Team Kentucky Digital Art Gallery

As I was roaming around a local nursery, I was immediately taken by this noble old truck – a 1947 Ford flatbed that was probably used in the local nursery as a workhorse for hauling deliveries of trees, large groupings of plants, flowers, and lawn ornaments.

When painting this truck, I wanted to capture the exact moment when I first came upon it. When that big red beast first made itself known. Bringing back memories of days gone by.

With an educational background in psychology and experience in counseling, I have learned much about the human spirit. My desire as an artist is to bring untold stories to the canvas; to share not only the joy and beauty of living but also the pain and struggles of reality. I call my style Psychological Realism. Once I retired from counseling, I chose to pursue my lifelong desire to be an artist. Moving near Nashville in 2016, I soon began my studies in Classical Realism. I have been very fortunate to study under many of the world’s best portrait artists. My passion is not only to continue to learn the arts but share. In 2022 after moving back to my hometown of Albany, Kentucky, I opened Albany Arts Studio and Gallery. I felt that it was important to pay it forward by teaching art education in a small town where students are wanting to learn as I once was. I currently teach 4-5 classes a week. I also accept Commissioned Portraits.

Member of – American Portrait Society (2018-present) , American Pastel Society (2020-present), Artround Tennessee, and Cookeville Art Society

This painting is of my beautiful mother who loves gardening. It also reminds me of my grandmother. She could be anyone’s family as this is a common memory of so many of our ancestors in Kentucky.

Reminiscent, a pastel painting, was completed in December 2022. It won a merit award at the 31st Annual Women in the Arts Med Center Health Exhibit in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2023. It was juried into the 2023 Spring Online Exhibit for the International Association of Pastel Societies and featured in the IAPS GLOBE magazine. Now it is a joy to share this special painting of my mother with Team Kentucky Gallery!

This piece is titled A Little Light in the Darkness and is part of my Beautifully Broken Series. I am an abstract artist (in Lexington) and a mental health therapist (in Louisville). I’m inspired by experiencing the resilience, emotion and deep connection felt when working with humans in pain. This series was born out of my belief that we are all broken at some point in our lives and even though it’s so incredibly difficult, it is also a rich opportunity for growth, awareness, and more alignment with our true selves. These transitions have a certain beauty and I wanted to honor that by attempting to express it through art. I start with an acrylic paint base and then add oil mixed with cold wax on top. The images form when I use different tools to remove the top layer to reveal the colors from those below. My hope is that my work will make you feel some connection to others, to community and to self.

To see more of my work...
Come by my studio at The Artists' Studios – 594 E. Third St. Lexington KY 40508
Or check out me out online on instagram and facebook, or visit my website at stephaniesays.art.

I have returned to the subject of water throughout my creative life. I’m very drawn to its mesmerizing movement – the ripples that never exactly repeat themselves. Lincoln Run, the intimate creek depicted here, runs next to the home that Abraham Lincoln’s mother Nancy Hanks lived in while being courted by Thomas Lincoln. It is located in Springfield, Kentucky. It was in the Washington County Courthouse in Springfield that they were married. It is also where Abraham’s young life started. Throughout the years, young Abraham Lincoln no doubt often visited his relatives in Washington County and played and ran along this very creek – or “run.” Through his curious eyes – along Lincoln Run and beyond – I look around and am inspired by the landscape I see every day.

“I grew up in Henderson, Kentucky, the city where John James Audubon lived from 1810 to 1819. I have always enjoyed walking through John James Audubon Park throughout the year to observe the changes in the park during different seasons. I especially love visiting during autumn because I love the colorful leaves. My drawing was inspired by a photo I took of the John James Audubon Museum one autumn evening. I feel connected to the park because nature has always been an inspiration for my art. I have always thought the museum had very impressive and unique architecture. Because of this, I thought it would be the perfect subject for an art piece.”

Nancy Bruner is 13 years old and in her seventh year of art instruction from nationally renowned artist Pem Pfisterer Clark. Since she was old enough to hold a crayon, Nancy has loved to express her creativity through art and is honored that her work is displayed at the Capitol.

I began a serious interest in art during a 1972 class. My style is comprised of attributes of artists favored over the years along with a passion in creating art using skills of color and composition. I love to paint just about anything whether the subject is a portrait or nature. My Originals and Art Prints are created in the studio. Producing the museum grade prints is an art itself. One of the most rewarding aspects is when the final product is virtually the same as the original work of art.

