Dale Atkinson, Bee Worried

Dale Atkinson is a graphic designer, illustrator, and musician working in Johnson City, TN.

Rosemary Barnett, Lily

Rosemary Barnett was born Philadelphia, PA.  She lived and raised her family in Bucks County, PA.  She recently retired and now lives in Jonesborough.  She studied at Bucks County Community College and was a member, student and former officer with the Levittown Arts Association.  She now works in a studio at her home and loves painting in oil, acrylic and also sculpting.

Ericka Bazile, It could only be terrific!

Ericka Bazile is an artist and native of Johnson City, TN.  She works in a variety of media, most significantly in painting, drawing and sewing, and has been designing one of a kind handbags and accessories for her own label since the age of sixteen. With her handbag collections she translates her senses concerning pattern, structure and detail in painting and drawing into wearable art pieces, entirely conceived and constructed by hand.  Having exhibited her work locally and nationally, she finds conceptual and visual interest in decoration and ornament, prominently including these elements in her paintings and drawings.  She was most recently included in Her Magazine’s Winter 2007 issue as the cover feature, and has been named guest speaker at the upcoming Diversity in the Arts Forum at Milligan College.  She can be reached at erickabasile@comcast.net or through her online shop www.erickabasile.etsy.com.

Bobby C. Baxley, Millers Pond

Bobby C. Baxley is a local artist in Morristown, TN.  He is a member of the Morristown Art Association, where he has served as President and other positions.  He occasionally volunteers for art projects in local schools system and at the Rose Center Museum.  He works in pastels, oil pastels, watercolors, and acrylics. He has studied with William Houston of Carson-Newman College, the late Cecil Neal, William Bledsoe of Jonesborough and several art professors at University of Tennessee. His studio, Countryside Gallery, is in his home where you can purchase his art or contact him at 423-586-4743.

Russel Bennet, Pick Me

Russell C. Bennett, artist and art instructor from Gray, TN, finds himself actively involved in many artistic roles in local schools, communities, and across the state.  He wears the professional hats of artist, art educator, and art advocate with pride.  As artist, he has exhibited in shows in Tennessee and Virginia.  They include: East Tennessee State University Student Honors Show, The 1^st Tennessee Bank Shows, Appalachian Art Shows, The Virginia Highlands Festival and Funfest Art Shows.  Bennett has an upcoming exhibit of his ceramic work to be displayed alongside works of his students at the Johnson City Area Arts Council Gallery in October, 2008.

Paul Bishop, Flock

Paul Bishop is a professional portrait and wedding photographer.  He enjoys creating images that invite people to make up the “rest of the story” when encountering his work.  Special interest is photographing people and finding that special something that makes each person unique.  He is principal in the new fine art portrait studio, Studio 5 Zero 1, in downtown Kingsport.  He began developing black and white film and printing the images in his darkroom over 35 years ago.  Now his equipment is state of the art, but his roots show that he most enjoys producing a well-crafted, crisp, simple image.  His work may be seen at www.Paul5zero1.com, Nelson Fine Art Center or Studio 5 Zero 1 in Kingsport.

Linda H. Bryant, Evening Pod

Linda Bryant has a Masters of Studio Art from Marshall University, Huntington, WV, with a major in ceramics.  She completed Metal Smith at Haywood Community College, Clyde, NC, and also at ETSU and Marshall University.  She maintains Stone’s Throw Studio in Jonesborough, TN, where she has a pottery studio, and makes jewelry using silver and bronze metals.  She also has an interest in painting and mixed media printmaking. Her work may be seen and purchased at the National Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN.

Ann Cameron-McDonald, Texas Landscape

Ann Cameron McDonald lives in Atlanta after having lived in England, France, the Mideast, and then a long sojourn in California and New York.  She grew up in Johnson City where she enjoyed her teen years. She has a son who lives with his wife in Dallas.  She has painted all her life.  Her work is spread all over the world.  This coming summer she will have solo exhibits in the architecturally prized Buckhead Library and in the oldest gallery in Atlanta, the Unitarian Church at 1911 Cliff Valley Way.  You may visit her work online at artistrising.com, keyword is Ann Cameron McDonald.

Charles Caudle, Love Parade

Charles Caudle has recently retired and is focusing his artistic energies through a lifetime interest in photography. His desire is to capture the world in which we live and travel in a manner that brings the viewer to thought and an understanding of the moment.

Shirley P. Cloyd, Fine Feathers

Shirley Peterson Cloyd is a lifelong resident of Johnson City, a mother of four and a grandmother of five. She received an MS in psychology from East Tennessee State University in 1984 and worked as a psychotherapist until she retired in 1996 to care for her chronically ill husband, Jim Cloyd. Cloyd cannot remember a time when she was not drawing and she began working to master gouache paint and pastels in 1996. She is consistently inspired by the vivid colors the combination of pastel and gouache create.

Piper Noel Christian Colley, Tribute

Piper Colley is a student who enjoys writing, mathematics, drawing, and computer programming and networking.  Currently, she is working on a science fiction book series. This is the third year she has participated in the 4x4 miniature masterpieces.

Dorothy Cox, The Monarch

Dorothy Cox is a retired accountant who loves art and occasionally likes to produce some of her own artwork.  She has exhibited at DKA in Kingsport and Community Artists Exhibition in Bristol.  Dorothy’s subject matter includes portraits, landscapes, and still-life arrangements.  Before she retired, Dorothy worked as the Director of Finance for the Bristol, Virginia, School System.

