Sarah Kargol participating artist

“In a search for something to make for her children for Christmas one year, Sarah Kargol had an idea to take some of her kids’ drawings and turn them into three-dimensional stuffed creatures. Having grown up with a mother who was a seamstress, sewing was a natural solution. Because of Sarah’s love of great thrift store finds, she immediately knew what sort of fabric she would use for these gifts; old salvaged suits, flannel shirts and groovy polyester pants. She used felt and vintage buttons for eyes and teeth. The ‘creatures’ that were created by her children on paper were now actual things they could hold. They were a hit and Sarah’s wheels started turning. She drew up her own crew of ‘monsters’ and began sewing and incorporating them into her paintings.

Sarah’s humorous mixed media paintings evolve from materials that have had past lives. Buttons, fabric, and recycled images bring a sense of nostalgia to her work. One is reminded of the smell of grandma’s closet and the feel of the clothes contained within, and spending hours searching through old jars of buttons for a special treasure to take home.”

~ Sarah Kargol

Lucretia Albright participating artist

“I design handmade copper earrings in all shapes and sizes. Some are embellished with natural and colorful beads. For the last ten years I have designed different types of jewelry, and I currently enjoy working with copper because of it’s warm color, and hand-crafted appearance.”

~ Lucretia Albright

Patti Rishforth participating artist

"There are less than 100 silhouette artists practicing in the US today and I'm proud to be one of them. There aren't too many things an artist can do in 5 minutes and then hand over and call it done. But silhouettes are not only the quickest form of portraiture, they are unique in that they take away eye color, hair color, skin tone, even attire, and leave only the most basic essence of that person for a viewer to recognize - and it really looks just like them!"

~ Patti Rishforth

John Auger participating artist

“We moved south as a young family in 1990 and never looked back. I sort of think of myself as a native South Carolinian who was born in Rhode Island. It is easy to fall in love with the people, the weather, the mountains, and the small size with a big outlook.

Art is a relatively new endeavor for me. Trained as an engineer, wired as an entrepreneur, I spent most of my 30-year career in business. I came to love woodworking, and especially turning, because it is so creative and challenging.

Turning is a lot like some forms of sculpting or carving, in that it is a subtractive process. Once the wood is gone, it’s gone forever! Even more challenging is the fact that both the piece and the tool are moving at the same time. Some cuts require the turner to control five or six arm, wrist, and body motions all at once. So, the artist has to be carefully creative, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to appear as part of the turning process without getting too carried away, ending up with only a nice pile of sawdust! It is a bit like mining for gems. A very unappealing chunk of wood often turns into a breathtaking piece of art.

The real secret to fine woodworking, though, lies in finishing. While it is often tedious and dusty, the real payoff comes when I am finally done with sanding and I am at the buffing wheel watching the beauty just burst out of the piece.

In addition to wood as a medium, I am also working with stone and metallic inlay to add incredible new dimensions of color, texture, and expression. Despite being a very challenging and time-consuming process to achieve a harmony of flow, color, and finish with these very different materials, the extra effort is well worth it.”

~ John Auger

Stephanie Sullivan participating artist

“A found object, a vintage bead, a thought, an image... a bead full of magnificent color clicks into place, a single stone, a space, a refraction of light, then another... click, bead, click. This one, no that one, creating a form, a pattern, a texture... East meets West, balance it, name it and wish it well. Each sent out into the world to find a resting place or showplace - Adornments of unique character. My studio- a fantastic palette of color, texture, and size. Boxes, bowls, design boards, and beads everywhere! Solve the puzzle... Can this be strung? Can it be wrapped, draped, twisted? Will it sparkle around my neck, jingle at my wrist, or swing by my ears in the breeze? Will it twinkle or seduce? Will it Dazzle? What name? What voice? Calls out to the viewer – ‘Buy me! Wear me! Let me speak to you and those around you! Wear me well and often because I am like no other’.”

~ Stephanie Sullivan

Marie Gruber participating artist

"Black and white fine art photography is, and always has been, one of my favorite forms of artistic expression."

Marie has mastered the technique of capturing non traditional images while presenting them in a unique, creative, and strikingly handsome way.

Neil Medlin participating artist

  I have had an obsession with the visual arts for as long as I can remember starting from the first time  I saw “True Art.”  I was between the ages of five and six when my grandmother, God bless her soul (whom I thank dearly) introduced me to Bob Ross on television.  I was so amazed at watching him paint Happy Trees that I couldn’t keep my eyes from being glued to the screen.
      I loved the whole aspect of it all!  I spent years and years expressing myself in any way possible and was first rewarded for my work in the 3^rd grade!  I have since worked in many mediums including abstract painting, landscapes, sculpture, photography and my own inimitable style.  In addition to my two beautiful children, I love art.  It’s what I do.  My family and art are my life.

-Neil

Jessica Apple participating artist

Jessica Apple began Mariposas due to a love of fashion and all things beautiful. Mariposas is her way of putting light and beauty into a physical creation. Her collection of creations range from stunning earrings to elaborate headbands. Jessica loves to share her passion with others whether it be by sharing her own unique pieces or by teaching others to create their own. She currently teaches a jewelry class at Christ Church Episcopal and teaches jewelry camps in the summer.

-Jessica Apple, Mariposas

Marco Suarez Participating Artist

"My work is a testament to the intelligence of creation's balance and composition. I enjoy taking natural elements, like trees or textures, and using them in an unnatural way, combining them to create compositions that may not necessarily be found in nature. My artwork is created digitally and printed on acid-free photo paper with archival inks guaranteed to last at least 100 years. Each print is part of a limited edition of 250 and individually signed and numbered."

-Marco Suarez
www.marcosuarez.com

Heather K. Mitchell Participating Artist

I began knitting years ago because of my love for the textures and colors of great yarn.  Scarves and hats that add a pop of color in winter can take a drab outfit to a whole new level!  I have bought many of my yarns from other countries, such as Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Mexico where I can find textures and fibers not easily found here in the states... Many of my scarves have beadwork on the end or throughout the scarf to add a bit of shine and sparkle to balance out the soft warmth of the scarves.  I use wool, alpaca and various blends... The hats are incredibly warm and are great for the guys.  They are rugged and handsome and much better quality than the average beanie.  

-Heather K. Mitchell

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