Coastal Plain | A Natural State

Ranging from slightly hilly to flat, the Coastal Plain landform is the result of millions of years of rising and falling sea levels. The area's rural landscape is a combination of farmland, wetland, and forests with population centers are in Florence, Sumter and Orangeburg. Fishing at Lake Marion is one South Carolina's largest tourist attractions. Hydropower from Lake Marion and other lakes and rivers in the Coastal Plain greatly impact the economy and environment of the region. 

Meet artists from the Coastal Plain area of South Carolina below. Please note many of the web videos include transcripts.  The artists are trained professionals who often use tools not considered safe for inexperienced users. Please review the safety disclaimer.

Topiary Garden
Episode 3

Video

Hedges and trees in Pearl's garden appear to flow and weave into one another, often making it difficult to see where one plant ends and another begins. The effect is created by tying the tips of...
Wood Canoe
Episode 3

Video

Finished hulls appear as rich warm-toned boats encased in a layer of glass. The finish is the result of hours of sanding and polishing the epoxy layers on the outside of the hull. A fairing board is...
A Natural State
Episode 4

Video

There are many definitions about what constitutes folk art. One definition by Sharon F. Patton states that a folk artist is one who is self-taught, usually makes art late in life which is tied to...
Marcelo Novo
Episode 4

Video

Marcelo Novo, a well-known South Carolina artist and self described "city boy," felt a bit out of his element at the Art in the Park event. Without paintbrush and canvas, Marcelo struggled to apply...
Phil Greene's Wood Barn | A Natural State
Episode 4

Video

Wood destined to become part of a canoe is kept dry in a loft above Phil's workshop. A tour through the loft reveals the different woods found in Phil's work including red cedar, bloodwood, walnut...
Topiary Garden
Episode 4

Video

The key to creating topiary is pruning. Pruning is the process of cutting off leaves and branches to encourage new growth and shape old growth. During the growing season, pruning is a daily affair in...
A Natural State
Episode 5

Video

Jimmie’s life is abundant with memories. Weaving the past into the present is a way of solidifying and unifying both. While he is an untrained artist, Jimmie understands and appreciates the very...
Baptizing a New Boat | A Natural State
Episode 5

Video

Wood Song Canoes, Phil's business, gets its name from the feeling he gets as he quietly glides through the water in a well made wooden boat. We visited Phil and his son as they "baptized" a new boat...
Topiary Garden Tour
Episode 5

Video

One of the oldest sections of Pearl Fryar's garden is anchored around a Christmas tree he replanted in 1982. Success at cultivating the Eastern white pine, a native of the Blue Ridge of South Carolina...
A Natural State
Episode 6

Video

Rustic furniture has been around for a very long time, often languishing in attics and barns in rural areas. Some fine examples of rustic furniture were a legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps...