Tana Acton/Santa Fe, NM - Tana, who resides in Santa Fe, was invited into Hayley Gallery because her designs are so unique and no one else creates jewelry quite like hers. Born in Birmingham, MI to art teacher parents, Tana has lived a life focused on creative and artistic expression. Schooled at home throughout the U.S. and abroad, she earned her BFA in Painting from Antioch College. She completed the Parsons School of Design Fashion Design program and pursued her Graduate Degree in Commercial Art from Boston College. She studied privately under Japanese jewelry master Tomaso and explored other creative forms of expression through artistic endeavors, dance, choreography and performance art. Starting with craft fairs at age 16, she is both an artist and an entrepreneur. If a dance could take another form, it would be in the shape of Tana's jewelry. Through her unique perspective as a designer/choreographer, she combines air, movement and light to create pieces that are both delicate and solid; contemporary and lightweight, casual yet formal.

Joe Anastasi/Upper Arlington, OH -  Joe is a nationally recognized commercial artist, designer and illustrator. He has won numerous awards for his commercial work, including 84 Gold Addies and 2 Best of Shows from the Columbus Advertising Federation. His illustrations have been recognized by such prestigious organizations as the New York Art Directors Club, CLIO’s, The New York Society of Illustrators, Print magazine and more. In 2009, Joe began doing portraits of the homeless people he works with on the streets of Columbus, which in 2013 culminated in a show/fundraiser called “Art & Soul – An Intimate Portrait”. This one-man show at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral Undercroft, The Martin de Porres Center and The McConnell Art Center raised almost $40,000 for charity and brought much needed awareness to the plight of those people on our streets. Joe is inspired by his family, the people he works with and where he’s from. He does art of what he knows and loves and tries to capture the true spirit and dignity of all of his subjects.

Shawn Augustson/Reynoldsburg, OH - Shawn Augustson is an interdisciplinary artist who explores the intersection of film photography, traditional painting, and pottery. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences with mental health challenges, his work serves as a therapeutic outlet to overcome daily hardships. Through the tactile process of pottery, the meditative act of painting, and the nostalgic charm of film photography, Shawn navigates his inner struggles and external realities with resilience and creativity. His art reflects a journey of self-discovery and healing, inviting viewers to connect with their own emotions and find solace in the transformative power of artistic expression. He is a gallery represented artist exclusively through Hayley Gallery in New Albany OH. His work has been in the Kurt Vonnegut Museum in Indianapolis, The National Veterans Art Museum in Chicago, The Columbus Museum of Art and the National Veterans Museum and Memorial in Columbus, OH.

Elizabeth Beattie/Worthington, OH - Elizabeth Beattie is a self-taught artist, living and working in Worthington, OH. Her creative journey began in middle school with art classes and a new found passion for photography, especially Ansel Adams. Landscapes are her favorite, bringing her great joy and often taking her breath away. Growing up with an art professor father and crafter mother who taught her to sew and cross stitch, she had no shortage of support and inspiration. While she initially wanted to focus her career in the arts, it didn’t happen until a much later age. When her twin daughters were little, she began to teach herself new creative pursuits, eventually learning how to spin yarn, crochet, knit, weave and make jewelry in her early 30’s. Throughout the years she continued to explore and learn more mediums and crafts like floral design, stained glass, metal smithing and painting. It wasn’t until Covid hit in 2020 that she applied more of her time to painting, discovered alcohol ink and submitted her first piece of art to a gallery for a show in 2021. In 2022 she was in two group exhibitions and had her first solo exhibition. She received her first grant in 2022 and is planning on exploring her landscapes more with new materials and processes. At age 46, Elizabeth finally feels like she has found what she is meant to do.

Cindy Bella Designs/Chelsea, MI - Cindy Bella Cumming of Cindy Bella Designs has been making clothing her entire life. She's inspired by fabrics with contrasting colors and textures. Her goal is for every garment that she designs to appear as stained glass, wrought from fabric. She's excited to partner with Hayley Gallery and offer her twisted wraps and scarves to the people of New Albany. 

Catherina Bishopp/Powell, OH - Jewelry, as an art form, has the power to create moods, provoke opinions, and produce reactions. At her studio, this is the design philosophy that New York based, jewelry designer Catherina Bishop follows while creating her own unique collection of jewelry. Although she uses precious stones and metals in her work, the design is of much greater importance to Catherina. Her ultimate goal is to invoke humor with her whimsical and rare imagination. Catherina has lived and worked in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, The Netherlands, France, U.K, Trinidad and Tobago, and now in Columbus. This close view of other cultures and people gives her a diverse perspective on her own designs and a greater appreciation of other artists abilities. Today, Catherina continues to be inspired by this experience as she brings her special touch to the creation of memorable jewelry that complements women's beauty.

Marcus Blackwell/Columbus, OH - Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Rochester, New York, Marcus currently resides in Columbus, Ohio. An artist all his life, it has only been within recent years when he made a life-changing decision to transition from 25 years in the financial service industry to finally pursue his art career in earnest. With a foundation in studies in Illustration at the Columbus College of Art and Design and Multimedia Production at Columbus State Community College, he is a mixed-media visual artist who focuses on Illustration and Fine Art. His interests, rooted in storytelling traditions, are mainly concerned with the creation of expressionistic abstracted and figurative images which explore and depict themes and ideas related to Afrofuturism, dreams, mythology/folklore, symbolism, and social commentary. He is a self-described comic book nerd, a skilled but disgruntled ex-musician, a fledgling would-be poet, and proud father of two adult sons.

Mary Boettger/Union City, IN - Mary Boettger creates functional and decorative ceramic pieces using mid or high fire porcelain and stoneware clays. All of her work is originally designed and individually handcrafted by her. Mary works with hand built and wheel thrown techniques, and sometimes uses slips and under glazes for color. Her main source of inspiration comes from the patterns and textures in nature. She spends considerable time making small detailed attachments and carving when the clay is leatherhard. This is her favorite part of the process. Once the work is fired, it is glazed and fired again to cone 6 or cone 10. She is interested in making one of a kind, unique pieces that are loved and used by their owners. Mary has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from the Ohio State University and a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Ball State University with an additional 20 graduate credits in Ceramics. Mary taught Art in Ohio public schools for 27 years as well as adult throwing classes at community Art Centers. After retiring from school, she continues to pursue her ceramic art full time in her home studio in Randolph County, IN.

Luke Boyd/Athens, OH - Luke Boyd is a painter, baker, and cake decorator working and living in Athens, Ohio. He first started baking with his grandmothers and his mom at a very young age. Painting and baking served as an outlet for Luke to be flamboyant and queer before he was openly gay. He now uses his cake sculptures to affirm viewers with messages of love, acceptance, and humor. He earned his Bachelor of Art degree from California State University Bakersfield in 2015. While in California, Luke spent four years studying art during the day and learning to bake at night through an apprenticeship at a local German bakery. In 2019 he graduated from Ohio University with a Master of Fine Art in Painting. Luke currently divides his time between professional cake decorating and developing an expansive body of art work in his home studio.

Jason Bradley-Krauss/Worthington, OH - Design With Heart isn’t just the name of an artful line of paper goods. It perfectly describes who Jason is. When he was in the third grade, Jason announced he would grow up to become a graphic designer — and he did. He began his career at age 16 and has gone on to earn national recognition including Addy, Ozzie, AIGA, Graphic Design USA and CSCA awards. For twenty-one years, Jason has served as principal and creative director for House of Krauss in Columbus, Ohio. At House of Krauss, one of Jason’s favorite projects is designing and printing his annual holiday cards, a personal expression that goes back to his boyhood when he created handmade cards for celebrations. Jason’s lifelong love of design and his giving heart unite in this meaningful creative endeavor: Design With Heart. Design With Heart products are designed and printed in Central Ohio, using FCS Certified-Sustainable papers.

James Brown/Westerville, OH - Although I grew up fascinated with art and hoped to pursue a carer in the arts, things changed as I got older. The 1980's recession hit just as I was starting collegians I was persuaded to pursue other options and ended up working with Information Technologies (yes, a computer geek). My wife was the one who helped me get back into art, she decided that I was bored and suggested that I take a class in stained glass back in 1993. I was hooked and started working with stained glass until 2003 and I took my first fused glass class. I continued to create both stained glass and fused glass art, but now that I am near the end of my IT career, I am starting to look for a second career as a fused glass artist. In 2015 I decided to take glass fusing to the next level and start James Brown Art Glass. I am still excited each and every time I open the kiln to see how the pieces turn out. It is fascinating to me hoe heat, some chemicals reactions, and light can transform glass into beautiful artwork.

Mary Burkhardt/Fairview Park, OH - As an interior designer, Mary Burkhardt is surrounded by beautiful colors, shapes, patterns, and textures. These elements of design—along with a passion for travel, gardening, and fashion, naturally inform her art. Mary’s new work is a collection of whimsical themes including female figures in flowing dresses that move and swing, to a collection of captured bouquets featuring flowers and foliage straight from the garden. The use of classic patterns including stripes, dots, and flowers weave and repeat, creating a fluid connection in a cohesive body of work.  

Todd Buschur/Urbana, OH - I received my undergraduate degree from Bluffton University and my Masters degree from the McGregor School of Antioch University. In addition, I have studied painting at the International School of Art in Umbria, Italy. I currently paint, teach high school art and live near Urbana, Ohio.

Michael Bush/Columbus, OH - Michael Bush, born in 1975 in Gary, Indiana, and now resides Columbus, OH, is a self-taught abstract artist. He has been selected to participate in many juried shows in and around Ohio including Art for Life and the Ohio State Fair Professional Division. The process I use for creating my work is as much of a science experiment as it is art. To create the motion and texture in my work I rely in chemical reactions of the material itself. After laying down an acrylic background, I begin to build depth and texture with spray paint. I explore the fluidity of my work through in an organically manipulated process. I pour watered down acrylic paint over the background and then use my over-spray technique to manipulate the water and paint to engage with one another. While the paints and pigments are still in motion, I spray enamel to break apart and shape the acrylic and spray paints. This causes the chemicals in the spray paints to break down and separate, creating the lines and tonal changes. I repeat this process for several colors and layers until desired image emerges. I will then go over the piece one more time with acrylic paint to feature and highlight key areas of the piece, finishing it off with a clear enamel spray to seal the paint. This also adds the gloss finish, which defines the colors, texture, and depth of the work.

Jim Butch/Columbus, OH - My work includes Jewelry and artwork made with all natural materials. My designs can be simple, with emphasis on the gemstone, or can be more intricate, with detailed metal work. I create to compliment the medium that I choose, which could include sterling silver, gemstones, copper, gold, minerals, fungus, moss, tree bark and driftwood or a combination of those. My finished pieces are almost always inspired by Mother Nature. I’ve been creating since I was a child. My parents must have seen my attraction to shiny objects, LOL, and bought me a rock tumbler. Mom would search for bags of junk jewelry that I could disassemble and recreate into a complete new piece. I became completely obsessed with gems and minerals………especially if they sparkle and shine! After moving to Columbus, my partner introduced me to the Cultural Arts Center which offered jewelry making classes and all the equipment anyone could ever need. I was self taught beyond that, with help from YouTube and lots of trial and error in my home studio and finally landing in the creative environment in Franklinton. I remember the first time I saw a piece of my jewelry that I had created years earlier, on a person outside of my studio on a Facebook post. This was other than my mom, as she is one of my biggest fans! The feeling of someone enjoying your work is incredible. I’ve always been inspired to do better when someone buys one of my pieces. My work certainly isn’t perfect and I wouldn’t want it to be. Imperfections happen during the creative process and hopefully you see my passion within the imperfections as my personal stamp on the piece. Working with my own idea, or a client’s idea, allows the vision to become a reality. Every time I sell a piece of work, not only is it an affirmation of my creation but also a connection to the person making the purchase. In reality, I had the vision, Mother Earth provided the material and the client connected with both! That is the joy of my art and keeps me creating.

Elizabeth Chapman/Springfield, MO - As an abstract expressionist artist, I paint intuitively. For me, intuitive painting is kind of like going on a trip with vague plans—or maybe no plans at all. I’m deeply inspired by music, but sometimes I paint without it, dancing to my own song as I place colors and lines on the canvas. Whether I paint abstracts, florals, or people, each painting merges my experiences and memories, and it’s all in response to the beauty I see. I’m often asked how long it takes me to complete a painting, to which I respond, “All my life!” And the journey is pure adventure! My upbringing was full of adventure, too, with my childhood split between two distinct and influential cultures. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, I moved to rural Missouri as a girl, from the city to the country. Even though I’ve now spent most of my life in the United States, I still feel strong ties to Hispanic culture, and I attribute my love of color to my Spanish heritage: My paintings have been described as bold, lively, and vivid, with a complexity of layers Setting out on yet another adventure, I took a leap of faith in 2009, when I resigned my position as an art teacher to pursue my dream of becoming a working artist. Since then, I’ve sold more than 800 paintings online and through local venues. Today, when I’m not painting in my home studio here in the beautiful Ozarks, I’m enjoying the simple, everyday aspects of life as a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend—and I’m so very thankful for the support that enables me to continue to use my talent to create and give back.

Nicole Clem/S. Charleston, OH - I am a native Ohioan who became comfortable with a hammer while doing hurricane relief work in New Orleans my first year out of college. After marrying a Colorado boy and having children, I grew envious that at the end of the day my construction worker husband had something tangible to show for his hours of work. When I began searching for a hands on, creative, outlet I noticed that most handmade items are geared toward women. That is when I set out to create something that would be affordable and appreciated by men. I soon fell in love with metal work and hand stamping and started Tattooed Silver. I am the mom of three young boys. When I'm not breaking up wrestling matches, having dance parties, or picking up Cheerios, I can be found in her workshop hand stamping silverware I found in the local antique mall.

Laurie Clements/Westerville, OH - Laurie Clements an artist based in Columbus, Ohio, works primarily in oils. Her work suggests a generous use of color with a joy for movement in her often loose, fluid use of brush and other implements. Laurie, a graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), also taught there for many years. First and foremost, however, she considers herself to be a lifelong student of art, practicing her craft every day and delighting in the scenes and subjects in which she finds inspiration. Laurie’s artwork depicts a broad array of subjects — from rural landscapes in Ohio to coastal scenes to depictions of her frequent travel to abstracts or what she calls her “color studies.” She paints what she finds evocative, and her work has come to reside in many lovely homes, professional buildings and restaurants throughout Central Ohio and beyond. She is tremendously grateful to her many dedicated collectors coast to coast. Laurie and her husband Tom actively support several organizations, including Canine Companions. In addition, Locks and A Lift was established to raise funds for women during breast cancer treatment, as Laurie herself is a survivor. With partners, she also has participated in art murals in downtown Columbus during the racial protests. This experience made a huge impact on her soul that continues to this day. Laurie never tires of her time in her studio — or wherever she is creating her work. Her artistic expression brings her great joy, and that exuberance is captured on each and every canvas. In addition to her home studio gallery, Laurie’s has been represented by Hayley Gallery in New Albany, Ohio since 2011.

Justin Collamore/Columbus, OH - I am fascinated by the interaction of architecture with the natural environment. I use my training in Architecture and Landscape Architecture to explore this connection in my profession as well as my paintings. I spent my childhood in rural northwest Ohio which gave me a deep respect for picturesque barns and farms found throughout the state, but I am also intrigued by urban and even industrial locations and the edges and transitions between these types of environments. Most of my work is completed ‘en plein air’ which creates the additional challenges and excitement of quickly changing light, weather, and varied physical environments. I travel all over the US and Europe participating in plein air painting competitions. I am a member of the Worthington Art League, Central Ohio Plein Air and President of the Ohio Plein Air Society.

MahLeah Cochran/Columbus, OH - I feel things deeply; I often ponder the state of humanity, the struggles of our world and the outlook for our collective future. My art is an expression of my emotions, thoughts and passions. I express myself outwardly on canvas in color and texture. This is deeply gratifying for me as it allows me to share with others, my innermost feelings. I choose to use acrylic paints for its quick drying time. This enables me to create layers on canvas. This helps me demonstrate complexity. I use everyday kitchen items, recycled cardboard and many other tools to create original forms and textures in my art. I enjoy the journey of painting new pieces. There is a thrill of discovering what my work will yield next. It's what keeps me engaged. I paint to inspire, challenge, and calm the soul.

Robert Coomer/Batavia, OH - Robert Coomer is an internationally recognized, award winning photographer who grew up on a farm in Brown County, Ohio. Art has always been a part of his life and in 1994 he graduated with a BS degree in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning. He draws from his farm roots to shoot images of backyard wildlife, old barns, farmscapes, and scenic landscapes in Southwestern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. His work is an exploration of light and subject, and discovering beauty in unexpected places. I find beauty in age and decay, and then reproduce it in a way that maintains a sense of time and place. To do this, I use distressed steel as the basis of my pieces. It can take up to 3 months to build up the rust and patina patterns on each piece of steel and then up to 12 hours of surface work to strip and reveal the damage done. Once I have my surface, the image is printed to the metal with various techniques, and then float mounted on stained wood using distressed bolts that maintain the aged and worn appearance. Through this process I am able to create an emotional connection to the image, and produce a piece authentic enough to look as though it had been stolen from the scene and presented to the viewer as an artifact on display. The work is modern and industrial, but is equally at home among antiques and more traditional settings.

William DeBilzan/Delray Beach, FL - Internationally acclaimed, award-winning artist William DeBilzan describes his work as “…a place where I can lose myself and find myself simultaneously.” Born in Amarillo, Texas in 1956, he was raised in the small farm town of Grass Lake, Michigan. DeBilzan’s mid-western upbringing provided a deep connection to family values and friendship that would later be expressed through his art. He often incorporates elements within his paintings and rustic frames that are reflective of his life’s journey. Beginning as an abstract expressionist, today his work is immediately recognizable by his elongated figures, engaging textures, and rich color palette. DeBilzan explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and love, drawing on his own experiences while leaving his work entirely open to interpretation. He often conveys his love of the ocean and Caribbean Islands through the use of warm colors and simple compositions. To many viewers his paintings represent a visual expression of freedom and an easier, more playful take on art and life. Indeed, many of his collectors comment on the “good vibes” that DeBilzan’s paintings bring to their home.

Carolyn DeMaggio/Westerville, OH - As a painter and a jewelry artist, I find inspiration in nature, geological structures and ancient civilizations. Many of my paintings evolve from photos that I’ve taken of textures, colors and moments in time. Since I spend my year between Columbus, Ohio and Fort Myers, Florida, my sources of inspiration are many and varied. My paintings are mostly acrylic and mixed media and vary from abstract to representational. My jewelry is primarily copper which I manipulate and finish with patinas and texture to create something that seems as if it may have been dug up in an archeological ruin. I strive to create paintings and jewelry that are unique and pull the viewer in to the color, texture and richness of the piece; to experience (or create) its story and its possibility. Although I graduated from college with a degree in art, my career was spent in corporate America. The moment I retired, I jumped back into the art world with both feet. I love creating art pieces that bring joy to those that have purchased my work.

Jane Dippold/Coldwater, OH - I have been an artist and children's illustrator for almost 30 years. After graduating from Miami University with a Bachelor of Fine Art, I started my career working as an artist for Gibson Greeting Cards in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 2010 I have been creating fine art painted paper collages of the Ohio landscape. In my collage work, I paint acrylic paint on tissue paper, newsprint, recycled brown bags, book and poetry pages. I collect these painted colors into a palette to use at the start of a painting. I then tear, and sometimes precisely cut the paper, and adhere it to canvas in layers. This technique creates a painting that at first may appear as an oil painting, but on closer inspection, small pieces of paper, written words, newsprint, drawing and poetry become visible and provide additional meaning. I work from photographs that I take myself, driving the back-roads of western Ohio. I am inspired by the ever changing landscape and weather in Ohio as well as the flat open countryside, bright sunrises and expansive sunsets punctuated by barns, and silos. I want those who view my work to see and appreciate the beauty around us every day of the year in Ohio.

Ped Dragich/Baltimore, OH - Born in Serbia, Ped immigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1973 at age five. As with many immigrant families, hard work became the norm, with his father working construction. While most kids spent summers swimming, Ped's father took him to work and taught him every phase of construction. He later joined his father's company after college.Never giving up on his dream of being an artist, he began stretching his own canvases and built his own frames. He displayed his work and to supplement his income, he started his own company called, The Tile Guys, still around today after 20 years. He also played professional soccer for the Columbus Invaders. He got married, had two daughters and coached soccer. Life was happening but art remained in his heart. While building a round shower in his new house in 2006, he had the idea to create a painting surface that was not flat but instead lightweight and flexible with a hard surface covered by canvas. This resulted in his filing a U.S. patent application for the very first curved (wavy) canvas, opening an avenue for a new method of painting. Ped's long journey from immigrant to learning construction to opening a tile business, to building his family's home led him back to his real passion - Art. He creates art with the same vigor and enthusiasm he does with everything else in his life - with ingenuity, drive and hard work

Tom Emerine/Middle Point, OH - Tom resides near Middle Point, Ohio where he has owned and operated Raspberry Woods Art Studio and Gallery for the last twenty years. The studio derives its name from a small woods on his property where raspberries grow wild. The gallery is a huge, two-story, contemporary gallery filled with the work of his passion. He is an award-winning artist and has judged several local and regional art competitions. Tom is an oil and watercolor painter, a ceramic artist and a landscape and wildlife photographer. He has worked in these mediums for almost a half a century. For more than two decades, Tom was an art teacher at Van Wert High School, where he taught painting, drawing and ceramics for twenty-three years. After completing his undergraduate work at Bowling Green State University, he then received his Master’s Degree from Bluffton College.

Renate Burgyan-Fackler/New Albany, OH - Uplifting energy and graceful balance describes the work of Ohio sculptor, Renate Burgyan-Fackler. Working primarily in the lost wax method of bronze casting, her work is both figurative and abstract along with being suitable for indoor or outdoor installations. "I have done numerous commissions and enjoy the challenge of meeting my clients' needs and desires. My largest commission to date, is a life-size Brutus Buckeye, is located on the first floor of the lobby area of the Ohio State Student Union. He is sitting on a bench to the right of the main staircase". Renate's work can be found at The Ohio State University, The Herb Society of America in Westerville, OH, Wendy's International in Dublin, OH, The Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C, The White House Private Collection, Church of the Resurrection in New Albany, OH, John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, OH, The Works Museum in Newark, OH, Garden of Peace at St. Mary's Church in German Village, OH, New Albany Community Gardens in New Albany, OH.

Steven Fisher/Marysville, OH - I have been creating my whole. Always searching for any means necessary to create and express myself. I have BFA and MFA (advertising) and have been on this journey for roughly 40 years. During this journey I’ve been a graphic designer/print manager, a Creative Art Director, a saucier/cook in high end restaurants in Chicago, Columbus and Ireland, a Sr. Art Director to starting my design/art entity: Cre8ive-Differences, LLC. The path to where I am now has been a wild one but without those experiences, who’s to say what I would be making today. In 2018, I consciously decided to commit the majority of my time and energies to working on and promoting my artwork (design is still present but on a smaller scale). I don’t really subscribe to any one style or look in my work. All mediums are opportunities. All styles are opportunities. Sometimes a particular series stays around longer simply because the conversation isn’t over yet. This current series of paintings is still a very interesting conversation to me. They may not seem like statement paintings and they may just be pretty colors to some (and that’s OK), but to me, each one of them is a statement—a quest—a need—an antidote. I need to make things like this for hope, to be a light in the dark and evidence that something greater is at work in the universe. They can also be places where we might allow ourselves to be ‘in the moment’ or get lost in, to be a beacon, a respite and a refuge of civility, freedom and individuality. Pretty colors? Sure. Flowers? Sure. Butterflies? Sure. Just paint? Sure. A light needed to get through darkness? Definitely. I hope you find what you want in them too.

Laura Garza/Chicago, IL - Each piece is hand made and designed by Laura Garza. She launched a few collections while expanding her technique in Metals, at Lill Street Art Center in Chicago. As a design professional, conceptual and visual insight come naturally which she incorporates onto her jewelry. Design is her life! Metalsmith is her passion! This is where she truly expresses her artistic talent. Inspired by nature, travels and culture. She creates what she loves, raw and earthy pieces with a creative twist of modern and simple.

Shannon Godby/Sardinia, OH - Art is a part of who I am. Painting has always been my first passion followed closely by photography. For over twenty years, I have been creating works of art in both mediums, and I strive to become a better artist with each new painting and each new photograph. Over the last few years I have begun to infuse parts of each medium to create abstract paintings based on images found in nature. I never try to recreate exactly what I see, but to express the feelings I get from a scene. My goal is to portray the atmospheric qualities of a scene without giving away every detail. When I show a piece I want the viewer to connect with the painting by adding their own feelings to it as well. I want it to remind them of something familiar. This makes it more of a personal experience for them. When I look at my work I want to be reminded of what originally inspired me about it. Whether it was late day sun creating long shadows over a field or simply the way a group of elements work together, if I look at the painting and get that same feeling, I have accomplished my goal.

Kim Goodman/New Brighton, PA - After receiving a punchneedle piece as a gift in 2011, I loved it so much I just had to create them myself. The look and texture resembles the centuries-old hooked rug craft, only my work is smaller and much faster to create. I was born in Newark, Ohio but our family moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1965 where I resided until 2013. At that point, marriage took me to Pennsylvania. I am a 1977 graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Merchandising. Punchneedle embroidery is a technique using a special needle that is thin and hollow. Thread goes through the length of the hollow needle and exits through an eye at a beveled point. As the needle is punched through the fabric, a gauge on the needle determines the length of the loop. The fabric is tightly woven so once punched, the loop stays in place. With this form of Russian punchneedle you work from the backside of the fabric. This technique was used throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, often to elaborately decorate ecclesiastical clothing and panels. In modern times, it has been associated with embroidery work done by Russian immigrants belonging to a religious sect called The Old Believers.

