lady Laura Bush and was selected as the official Easter Egg Artist for the state of Georgia in 2005 and Illinois in 2006.

   Currently, Alan can be seen at fine art fairs, wildlife festivals and special egg conventions across the country demonstrating his eggshell sculpting and carving skills.

   *Every year Alan generously donates some of his eggshell art to various not-for-profit organizations. His eggs have been auctioned and raffled off for several hundred dollars. Please feel free to contact Alan if you would like a an eggshell carving for your special non- profit event.

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