I am a self-taught artist, retired lab technician for DuPont and lifelong resident of Louisville. I paint still lifes, landscapes, and animals using acrylics, oils, and mixed media.

Art has been an important part of my childhood as I am a third generation artist and took art programs offered at the Main Public Library. This, along with the J.B. Speed Art Museum, inspired me to study the art of the impressionists and the Renaissance masters.

The Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts has been a catalyst for aspiring artists, and my daughter, Dyann Joyce, was awarded in the program. She is now a free-lance illustrator of children’s book, sculptress, and awarded artist (including Artist of the Year for 2022, People’s Choice winner, and numerous solo exhibits and competing in juried competitions).

I quit my art after a diagnosis of breast cancer and am a four-year survivor. Post-COVID, I have had several solo exhibits and entered juried competitions. Thanks to my daughter, my passion is back. We have a dual exhibit scheduled for July and several more competitions coming up.

I am honored that my painting was selected to be in this exhibit at the State Capitol.

A Louisville native, I was the first-born grandson of both parents’ families. I developed strong relationships with all of my grandparents and loved their stories of our family. Both of my grandmothers introduced me to their respective family “picture boxes” and it is likely where my love for history and vintage photographs began. I have also always had a passion for automobiles, and it spills over into my work. I think the vehicles in my paintings readily identify the era depicted. Earlier works focused solely on the vehicle, but now they are additional characters within the composition.

I have admired the work of Edward Hopper for many years, particularly his depiction of color, light, and shadow. I am drawn to images that depict a sense of humor, irony, or sexuality that is at odds with the simple, nostalgic memory many people have of the mid-20th Century. I think of the era as passive repressive. I find it a challenge balancing depiction of what exists in an image, versus adding or eliminating from the composition to create a more humorous or contradictory message. I enjoy eliciting warm, nostalgic feelings from the viewer of my work. However, I also want to include an element of surprise that checks that nostalgia with a dose of maybe everything wasn’t so rosy. Many times, that is simply accomplished with a provocative title for a piece.

“This is one of a series of scenes from Our Mims Retirement Haven, a 501(c)(3) rescue for thoroughbred broodmares in Bourbon County. Reference for this photo was taken from a video by Ann Cheek, the manager of the farm. The mare in the foreground is Play Book, an especially mischievous member of the herd. She’s so friendly, it’s hard to get mad at her for breaking all the rules (and the fences and the blankets)! She makes sure to get more than her fair share of attention from visitors and her caretakers.

“The Haven was started in 2007 by Jeannie Mirabito, one of my many mothers. Jeannie passed away after valiantly fighting cancer in 2020, and her family and friends continue her mission to ensure many Ladies can end their brood mare careers in the comfort they deserve.”

Katelyn Chanslor was born and lives in Cynthiana, Kentucky. She resides in a cavernous old house with her husband, Jon, three children, and too many pets. After years of self-guided study in a vast array of art forms and inspired by other Cynthiana artists who were making a go at creating full-time, she now regularly provides people with dreamy illustrations of their lost loved ones, treasured moments, and beloved places. When she is not painting, she works passionately with a group of likeminded individuals to bring arts opportunities to the citizens of her hometown, where she feels the arts saved her.

She currently serves as the president of the newly formed Boyd’s Station Artist Guild.

You can visit her website, katelynchanslorfineart.com, to view past work, and find information about commissions and works for sale.

I am an Appalachian artist. The work I do is rooted in the experience of being Appalachian. That experience, I believe, has been misunderstood by nearly everyone outside the region and by far too many within it. Certainly, it has been misrepresented by the popular media. Characterizations like those found in The Beverly Hillbillies, Snuffy Smith, Lil’ Abner, and Hee Haw form the predominant image of life in Appalachia. Such a portrayal is, at best, a trivialization of a rich, diverse, and valuable indigenous culture. At worst, it is demeaning, cruel, and damaging. The exploitation that has long been a part of Appalachia’s history is directly related to the self-image of its people. Regrettably, the negative stereotypes of mountain life have influenced not only those outside the region, but Appalachia’s own people as well.

My art addresses this situation. Mountain life is not a situation comedy featuring lazy, dull-witted barbarians blundering through life in modern times, nor is it the quaint, romantic ideal of the more sentimental imagery. It is, however, a unique expression of the rich diversity found in human culture, and as such, it has much of value to offer. By presenting a more genuine portrayal of life in Appalachia, one that reflects my own experiences, I seek to inject more truth into the images that influence public perceptions.