Amy Gravlin/New Albany, OH - I make pottery. I am drawn to clay; it responds to my touch, and records every mark I make. I am inspired to transform everyday objects into lovely functional forms. These forms are dominated by shape, color and textures to express the sensation of touch. My glaze techniques are spontaneous layers and layers of color to create movement and attraction. I love creating gorgeous domestic objects. The pieces I create embrace simplicity, utility and beauty. They are made to be held, and used everyday. I hope they make you smile.

Lea Gray/Columbus, OH - Lea Gray, botanical artist, resides in Columbus, Ohio. She studied fine arts with a focus in landscape painting at the Columbus College of Art and Design while pursuing a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Soon after, she discovered Origami, and it led her to explore a more intricate path to creating with paper as a primary medium. Her love and deep interest in nature spawned a new direction in emulating plants, flowers, and trees. Lea is continually inspired by all botanical elements and is passionate about combining materials and various techniques to capture the essence of each plant she creates. Every paper plant takes an extensive process necessary to recreate the original form; from dyeing and baking paper, to stretching and curling each petal, to laser engraved veins and edges amongst layers of sprays and paints for the final look. After several years of specializing in her craft, Lea has now expanded her practice into larger formatted installations. Each piece is engineered with structural aspects to ensure durable, lasting installments. With her original paper flower works, Lea has gained national notoriety being published by the Wall Street Journal in a paper flowers article, 614 magazine, a full page article in the Columbus Dispatch for a local exhibition, and even had an interview with Broad and High, a local art review television broadcast. Additionally, she has had the privilege of exhibiting her art at prestigious institutions such as the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Cleveland Botanical Gardens. Lea's work has been featured on TV shows like TLC's "Dragnificent", where she created a beautiful paper bouquet for the bride, and in the Lionsgate film "How to be a Latin Lover", adorning the wedding scene with hundreds of her succulents. As a way to connect with the community, she offers workshops of her creations, and has taught at several local and regional venues.

Kathleen Green/Coolville, OH - Kathleen Green lives and maintains her studio in Coolville, Ohio with her husband Mark. Kathleen started painting in 1982,and has been devoted full time to her art since 1990. Kathleen is a self-taught artist, presenting representational art as a realist painter. Her medium is oil on canvas. Kathleen's paintings present still life with a realistic and somewhat contemporary flair. Viewers are initially attracted to her paintings by the richness of color, capturing of light and the rendering of the detail in her subject matter. Her paintings have won numerous awards in local, regional, and national juried art shows and competitions. Her works are in private and corporate collections from all across the US, Canada, England, Ireland, France, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Netherlands.

Dana Grubbe/Bexley, OH - My art reflects my experiences as an adult and as a child. I've been based in Ohio for a great part of my life and I love to travel. My fascination with landscapes and alternate worlds comes from both my travels and the diverse communities where I've lived such as: the Appalachian hills (WV & PA), the Sonoran Desert (AZ), the east coast (NJ), and India. I was a late bloomer - late to finish college, late to start a career and, when I retired, late to start at the Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD). I don't think they offered art classes in my public schools and perhaps one of the best 'perks' that came with my AT&T Bell Labs ID was free admission to almost every museum in NYC. It took a few years before I was wondering "how hard can it be to make this ..." and that was my first step toward becoming a painter. Driven by my love of process as much as by my love of color and texture, I'm in my studio every day.

Laurie Gruber/Westerville, OH - I am a long time resident of Westerville, Ohio, since I was five years old. I was gifted a sewing machine back in 2008 and I have been sewing ever since. I have a passion for home décor and design, and I make each of my pieces one at a time by hand, with painstaking attention to detail. I started off simply enough, making cotton bibs for my two young babies, but slowly grew my craft to include quilts, pillows, tea towels, key fobs, pacifier clips, curtains, etc.

Britt Hallowell/Grove City, OH - Britt Hallowell’s mixed media encaustic paintings are highly textural and usually focus on organic themes such as nature, animals and trees. She uses beeswax, damar resin (a natural tree sap that acts as a hardening agent), oil paint, India inks, collage, and antique found objects. Each layer is carefully applied and heated with a blowtorch to fuse the layers together. The results are multi-dimensional and can never be duplicated. “I love creating heavy textures because it allows me to create minimalist designs with bold contrasts that are simple and yet very intricate in their nature.” Her goal is to evoke positive emotions through use of imagery, color and tactile sensations. Britt tries to create art that is warm and inviting for the viewer. Britt is a self-taught artist. “I did not want to be taught someone else’s way to create. I’m not constricted by rules, but instead I’m able to try anything and everything and learn from my own successes and failures rather than someone else’s. Oftentimes it’s the mistakes that make something beautiful!” Britt lives in Columbus Ohio with her husband, daughter and dog. When not painting or exhibiting at art festivals, she loves to travel the world, decorate and drink a good glass of wine (or two...).

Kerrie Harkin/Casper, Wyoming - Kerrie Harkin studied artists' use of media and telecommunications at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA. Harkin held internships at MIT's Community TV and at Boston Film/Video Foundation. At MIT’s Center for Advanced Visual Studies she studied and mentored with internationally acclaimed artist Aldo Tambellini, historically credited as the first fine artist to seriously work with video. The MIT collective work by Aldo Tambellini's group Communicationsphere (of which Harkin was a member) has been internationally exhibited at venues including the Tate, the Prague, the Louvre, and Museum of Modern Art in New York. Harkin's paintings are in the collections of private and corporate collectors in Montana and elsewhere. Her paintings have been featured in Yellowstone Art Museum auctions. Kerrie Harkin's current work relates to artists' use of media. Her current work is inspired by the native northern Rocky Mountain tribes' tradition of painting their “news” directly on their horses. Harkin was born and raised in Livingston, Montana. She continues the family artistic tradition of her late mother Phyllis Sullivan of the pioneering Lumley family of Red Lodge, Montana.

Carolyn Heffelfinger/Delaware, OH - Having lived in the country for 40 years Carolyn’s recent move to an historic area in the city of Delaware has added an exciting perspective to her work and subject matter with views of rooftops, instead of woods and fields out of her studio window. Carolyn Heffelfinger is a professional oil painter living with her husband and their golden retriever Izzy. She attended Kent State University where she studied fine art and focused, primarily on painting and drawing. Working for seven years as an illustrators assistant, she learned discipline and a bit about the business of art. She has had the honor of receiving recognition and awards for her detailed light-filled landscapes. Her paintings have been inspired by her many travels and treks into the wilderness with her backpack, paints and countless photos while pursuing and capturing the light and beauty of our natural world.

Heather Heldman/Union, KY - I do all of the work myself in my kitchen at my home in Union, Kentucky and taught myself how to make this craft. It’s really something I enjoy doing from the sourcing and upcyling of the silverware, selection of the phrases and the actual fabrication of the pieces. All of the silverware is 50-100 year old silverplate which I curate, deep clean and stamp the letters one at a time with a hammer. I was a Realtor in Hudson, Ohio for 15 years and retired several years ago. In addition to making silverware I enjoy knitting, cooking, traveling and I am active in volunteering. My husband and I have an adult daughter and we also have a small dog named Marshmallow.

Clyde Henry/Orient, OH - Clyde Henry/ Orient, OH- Clyde is an awarding winning architect, writer and artist. His work is heavily influenced by the years he studied under the renowned architect Masao Kinoshita (木下 正夫) who taught him the qualities of Japanese harmony, balance, and restraint. His work is also influenced by his childhood in Minnesota, and his early career establishing an art curriculum at Centro Educacional de Bonao, in the Dominican Republic in the early 1970s. He embraces both the optimistic colors of the Caribbean and the bright whites and deep blacks of Northern winters, often combining the two. His large canvases are designed to be a delight to the eye, and an enhancement to every space. His work is in private homes and commercial buildings.

Terri Hickey/Aurora, OH - Terri has a B.S in Fashion Merchandising and Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign and spent a number of years in the fashion world on both the design and manufacturing sides of the business. After many years of being a stay-at-home-mom, Terri decided to head back to the drawing board and resume classes. She got side tracked along the way by the exciting new world of Precious Metal Clay. Always a lover of jewelry, she immediately recognized how easily her design skills could merge with the properties of metal clay and her jewelry career was off and running. Now a certified metal clay artist, her jewelry has branched out in several directions to include chain maille, dichroic glass and traditional metal work.