Sheryl T. Daniels, Hidden Meadow

Sheryl Daniels’ love of the beauty of God’s creation and the desire to interpret that beauty through drawing and painting have been major factors in her life since childhood.  Her favorite subjects include landscapes, flowers, and animals.  She works in pastel, watercolor, oil, and pen and ink in a realistic style.  She majored in art at the University of Memphis and has since taken courses from Marcia Leonard, Don Andrews, Alan Flattman, Janet Walsh, Carol Cooper and Mary Todd Beam.  In 2005 her artwork won awards in the Kingsport Art Guild Members Show and the Newell-Hendershot Watermedia Show and was juried into the Virginia Highlands Festival Art Show and the Appalachian Art Show.  Her work may be seen at www.watauga-valley-artists.com and purchased at Downtown Kingsport Association Gallery, Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery, Nelson Fine Art Center and Boones Creek Potters Gallery.

Don R. Davis, Mini Omphalos

Don R. Davis is Associate Professor of Art and Design at ETSU.  He has been a potter and educator since 1976.  He is the author of Wheel Thrown Ceramics, Lark Books, 1998.  His work may be viewed at www.dondavispottery.com and purchased at Blue Spiral in Asheville and Signature in Atlanta.

Leslie Davis, Three Kisses

Leslie Davis attended Mississippi State College for Women before transferring to ETSU where she earned both a BS and an MA in art. Since graduating, she has devoted her life to creating art. Ordinary and mundane objects that infuse and interact daily with her life inspire her art. Their hidden beauty entices her to look deeper to appreciate the inherent richness of shape, pattern, texture, and color. Her work has been in shows and exhibits throughout the region. She has also won several awards and participated in numerous workshops, including the Virginia Highlands Festival, Kingsport Art Guild, and Little Switzerland, NC. Examples of her work can be seen at The Gallery of Local Artists, Kingsport, TN, Downtown Kingsport Association Gallery and Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery in Kingsport.

Karen Dietz, Mountain

Karen Dietz is the owner of Polaris Associates, Inc. in Jonesborough, TN.  She is a fiber and paper artist creating hand dyed fabric, complex cloth designs, one of a kind free-form crochet afghans and wall hangings, plus intricately woven and beaded necklaces.  You may contact her at dietz.karen@gmail.com or 423-753-7077.  Her work may be seen at Beadworks, Johnson City, TN.

Jane Dresser, Moonlight Musings

Jane Dresser lives in Bristol, TN.  Through her fiber art creations, her goal remains to enjoy what she is doing and reach people who lack words for their feelings.

Nancy Jane Earnest, The Plaid Skirt

Nancy Jane Earnest received her formal art training at East Tennessee State University, earning an MFA in jewelry design and metalsmithing.  She has studied painting with several nationally known artists, including California impressionist Denise Burns and Charles Reid.  A multimedia artist, Nancy Jane also designs and fabricates one of a kind precious metal jewelry items and other forms of wearable, self-expressive art. 
Her work may be seen at www.arts-n-earnest.com and purchased at Carlton Gallery,
Foscoe, NC and RSVP, Johnson City, TN.

John Edwards, Tulips

John Edwards has been involved in photography for over 25 years.  After art school he made a living in commercial photography.  He has been involved with his flower project of over 10 years, with work in collections throughout the United States.  Through his photographs he hopes to enlighten people with a view of often seen but overlooked objects in nature. He currently works at Fresh Air Photographics.  His work may be seen and purchased at www.john-w-edwards.com.

Chuck Elders, Untitled

Chuck Elders is a retired Senior Engineering Technician having completed 33 years of Government and military service. As a hobby, he has been involved in illustrating, calligraphy, cartooning and acrylic painting.  He currently illustrates Bible parables for his church newsletter and does the calligraphy used on church certificates. He has been published. He really enjoys this hobby.

Joan Elliott, Tenuous History

Joan works primarily in oil and beeswax and often integrates found natural objects into her artwork.  She sets aside time each day to observe nature’s profusion of colors, shapes and textures abundant in Appalachia. Her art often examines humankind’s relationship to the environment. After a career in social work, Joan returned to school and received her BFA from ETSU in 2006. She is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League and the Johnson City Area Arts Council. She lives and works in Unicoi, TN.  Her work is currently on view at Nelson Fine Art Center.  She can be reached at artbyjoan@comcast.net

Moema Lacerda Furtado, Summer

Moema Lacerda Furtado is a Brazilian artist who has lived in the United States for 30 years.  She holds a BS from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She has exhibited nationally and internationally with solo exhibits in Brazil, Wisconsin, and Tennessee.  Her artwork has been part of the Annual Chautauqua National Exhibition of American Art, Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Annual National Exhibition at the Laguna Gloria Art Museum in Austin, TX, to name a few.  She is most known for her installations and sculptures.  She has worked with a variety of man made and organic materials such as latex, bricks, wood, sand, soap and marble.

Marianne Gubler, Holding Tank

Marianne Gubler is an award-winning painter and poet.  She has taught at St. Mary’s School and was the originator and instructor of Artsploration at Reece Museum.

Timothy Hall, Clinging

Tim Hall, a native of Harlan County, KY, has made his home in Johnson City since 1983. He serves as minister for the Central Church of Christ on Oakland Avenue. He and his wife, Joyce, have three children and two grandsons.  Tim is an avid writer, and in recent years has added photography to his love of mountain walks.  You may view his work at www.joycaster.com.

Ava C. Hausmann, Eccentric Gardener

Ava C. Hausmann is a native of Corpus Christi, TX. She received a BFA from the University of Houston, and has participated in shows in Texas, Tennessee and Germany. She has traveled throughout the states and Europe, finding inspiration from even the most mundane little spots on earth.  Ava’s work consists of lithographs, etchings, gouaches, and watercolors. The artist lives and works in Johnson City and can be contacted at ava.hausmann@charter.net.

Faye Hausmann, The Road to Spannocchia

Faye Hausmann grew up in Texas. She has traveled in the U.S., Europe and Mexico, and participated in Don Davis' Ceramics Workshop in 2007 at Spannocchia, Tuscany. Faye discovered photography as her favorite medium to express her interest and love for music and the arts.  In 2007, she exhibited her work for the first time at the "Afternoon in Tuscany" show.. Faye studies art at East Tennessee State University.

Kathy  Millhorn Hawk, Tiled with Love

Kathy Millhorn Hawk has always tried to be a producing artist during her career as an art educator in the Kingsport City Schools.  Since retiring she began concentrating more on her own artwork.  After earning a BS and MA from ETSU she studied with various local, national, and internationally known artists pursuing her interest in calligraphy, watercolor, and mixed media.  She continued her long membership with the Kingsport Art Guild, in which she has held numerous positions, including president twice.  She served as the southeastern region vice-president of the National Art Education Association and she is a member of the Arts Depot.  Her most recent accomplishment was an Honorable Mention Award in the 2006 Virginia Highlands Show.  Her paintings are in private collections in the southeast and the west coast and can be seen or purchased at Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery, Gallery of Local Artists, Main Art Center, Downtown Kingsport Association, and Boones Creek Pottery.

Harvey Howell, Philly on the Fourth

Harvey Howell is a retired public school art teacher of 35 years.  Prior to teaching, he was an illustrator for a publishing company and was art director for WJHL-TV.  As a teacher, he was recognized many times as an outstanding educator and was listed in Who’s Who among American Teachers.  As an artist, he has won several awards and recognitions, and several of his illustrated books have been published.

Greg Howser, Remember

Greg Howser is a native of Bluff City, TN.  He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2006 with a BFA in studio art with a concentration in painting. To create his art, he uses oil paint, watercolor, silver point, collage, and mixed media.  The artwork that he creates is about the personal thoughts and experiences of himself and other people that he has encountered in life.  His personal thoughts and experiences deal with the human condition, growth, and lessons learned in life.  His artwork mostly deals with figurative work and sometimes still life or landscapes.

Tom Huang, Henlopen Charm

Thomas Huang is a retired faculty member from the Department of Chemistry at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.  He was a Fulbright scholar and has been an active supporter of the arts in our region.  He was a member of the Johnson City Civic Chorale and past president of the Johnson City Area Arts Council.  He and his wife Janice now reside in Lewes, DE, and enjoy traveling the world.

Steven Jackson, Shaolin Monks Going to Prayer

Steven D. Jackson.M.Sc., D.D., Ing.Prof. Emeritus, lives in Johnson City, TN. He was a pioneer in the research, development, and implementation of computer graphics and digital imaging starting in the 1960s.  Steve has been taking photographs since he was a child, just large enough to hold a camera, and his world travels have allowed him to produce unusual and exotic photographs from diverse cultural viewpoints.  In addition, he is a noted international teacher, author, and lecturer.  He may be contacted at stevendjackson42@embarqmail.com

Rick Jelovsek, Small Falls on Beaver Creek

Rick Jelovsek is a landscape and scenic photographer who specializes in black and white infrared photography.  The images are processed to look grainy like charcoal etchings.  He lives in Johnson City and photographs in the surrounding regional area.  His training was from the New York Institute of Photography.  His work is displayed at Nelson Fine Art Center or can be viewed at www.jelovsekphotograghy.com.

Mary Alice Kelly, Study in light-Leland

Mary Alice Kelly is an award-winning artist from Kingsport.  Her work has been exhibited in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, New York and Washington and may be viewed and purchased at her studio, (423) 246-3435.

Virginia B. Kennedy, Western Isles, Scotland

Virginia Kennedy has been sewing since childhood.  Her love of color and texture in fabrics found expression for years in the clothing she made.  In 1982 a series of classes with Martha Culp kindled a growing passion for quilting and she continues to learn and explore this fabric art.  Landscapes in fabric are a special interest, as well as traditional pieced and appliquéd quilt designs.  She has a strong interest in textile and quilt history.  Hand quilting is her preference; therefore most of her work is small scale.  She enjoys creating non-quilted par aments for her church.  Virginia and her husband Bill reside in historic Jonesborough.

Joyce Kistner, Santa Barbara, CA

Joyce Kistner was an elementary teacher in the Bristol, Virginia, School System for 28 years.  Governor Charles Robb recognized her art initiatives by awarding her the Arts Award in Southwest Virginia.  She has taught classes at the William King Art Center, Bristol Art Guild, Arts Depot and private lessons in water media and collage techniques.  She has exhibited and won awards in the Virginia Highlands Festival, Bristol Junior League, Bristol Art Guild, and an Award of Merit in water media, the Beryl Hawkins award at the Newell-Hendershot Exhibit at the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park.  She recently published a book, Hannah’s House, which contains 48 illustrations related to cabin life.  Her love of painting in mono-print, acrylic, watercolor, and wax resist techniques is a driving force in her art.

Dan Kleeman, Inflationary Field

Dan Kleeman was born in New York City.  He earned a BFA in painting from The Cooper Union School of Art.  In 1974, he received an artist fellowship grant in painting from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1990 he graduated from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) with an MA in art history.  Dan has had many exhibitions in many venues including New York City, Provincetown, MA, and Durham, NC.  Since moving to Johnson City in 1996, he has exhibited in several juried shows at ETSU’s Reece Museum and Slocumb Galleries.  A large solo exhibition was held at the Johnson City Area Arts Council in 2001

Patty Lawrence, I’ll Dance for You

Patti Lawrence earned her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and an MA in teaching from Montclair University in New Jersey.  She has lived and worked in Tennessee for 12 years  and has exhibited her work at Slocumb Gallery, Nelson Fine Art Center, The Madison Art Center in Nashville and Main Art Centre in Kingsport. Her work includes paintings and sculpture that reflects her love of music.  Most of her pieces are abstract interpretations of musical instruments and songs.  She recently opened The Gallery of Local Artists in downtown Kingsport.