My acrylic paintings are rich in layer upon layer of color. I am drawn to nature as my subject matter…butterflies, bugs, animals, flowers and landscapes. Hints of brilliant, even neon, colors painted behind the subject matter pop through to give each painting exciting dimension. Using primarily a palette knife and my fingers to paint with creates unpredictable moments in my paintings.

My paintings start with a lot of unintentional color and marks covering the canvas. If I don't see something calling out to me, it's time to add more layers of color and textures.

I tend to find a happy place in my paintings after I smack the paint around, forcing myself to not be so precious about my movements. I have learned that intuitive painting – playing with the paint to see what comes out of it works best for me. Along with that, lots of rich, bright color co-mingling in a lot of layers puts me in my happy place.

ARTIST WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA:
etsy.com/shop/tacpaintings
Facebook: @tacpaintings
Instagram: tac_paintings

“Walking after Midnight was inspired by the love of gloomy days.

“Not everyone loves a gloomy day, but I've always found some peace and comfort in a day like that. Seeing the night lights and reflections that come with the dampness around instills calmness in me. I wanted to capture that peacefulness in this painting.”

Jaime Curry was born and raised in Nicholasville, Kentucky. She still resides there with her beloved husband and son.

Though painting and art are her passion, animals are too! Jaime currently works full-time at Sheabel Veterinary Hospital as the office manager and has been there for 17 years.

She plans to always continue creating Art. You can find her other works of art, along with her art blog at theartcartblog.com and on Instagram @jaime_curry_art.

“Bluegrass & Blue Collar is for all the hard-working, blue-collar men and women across the bluegrass, who do not receive enough praise for all they sacrifice to hold our communities together. Whom without, we would have nothing.

“This piece specifically showcases a welder. Several everyday objects require metal pieces that are welded together. We wouldn’t have cars, farm equipment, bridges, or buildings without them. Welders are truly the backbone of our world, and they, along with the other blue-collar workers, deserve more appreciation from the people of our communities.”

Allison Elkin is an 18-year-old artist from Olive Hill, Kentucky. She is a second-year student at Berea College, where she is studying Studio Art and Art History. She creates many artworks with various media, but primarily works in charcoal and portrait drawings. To see more of her work visit her Instagram page, allyelkinart.

I am a lifelong Kentuckian and an emerging artist from Louisville. From a very young age, I enjoyed being creatively engaged and grew up with a love of craft. In my professional life, I have enjoyed the blending of artistic expression with administrative challenges during my career as an event planner. Thanks to the pandemic I began to explore and experiment with additional forms of visual art and discovered that I love painting and creating 3-dimensional art. I am currently working toward the completion of a Bachelor of Arts in Art at the University of Louisville’s Hite Art Institute and expect to graduate in May 2024.

In my work, I like to consider our human experiences and, in particular, our responses to and interaction with the world around us. I am particularly interested in creating work that is introspective, leaving the viewers to come to their own conclusions about the essence of my works.

I have always had a love for art. I am a self-taught artist. Most people will look at the art I do and tell me that I have talent. I have a tendency towards being more pragmatic; I call it perseverance and frustration. And that is the thing I enjoy most about doing art – the learning and improvement. I especially love to talk with other artists and learn new ideas and techniques.

I have been doing art for eight years. I have been a nurse for 35 years and counting. I live on a small farm in Casey County with my wonderful hubby, 14 dogs and 14 cats. Thank you for this opportunity.

Morning At Cumberland Falls is an acrylic painting measuring 36x48 inches on stretched canvas. It was created in April, May, and June of 2023. It is surrounded in a dark brown rustic frame that compliments the artwork. This is the second painting of Cumberland Falls I have created in the past year. The first one is now in a private collection in North Carolina.

Cumberland Falls is located on the border of Whitley County and McCreary County, Kentucky, where I have lived most of my adult life. I met my wife, Lee, a few miles from the Falls. We used to go there for picnics and hiking when dating in 1980. Lee and I have since been there many times with our children throughout the years. During the pandemic lockdown, Cumberland Falls was a perfect place to go outdoors to get some fresh air, do some hiking and have a picnic.