Marti Higgins/Chagrin Falls, OH - The universal and personal languages of color, repetition and shape are my inspiration to create. I hope to communicate with these languages feelings not easily found in the spoken word but in the visual. My artwork describes the seeming disorder yet perfect organization that is the eternal cycle in nature. Contrasts of simple and complicated lines in tree branches, a familiar scene continually changing with the seasons, shapes of large fields or studies of gathered leaves influence my compositions. I am observant of the effects of the passage of time. By finding the comfort in the chaos, my art touches on the human and my own need for visual excitement balanced with stable and grounding rhythms. My techniques include experimenting with the relativity of color or how colors influence each other by proximity. I expose color relationships by working in a layer and reveal method. Initial colors and shapes that are not obvious in a finished piece ground those yet to be applied peeking up in glimmers and slices. I include surprise colors which at first may seem incongruous but have a way of solidifying the composition. I create rhythm with elements which can comfort or invigorate. My artwork consists of impressionistic landscapes and abstractions. I am inspired by the sense of disorder, yet perfect organization found in the organic. The balance is always there.

Pat Howard/Columbus, OH - My primary interest is oil painting, and most often the subject matter is a landscape. I particularly like to select scenes from places to which I’ve traveled, so in that sense my work is personal, but I also like to discover that which hopefully has interest to other viewers as well. However, anything that examines the effect of daylight and shadow is my favorite study. I prefer to paint on primed canvas texture board, and to work in as much of an alla prima style as possible. I try to focus on shapes and avoid blending. The immediacy of the wet paint gives my favorite works a freshness and hopefully a sense of happiness, what’s good, or what’s beautiful in the world.

David Hunt/Cincinnati, OH - David Hunt was born in Long Beach, California; lived in the Philippine Islands and the New England Coast before settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied product design at the University of Cincinnati and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design. "My paintings are a personal record of places that inspire me. My works are expressive landscapes that challenge the viewer to stop, enjoy and wonder. I use color and contrast to evoke a feeling from the viewer: the misty stillness of a long-ago battlefield, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the mystical serenity of the deep woods or winding highway".

Andrea Kay/Cincinnati, OH - I’m a writer and artist with over 30 years experience creating artwork and writing articles and books related to self-expression. My latest form of expression is making birds: three-dimensional, one-of-a-kind paper mache’ sculpture and collage which I turn into cards and marble tiles for display, decoration or coasters. Many of the paper mache’ sculptures incorporate collage. Why birds? They are right there outside my window. Hopping around. Burrowing in bushes. They look at me when I look at them. They look away, then back. One regularly perches on the branch of my River Birch near one window grabbing glances at me. At some point he decides enough is enough with this glancing back and forth stuff and bolts. The birds have been there outside my window inspiring me through the six books and thousands of articles I’ve written. Now it feels time to honor them for their inspiration. But know this: based on my observations and leafing through Audubon magazine, no other birds like the ones I make exist. Any likeness is purely accidental.

Chad Kessler/Columbus, OH -The term “Self Taught” is a somewhat misleading one. We all learn, borrow and steal ideas from others and put the pieces together in a way that makes sense to us. I recently had a friend describe my work as “Aleatoric”. Aleatoric: adjective: ale·​a·​tor·​ic | \ ˌā-lē-ə-ˈtȯr-ik , -ˈtär- \ Definition of aleatoric : characterized by chance or indeterminate elements. Aesthetics is always at the forefront and I’ve always been drawn to grit, decay and random beauty in the world. I love incorporating found objects but have no qualms finding an image online and manipulating it to fit what I’m after for a piece. Largely influenced by DIY skate, punk and street culture, my work bounces between having a direct message and something a little more vague, inviting the viewer to find their own story. As for the process itself, I almost exclusively work on wood panels I build myself. Starting with an abstract base of acrylic and spray paint, I’ll then build up layers through a combination of collage, image transfers, photography and found objects.

Ann Kete/Upper Arlington, OH - Nature's vibrant colors and radiant light call me to paint. I concentrate on composition and use a loose, painterly approach, which allows the viewer to engage with the painting. My mediums of choice are both oil and ink with watercolor. After receiving an Economics degree from Denison University, I continued my studies at Cleveland State University to develop my interest in art. More recently, I have advanced my technique with mentors including Joe Lombardo, Fred Fochtman and Steven Walker. I am a member of the Worthington Area Art League, Central Ohio Plein Air Society, Dublin Area Art League, Urban Sketchers of Columbus and Rick Dziak's "The Group".

Ellen Knolls/Bexley, OH - Ellen Knolls is an American Artist living in Columbus, Ohio. Ellen's love of animals started when she was a child visiting her Grandparents Dairy Farm in Centerburg, Ohio . It was there Ellen learned how to care for cows, milking them (Even before they used machines) feeding them, and rounding them up while avoiding the dangerous Bulls in the fields. Although she never actually desired to lived on a farm as an adult, little did she know that the childhood memories would stay with her for years to come and eventually shine through her art.

Adam Kolp/New Albany, OH - Coming to terms with the fact that I was losing my eyesight was actually when I first began to see the world much more clearly. We often spend our days over scheduled with things to do and places to be. Consumed by brief memories of what something was or the thought of what it could have been, we then quickly move on to the next pressing moment. We can easily get caught up living in this rapid paced blur, and unknowingly are missing out on the incredible beauty that surrounds us in any given moment. I realize that losing my eyesight was a wake up call. I needed to take the time to see the world we live in. It is such a beautiful and inspiring gift to have the opportunity to slow down and appreciate every moment and each amazing experience. This was the turning point for who I am now and the artist that I have become.

Dalia Koppes/Bexley, OH - As reflected in her paintings, Dalia, a self taught artist, comes from a diverse and colorful background. Born in Israel to a French Moroccan father and a Spanish mother, Dalia has always been greatly influenced by nature and the environment she lives in. She believes that art is a form of therapeutic solace and her imagination plays a great role in her work. She offers the viewer a visual feast by incorporating layers of organic, energetic shapes and vibrant colors as a way to escape for a moment in these turbulent times we live in. Along with being a full time artist she is also a designer and mother to two boys.

Jessica Kovan/Beulah, MI - Jessica is a mixed media artist and educator. Her art is characterized as thoughtful, storytelling and layered. Drawing inspiration from the world around her, Jessica's work is personal, expressive and focused on making the spirit of the times visual. Infinitely optimistic, she enjoys expressing in her paintings what is occurring in her heart.

David Lane/Grove City, OH- David Lane is a graduate from the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Ohio State University. As a retired art teacher David currently focuses on his life long goal of making art.  His art is about searching for aesthetics in industrial age objects against the counterpoint of the twenty-first century. Born between the Baby Boomers and Generation-X so He is very aware of how futile nostalgia is and yet not quite cynical enough to rebel against it. “I love to shop at antique stores looking for objects that are almost ‘accidentally’ beautiful. Their beauty might come from the original designer or the tradesman who used it or even its remaining unique colors and shapes. I see my visual sensibilities as neither advertiser nor pop artist nor even tradesman. With sophisticated and intentional naivety I enlarge and frame these objects to glorify their history and future, and to relate them to a contemporary audience.” 

Eric Layne/New Albany, OH - We are all born artists. I was lucky to have had the kind of encouragement and support that allowed me to stay connected with that part of myself into adulthood, even if it was a pretty loose connection at times. During my high school years I was interested mostly in drawing and I spent a lot of my time in the art classroom. I considered pursuing art as a career but ultimately went to medical school. Through those years, art largely fell by the wayside, but as I settled into a career as a psychiatrist and had two daughters who were beginning to draw and play with watercolors, I began painting along with them and eventually spent more and more of my time visiting museums and galleries, reading and watching videos, and learning the craft of painting. My foundation in drawing and composition helped greatly. I spent about eight years practicing, and through that process, I began to find my style. I paint in oils and tend to use a fairly limited palette of five to seven colors, which has challenged me to develop skill at seeing and mixing colors accurately. I am drawn to paintings that contain high contrasts and so find myself choosing subjects in which I can showcase contrasts in light, colors, and edges. I’ve learned that, even as an adult, I still need support and encouragement to keep making art, so for that, I owe so much to my patrons, my family, and especially to my wife, Ashley.

Valerie Long/Upper Arlington, OH - My interest in working with found objects began as a child. Not having many toys, the world around me became my playthings. I would collect beautiful objects and put them together to create something new. Mud pies with pine needles and violets, necklaces of clover. It is in that same spirit that I make my jewelry now. After 25 years, I still love it all. The collecting, the creating and especially the people I have met while doing so. One of my favorite stories is of a woman who walked up to my booth, looked at everything and then looked at me and said, “You’re the Devil, I want everything here.” Each object I use has its own story and fills me with wonder. I feel the spirit and connection of the woman who wore it before me, and the workman's hands who built it. It is with this wonder and passion that I create jewelry for you.

