Self-Taught Watercolor Artist Wins Distinguished Alumni Award
Dempsey Essick Uses His Talent to Express Nature’s Beauty and Help Good Causes
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (May 23, 2008) – Dempsey Essick has won the Forsyth Technical Community College 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award. A 1973 mechanical drawing graduate of Forsyth Tech, he began his career as a project engineer with Leggett & Platt. At age 35, he embarked on a full-time career as an artist.
A self-taught realist watercolor painter, Essick has exhibited at The National Academy of Design in New York City, the National Watercolor Exhibition in California and the Rocky Mountain Water Media Exhibition in Colorado, among others. Two of his paintings were featured in the 2007 anniversary edition of the North Carolina Wildlife Commission calendar.
He owns and operates the Dempsey Essick Gallery in Welcome. His wife, Shelley, manages the gallery. The Essicks live in the house where he was born in Davidson County. They are the parents of two grown children.
Essick was nominated for the award by Judi Holcomb-Pack from Crisis Control Ministry. In addition to the artwork he donated to that organization, Essick has used his talent to support many charitable causes. His community service work includes membership on the board of Davidson County’s Senior Services, a term as president of the NC Bluebird Society, and teaching a weekly community Bible study.
The award was presented by Forsyth Tech President Dr. Gary Green at a luncheon.