Ernest E. Varner, II began his formal study of art in high school. There, he benefited from a strong art program that included portraiture classes in soft pastels, watercolor, and oils. He also studied painting and drawing at Hunter Art Gallery in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He participated in his first art show at Hunter and sold his first piece of artwork entitled "i."
Varner attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a major in art. Although he had been drawing and painting since his childhood, becoming a professional artist wasn't a serious option for African-Americans at that time. The war in Vietnam and the draft also played an important role in his decision to join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and change his major to psychology.
Joining the military gave Varner an opportunity to pursue his passion for painting and drawing wherever his career took him. He took great pleasure in making his classrooms the galleries and museums throughout the world. When he could not find teachers, he would purchase videos and books on the "old masters" and well known contemporary artist. He would compare what they taught to works by the masters in museums throughout the world from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., to the Louvre in Paris, France.
Varner is currently an art instructor at a local university and teaches portrait drawing and painting class at three art establishments throughout greater Atlanta. Varner was once quoted as saying that "We are at out best when we are being creative. It is at this point when we are most like our Creator.
Loveless Galleries is honored to carry the work of Lt. Col. Varner!
Loveless Galleries prides itself on
being a family-owned, Christian
business. Yvette enjoys
telling the story of how
James walked in an
office where she was
working. At that time,
James worked
at Federal
Express as a
courier and