Claudia Lee, Untitled

Claudia Lee is a studio artist, educator, workshop leader, author, freelance designer and technical advisor.  Her works in handmade paper are exhibited widely and can be found in many collections and publications.  She is the owner and operator of Liberty Paper Mill, a working and teaching studio in Middle Tennessee.

Kichung Lee Lizeé, Blue Space

Korean born artist Kichung Lee Lizeé has a unique blend of Eastern calligraphy and Western thematic material present in her art.  In her work, the living spirit of this Eastern art form comes together with Western forms such as Abstract Expressionism; this fusion aims for a more universal expression than may be possible through working in the individual traditions.  Kichung recently traveled and studied in Korea and Europe.  She was a featured artist at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum in October 2003.  She resides in Butler, TN, and Santa Fe, NM.  Other works by Kichung can be seen at www.absolutearts.com/kichunglizee

David Logan, Secure Museum Display Case with Unremarkable Contents

David George Logan began his career as an artist/teacher in the fall of 1963, taking a position with the Oregon, WI, Consolidated School System.  He designed and launched programs in junior high school industrial arts and in senior high school art during the first year of teaching.  After a few years he left that position to pursue graduate work, earning an MA in art education at the University of Illinois and an MFA in art metals at the University of Wisconsin. He retried from ETSU in 2003, rounding out a 40-year career in arts education.  David’s work in jewelry and small sculpture has been accepted in many competitive exhibitions over the years and has earned a number of significant awards.  Perhaps the most welcome award, however, was received just last summer in the form of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” presented to him during the Tennessee Arts Academy session in Nashville.

Val Lyle, From Life

Val Lyle is a studio artist working in bronze, clay, oil pastels, drawing, photography and mixed media. She exhibited artwork extensively in New York City before returning to her family home place in East Tennessee.  Lyle’s sculpture was recently chosen by Antoine Guerrero, director and curator of P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, NYC, a part of The Museum of Modern Art.  Lyle will unveil a life-sized bronze sculpture in downtown Knoxville in 2008.  Lyle received her BFA with honors from Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL, and received her MFA with honors from East Tennessee State University.  You can view her electronic thesis at http://etd-submit.etsu.edu/etd/theses/available/etd-0601101-132934/unrestricted/LyleV0822a.pdf.  Lyle’s website address is http://ValLyle.com/

Theresa Markiw, Apple

Theresa Markiw was born in Montreal, Canada, of Ukrainian émigrés and grew up in southern New Jersey.  She began her art studies at the Philadelphia Museum School at the age of seven, followed by more than a decade at the Barn Studio of Art in Millville, NJ, with marsh painter and long-time mentor Pat Witt.  She began exhibiting paintings and drawings in New York City as a teenager.  In 1979 Markiw received a BFA from Concordia University in Montreal.  She worked for ten years in advertising and graphic design before moving to Washington, DC, where she worked for the National Endowment for the Arts, Voice of America, U.S. Information Agency, and Department of State.  Beginning in 2000 she spent five years abroad as Public Affairs Officer at the American embassies in Mongolia and Azerbaijan, with arts and culture as part of her portfolio.  In Mongolia she helped establish the Arts Council of Mongolia, on which she serves as an honorary board member.  In 2006 Markiw left the diplomatic service to join her university professor husband in East Tennessee and devote herself full-time to painting –– primarily in water media.

Jane Martin, Forget me not

Jane Martin, educator and artist, has been facilitating art experiences for over 15 years.  Her work fosters her belief that it is the process of being creative that allows us to fully express who we are.  She is adjunct faculty at ETSU, teaching Art Therapy I and II in the Department of Human Development and Learning.  Her work may be purchased from her studio Artexpress, The Gallery in Kingsport, or you may contact her at artexpress@comcast.net.

Joy McGinnis, Tennessee Farmhouse

Joy McGinnis, a painter of portraits as well as still life and landscape, describes her style as impressionistic to realistic.  Her focus is on light and color.  Since color appears more vibrant in outdoor light, she likes to photograph her subjects in that light in a relaxed setting, where the subject appears unaware that he or she is being photographed.  She acquired a college degree in Art and has attended many workshops with nationally renowned artist such as Wolf Kahn, Daniel Greene, Elaine de Kooning, Kim English, Charles Sovek and Burt Silverman.  Most recently she traveled to Spain to study the paintings of Joaquin Sorolla and to paint in the Mediterranean light for which he was so famous.  A number of her paintings are for sale locally at RSVP at Mountcastle Center. To see more of her artwork visit www.joymcginnis.com or www.art-exchange.com.

Robert McNitt, Chance

Robert McNitt was drawn to this area for its beauty.  For more than 40 years, he has been involved in art and theater.  Currently, he is completing his MA in animation at ETSU.  His work may be seen and purchased at Nelson Fine Art Center in Johnson City.

Shannon L. Mettler, Longing

Shannon Mettler is a Johnson City native and has studied art at ETSU.  His work has been shown in many group shows including Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York City and the First Tennessee Bank Art Show at the Reece Museum.  Shannon sells his work to major corporations as well as doing personal commissions and his work can be found in several outlets in and around the Tri-Cities area.  His work may be viewed or purchased by calling (423) 426-6771 for an appointment.