I have recently been inspired to paint Cumberland Falls after rediscovering the unusual radiance of this phenomenon. Even the old trees that have washed over the falls and lie resting by the river have a natural beauty and are very interesting to paint. The rugged appearance of the unique rock formations surrounding the falls are also fascinating and make great art.

I get inspiration almost daily from all the natural beauty, rich culture, and history that surrounds us in Kentucky. Finding great subject matter, like Cumberland Falls, is not difficult in our state. Kentucky and its people have always been a major influence in my artwork. I am proud to be a Kentuckian and always will be.

Having developed a versatility in subject matter has allowed me to do commissioned portraits, landscapes, still life, and equine paintings. Additionally, having studied with prominent regional and national artists who paint in varied styles, I am able to now instruct artists who train in my studio in styles for which they are suited.

A favorite subject for me is the thoroughbred racehorse and their riders. Churchill was painted from one of my photos, taken on a November day at the Fall meet at Churchill Downs. I love the bright colors and the play of light on silks.

Following a career teaching at the secondary level, I saw a chance to share what I have learned over the years by opening a studio, centering primarily on the instruction of oil painting as I continue my own work.

My work is the result of my fascination to connect the physical realm with the spiritual one. The acrylic paintings I create are abstractions of the tangible nature that surrounds humankind. Although non-referential, the paintings are strangely familiar and evoke memory and emotion.

Like many artists, I am inspired by nature when creating a composition, but not only its visual beauty strikes me. I am inspired by the feeling one has when communing in nature when she is in connection to a Higher Creator. With this thought process, I do not dwell on the mere visual description of a subject, but of the essence of it instead. The question is not: “What does water look like?” but “How does water feel?”

I have been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember. I’ve also been building with LEGO bricks for just as long. Perhaps it was inevitable that I combine the two. For most of my adult life I was an art educator and only recently embarked on my second career as a professional artist. While I still paint and draw, I have found using LEGO bricks to make mosaics offered me a chance to create with a more personal signature. I enjoy the simplicity of it.

Working in LEGO bricks takes away the complexity and frustration of trying to get paint or graphite to do what I want it to do. Because the bricks themselves are a fixed color and shape, all I have to do is put them together to create the image. Actually, the most difficult part for me is finding an image that will translate well as a mosaic.

This mosaic is based on the popular WWII combat photo taken by Bob Bailey. It is the story of true grit as PFC Paul E. Ison, USMC, takes his third trip across Death Valley in Okinawa.

Paul, nicknamed “Pop Ison” by the men in his unit, was born in Ashland, KY. At age 27 he enlisted in the USMC to help the Allied forces in the war. On May 10, 1945, Paul’s commanding officer told him to take his team across Death Valley, a place where thousands of Marines were killed or wounded, in order to destroy the holes that the enemy was hiding in. The officer assured Ison the demolition required was already in place, just go get it done. Under heavy fire, Ison and his company made it across only to find the demolition needed never made it there. So, back across they went still under constant fire. Carrying the required demolition satchels, Ison led the run a third time across Death Valley. It was then that Bob Bailey took his photo as he ran. Miraculously, Ison and his company made it across and achieved their mission.

After the war, Paul Ison lived in Covington, Kentucky, with his wife and children. One of those children had a daughter, Dacian, whom I married. She once asked her grandfather, “Why did you do it?” She’ll never forget his response: “Because someone had to.” Now, that’s Kentucky grit.

“It’s almost trite to say that light is essential to visual art—maybe all art. After all, leggiero, or lightly, is music terminology. There’s always a dance of the contrast between light and dark.

“Comments on this piece generally include mention of the light. It’s that instant in nature when the angle elevates interest in the scene, what the sun hugging the horizon has done to edges, tips and surfaces, creating unusual shadows that challenges and inspires capture by the artist.”

Chris Kellogg has grabbed every opportunity to work in the arts, first as the director of the Carnegie in Covington, then as a long-time statewide advocate with the Kentucky Citizens for the Arts and involvement with a community foundation and finally, experimenting with various disciplines--all sandwiched in a career in communications and press and public relations for five governors, including adjunct work on special events, efficiency initiatives, exhibitions, architecture and preservation. She also served as assistant deputy for the Kentucky Secretary of State.

Painting, in particular and unexpectedly, took hold through study and an awesome studio group. Her pieces are primarily in private collections and commissioned pet portraits. She also works in pastels.

