Eli Warren participating artist

"It's hard for me to write about my work as a photographer. I got into it less than 6 years ago, so I'm still figuring out who I am and where I want to take it. Right now I'm shooting scenic images of different places, portraits of people I think are interesting, and animals in different locations. I’m working mostly on film, scanning then printing digitally, but I try not to tie myself down with any certain method. I love the freedom of being in the beginning of my career, capable of changing my style without consequence. Tomorrow could bring anything."

~ Eli Warren

WAM Participating Artist Ashley Brickner

Ashley Brickner picked up a pencil and started drawing at age 8, and she hasn't put it down since. If you have ever visited the studio, I am sure you have chuckled at her adorable drawings of children, or marveled at her skill at capturing a likeness. Ashley takes very simple materials, just pencil and paper, and turns them in to something extraordinary and heartwarming.

In her own words: "I do pencil portraits of people (children mostly), animals, or houses in pencil from photos. I do it because I love the complexity of a face and an expression, and I love the challenge of getting it just right."

Tiffany Ownbey participating artist

"Papier-mâché has been a part of my life since childhood; I started making piggy banks as gifts at a young age. Unable to study papier-mâché in college I decided to focus on ceramics and printmaking, but my passion for papier-mâché was always there, lurking in the background. Using traditional papier-mâché techniques I make figurative sculpture out of vintage sewing patterns (never newspaper), books and found objects. To achieve color in my work I layer colored papers using collage techniques. Most of the materials used in my work have a history; they are often discarded and worn. My work is about emotion and thought process. I am expressing happiness, joy, anger, confusion, etc. with the figures I make. It is my hope that the viewer will relate and feel connected."

~ Tiffany Ownbey

Ron Gillen participating artist

"As far back as I can remember I have drawn, painted, designed and built things. A 40-year career as an architect has sensitized me to visualize in three dimensions as well as in the dimensions of time and space.

What really speaks to me is telling a story or setting a mood in my paintings. Painting is an opportunity for creating theater with paper and paints; I create the actors, script, lighting effects, and scenery of the play.

Further enhancing the painting is the application of pigment nearly full strength with most of the mixing occurring directly on the paper. This challenges fresh and spontaneous action and reaction as the dynamics of watercolor painting progresses.

My paintings are distinguished from many other watercolorists by rich vibrant colors and expressions of light. Even commissioned portraits challenge my imagination to express the personality of a subject in a non-traditional way.

I find many types of subject matter appealing, and really enjoy the challenges of commissions. Landscapes, architectural subjects, re-creating historical scenes, still life, and portraits represent the scope of past works."

~ Ron Gillen

Monica Leaning participating artist

"I am a multi-media artist who works in a variety of mediums to express my feelings, and intent. I will be doing 'book arts' for the Winter Market. To me a book, in its broadest sense, is a container with information. In the artwork shown, my 'book' cover is made of purple wood with computer memory chips, brass hinge and screws. The content, or inside of the book, is made of handmade paper and clear hard plastic sheet which has been imprinted with the computer text of my son's doctoral thesis on math. The inside 'pages' are in the form of tiny pyramids approximately 3/4 of an inch tall. All of these things, computers, math, pyramids, ancient text, and computer text, are intriguing and mysterious to me. The book stands 6 inches tall and I call it, 'Pyramid Secrets'."

~ Monica Leaning

Jim Reel Participating Artist

“I paint landscapes and scenes of everyday life that hopefully ‘open a window’ to viewers and invite contemplation and reflection.

I’m inspired by light, color, composition and elements of human interest.”
~ Jim Reel

Jim has an uncanny ability to emote a unique response as he describes above. When I first saw his work several months ago, I was immediately impressed by not only his simple and unassuming personality but also of the power of expression that comes through his paintings. They are difficult to explain to others; it is only when you get up close and personal with the work that you begin to appreciate his ability to tell a story. “Saturday Market” is a very good example. It is like a photo, yet it isn’t. It might be classical, but it isn’t. Is it impressionistic? Not exactly.
Not many artists can simplify to the extent he does, yet not lose the every day, real life experience he has conveyed.

~ Ron Gillen

Cheryl Combs participating artist

Step into Cheryl’s studio and be surrounded by masterfully executed works. I call it visually exciting. Cheryl would say “It’s just fun. I create because I have to; it’s like breathing.” Her recent break away piece ‘N’Oreleans’ says it all... it’s a sensual adventure, stimulating the imagination.

~ August

WAM participating artist Larry Seymour

"Wildlife has always been a part of my life. I feel the best way to show the love I have for the fantastic animals of this world is to paint them. After two trips to Kenya, I have found that the animals of Africa have a special place in my heart which I must express in my paintings.

