The special talents of self-taught artist, Pearce W. Hammond, lie in his primitive paintings that utilize bright primary colors, pen and ink, and mixed media. From his studio overlooking the tidal waters and marshes of the Chechessee River in Okatie, South Carolina, he draws inspiration, mood, color and subject matter which are captured in his unique paintings which depict African Americans from the Gullah culture in peaceful times gone by shrimping, fishing, crabbing, gathering oysters and living off the land along the sea islands of South Carolina.
He attributes his putting brush to canvas to his famed Savannah, Georgia-born Uncle, Johnny Mercer, who was famous for his prolific song writing career and winner of four Academy Awards. Mercer was also a talented painter. One Christmas when he was visiting family in Savannah, a young Hammond showed his uncle some of his work and Mercer said he was "pretty good at it" and should pursue the craft.
Mercer and Hammond also had the same interest in subject matter. A book titled: "Our Huckleberry Friend", a collection of letters, notes and song lyrics by Johnny Mercer, also includes one of Mercer's paintings, a watercolor of three African Americans traveling down a dirt road on an umbrella-covered wagon. The painting is signed by Mercer and dated 1947.
In addition to art, Mr. Hammond is also an accomplished writer, editor and photographer. His career has included positions as Executive Editor of a leading trade magazine in the freight transportation industry; freelance editor of a corporate magazine for a Fortune 500 company which was awarded "Best in House Publication" in 1996 by the Georgia Press Association; author and publisher of a humorous book on dogs which received reviews from radio, television and other media nationwide and in several foreign countries; and writer of numerous freelance articles for local, regional and national publications.
Mr. Hammond's work has been featured in many local and regional publications including South Carolina Magazine; Low Country Monthly; Hilton Head Monthly; Beaufort Gazette; Island Packet; Bluffton Today; and Savannah Morning News.