My name is John Logan, born and raised in Frankfort. I picked up painting and drawing in 2000 as a way to pass the winter months. Though painting has only been a hobby of mine it’s been the most rewarding pastime I’ve endeavored in. Many of my paintings are of my family being together and living life, none of which were ever scripted or modeled – just me taking pictures while they weren’t looking. This scene was in a small creek in northern Franklin County of my stepfather. In 2012 when the Cats won the National Championship in basketball, I was fortunate to do 2 paintings for Coach Cal, one for Terence Jones, one for Michael Gilchrist and another for the UK Mascot! You can see those paintings along with other examples of my work at johnloganart.com. Thanks for looking!

Alison Davis Lyne is a freelance illustrator. She lives and works out of her husband's small farm in south central Kentucky. Her husband is sculptor, Frank Lyne. Alison has created spot illustrations, magazine covers, children's books, greeting cards, traditional portraits, and also paints for the fine art market. Ms. Lyne has illustrated over a dozen published children's book titles. She has also painted fourteen portraits for the Kentucky Commission on Women’s “Kentucky Women Remembered Exhibit” which is on permanent display in the Kentucky State Capitol located on one side of the Rotunda.

The painting on display. Three Point Landing as described by Alison: “I've always loved painting the ‘colorful side’ of nature, and the morning sun pouring down on grey creek bluff rocks presented a wonderful opportunity to try and capture both reflections in the water and the mysterious shadows of the fallen tree's foliage over the small rocky opening. The three geese making a perfect “three-point landing” was too good to pass up, and really fit into this scene.”

Living on our small south central Kentucky farm in Logan County has provided me with almost unlimited sources of inspiration for paintings of Kentucky landscapes. Frank's wonderful photos of birds and other wildlife are a constant source of ideas both for my illustrations and Frank's sculptures.

You can see more about our work at lyneart.com

I am a long-time resident of Kentucky, born and raised in the majestic beauty of Mammoth Cave National Park and Nolin Dam State Park in Edmonson County, Kentucky. I enjoy the arts and have devoted a lot of life advancing the arts. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Kentucky University. I was fortunate to teach art, humanities and journalism at Edmonson County High School where I enjoyed working with young artist helping them to develop their own skills and creativity.

The painting Peace on Honey Creek is developed from a place in Edmonson County. This place reminds me of a place I remember from my childhood, a much simpler time; walking down a grove of serene shade trees where it is calm and peaceful and emerging into the sunlight revealing what is clear and bright.

I enjoy exploring and developing my own skills as an artist. I am a realistic painter, I enjoy all areas of the arts/crafts, but I truly enjoy painting and ceramics. I now devote a lot of my energy and time helping develop the arts in the Edmonson County Arts Guild.

Anastasia Murray, originally from Kazakhstan, was adopted at age six by a family from North Carolina. Anna enrolled at Stewart Home & School in 2018. Art chose Anna when she stayed in one Saturday afternoon, grabbed her pencil and canvas, and began drawing. Little did she know, this was going to be the start of something that would change her life. Before SHS, Anna enjoyed sketching and coloring. At SHS, Anna has expanded her artistic practice to include painting on canvas, bourbon barrels, and other diverse mediums. Anna has found that art is a real calling for her. It is a great way of expressing feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Through her art, she aims to incorporate bright colors to present a happy and positive feeling for each viewer. Never in her life has she so loved, appreciated, and accepted. All her gratitude goes to those who have helped her along the way: her parents and her Stewart Home & School family.

This 36-by-48-inch acrylic painting, Confident, began from an experience Anna had while living in Kentucky the past 4 years. Upon many other paintings, she really found her sense of confidence when she painted horses on her Stewart Home & School campus. She really felt called to paint them because she’s surrounded by them every day. Anna primarily focuses on horses, and although she has experienced painting other animals, she really feels compelled to continue painting horses because after all, that’s what Kentucky is all about. Anna first started painting when she arrived at the Stewart Home & School back in 2018. When Anna starts a project, it goes through different processes such as manipulating her original photograph on an art app. She then decides the colors she wants to incorporate in her painting as well as their shapes and sizes and chooses where she wants to place them. Lastly, she applies her signature style, which is the use of bubble wrap, and then signs her projects and starts her selling process.

My love for painting began as a child in Connecticut schools and at home, where my older sister, Sophia Melbourne, gave me drawing and painting lessons. She became an accomplished artist, exhibiting and selling her works for many years in Florida. She also taught children in her “Especially for You” gallery as well.