My paintings are done from photos that I or my friends have taken of wildlife we have seen. I first do a pencil drawing of the photo I am using. Once the drawing is done, a piece of acetate is cut to mask the subject and an airbrush is used to spray a watercolor base for a background. Next, the background is masked with acetate and a base of watercolor is airbrushed on the subject. Lastly, the detail of the painting is done in gouache to give a realistic appearance.

I have worked in all mediums, but I feel I get more realism with gouache. My ultimate goal is to create a painting of photorealism that is pleasing to the eye and desirable by the public."

~ Larry Seymour

WAM participating artist Christy Halbert

"I have a strong love for the Victorian age and animals. The only sensible thing to do? Combine them! With scenes depicting well-known literary characters portrayed as animals, or depicting characters of my own, I call my style 'a modern Beatrix Potter' ... only a little bit more odd."

~ Christy Halbert

WAM Participating Artist August Vernon

"I move around a lot... been drawing and painting as far back as I remember... grew up with a creative family in an artistic town. My passion is the quest for the masterpiece. I heard someone say about 15 years ago that "painting is dead"... so I went and painted a 6500 square foot mural in an old depressed steel town on the side of a brick building. That mural started an urban renewal awareness movement in that town, and a couple senators nominated me for the Governor’s Award for the Arts. Ironically, the building was named The Community Life Building. That, my friends, is not dead."

~August

WAM Participating Artist Susanne Vernon

The joy of creating her unique artistry is Susanne's passion. Her one of a kind mosaics are fashioned from plaster with hand-cut glass, and delicately painted in whimsical detail. Her work is vibrant and new. It is certainly original and decidedly brilliant. Her pieces sparkle with creativity! I have the experience of sitting in Susanne's Studio 112 and listening to the oohs and ahhs of her visitors and passers by. Although new to Greenville, both her plaster and traditional mosaic work has been met with tremendous response. She is internationally collected, and as I tell her visitors and customers: "I am Susanne Vernon’s biggest fan!"

~August Vernon

WAM participating artist Emily Clarke

Emily Clarke could not imagine doing anything else – painting brings her joy, her subjects are what make her happy, and we are certainly glad this is so. Step back to the glamorous 40’s and 50’s – a time in which women’s fashion and style were the business of the day and the zoot suit set a backdrop to the beauty of the American woman. Clarke’s genius in her work is that she has trademarked her distinctive style from this time past. Emily’s strong use of color and composition speak stylish sophistication. Clarke’s vision and body of work demonstrates Greenville’s rising star. I own an Emily Clarke work and have my eye on the next. Her art is contagious. I think it is Emily Clarke in the painting itself that makes a truly successful artistic connection.

- August Vernon

WAM participating artist Hallie Gillett

"I bleed in crayola crayon colors, I revel in caffeine, I rejoice that God has shared his creative soul with mankind so that we can make art. I can't help but paint and create and spread the joy. I started as a children's book illustrator and morphed into a 'more conventional' version of an artist for the sake of spreading the joy of color in a larger variety of images and forms. I'm easily inspired by books, toys, nature (especially outer space), fabric patterns, and mostly anything shiny."

- Hallie Gillett

WAM participating artist Vicky Moseley

"I have always considered myself 'Wired for Art' ... drawing and painting since I was a child. I attended a commercial art school in Cincinnati, Ohio to transition my talents into a graphic design career. But my passion as a fine artist is [understandably] restrained rather than encouraged when I am designing for clients on a computer.

So in most recent years I have found myself craving the canvas like some of us crave a decadent piece of dark chocolate ... Insatiable. Now I indulge my cravings! I am exploring my new found freedom on the canvas as a fanatic of texture and dark rich colors, while at the same time, respecting my desire and need for detail. I believe that you are born an artist ... a gift from God. It is how you decide to use His gift that is so critical in molding YOU as an artist. Always open to new ideas, techniques and learning ... heart and eyes wide open ... ALWAYS growing as an artist."

- Vicky Moseley

WAM participating artist Ric Standridge

"Painting / making art, whether through visual arts, music, theater or writing, is my key to the secret garden, my way down the rabbit hole, my looking glass.

The most compelling subject on the planet is a person. People fascinate me, intrigue me, baffle me, disappoint me, inspire me, and make me laugh and cry. Therefore, I mostly want to paint people. If I am not painting them, then I many times create and paint with them, as I do in my Music Inspired Painting Shows. Such as, The Love Show, The Liberty Rock Show, Artistic Union, painting with the music of singer/songwriter, Angie Aparo.

It’s your turn now…
My paintings are not to provide answers, nor do they convey a real sense of my personal beliefs. They are simply art… asking what is in it for me, and for you the viewer, these spirits and images, who might show up at times, perhaps even looking a lot like yourself."