Manda Marble/Grandview, OH - Manda Marble is a musician, songwriter and mixed media artist. Manda enjoys mixed media because of the endless possibilities it offers. She loves the exciting and unique synergistic results that can be achieved when combining mediums. Manda’s art is expressive and she often incorporates symbolism into her work. She loves to use colors boldly, to give life to the tiny details and to convey dreamlike worlds through her art. The main subject of Marble's work is the natural world - such as flowers and trees, femininity in human form, and the Moon. She enjoys connecting the starry night sky to the magic of the flowers on the earth and sees the mystery in both of them. Manda’s connection to the natural world has been ongoing since childhood. The muses showed up early to play and bring their message. As a conscious creator, she longs to express her sweet love for all things through her spirited creative practice. Manda believes we are all full of magic and we are deeply connected to the natural world. She hopes to evoke that knowing in you through all of her creations. Her hope is that you will be inspired, calmed, and connected to that energy that waits for you to notice it so that it may nourish your soul. Manda’s work is best seen in person to best appreciate all of the small details and hidden symbols.

Amanda McGee/Galena, OH - Amanda’s works capture joyful nostalgia through bold brushstrokes and a vibrant color palette. Her signature works are influenced by pop art as well as retro style and pattern. Inspiration springs from the familiar objects of the past, especially from childhood, celebrating those nostalgic moments and memories that bring people a delightful connection to a happy time and place. The artist is influenced by her professional background as a surface pattern designer and commercial artist designing products and licensing her artwork for the retail market. She has participated in many local art shows and has paintings in the Nationwide Children's Hospital permanent art collection.

Julie Miller/Columbus, OH - Julie Miller has enjoyed exploring the woods for as long as she can remember. She searches among the delightfully endless variety of leaves for design elements. Julie gravitates toward leaves because of the restoration and joy which often come from being outside in God’s creation. “The creator . . . churns out the intricate texture of least works that is the world with a spendthrift genius and an extravagance of care.” (from “Pilgrim At Tinker Creek,” by Annie Dillard) Her pieces are primarily stoneware, fired in an electric oxidation atmosphere. She uses various techniques to decorate with leaves, oxides, underglazes and glazes. Julie holds a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design, and has worked as an illustrator and art instructor. She is a freelance artist and participates in juried art fairs.

M. Craig Miller/Lancaster, OH - Although I grew up surrounded by family with artistic talent, I was fascinated by rocks and chose to pursue a career in science and engineering instead. I have been dabbling in stained glass as a hobby for over 30 years, but early retirement in 2010 provided the opportunity to work on my art and creative ideas on a daily basis. I am thoroughly enjoying it, especially working with clients to create custom pieces that they treasure. Given my geologic background, I enjoy utilizing agates, fluorite, mica and other natural objects such as shells, fossils, bones and found objects in my work. I’m still working through a backlog of sketches and ideas that were put on hold for decades and which often come to me as colorful dreams.

Rachael Morbitzer/Columbus, OH - I love Formula 1 racing. The bold and graphic design elements of racing inspire me to create posters that capture the spirit of racing. I have memories close to my heart of watching the Sunday races with my dad and brother.

Teresa Morbitzer/Columbus, OH - I graduated with a degree in art education and taught art for 20 years in public schools (mostly on a cart). I started my business years ago as an artistic outlet and it quickly evolved into a full time job of traveling to shows, showing in galleries and selling in boutiques. I resigned from teaching to follow my passion of designing. By doing so, I am able to stay home with my two beautiful children and work from home in my studio. Your support allows me to continue doing just that; making one-of-kind jewelry with a vintage twist.

Kate Morgan/Columbus, OH - Multi-award winning mixed media artist Kate Morgan has displayed work from Washington, D.C to Minneapolis with work hanging in domestic and European private collections. Frustrated at the digital photography world for not being tactile enough, she turned to mixed media. Morgan is inspired by folklore, mythology & the human form. Layers of collage are mixed with her ink washed drawings to address symbolic, cultural, historical & spiritual themes with purposeful vagueness, allowing them to be familiar to a variety of audiences. Visually described as a haunting interpretation of anatomy where divinity meets mythic lore. ”I want my work to be the beginning of a dialogue, not a confrontation." Though she works in mixed media now, Morgan earned her B.F.A in commercial photography from Columbus College of Art and Design. Born in Syracuse, NY & raised in Columbus, OH she is also versed in printmaking & ceramics. Kate has been living her dream as a full time artist since 2012 by traveling the Country showing her work while maintaining a studio in Columbus, Ohio.

Denise Novak/Westerville, OH - Denise M. Novak has been working in the arts for about thirty years, starting with fine jewelry, moving to paper arts, and finally finding a home with warm glass about eight years ago. After studying English and psychology at the University of Illinois, Champaign and continuing with a Master’s degree in education from Northwestern University, she settled down to teach elementary school, then junior high, and finally high school in a variety of settings from urban Chicago to rural Illinois to suburban Columbus, Ohio. All of these experiences contributed to her fundamental belief that Creativity is Contagious. This philosophy was recently reinforced by coursework taken to become a gifted intervention specialist at Bexley High School where she retired from in 2010. To satisfy her artistic curiosity, Denise has studied disciplines ranging from art history to pottery to jewelry making. But none of these moved her the way that glass does. Denise works out of her studio in Westerville, Ohio, and lives with her husband, Bruce and dog Corky.

Helen O'Donnell/Westerville, OH - From the first hand-knitted doll clothes she created at age six, to the jewelry she designs and makes today, Helen has always been creative. When her husband's job landed her in Ohio, Helen found herself involved with a local bead shop in Gahanna. Now Helen spends her time designing her own jewelry and mixed media pieces. Old bits and pieces of her own hand-dyed fabric make their way into her mixed media “Graffiti Jewels: Scribbles in Fabric”. Helen believes that how we adorn ourselves is a reflection of our true nature, and she designs jewelry for confident women who don’t mind being noticed.

Spencer Olinger/Maricopa, AZ - Spencer was born and raised in Littleton, CO. When he was 15 years old, he met a Canadian girl on a mission trip, whom he married his senior year of high school. He is now 25 years old, expecting his first son, and for the past 5 years, has been teaching himself the art of woodworking and building his workshop. Dedicated to quality, Spencer exclusively uses responsibly sourced, genuine hardwood for his work. You will never find any particle board or manufactured wood in his pieces, making his work last for generations to come. It is Spencer’s specialty to incorporate epoxy resin into his work, giving each piece a unique one-of-a-kind, modern look. Spencer's dream is that he can continue growing in his skill and knowledge of woodworking and one day pass all that he’s learned onto his son who can continue his legacy. 

Marianne Philip/Columbus, OH - As a self-taught artist, I let my creativity flow, trying not to have any preconceived ideas about the end result. This allows the details of my artwork to be raw and unfiltered. Growing up on Long Island, NY, I am inspired by the essence of the ocean. Moving to other places like Ohio, my artwork takes a journey exploring landscapes and nature in a variety of elements. From the darkness in the shadows to the highlights in natural light elements, each stroke of color leads me towards unforeseen destinations. Art is my refuge where I can embrace spontaneity yet capture my sense of discovery and vitality. I aspire for others to experience similar feelings, immersing themselves in the depicted settings of each artwork.

Jurate Phillips/Columbus, OH - Jurate Phillips (pronounced: You-ra-te) grew up in Soviet occupied Lithuania. From her earliest memories she has studied art and developed her talents in that field. She graduated from Siauliu Universitetas, in Lithuania (1996), where she was classically trained in painting and design. She came to the United States in 1997 where she has since graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design (2002). She now resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and daughter. Since her earliest days, her passion has been for art in all forms. Jurate has partaken in the creation of many pieces from photography, to painting, and sculpture. Her work can be found all over the world in both residential and commercial settings. After working as an interior designer. freelance artist, and teaching art, she has returned to her first love, which is painting. She now focuses on painting regularly and exhibiting her work. She credits most of her aesthetics to her maternal grandmother, with whom she spent most of her summers. The natural beauty that surrounded her on her grandmother's farm has influenced the size, scope, and subject matter ever since. Her emotions dictate what she will paint. She might paint a landscape, an abstract, or she might even be inspired by a simple flower bloom.

Jack Pine/Laurelville, OH - Jack grew up in Southern Ohio and studied art at the Columbus College of Art and Design. He refined his skills at the famous glass houses of Seattle. Drawn to nature and inspired by its organic forms, he returned to his Southern Ohio roots to perfect his art in the woods of Hocking Hills. Jack Pine is inherently drawn to nature and has always been inspired by organic form. His body of work is motivated by his surroundings to influence the use of high saturated colors and precious metals incorporated with molten glass. Using intense & primitive methods, he is able to create one of a kind glass pieces that are mesmerizing to see during the dance of glass blowing. After the piece has cooled, it displays craftsmanship and captures light with iridescence and demanding beauty.

