Marianne Paton These painted T-shirts are a sample of the artwork currently on display at the chamber Welcome Center. The featured artist this month is Joyce Lake of St. James City.

Pine Island and Matlacha have become known throughout the county and Southwest Florida as the “Creative Coast.” In an effort to showcase the many artists who live here, the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce invites local artists to display their work with a one-month showing in the Welcome Center’s Mangrove Gallery.

During the month of September, visitors to the Welcome Center have been treated to a viewing of work produced by St. James City resident Joyce Lake.

“Showing at the chamber is a great opportunity for people coming into the area as well as residents to see my work,” said Lake. “The gallery at the chamber is a great idea and I have gotten a lot of good feedback on my display.”

Lake works in both acrylics and watercolors utilizing a variety of canvasses for her creations. Her works in acrylic are primarily on traditional canvasses depicting tropical fish, floral and leaf designs and geometric designs. She uses watercolors to produce note cards and to design vintage denim jackets. Lake also makes wall hangings out of burlap by de-weaving them and adding found objects such as shells, beach glass, driftwood and stones that have washed up on area beaches.

Lake has also produced an extensive line of painted T-shirts with images of sea turtles, blue crabs and tropical fish which have become popular with both residents and visitors to the island.

Marianne Paton This month the Mangrove Gallery at the chamber Welcome Center is showing the work of St. James City artist Joyce Lake.

Get on the big red bus Sept. 22

Lake was raised in Long Beach, Calif., where she was a student in multi-media art classes. She later moved to Saugatuck, Mich. While in Michigan, she continued to take drawing and graphic design classes and was a member of the Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club, and the Holland Friends of Art. She showed her work at the Discovery Art Center and donated her time to create a mural for the Lakeshore Center for the Arts. The mural is 12 feet high and 50 feet long.

An award-winning artist, Lake has had her work displayed in a juried art show sponsored by the Holland Friends of Art; two Tulip Time art shows, where she was selected for a Peoples Choice award; and at Holland Hospital for one month. She also has had black-and-white drawings selected for two Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club calendars.

Lake relocated to Pine Island in April of 2005, after marrying David Lake, a local shrimper and owner of the Seminole Trader shrimp boat docked in Matlacha. Very active in the Pine Island community, Lake is a member of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce, the Garden Club and the VFW, where she has served as a guard and as president.

Lake also was selected by the chamber to paint a utility pole. Her pole can be found on Stringfellow Road and it depicts a palm tree. Her work can also be seen displayed in a one-woman show at the Olde Fish House Market as well as at the chamber.

During the winter months, Lake also brings her work to the Flamingo Bay clubhouse for the Tuesday Flamingo Boutique which begins in January each year.