- Ric Standridge

“Paint the spirit of the bird, not the feathers of the bird.” - Robert Henri

WAM participating artist Nicole Payne

"My process is very much about imagination and creativity, as far as the convergence and juxtaposition of ideas. My mind is like one of those lottery ball tumblers; I have ideas bouncing around constantly, coming together at random. I appreciate art that reflects reality but I enjoy making art that expresses my imagination.

My medium varies and I like to combine mediums within pieces. I use charcoal, pencil, pen and ink, Sharpie, crayons, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, markers, tea, coffee and what ever else I can turn into a usable medium. I also incorporate many different kinds of papers and patterns. I use everything from pages of phone books to aluminum foil to cereal boxes.

My work definitely reflects the scattered, fantastical, curious innards of my brain. My work allows me to communicate with people in ways I couldn't do otherwise. To be able to have the gift of creating a visual of the things that exist in your mind is amazing and I love sharing that with others. I often daydream about a world where blindness was nonexistent and people are voiceless, so the only way to communicate is through drawing and taking pictures. That just gave me an idea for a piece...the process is at work presently!"

- Nicole Payne

Participating Artist Brenda Morgan

"Lighting a torch, melting glass and creating something unique - no one was more surprised than I was that this suits me so well. I'm fascinated bu the process and the result of glass bead making (lampworking). Whether I begin with the end in mind or just start with a concept and see where it goes I am constantly amazed at how the glass always finds its own way. Handling molten glass in an open flame requires me to be absolutely in the moment. Although I always look forward to the completion of a bead, for me, it's about the time of concentration and focus of the journey."
morganhml@earthlink.net

Brenda Morgan

Participating Artist Janina Tukarski Ellis

"I paint with the knowledge that everybody is intriguing. Everyone is the hero of a story. Every moment is the climax scene in its own novel. My personal challenge is not to seek out remarkable inspiration, but rather to seize a seemingly mundane, everyday moment and illuminate it in a manner that reveals its beauty and poignancy. I prefer to capture the initial subject and composition of a painting with acrylic and then build up the depth, intensity and texture with oil paint. While painting, I focus on capturing the contrasts and colors in a scene, rather than each minute detail. The true charm of a painting derives from its implication rather than its precision."
janina@janinaellis.com

Janina Tukarski Ellis

Participating Artist Cate Stevens

"Above all I love texture. It's probably the sculptor in me. I love to study shape.
I am also very much drawn to the abstract. My artistic roots go very deep. I was born on the site of one of Quebec's early art destination. My father, Jacques Garnier, a well know Canadian sculptor, designer & ceramist, founded an enterprise named "L'argile vivante" (the living clay) on a charming farm near Montreal.
In the early sixties, the site attracted some of the most talented Canadian artists. My memories from those early years are remarkably rich."

It was evident from an early age that Cate's passion was for the arts, performing and visual. Since 1999 she has been fortunate enough to join our Art business full time.
She has developed an elaborate line of prints, a line of intricate hand painted frames and little by little she is emerging as a painter in her own right.

Guy Stevens

To view Cate's blog click here

Participating Artist Guy Stevens

It's so intriguing to watch Guy paint, I never know what his painting in progress will become. Sometimes the changes are subtle but most often they are striking or even a total transformation.
He always strive to take his artistic expression to a deeper level. Since moving his studio to the Art Crossing location he has been inviting public participation, particularly children. The response is wonderful. The child gets to paint a few strokes on whichever painting Guy happens to be working on. Some families have such fond memories of their visit they write us about it.
In his own word Guy says: "The simple truth is, I love painting. I love everything about it. I remember being a child of four, and sitting on the floor with a giant box of crayons. My attention was totally captured by the rich colors and how they blended together. As a professional artist of nearly forty years I still study colors and its connection to mankind. "

Cate Stevens

To view more of Guy's work click here

Participating Artist Profile: Teri Goddard

I think this art event will be something any art lover wouldn't want to miss. One of my favorite fellow artisans will be present with her handwoven creations of natural fibers; cotton, rayon, linen, and now bamboo. Teri Goddard's fabric and garments are inspired by Japanese kimonos, ethnic clothing and nature. Her choice of colors are inspired by Monet paintings and you wouldn't believe how beautiful they are. Not only is her work outstanding, but watching her at the enormous loom she keeps in the studio is so interesting to watch for all age groups. It is fascinating to see the process unfold and she is so great at describing how it all comes together and why she loves it. She's a true artist at her craft.
- Patti

Announcing Winter Art Market at Art Crossing

The dates are set and we are busy getting ready for our first annual Winter Art Market!

Friday December 4th from 6 pm until 9 pm
Saturday December 5th from 10 am until 5 pm

Our studios and sidewalks will be filled with art from over 40 talented local artists! Over the next 3 weeks, we will be posting profiles on our participating artists, and sneak peeks at some of the unique artwork that will be at the Winter Art Market. We hope to see you there!