Justin Mitchell, In Flight

Justin Mitchell is Resident Manager of the Ronald McDonald House in Johnson City. 
He is a student of the sciences and arts and he has learned there is a science to art and an art to science.  He has chosen to concentrate on encountered observations, experiences and thoughts to create his art. You may contact the artist at justn1185@hotmail.com or by phone at 423.791.5398.

Wyatt Moody, Fish Study

Wyatt Moody became serious about his artwork when in high school.  During that time, he worked with pen and ink predominantly, and that led him to study printmaking at ETSU.  He is currently a senior and after graduation, he hopes to pursue a master’s degree in art.

Michael Murphy, 99 cents

Michael Murphy is an award winning film photographer. He received the Top Photography Award at the 2006 Open Show of the Oak Ridge Art Center.  His photography has won awards and has been published.  His art has been exhibited in many venues including the Reese Museum, Slocomb Gallery, TVA Dogwood Arts Festival, The Art Market, and East TN History Center in Knoxville.  He serves on the statewide advisory committee for visual arts for the TN Arts Commission in Nashville.  He has a BA degree from Carson-Newman College and a Law Degree from the University of Memphis. A native of Galax, VA, he resides in Morristown, TN.

Mary B. Nees, Atmosphere Study

Mary Barton Nees is an adjunct member of the Art and Design faculty at ETSU.  She was trained at Cornell University, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Barnes Foundation before earning her MFA in printmaking at ETSU.  Her work is primarily abstract with landscape references.  Her inspiration comes from the natural realm, Biblical Scriptures and her own poetry –– all of which is “seeded with signs.”  She works in various media, from monotypes with mixed media to gestural landscapes using Chinese inks and watercolor.  She has the opportunity to travel to China a couple times each year with her husband.  In 2006, she was invited to conduct a workshop and lecture students at the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China.  Mary also teaches an art history series in the Arts Corps program to elementary aged kids in Johnson City.

Joe Niehuser, Cliffdwellers

Joe Niehuser has been actively interested in photography for over 30 years.  Schooled in Portland, OR, he is interested in editorial fields involving music, culture and historical topics, and infrared experimentation.  More of his work can be viewed at www.niehuser.biz. He may be contacted through his company, Available Light, at niehuser@charter.net.

Judy O’Hara, Butterfly and Butterfly Bush

Judy O’Hara currently lives in Jonesborough.  She grew up and spent most of her life in Michigan.  She is now retired and is able to spend much more time on her passion, painting.  She paints mostly in acrylic, but also sometimes paints in oil, and she is branching out into watercolor and colored pencil.  She is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League as well as The National Decorative Painting Society and its local chapter in Kingsport.  During the last year she has done some paintings to benefit people with Autism.  One was for the Gridiron Club in Florida to benefit the Dan Marino Foundation.  More recently, she has completed a new painting for The East Tennessee Autism Society.  Her plans for this year are to teach in area Senior Centers as well as her own new studio, and more importantly to begin teaching children who are speech delayed.  Her work may be seen online at www.backroomtreasures.etsy.com

Gail Oliver, Napa Reflections

Gail Oliver’s loose style of drawing and painting evolved throughout her years of advertising and design.  These days she is most influenced by bold patterns and colors.  Gail is the former owner of Artopia Art Supplies.  She is a realtor with State of Franklin Real Estate and paints by commission.  You may find her work in area shows.

Martin Olsen, Cole Barn Winter

Martin Olsen is an ETSU obstetrician who thinks he wants to be a photographer when he grows up.  His work has appeared in Black and White Magazine and is scheduled to appear in the summer 2008 edition of Goldenseal magazine.

Kristi Moeller Ottinger, We Hung Up Our Harps

Kristy Moeller Ottinger teaches for Tusculum College and has her own private after-school art program for children.  She works in mixed media and as an art quilter.  She is working on a theme from the book of Daniel and also a theme of good advice in her art quilts.  To see more of her work, you may contact her at kristyottinger@gmail.com to make a studio appointment.

Ellen Martin-Patrick, Circles

Ellen Martin-Patrick grew up in East Tennessee.  She received her MFA from ETSU.  She has been teaching art for 28 years in Bristol, TN, and believes art has a power to teach on many levels.  Her art is always simple in its use of form.

Renee Pitts, Pactolous Sunset

Renee Pitts is an artist/educator who has taught in both the public and private sector, having taught at Science Hill High School, Johnson City, and Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, TN.  Her students have created murals in both schools in collaboration with community resources.  She is presently teaching pottery and drawing at Dobyns- Bennett High School.  She is a versatile artist who enjoys many different media and techniques.  She is inspired to create artwork that will bring awareness and appreciation of nature and life to others.  She graduated from East Tennessee with an MA in art and has studied at Savannah College of Art and Design, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and The South Gate Studio of Franklin, TN.  She has had the privilege to study with different artists including Dawn Whitelaw, Jason Saunders, Michael Shane Neal, Chad Boyd, and the late Rob Erdle.  Since returning to the East Tennessee area, Renee is continuing her art pursuit, enjoying plein-air painting, portraiture, watercolor, oils, acrylics, and textiles.  She lives in Bluff City, TN.

Marie Porterfield,
In the Depths: Where They Were Confronted as She Was Saving Her Sheep

Marie Porterfield is graduating from ETSU in May 2008 with a BFA in painting.  She will be having a BFA show of oil paintings March 31- April 5 at the Slocumb Gallery on the campus of ETSU.  In addition, she is a University Honors Scholar who will be presenting an exhibition of thesis artwork at the Johnson City Area Arts Council March 17-31; this work will include intaglio prints, drawings, mixed media paintings and dolls.  Marie is interested in metaphors and narrative art.  Originally from Jonesville, VA, she would like to eventually go to graduate school.  Upon graduation, she hopes to work on art and go on adventures.