Kyndall Potts/Pickerington, OH - I loved to draw as a child but put away my sketchbook after college for a career and to raise a family. In 2020, after a complete hiatus from art of over thirty years, I began taking art classes online and at the Columbus Cultural Arts Center. The old passion returned. In 2022, I entered my first exhibition and had two paintings accepted, one winning an Ohio Arts Council Award. Since then, I have exhibited frequently in central Ohio. I paint primarily human faces, figures and animals using acrylic paint. My paintings often incorporate bold, unrealistic colors, texture, and gestural brushstrokes. Feeling, movement, and the love of color and light guide my work. I am fascinated by human beings and develop strong attachments to the people I paint. Although I’ve never met them, I often learn their stories as I work. I talk to them as they evolve on my canvas, and they tell me who they are. As a relatively new artist, I don't want to limit myself to one medium, subject or style but continue to experiment and evolve, experimenting with new mediums such as oil, pastel, collage, and encaustic.

Sharone Putter/Columbus, OH - Sharone Putter’s skills are enriched by many years of traveling, studying, and residing abroad, including: apprenticing to a jeweler in Jerusalem, Israel, studying glass lampworking in Czech Republic, and working in porcelain restoration in Dublin, Ireland. After having earned a degree in Philosophy, with a minor in Art History (Israel) she went on to complete a BFA in Glass Sculpture and Digital Printmaking (USA). Putter employs multiple mediums to create her artwork and has taught the skills she has acquired for over a decade, including; jewelry/metals, glass lampworking, drawing, printmaking, and enameling. Her artwork and jewelry designs have been exhibited in multiple solo exhibitions, curated shows, and art fairs, and are a part of private collections in the USA and abroad. Sharone and her husband live in Columbus, Ohio.

Priya Rama/Mason, OH - I experience. Then, I paint. My art, like my life, revolves around my chronic migraines. Everything that I do follows the ebb, flow and crest of wellness. When a migraine comes on, even with my eyes closed, I "see" things. Colors and shapes flood my mind in fluid poetry. These mystical images recede, shift, radiate and pulse, becoming more vibrant and vivid with every capture! Frequently, I paint through a migraine, trying to quickly tap into what I see. When I can’t, I’m able to recall the imagery at a later time, and commit that to canvas. My work is a constant search to best represent the three and often four dimensional images of my mind onto a two dimensional, flat surface. Each piece I create evolves from a meditative and introspective process, wherein I become one with my art: It is being aware in that moment, being mindful, acknowledging the pain and chaos, and losing myself to the visual symphony that unfolds. Some notes are peaceful while others discordant. I've trained myself to paint through the pain and discomfort: my breathing slows down, my jaw unclenches, and my body slowly begins to relax. Often, completing a painting acts as a release, and reminds me that my mind can do more than just process pain: It can transform pain into beauty.

Tricia Ratliff/Herndon, VA - My art is an integrated lifestyle of experimentation and exploration. As I'm traveling, writing, exploring, painting and listening to people .. I experience new places and ask: "How might we enjoy the gift of our lifetime? and more specifically "How might we be in healthy relationship with others, ourselves, the earth and our higher power?" While these are broad questions, the common thread artistically is "relationship" and "the glorious gift of time" which have long shown up as themes in my work. 

Robin Roberts/Ashland, OH - To me, painting is relaxing and my way of getting time with God and His creation. I want to soak it in, to understand it as well as I can, and then capture the special beauty in life as light and shadow splashes across the scene. I enjoy painting so many different subjects- everything from architecture to wildlife to cityscapes to rural scenes. Nature never fails to reward and challenge me as an artist with its constantly changing colors, light, and atmosphere. When painting, I depend on my design skills as a graphic designer, spirited brushstrokes and tonal unity. I also enjoy working in my studio in Ashland, Ohio when I can not get outside. Robin graduated from Ashland University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication after spending one year of intensive study at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. After years of work at agencies and as the head of graphics at Rubbermaid in Wooster, Ohio, Robin opened Red Red Design, a graphic design studio in Ashland, Ohio in 2001.

Doris Robinson/New Albany, OH - Doris Robinson is the heart (and hammer!) behind the hand-stamped cuff bracelets and gifts you’ll find at Hayley Gallery. Born and raised in the Buckeye state, Doris resides in New Albany, OH with her husband, Steve, their three children, and a feisty Pomsky pup named Kali. Creativity and crafting have always been an important part of Doris’s life - but once she acquired her first set of metal stamps and a hammer from her father’s woodworking shop, her passion for hand-stamping took center stage. Doris’s medium of choice is pure aluminum - sturdy yet lightweight, tarnish-free, safe on the skin, and less allergenic than even sterling silver. Her loves of personalization and sentiment inspire the pieces she creates. Whether it’s a person, place, mantra, or belief, Doris is a firm believer of keeping close what you hold dear, as a reminder of the important things in life. “I hope you find something that speaks to you and inspires you,” says Doris. “If not, I would consider it a joy and an honor to create a custom piece for you or a loved one!”

Suzanne Robinson/Pataskala, OH - I draw most of my inspiration from what I observe in and around my home which is nestled in the woods of Pataskala, Ohio. It's a privilege to be able to express on canvas the peace and harmony conveyed in nature’s beautiful backdrop. My landscapes offer the onlooker an appreciation of the majesty of vistas that change from one season to the next. Crystal blue seascapes take me back to wonderful beach vacations shared with my family. One doesn’t have to go to the country or seaside to appreciate nature’s calming beauty since Robinson’s work aptly expresses the peace and harmony that can only be conveyed in nature’s back drop.

Natalya Romanovsky/Richmond Heights, OH - Natalya Romanovsky grew up in Moldova, a country located between the Ukraine and Romania. As a child she knew she would be an artist, her talent was noticed by her teacher who told her mother, Give her brushes and paint and the child will know what to do. Romanovsky studied at Chisinau Art College, earning a degree in graphic design. She enjoyed art school and entered her field upon graduation working for a popular magazine. At the same time she contributed to a series of children's publications. However her heart was in painting, and despite a few shows around the city she became frustrated with the local art market. In 1993 Romanovsky immigrated to the US, joining her mother in Cleveland. Moving to America opened a whole new door for the curious and energetic artist. She found some initial support from a local gallery and began painting with a new enthusiasm.

Briden Schueren/Columbus, OH -Briden Cole Schueren is an award winning international queer trans artist, activist and business owner, who shares their life’s challenges and journey through art. Briden’s work ranges in size and scale - from 1 inch canvases to 40 foot murals. They love making art that pushes boundaries and makes people think outside of the societal norms. Briden’s art has a beautiful display of color that makes the viewer feel good, connected, and aware of a deeper message behind it. Briden’s work is like a lucid dream inspired by artists Salvador Dalí and Dr. Seuss. Briden opened up BrickBox Studios, a local artist community space, in Columbus Ohio in 2013. Briden is an active leader for the communities they are a part of, organizing fundraisers and nonprofits to continuously create a welcoming space for the marginalized.

Mary Ann Sedivy/Newbury, OH - The landscape and the beauty of nature are intriguing and rich sources of inspiration for my paintings. It is a joy to live in Northeast Ohio, specifically in the snowbelt region. The surrounding landscape is rich in natural beauty, with it’s gentle, rolling hills and abundant farmland. Due to the variety of colors, textures, shapes, light and sounds through each season, the natural world always provides incentive for creativity. This awareness is stimulated by a deep connection I feel with the outdoors. Painting is a means of preserving and highlighting what we are rapidly losing in a rapidly changing world. For me, expressing the landscape isn’t confined to one means. Sometimes a plein air painting, other times a studio painting with abstract elements. Always with expressive brushwork and strong elements of color exploration. Exploring surface texture, drawing on the paint surface, interfacing collage media with paint and keeping the brushwork energetic are at play as I create. Consideration of textures, lines, shapes, color experimentation and developing figure ground relationships guide me while I investigate the bridge between the natural world and the painted surface.

Demi Shostak/New Albany, OH - Demi is an aspiring young artist from New Albany, Ohio. She is a student, tennis player, and an accomplished artist in shows such as the scholastic competition along with other juried exhibitions. Her main mediums consist of acrylic paint and colored pencil, however she is proficient and experienced with many others. Demi gets her inspiration from nature, wildlife, and all the other beautiful things she surrounds herself with.

Chris Smith/Galena, OH - Chris Smith lives in Galena, OH. She took two years of ceramics at Ohio University. She learned to make clay and glazes from various chemicals. During the years of raising a family and working she enjoyed painting in watercolors and oil. This in turn helped to improve her ceramics through the learning of composition, movement, and overall esthetics of a piece of art. The passion for making pottery has become an obsession and she enjoys exploring every facet of it. She particularly enjoys manipulating clay into interesting forms and sculptures.