As a self-taught artist, I did not receive formal art training in college. However, over many years I have privately studied under art teachers in Louisville, Kentucky, Tequesta, Florida, and Stuart, Florida. As a Realist painter, people and animals are my favorite subjects, and oil is my medium of choice, using both brush and palette knife. Landscapes, seascapes, and still-life are fun to paint, but portraitures of adults or children and animals of any kind are what truly inspire my desire to paint. Tigers, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, big horn rams, deer, horses, cows, pigs, cats, dogs, fish, birds, roosters, rabbits – just about any 2-legged or 4-legged subject – makes me want to bring them to life on a canvas! In the last few years, I have been expanding to a more Impressionistic style.

I belong to and have been an exhibitor of the Art Association of Oldham County, Kentucky, the Martin County and Palm City art associations in Florida, and the Artisans of Harbour Ridge Club in Florida, of which I am a board member. The majority of my artwork is given to family members, friends, and to many auctions for various charitable works, which was always so rewarding. I have also painted many commissioned works for pets, lots of dogs and a few cats, which is so much fun.

I am delighted that my Zebras Chillin’ Out painting will be in the Fall Exhibit in our Frankfort state capital. It is a rendition from a photo taken on safari, but sadly not from me. Hopefully, it will be enjoyed by many.

I am a passionate artist who loves to explore the beauty and complexity of the human experience. Throughout each piece of art that is created, I aim to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and inspire connection through the representation of the relational process.

Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, nature, and the world around me, my artwork reflects a deep appreciation for texture, color, and form. The use of vibrant hues combined with bold strokes from the brush and the palette knife creates dynamic compositions that capture the viewer’s attention. Each stroke is infused with intentionality as I strive to create visual narratives that resonate on an emotional level.

With each piece that I create, there is always a message to be conveyed. Whether it be through realistic portraiture or abstract expressionism, my intention is to spark dialogue and encourage viewers to reflect on their own personal journey.

Art is truly a process that brings hope to a world where there has been so much uncertainty. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He has made everything beautiful in His time.” I believe that art has the power to heal and transform, while being a tangible gift that will move you, inspire you, and encourage you to look deep within your soul. Art has the power to transcend boundaries and touch something deeper within us all. As Frederick Buechner states, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deepest hunger meet.”

My creative process is mainly in the medium of oils with an impressionistic representation. I am truly honored to create original paintings from my heart using an array of bright, intense colors with a unique palette knife technique.

In addition to my visual art practice, I enjoy collaborating with other creatives in various disciplines. I am an advocate for the power of interdisciplinary collaboration as a means of expanding artistic horizons.

Ultimately, my goal as an artist is not only to create visually stunning pieces, but also foster connections and relationships that we all so desire. My hope is that my artwork will inspire others to embrace their own creativity, as well as finding solace to take you to a place of peace and endless possibilities for your life.

As a traveler, I am always intrigued by the landscape and architectural differences in places. When I travelled to Europe, I found the many parks and fountains as well as structures to be lovely inspirations. The photo I took of these fountains near the Prado Museum in Spain became the model for my first watercolor painting. I was amazed at how the image just seemed to come together so seamlessly as I worked. I made many visual discoveries, such as the second fountain in the background, as I studied the reference photo. With this painting I discovered that I am a natural watercolorist and have enjoyed growing this talent for watercolor painting since.

Spanish Fountains has been exhibited in the Sheltowee Artisan exhibit at the Rural Development Center in Somerset, Kentucky, Campbellsville University Alumni Exhibit, Art Teacher Juried Art Exhibit, and at Western Kentucky University’s Art Educators Exhibit. It won first place in the Kentucky Art Educators Association Juried Art Exhibition in 2017.

Being an artist is part of my identity and I will always call myself an artist. I am a retired art teacher from Washington County, Kentucky. As an art educator I was able to share my passion with hundreds of students. I continue to give private lessons and share my work at craft fairs around the state. I am a National Board-Certified Teacher and taught for 30 years in Washington County Schools. I continue to be active with WCEA Retired and am on the Kentucky Art Educators Association Board. I am a past-president of the KyAEA and I was honored by my peers to be selected as the State High School Art Educator of the Year in 2011 and the State Art Educator of the Year in 2020. I am a juried Sheltowee Artisan and currently work in various paint, drawing and fiber media in my home studio near Springfield in Washington County.

