During the month of October 2024, Artistic Aspirations, LLC (AALLC) in Irmo hosted a two-week raffle of artwork and crafts to support a local cancer foundation, The Many Colors of Cancer. The request to have a raffle and donations came from local artist Joe Richbourg, who like many of us has lost a loved one to cancer. AALLC wanted to support Joe in this endeavor to bring awareness to contribute to a local charity that would impact residents in the community.
Sarah Miller, Nicole Wilson, Kim Winn (owner AALLC), Lu Renyolds, Joe Richbourg and Pat Gillman all pictured here from left to right. Not pictured Sean Madden and Chudney Pruitt all were contributors of artwork, crafts and candles for the raffle. The drawing was held on Oct. 30th and raised $150. “We’re hoping to spread awareness about the foundation,” said Winn. “We would love to raise more money next year.”
Joe Richbourg is a native of South Carolina and has been a resident of the Irmo area for nearly 30 years. In his paintings, he tries to capture memories and feelings of places he has been and things he’s seen, inspired by photographs he takes, and sometimes by things he imagines.
Working mostly in acrylics, Joe sometimes experiments with other media. Richbourg is self-taught and finds inspiration in a wide variety of styles ranging from realism, impressionism, post-impressionism and sometimes a little abstract.
Painting came later in life after retiring from a career in management, working as an instructor in a sea captain school, living part-time on a sailboat in Charleston, sailing on Lake Murray, and working as the captain of a dinner cruise yacht.
Joe began painting in the spring of 2018, about a year after losing his wife of 46 years, who fought a determined and courageous battle with breast cancer. She was a very talented award-winning artist, and Jpe found painting to be very therapeutic and a way of connecting with her and honoring her memory. In that regard, he has donated several paintings to charities for fundraising auctions and raffles.
Richbourg has completed hundreds of paintings (probably over 400, he has lost count) and loves to share his art with others and has participated in several exhibits, and art fairs and completed several commissions. Joe is now represented by Artistic Aspirations in Irmo with a selection of original paintings as well as prints.
Many Colors of Cancer
Paulette Criscione, a survivor of both breast and lung cancer, founded Cancer of Many Colors after experiencing the profound impact of cancer on her family. Her father passed away from breast cancer, her brothers Jay from bile duct cancer and Richard from leukemia. Paulette understands firsthand the financial strain that cancer treatments impose on patients and their families, affecting even their basic living expenses. To alleviate these burdens, she established the CMC 501 c3 Foundation, aiming to raise funds for individuals in her local community and across the state. The Small Gift Program was specifically created to help reduce the financial hardships patients face during active treatment. Thanks to the community’s unwavering support, Cancer of Many Colors continues to expand, becoming a vital resource for counties throughout South Carolina. For more information, visit www.cancerofmanycolors.com or phone (803) 957-1048.
Kim Winn is owner of Artistic Aspirations in Irmo located at 7336 Woodrow Street. They can be reached at 803-206-7970.