Olga Rader, Mother

Olga Rader is a versatile artist with a multi-faceted background. Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Uzbekistan, Olga was exposed to Arabic, Asian, and Eastern European influences, which continue to find their way into her work. She graduated from Moscow University with degrees in Art and Animation Direction, and followed that with a career at Souzmultfilm, the largest animation studio in Russia. After moving to the U.S. in 1997, she began concentrating on all forms of her artistic expression: acrylic and oil painting, sculpture, exotic doll making, children’s art and illustration for books and murals. She has exhibited at numerous locations in and around Los Angeles and more recently Knoxville, TN, and has been interviewed for television in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. She is currently an exhibiting member of Bunker, a group of LA-based expatriate artists from Russia and Armenia, FAB (Fine Arts Blount in Blount County, TN), the Knoxville Art and Culture Alliance, and A1 Lab Arts. Olga teaches Hatha Yoga and Tai Chi at Clear's Silat Kung Fu in Maryville, TN. Olga’s art is infused with spirit, strength and character that mirrors her own personality, and is absolutely unique.  Her artwork may be viewed at www.olgarader.com

Fran Rathburn, Arcturus Rising

After 20 years of teaching English to college students, Fran Rathburn began experimenting with handmade stone and mosaics.  Ten years later, she concentrates her artistic skills on traditional mosaics, which involve forming an image with small squares of tile or glass, as well as pique assiette, a French method that incorporates pottery, china, or other materials into a free-form pattern.  Favorite items to work with are old metal pieces, vintage garden implements, interesting boxes, trays, and frames.  New to her repertoire are vintage windows with intricate stained-glass designs that are glued onto the glass, then grouted.   She has taught mosaic classes at the former ETSU craft department, as well as for Arts Corp, a program that teaches the arts to underprivileged children, through the Johnson City Area Arts Council.  This past year, she had her first gallery show, “Backyards & Birdhouses,” at the JC Area Arts Council.  For information, contact her at verandagirl@embarqmail.com.

Patsy Kelley Reading, Phlox Café

Early years in the artistic-minded town of Sarasota, FL, and an art scholarship to Stetson University influenced Patsy Kelley Reading to return from years of commercial art to become an acrylic wildlife artist in 1991.  The Erwin artist presently uses canvas, arches paper, eggs and gourds as the ground for her artwork.  Studying under Tennessee artist Urban Bird led Patsy into watercolor to portray her birds and wildflowers.  It was his same influence that persuaded Patsy to add oils to her media and to branch into portraits.  Her art may be viewed at Watauga Valley Art League shows throughout Northeast Tennessee.  She is a member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society, WVAL and Art’s Depot, Abingdon VA. The artist won honorary awards at Newell-Hendershot Water media Exhibition in 2005 and the Merit Award at Summer Sycamore Shoals Art Show in Elizabethton in 2003. Her artwork can be viewed at www.watauga-valley-artists.com, Art’s Depot, Abingdon, VA and Roving Gallery.

Anne Reid, Poinsettia

Anne Reid currently teaches art at St. Mary’s School in Johnson City. She has a studio in her home and you may contact her at (423) 929-7860.

Yichen Reneau, Windy

Yichen Reneau is a graduate of Fine Arts Academy of China. She majored in art at China’s teacher’s college of Hangzhu.  She was an art instructor for 11 years in Hangzhu and an instructor for arts majors preparing to enter art academics for three years. Her specialty is pencil portraits.  She also works in oil, pastels, acrylics, and Chinese brush style.  Since moving to Maryville, TN, from China she has become a member of Fine Arts Blount (FAB) and teaches classes in oil, drawing, and Chinese brush at Blount Art Connection in Maryville.  She has had exhibits in Blount County Library, art shows promoted by FAB and a gallery in Townsend.

Renee Roberts, Almost Human

Renee Roberts received her Career Studies Certificate from Mountain Empire Community College in 2002. Since then she has been using a digital camera and using Photoshop to create her artwork.  She has taken classes in advanced black and white photography at University of Virginia’s College at Wise.  She has won several awards at local fairs including the Wise Fall Fling and Jenkins Days and has had prints displayed at the Reece Museum over the past two years.

Larry Rogers, Jonesborough, TN 2007

Larry Rogers is a native of Johnson City.  Completing his formal art education with a degree from ETSU in 2006, Rogers continues to photograph and exhibit his work online at www.larryrogers.net.

Tom Root, Eve

In addition to being a painter, Tom Root is also a songwriter, musician, and a writer of children’s stories.  He studied drawing and painting at Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT, under Aaron Shikler N.A. and Deane G. Keller, and at Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL.  He lives in Jonesborough with his wife, painter Peggy Root, and their two children.  His work may be viewed at www.tomrootartist.com

Bennette A. Rowan, Chinese Pug

Bennette A. Rowan is a painter who works mostly in oils.  She maintains an open studio in Johnson City where she runs a once-a-week atelier, where other artists may come and create.  She recently joined the American Kennel Club Artists Registry, and is taking commissions for show dog paintings and pet portraits. She is available for commissioned work by calling (423) 928-4192.  Her work may also be purchased at Nelsons Fine Art Center, Alta Vista Fine Art Gallery, Valle Crucis, NC, and Edgeworth Inn, Monteagle, TN

Joyce Samuel, Scabiosa

Joyce Samuel’s love for painting began at an early age.  She won a scholarship to Chicago Art Institute in elementary school.  She has worked with all types of media throughout her life, but watercolor has become her passion.  In 1970 she moved to California and studied under Joe Garcia, Susan Clark, and Cloyd Bedke while managing her own business, a florist, antique and art emporium.  In 1998 she moved to Bristol and became a member of the Watauga Valley Art League, Bristol Art Guild, Kingsport Art Guild and the Arts Depot.  Her artwork can be viewed at www.watauga-valley-artists.com.