Brenden Spivey/Columbus, OH - Brenden grew up in Newark, Ohio, just east of Columbus. His fascination with technology and fashion led him to a career in IT for a fashion company. He always knew that there was more to him in the creative space but was unsure in what capacity it would manifest itself. “Being surrounded by beautiful things and having an appreciation for them is something that always inspired me whether it be a pair of shoes, a shirt, photography. There was always something about how it made me feel when I looked at it.” “Working full time in IT has many demands and finding a hobby was something that I struggled with for relaxation. Columbus has a dynamic art scene and I’ve been lucky enough to visit numerous galleries and get to know several artist and collectors. The more time I spent around beautiful art work created by local self-taught or ‘outsider’ artists, the more inspired I became to create my own work.” He uses emotion and his eye for colors to manipulate his artwork.

Mike Stepanski/Thailand - Mike blew glass for over 20 years in and around the Columbus, Ohio area. He travels the world and gathers inspiration from everywhere he visits; he is currently retired and living in Thailand.

Jonathan Stratton/Granville, OH - Jonathan Stratton's work reflects his passion through design and creative form. Blending the boundaries between art, functionality, and beauty; he strives to create pieces which reflect the perfect and imperfect balances within nature. Influenced by a combination of Mid-Century Modern / Japanese style, his focus is to strip away the unnecessary details within a piece and focus on the pure essence of what furniture represents, which is "elegance in simplicity". Jonathan was born on 1996 and grew up a native of Nelson County, VA. He obtained a 4-year trade degree and pursued a background in design and art. However, he felt something was missing and was compelled to follow his passion and began to explore his interest for woodworking at the age of 22. As a self-taught woodworker since 2018, he studied, mentored, and spent countless hours developing skills that would further him in his quest for functional art. God blessed him with the talents and resources to start his own business, which has fulfilled this important aspect of his life. Jonathan's passion for building furniture matured immensely and sparked a deeper appreciation for the time honored techniques which goes into creating quality pieces of furniture. His inspiration comes from the quote of an American woodworker, architect, and furniture maker of the 20th Century, George Nakashima, “If you build something beautiful with a tree, it lives forever”.

Katie Swartz/Mason, OH - I'm a native Ohioan, born and raised and educated here. Currently I crochet and throw pots as much I can in between my full time teaching job, spending time with the sugar in my life, and traveling the world. I am always working with my hands, crocheting, baking, sculpting or whatever. As much as I love to work with my hands I love to please people as well. I've found since crocheting these little animals and making the teacups, people are pretty happy. I love cute fuzzy and warm things. Bright colors, flowers, animals, Easter, summer fruits are all inspirations. Good times and good people are what keep me going.

Lily Tarbox/Westerville, OH - My name is Lily and I am a fiber artist that crochets. I originally started to crochet when I was a kid as I was fortunate enough to have my great grandmother still with me, she taught me how to weave yarn for the first time when I was spending my summer there and from that point on, I was hooked. We would sit for hours sometimes and crochet the washcloths or potholders that I watched many of my family fight for at Christmas. I worked on this skill for years after. Making scarves, hats, and gloves, but then took a break to focus on my schooling. I attended the Columbus College of Art and Design, studying the fine arts and Interior design but still didn't pick up the hook again until 2020. During this time, I had been working in my field and was settling into life but discovered I was to have a little one on the way. This is what made me pick up where I left off, creating baby blankets for the excitement to come. When they were born however there was a delay in them coming home, a 2-month delay. At this time, I taught myself to make stuffed animals that I knew could be a comfort to them on the nights I could not stay in the NICU with them. This led to not only a surplus of soft friends for my little one but ignited a passion and joy that took me back to when I was a kid learning how to crochet all over again. Since then, I haven’t been able to put a crochet hook down realizing how much I missed it, or stop creating new things with this skill passed down from the generation before me.

Judith Vierow/Columbus, OH - Judy passed away in January, 2022. Her real work was her first love – creating art. She had a studio on the second floor of her very old home in downtown Columbus that was once an extra bedroom. Her background a zillion years ago was in painting at the University of Oklahoma. She went from there to The Ohio State University when she received a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. After school she was a weaver and specialized in quilt making and batiking. Once she discovered acrylic paints about a decade later, she never went back to quilting. Usually she did not have an idea of what the finished piece will look like when she first started painting. She got in a zone somewhere and let the ideas flow through her and onto the paper. That’s part of the fun of being an artist – not having a solid idea where you are going at the beginning – just letting it come naturally. She will be missed.

Trish Weeks/Wyoming, OH - Trish Weeks is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Design,Art, Architecture, and Planning with a BS in design. She built a successful career in corporate and residential interior design before her painting career began in 1994. Trish has received awards in numerous juried shows on a local, regional, and national level. Her work is included in private and corporate collections throughout the world. Trish was a featured artist at the Taft Museum "Art in the Afternoon" and a featured artist for the Duveneck Society at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Trish has also participated in events at the Carnegie Art Center in Kentucky. Trish draws inspiration from her experiences in the Midwest and the Carolina's where she spends much of her time. She also brings a more global perspective by layering memories from her travel in France, as well as trips to Europe, India, China, Japan, and Nepal. Many of her trips include her portable equipment so she may paint out in the environments she experiences.

Chuck Wimmer/Brecksville, OH - It all began in Budapest. That is where Chuck was born. The Danube River runs through this fine city dividing it into Buda and Pest. Few have ever doubted which side I was born on. Giving up real castles and true confectionery shops was well worth a move to Cleveland, OH where Chuck embarked upon an artistic career. After a rewarding stint as a studio principal the inevitable happened. Chuck became a freelance illustrator. This happy, un-housebroken state enabled him to pursue his passion, drawing. Fortunately, people give him money for this. Now-a-days the computer, used as a powerful drawing tool, has become his medium of choice.

Gina Wolfrum/Hicksville, OH - Gina Wolfrum is a contemporary, mixed-media artist who returned to her artistic roots after leaving the stressful corporate world and relocating to a farm in rural Ohio. She instinctively transitioned back to the fine arts training she had received in her youth when an interior designer pulled her into the world of decorative art and murals. Wolfrum studied in studios around the country to develop her use of color, texture and natural elements in exquisite homes and businesses, both locally and throughout the US for a number of years. Her decorative art has been featured in books, trade journals, television and various websites. In October of 2018, her entry Amethyst Awakening, ranked in the top 25 at ArtPrize10/Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work using natural elements, crystals, and glass have gained popularity in exhibits and have received monetary awards. Gina lives with her husband and a very large dog in Northwest Ohio on a quiet farm surrounded by flower beds and bird feeders.

Alisa Workman/Dayton, OH - I dabbled at the edge of the art pool for years ... mixed media collages, painted garden pots, colorful tiled garden hardscape installations. The work that I consider my first completed painting, my frightening leap into the deep end of the pool, is SURVIVE. It was done in 2017, in the first art workshop that I attended. It was begun a year after my mother's death and my sister's suicide. It was completed after my husband's cancer diagnosis. Life is filled with happiness and sadness. I choose to focus on the sadness and to turn that darkness into something bright and wonderful and happy. Vibrant colors energize and excite. I LOVE color. Inspired by all that surrounds me, I paint lightly abstract floral works ... renderings of bold flowers with rich splashes of color.

Man-Wai Wu/Toronto, Canada - Man-Wai Wu was born in Guangdong China and settled in Hong Kong in 1958. He started painting in 1969 and later completed an extension course in 3-dimensional design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic Institute. In both 1989 and 1994 he was awarded the Hong Kong Urban Council Fine Arts Award for Sculpture by the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Wu won the Freeman Foundation Fellowship to study art at the Vermont Studio Center, the largest international residency program in the US, hosting more than 50 visual artists and writers each month from across the country and around the world. In 1998, he immigrated to Canada and has been working there ever since. His paintings have been featured in American Art Collector Magazine and he has collectors throughout the world. Wu has family, including a brother and many cousins living in Columbus, hence his connection to Central Ohio.

Wil Wong Yee/Whitehall, OH - Wil Wong Yee was born and raised in Columbus. Ohio. At an early age, he found his passion in art. Yee graduated from Columbus College of Art and Design earning his Bachelors of Fine Art in Industrial Design. Being the designer of his destiny, Yee has taken parts of Columbus and created inspiration in the form of street art. After graduating from CCAD, Yee continued to create beautiful views of downtown Columbus in the form of cityscapes as well as personal portraits packed with raw emotion and thrilling illustrations. Wil received an Artist Exchange grant in 2018 to visit Cuba. A portion of Wil's sales are earmarked for supplies and materials to benefit Cuban artists.

Linda Zoundas/Columbus, OH - An interior designer formerly for Lazarus, Linda makes art assemblages, team trees, gloves, hats and scarves using recycled wool sweaters.