Downtown Clinton came alive this weekend as ART Clinton 2025’s event continued with its second Saturday of creative competition and community celebration. At the heart of the excitement was the Tag Art Group, where a dynamic team of artists wowed the crowd with their speed, teamwork, and raw talent during an hour-long live painting competition where artists all painted the same subject.
The TAG Art Group, founded in 2019—featuring Tammy Hernandez, Jodie Hatcher, Chasity Rowell, Melissa Stevens, Bethany Murray-Emmons, Wesley Harrell, and Janette Marvin—had paintbrushes flying as vibrant images of the given subject, mountain landscapes, came to life in less than 20 minutes.
Organizer Jeannie Browning, who leads ART Clinton 2025, says the event has taken on deeper meaning for the Clinton community this year. “After the Musgrove Fire, and the Helene Hurricane, we need a sense of community, and I think that the arts can be a part of that,” she said.
Participation in this year’s event has grown significantly. “Last year, we had 22 artists, and 90 pieces of artwork. This year, we have 40 artists and 140 pieces of artwork,” Browning noted. “We have artists from Clinton, Laurens, Whitmire, Honea Path, Hodges, Ware Shoals, Greenwood, and Charlotte, NC!”
The Adult Art Battle also brought fierce competition, with artists Cassie Etters, Karena Thomas, Miranda Hatcher, Jolie Solberg, Kaleb Ward, Junior Payton, and Leala Avery creating unique paintings of the given subject, trees, in their own distinct styles under pressure.
The final awards reception on April 24 will showcase the completed works and announce the award winners—but for many, the real victory is seeing Clinton’s art community shine brighter than ever.
If you’re looking to join ART Clinton or the TAG Art Group, message Jeannie Browning directly on Facebook. View more artwork done by the TAG Art Group on their website here.
Read more about the previous ART Clinton event and the local businesses involved here.
Click here to view a short video showcasing highlight reels from this event.
