He's still painting every day. The gorgeous landscapes, portraits and animal studies keep coming from his studio to the hands of his mother, who acts as his agent. He is Sidney Zemp of Bamberg. His mother and agent is Annette Dwight. Unfortunately, the studio is located in the Federal Correctional Institution in Jonesville, Va., where Zemp has spent most of the past 17 years.

In three more years, Zemp will be a free man and one of the outstanding 20th century artists South Carolina has given the world.

Even viewing prints of his work in black and white touches the senses. His "Dead Eye," a study of a crouching, spotted leopard, brings a sudden sense of fear and admiration. His "Majesty" presents a regal wild turkey. One more, "Low Country Hideaway," portraying a cabin backed by miles of open swampland, brings the desire to own it.

Growing into a better life

Most of Zemp's paintings have come from a talent that increased year by year as he served his prison sentence.

"I had so much time on my hands that I began a career with art, drawing everything in sight, then studies of people from photographs. Soon after, I got into oil," he said. "Of course, my love for the Edisto River inspired me to paint several scenes, the first which later was reproduced in a limited prints edition."

Because he could not visit these people or places, Zemp worked from colored photographs his family and friends sent. A portrait, "Cousins." embellishes a standing pair of great white egrets in front of swamp foliage. True beauty.

Now 43, Zemp doesn't feel comfortable talking about his teen years, but on the other hand, feels that sharing his experiences may help others not to make the same mistakes.

"In early youth, I loved playing with children in our neighborhood. I had a dirt bike that saw umpteen miles of riding. Not far away lay fields where we discovered artifacts and bottles. Just to use up any extra time, I learned the piano (his mother was a popular music teacher), played football and blew the trumpet in our high school band. With all these friends, I also loved to party," Zemp said.

Trying to fit in

"I'll never forget smoking that first joint," he said. "I wanted to fit in and thought it would make me cool." (Note: How many thousands of American youths do you suppose made this mistake, even with watchful parents?)

"I was 11 years old, totally unaware how it could take me down a darkened road with nightmarish results," Zemp said. "Marijuana is a gateway drug that leads to harder drugs like cocaine or heroin. By the time I was 22, I had lost control of my life."

This irresponsibility grew until, at age 26, Zemp received a lengthy prison sentence in Mississippi for thefts to support his drug dependency.

"I grew up in prison, which saved my life and gave me new character and standards," he said.

In 2011, Zemp will be freed and can openly pursue the destiny that has embraced and inspired him. By then, his work should already be in the hands of a number of museums and art collectors' homes. Zemp still paints from colored photographs which his mother takes and mails to him. She also handles the photos from clients who want portraits.

Through Mrs. Dwight, his work has been displayed at the USC Salkehatchie Art Center in Allendale, the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center, the Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center and a number of Lowcountry art shops.

No doubt, Zemp's future renderings will generate many more paintings of the Lowcountry's beauty for countless others to enjoy.

Note: Our thanks to Mrs. Beth Thomas, Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center director and Mr. Thomas for bringing Mr. Zemp and his work to our attention.

Retired editor and public relations executive Thomas Langford's column is titled "Some Edisto Stories." Let him know if you have stories to share: 803-534-2097.

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