About Patty Schoelkopf Photography


*Patty Schoelkopf Biography*

Patty Schoelkopf-Lewis is a photographer, artist, & educator. She is a contemporary artist that lives and works on Hilton Head Island, SC. She enjoys traveling and documenting the world. She prefers the tangible aspects of all photographic media and does not limit herself to displaying only the image. She continues to search for the true meaning of each of her subjects. The fluidity of water and the timeless aspect of each image drives one's imagination to consider their own interpretation. While pushing her photographic imagery to the next level, she strives to capture the beauty of nature alongside select manmade structures.

Patty Schoelkopf Photography was instituted in 1995, while she was the photography editor of Millersville University's school newspaper, The Snapper. In 1996 she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in photography and certification to teach K-12. In 2007 she received an M.ED in Gifted Education at Converse College, Spartanburg, SC. For the past 28 years, she has been a dedicated photography instructor at Hilton Head Island High School. She has built and maintained a full-fledged photography & digital imaging program that is composed of six levels: Photography 1-4 & International Baccalaurette (I.B.H.L. 1&2) Photography & Art. She has continued her photographic and artistic education by taking workshops with renown photographers such as George Tice, “Master Printing,” John Scarlatta: “Solar Printing,” Julieanne Kost: “Advanced Photoshop Techniques,” Ray Van Dusen: “Photoshop II,” Anna Tomczak: "Polaroid Lifts & Transfers," Jill Enfield: "Liquid Emulsion," Susan Laney: Cyanotypes & Mordancage, and "Phil Dunn: Digital Photography." She has created a body of work using the 19th century Bromoil process as well as images that combine photography, encaustics, mordancage, and cyanotypes into her final imagery. She continues to search for the true meaning of each of her subjects, while pushing her photographic imagery to the next level.

Her work has been exhibited at Millersville University’s, Sykes Gallery, in Millersville, PA, BFA Exhibition: 1996; at The Spirit Hawk Gallery, Leola, PA: 1996, “The Cherokee in the 20th Century Exhibit;” at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head, SC, “The Faculty Works Exhibit:” 2001, at the Pink House Gallery, 2001, at the “Evening of the Arts Exhibit:” 1997-2007, at “Hilton Head Island High School’s Faculty Exhibit:” 2007 & 2008; at Savannah School of Art & Design, Savannah, GA 2007, “Society of Photographic Educator Faculty Exhibit:” at Circa Gallery, Asheboro, NC, 2008, “Society of Photographic Educator Faculty Exhibit;” at Hummell Studios, Bluffton, SC, 2009, “Advanced Student/Teacher Exhibit:” at The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head, SC, 2009-2010, “Timeless Treasures;” at the Gatley Gallery Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023, & 2024, “Florence Regional Arts Alliance Juried Small Works Exhibition;”  at "Square Foot Art Basel Miami Art 3," Projects Gallery, Miami, FL, 2015-2016; "Square Foot Art Basel Miami Art 4," Aqua Art, Miami, FL: December 2016 & 2017; at SC State Fair Fine Art Exhibition, Columbia, SC, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024; at University Illinois Micro-Artist In Residency, Champaign, IL, 2018; online at NAEA Juried Member Exhibition, 2022; at Public Works Art Center, Summerville, SC, 2023 & 2024, “The Educator As An Artist;” online at Ten Moir Gallery, “Vibrant Color Exhibition” (Honorable Mention), 2023; at SHAPE Gallery, Shippensburg, PA, “Listening To Water Exhibition” (Eddy & People’s Choice Award), 2023; at Modern Visual Art Gallery, Bethleham, PA, “The Drama of Light & Shadow,” 2023; and at the Floyd Art Center, Floyd, VA, “Earth First,” 2024.

In addition to exhibiting her work, she has presented at The Ed Tech Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2005 (“Teaching Photoshop CS to High School Photography Students”), at the Society of Photographic Education Conference in 2008 at Randolph Community College (“Bromoil Photography: Process & Personal Work”), at the South Carolina Art Education Association 2023 One Love Conference and at Beaufort County School District’s 2024 Professional Development Day (“How Do We Keep The Creative Juices Flowing While Teaching Art?). She has also been an Artist in Resident for University of Illinois Micro-Artist In Residency Summer Program in 2018. 

*Personal Mantra*

"The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. it is always on his doorstep." ~ Paul Strand

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~ Andre Gide

"A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.” ~ Louis Nizer