Mia is 8 years old and will be going into third grade, attending Providence Montessori in Lexington. Mia painted Sarge in a Tutu when she was seven years old in Mrs. Martin’s art class at Providence Montessori. She has always loved painting and trying different techniques since she could hold a paintbrush. Mia is the definition of an animal lover, as she has 25 animals! This is a painting of her Chocolate Labrador, Sarge, in a tutu. She has an infectious laugh, outgoing personality and has the sweetest and kindest soul, always wanting everyone to feel included. She loves spending time outdoors, especially farming, taking care of her 8 baby chicks and gardening. She also enjoys taking Shotokan karate and dance. And for an 8-year-old, she is an exceptional cook, always coming up with new recipes.

“It can be as simple as the way the afternoon light casts long shadows on a newly mown field, or the feelings conjured by seeing a pastoral scene reminiscent of my days growing up on a working farm.”

I have a varied background in the visual arts—have explored graphic design, printmaking, and a major studio in weaving as a college student. I have a long-time love of photography and capturing the beauty of nature and the surroundings of my native Kentucky and the Bluegrass region of the state.

My return to the visual arts in retirement has led me to working in pastels, a medium with the color, brilliance, and texture that I feel most effectively allows me to interpret the imagery I see in my mind. My inspiration comes from my desire to capture everyday rural scenes, landscapes, and natural elements that have some quality that I relate to on an emotional level. It can be as simple as the way the afternoon light casts long shadows on a newly mown field, or the feelings conjured by seeing a pastoral scene reminiscent of my days growing up on a working farm. I love the structures associated with agriculture and rural life and the creeks, rivers, country roads, and backwoods readily identifiable with central Kentucky. I have a strong sense of place and find it is always part of what makes a scene or an image attractive to me.

I work primarily from reference photos that I take locally and while traveling. Because a photo doesn’t fully capture the visual excitement and richness I might see in front of me, I strive to reinterpret it to better reflect the details, colors, light and shadow that drew me to the scene initially. I am striving to be less literal and more expressive in my work as I progress. I am certainly influenced by impressionism. I love a painting that invites you in and I’m particularly drawn to dynamic composition, patterns, and unusual perspectives. I feel I am evolving in my technique and how I want to interpret what I see both before me and in my mind’s eye.

I enjoy viewers’ reactions to my work. Noting, that while they may not always respond to the subject or technique in the way I myself do, I am intrigued by their responses and what they are moved by. Most important to me is that I am enjoying the process of developing as an artist and being able to more fully realize my vision on paper and the emotion I hope to express when I approach each new work. It is very fulfilling to have returned to my first love.

franredmonfineart.com

Growing up in Kentuckiana, one of my favorite times of year is during the Kentucky Derby Festival. I absolutely love the Great Balloon Race! My memories and love for Kentucky is what continually drives me to create Kentucky-focused artwork. With my oil painting on display at the Team Kentucky Exhibition, I wanted to portray the Great Balloon Race from a different perspective. I grew up running cross country at Iroquois Park and I wondered what it would look like to see a Balloon Race from the overlook there. I’ve often had friends tell me that they had, in fact, been to the inaugural race in 1973, in which just 7 balloons flew over Iroquois Park. This painting represents my experiences and imagination combined with an updated version of my friend’s memories and the history of the Great Balloon Race in Louisville, Kentucky.

I am Billy Tackett, a pop culture artist who revels in the vibrant tapestry of contemporary icons, characters, and symbols that define our society. Through my art, I aim to capture the essence of popular culture and distill it into captivating visual narratives.

Growing up in an era marked by technological advancements and media saturation, I witnessed the birth and evolution of countless iconic figures and trends that have shaped our collective consciousness. From superheroes to beloved characters, musicians to cinematic legends, my work serves as an homage to these cultural touchstones that have become ingrained in our daily lives.

Through my art, I strive to bridge the gap between high and popular culture, challenging the notion that one holds more artistic value than the other. I believe that pop culture, with its mass appeal and ability to captivate millions, is a powerful force deserving of artistic exploration and celebration. It is a medium that speaks directly to our collective consciousness, inviting us to connect, reflect, and find meaning in the symbols that define our era.

In a world that is constantly evolving, my art serves as a time capsule, encapsulating the spirit and essence of our contemporary culture. It invites viewers to pause, reminisce, and celebrate the moments, figures, and stories that have woven themselves into the fabric of our lives.