Emanuel Scott, Polk Berry

Emanuel Scott (AKA Barbara Whisnant) was named in honor of Mary Emanuel, her grandmother, and Mary Scott, her mother-in-law.  She had an art exhibit at the Jones House in Boone twice.  She also has displayed at the Nelson Fine Art Center and Artopia in Johnson City.  She was juried into the 1^st Tennessee Bank Art Exhibition in 2002.  She works in oil and watercolor doing impressionistic landscapes, floral still life and pets.  Her art can be seen and purchased Alta Vista, NC, and www.watauga-valley-artists.com.

Pat Sheets, Low Tide

Pat Sheets is a native of West Virginia.  In college, she was a science major but managed to squeeze in courses in line and color as electives.  After college she took evening courses at local community centers wherever she was located.  She began painting with relatives and was introduced to watercolor, which soon become her medium of choice.  Her work is mostly realistic and always very small.  She likes watercolors because they are very neat and clean to use, and very portable.  She enjoys painting nature scenes and watercolor allows for instant gratification.  The small size allows for a relatively quick capture of the scene when painting in the out-of-doors where the light and mood can quickly change.  Her work has been exhibited at the Jonesborough Historic Visitor Center and Le Petite Bistro in Cookeville, TN.

Stephen Simmerman, A Stand Up Guy

Originally from Jonesborough, TN, Steve Simmerman has worked as a graphic designer and college professor in a variety of southern locales over the past 20 years.  Steve is fascinated by the power of design in a cultural context; from the package design of cereal to the concert posters of regional bands to billboards dotting the landscape, type and image coalesce in a million diverse and provocative ways.  He feels art can be discovered in every realm of life, and imagery can often confront us, making us connect symbols with ideas.  Some of his favorite explorations involve thinking up fictional products and events; he then creates posters and “branding” for them in the tradition of the golden age of advertising.  Among Steve’s influences are Toulouse-Lautrec, Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, and Jacob Lawrence.  He’s also a huge fan of early American magazine illustrators like Edward Penfield and Will Bradley.  Having grown up sketching Superman from Action comics and copying the whimsical characters of Charles Schulz, Steve continues to find the synergy of word and image an engaging and limitless reservoir of expression. He currently resides in Chattanooga, TN.

Lewis A. Songer, California Burning

Lewis Songer retired from ETSU in 1999.  He currently serves as General Manager of the Johnson City Symphony.  Born in Evansville, IN, he holds degrees from Southern Illinois University, Indiana University and the University of Missouri at Kansas City.  His performed compositions include a symphony, a piano concerto, music for a ballet, music for the play The Lost State, produced at ETSU, and chamber works for wind quintet, brass choir, and horn ensembles.  His last composition was premiered in Austria.  On February 9, 2008, the Johnson City Symphony performed Dr. Songer’s newest composition, “Variations on a Ground.” This challenging work was warmly received.

Charles Sorrell, Twelve Spotted Dragonfly

An avid photographer, Charles Sorrell resides in Johnson City, where he works out of his home, photographing the Appalachian region and wherever he travels.  He often finds inspiration in the small, overlooked aspects of the natural world around us.

Laura Ann Sorrell, Spud

Laura Ann Sorrell received a BFA in art education from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis in printmaking.  For the past 16 years she has taught private art lessons in Johnson City while pursuing color pencil drawing, printmaking (woodcut) and woodcarving as her media of choice.  She participates in area shows and exhibits in galleries.  Her work may be seen at Pearl Gallery in Snipz Hair Company, Jonesborough, and Barr Photographics, Abingdon, VA.

Sharon Squibb, Nest

Sharon Squibb teaches art at University School in Johnson City.  She worked in New York City for 11 years as a book editor, specializing in illustrated non-fiction books.  Originally from Sulphur Springs, she now resides in Jonesborough.  She is on the board of the Jonesborough Performing Arts Committee and performs in musical productions at the Jonesborough Repertory Theater.  She has a BFA from the University of Tennessee, an MFA from the University of Cincinnati, and an MAT from ETSU.  For an appointment to see more and/or purchase Sharon’s work call (423) 341-0130

Denise Stewart-Sanabria, Abandoned Photo Series 1

Denise received her BFA in painting from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  She also attended the School of the Worcester Art Museum.  She lives in Knoxville and exhibits regularly throughout the southeast.  In the last year, she has received eight awards from various regional and national juried exhibits, including an award from Marc Pachter, Director of the National Portrait Gallery for a piece in Face Value, a national juried exhibit in Winston-Salem.  Denise is a past winner of the 1^s Tennessee Bank show.  Her artwork can also be viewed or purchased at the Hanson Gallery in Knoxville and 16 Patton in Asheville and www.stewart-sanabria.com.

Jim Stagner, Indian

Jim Stagner is a local artist who works with watercolor and oils and specializes in Marine art.  He is a member of the Watauga Valley Art League and The Roving Gallery. Nationally he is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists, the International Society of Marine Painters, the United States Coast Guard Art Program, the United States Park Service Artists, and Cape Lookout National Seashore.  Locally he has had instruction from Urban Bird and Polly Newell.  Nationally he has had instruction from Homer Hacker and Tom Lynch.  Some of the awards he has received are Best in Show Purchase Award in Carter County Scenes, Best of Show at the Appalachian Fair for five years, United States Coast Guard Juried Show for seven years, and United States Coast Guard 2004 Best of Show George Gray Award.  He displays his art locally and nationally at the Johnson City Municipal Building, SunTrust Banks, Unicoi County Heritage Museum, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., Cape Look Out National Seashore, and many other places. His work can be viewed at www.watauga-valley-artists.com.

