Artist Alley in downtown Southern Pines welcomes local artist Frank Pierce for a portrait event Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m.

Pierce has been an artist since he was a young boy. He began selling his fine art at the age of 16 and has pursued art as his career ever since. He began painting portraits in 1974 and still finds the challenge of portraiture to be exciting.

"The challenge of painting a portrait is capturing the essence of the subject not just creating a likeness," he says.

He enjoys experimenting with techniques to capture the true transparency and luminescence of skin.

"I discover something new every time I pick up a brush," says Pierce.

Pierce has painted portraits of all sorts of people in all stages of life. He enjoys painting older subjects particularly. He is drawn to the character and experience in their faces. Children are also favorites because of their freshness. He has also painted pet portraits, and portraits of people with their pets.

"People tend to relax more when they have their pets with them, so the result is a more relaxed and natural image of the subject," he says.

During the event, Pierce will demonstrate portrait painting and will offer photographic portrait sittings for free, with the opportunity to order prints. Also during the event, Artist Alley will debut its new framing center.

Artist Alley features the work of more than 50 North Carolina artists and craftspeople. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artist Alley is located in downtown Southern Pines, one block east of the train station, at 167 E. New Hampshire Avenue.

For more information about the portrait event or the gallery, call Jean Skipper at 692-6077.