You may immerse yourself in my world of pop culture art on my website, billytackett.com.

“This is where I want to be…” One of my favorite places in Kentucky is in the middle of The Parklands of Floyds Fork. The peacefulness, nature and ever-changing landscape colors soothe my mind and ease my soul. Whether walking or biking on the paved paths or hiking on the wooded trails, I am caught up in the wonder of nature and always wish to stay longer than time will allow.

Recently retired from the field of education, I’ve picked up my paint brushes a bit more and am enjoying the return to the incredible journey of painting again. My works are also influenced by my background in art therapy and lifelong love of art. As a tribute to my uncle, E.B. Hagy, a professional artist, I’m looking forward to keeping “my brushes wet” and exploring the beauty of Kentucky all around me.

This acrylic painting of a Great Horned Owl that I made is one example of my desire to pay attention to detail and capture my subjects in a way that shows the appreciation I have for things in a real-life sense. Just as they are. Whether it be some beautiful landscape in Kentucky or animals and other things in nature that inspire me to create my art. As well as my own daughter, who has inspired me to capture moments of her youth and innocence in paintings and drawings. A colorful sunset in the Appalachians or the sky after a Kentucky storm will ignite that spark in me to recreate those moments in a painting; to mark that memory just the way a camera will; but then adding my own sense of originality to make it into something all its own. I began drawing at an early age, in elementary school, and started painting in high school. The need to keep being creative never left. I feel as if it’s just a part of my being that will remain. I credit that to all who have supported my work in any way, including my art teachers who encouraged me to keep going, and family and loved ones who believed in me.

I am a retired steelworker/maintenance mechanic. When we would melt the scrap metal in a 60-ton electric furnace, I would always imagine animals, fish, just about anything. So, when I retired, I started creating pieces I thought of back in the day. I use mostly old tools, scrap metal, kitchen utensils, garden, or whatever I found, or someone gave me. I hope you enjoy my work! I have a Facebook page, Medieval Man, where more of my work can be viewed.

Paintings by Sarah Cobb Spradlin capture the imagination as the viewer escapes into joyful environments that are a hybrid of reality and fertile imagination. Each painting is a lively scene that celebrates the everyday. Populated with original and imaginative characters, the viewer is invited to create their own narrative based on the vibrant brushwork that projects their energy and life from the canvas.

Spradlin’s original works have been described as “joyful, but quirky, and certainly attention getting”.

An active and producing artist, and juried member of the Kentucky Crafted program, a large body of work has been created since her retirement from teaching art.

There actually was a pink and blue house in Paris, Kentucky. It was dilapidated when I first encountered it and has since been torn down as an abandoned property. Pink house shows up in many of my artworks, some as white and yellow houses. Even in its state as an eyesore, a certain joy permeated from the old place and I think of the home owners who dared to paint their house such a joyous color.

May we all dare to live “brightly”!

The acrylic painting The Day After is based on photos of a large field filled with the familiar round hay bales in a random pattern on a winter day in February. The late afternoon sun creates long shadows and a sculptural effect on the hay bales. This location in northern Wisconsin, but a view like this can easily be seen anywhere in the Bluegrass area of Kentucky.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati.

There’s something so majestic and peaceful about watching the sun set over layers of misty Appalachian mountains. This acrylic painting is based on a photograph by Andre Daugherty. Since I began painting in 2021, I’ve been drawn to capturing rural scenes that feel like home. I have always loved the incredible texture and colors of our Appalachian landscapes. I especially love colorful sunset skies and views of hazy mountains fading into the horizon. I grew up in east Tennessee, have called Berea, Kentucky, home since coming to Berea College in 2000, and work for Fahe, a nonprofit serving communities across the Appalachian region.

I’ve found painting to be very therapeutic, and a joyful mid-life opportunity to learn something completely new! I unexpectedly discovered a love for acrylic painting when attending a paint night in 2021 and have been gradually growing in experience since. I’m mostly self-taught and took a summer art class in 2022 at Lexington’s UK School of Art and Visual Studies. I have had some of my artwork in community exhibits with our local arts council and have also done “pop up artist” events at Berea’s local bookstore, The Taleless Dog Booksellers, who are very supportive of local artists.

It’s definitely been an unexpected honor to have this piece of artwork included in the Team Kentucky Gallery exhibit! More of my work can be found at angelajoyart.com or my social media page, where I share previews of work I have in progress.