John M. Steele, Untitled #3

John M. Steele was born in 1929 in Birmingham, AL.  Professor Steele received his BAA in industrial design from Auburn University.  He then went on to receive his MA in design in 1953 from Louisiana State University.  He did post-graduate work in printmaking and humanities at Florida State University from 1964-1965.  He was also one of four invited participants in a printmaking workshop with Arthur Deshales at Florida State in 1965.  He taught interior design and the history of architecture in the Department of Art at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was an Assistant Professor of Drawing and Painting at Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS, before coming to ETSU in 1956.  Along with teaching painting and printmaking, he also served as Assistant Chair of the Department of Art and Design.  He retired in 1994 and currently lives in Johnson City and pursues his own creative endeavors.

Sherre Sullivan,
Eye of an Endangered Gray Wolf (Before it is Slaughtered in the Northern Rockies)

Sherre Sullivan is a freelance artist, drafting designer, and environmental activist, who received an MFA from ETSU and a BA from Virginia Intermont College.  One of her most recent projects was designing and assembling a 125 sq. ft. tile mosaic for the new Bristol Public Library.  Another was the painting of two 56 sq. ft murals for a Kingsport residence.  She worked with an interior design firm in Honolulu, HI, for six years and now works independently with contractors and architectural firms in the Tri-Cities area as art director, project artist, and designer.  She creates art in various media and accepts commissioned projects. Some of her artwork can be viewed at www.roundthemountain.org. Currently she is developing her own web site. Sherre has also illustrated three books and authored two.

Mary Buckley Sutton, Susie Patton’s Purse

Mary Buckley Sutton is originally from Alabama. She has degrees in history, education and art.  Combining her love of ribbons and flowers with her interest in fashion and art, she creates one-of-a-kind evening purses, hats, and shoes.  She uses an extensive collection of vintage ribbons, buttons, jewelry, and millinery trim to fashion her compositions.  Ever evolving, her passion for embellishment has taken yet another turn.  A Metal mesh tm bustier she designed graced the cover of Belle Armoire magazine in July 2005.  The piece is also a finalist in the fiber: wearable category in the 2006 Niche student awards competition sponsored by Niche Magazine from the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft. She currently resides in Johnson City where she recently completed a degree in studio art at East Tennessee State University.  Her work may be viewed at www.shaposies.com, The Gilded Lily in Baton Rouge, LA or you may contact her at (423) 283-0277.
 

Cindy Taylor Walton, Abstract Study

Cindy Walton’s subjects are the people closest to her, though her paintings focus on the interplay of light, form and motion, often evolving into abstraction.  But her work never loses that emotional connection with its primary subject.  Earlier in 2007, Cindy was awarded a Fellowship to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.  She holds a BA in art from Salem College and BFA certificate of major from the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA).  Cindy is originally from St. Petersburg, FL, but for the last 20 years has resided in Asheville with her family, husband Scott and daughters Rebecca and Detchon.  Solo exhibitions of Cindy’s paintings have been held in Asheville at the Front Gallery of the Asheville Area Arts Council, the University Gallery at UNCA, Gallery Minerva and the Hope Women’s Center. Regionally, there have been solo shows at Grace Gallery (Marietta, GA), the Johnson City Area Arts Council, and TwoArtChicks Gallery (Greensboro, NC). Her work has been included in group exhibitions at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Rosenthal Gallery (Fayetteville, NC), UNCA Alumni Exhibitions, Asheville Gallery of Art, Black Mountain Center for Art, Salem College Alumni Exhibition, Wedge Gallery (Asheville), Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University, and the Arts Center of Henderson County (Hendersonville, NC).

Clair Van Wirt, Make Much of the Cross

Clair Van Wirt was born and raised in New York and began painting at Sunrise while living in Charleston, WV.  She studied with various teachers in New Orleans including those at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art during the 27 years she and her family lived in Louisiana.  She paints in watercolor, oil, gouache, and pastel.  She currently paints with the Urban Bird class in Johnson City.  Her paintings have been in the 1^st Tennessee Bank Show at the Reece Museum.  She has taught art workshops at Cattail Community, NC, and at Mt. Air Country Club, NC.  For many years, she has exhibited her work at Hayden Gallery, in Burnsville, NC.

Irma P. Webb, Apples

Irma P. Webb is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America.  She specializes in portrait painting and was commissioned to do official portraits of the mayor and county judges of Louisville, KY.  She has taught art classes in five states and has won awards in some juried shows including the New Jersey National Miniature Exhibition, 69^th Indiana Artists Exhibition, Virginia Highlands Festival, Tri-State Lincoln Day Show and the State Fair Art Exhibition in Louisville, KY, where she won the grand prize twice.  She has presented numerous single and group shows.  Her artwork is on display at the Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery in Kingsport.

Kitty Williams, Southwest Virginia Fall

Barbara Kitty Williams is an award-winning artist in local and regional shows.  She has been painting in oils and pastels for a number of years.  Her work is primarily realistic, but she also enjoys abstracts.  She is noted for her portraits and still life pictures.  Kitty is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America.  You may view her work at Studio 10, Arts Depot, Kingsport Art Guild, Downtown Kingsport Association, and Hibbert-Davis Coffee Gallery in Kingsport.  She can be contacted at her home by emailing Kwilliams@planetc.com.

Shujun Zhou, Untitled

Shujun Zhou was born in Jiangsu province, China.  She graduated from Suzhou Railway Teacher College in 1996 with a degree in fine arts.  After graduation, she worked as a fine arts teacher in a middle school.  In 1998 she returned to school and studied at Nanjing Natural University receiving her BFA in 2001.  Shujun arrived in Johnson City in 2003.