Team Kentucky Digital Art Gallery

In addition to the beautiful Greek revival mansion, Waveland State Historic Site is home to a plethora of very interesting things including several outbuildings, a pond, a graveyard, a canoe (yes, a canoe), and a formal flower garden. The wrought iron garden gate welcomes visitors to step inside the garden walls to view the beautiful flora, and also makes for a compelling photographic subject. Add a foggy, early morning backdrop of the flowers preparing to hibernate for the season and you have a recipe for a serene photograph with just a hint of mystery.

I am a retired accountant and a lifetime resident of Lexington, Kentucky. I have been interested in photography since my teenage years in the 1970s but didn’t seriously pursue the activity, primarily due to the cost of film and processing, until I got a digital camera in the early 2000s.

For the last twenty plus years, without the limitations associated with film, I have adopted photography as a serious hobby. I enjoy shooting most genres, especially Landscape, Street, Sports, Abstract, and Travel. I am honored to have one of my photos on display in the Kentucky State Capitol.

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind,” (Job 12:7-10)

Lisa A. Brown, a resident of Lexington, is a journalist and award-winning photographer. She is a member of the Tate’s Creek Photography Group and the Creative Camera Club and was named Best Beginning.

Photographer of the Year by the CCC in 2019. She found her niche in landscape photography and uses her lens along with her faith to connect with nature and capture the beauty of God’s Earth.

Brown was selected in 2023 as a photojournalist to accompany a group of journalists to Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the east coast of Africa. Some of her images were exhibited at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville and others appeared in Pitt Magazine, the University of Pittsburgh’s flagship publication.

Her photos have also been exhibited throughout Lexington at the Living Arts and Science Center, WUKY Gallery, Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, LexArts, local and regional hospitals in and outside of Fayette County, and the Louisville Actor Theatre in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Her current photo of the grass skipper butterfly on exhibit at the Capitol is titled, Serenity, and was taken at the Fort Boonesborough State Park in Richmond. It symbolizes transformation and renewal.

I am a lifelong resident of Kentucky and a self-taught artist. The theme of this exhibit, Kentucky Parks’ 100 Years, highlights the beauty of our parks and am thrilled my painting Falls Glory was selected. Our parks offer so much and it is a pleasure to see nature at its most beautiful. Kentucky has bountiful parks offering lakes, streams, campgrounds, and hiking trails, among other activities. The fall foliage is stunning and I have enjoyed painting my interpretation of all my past memories of the scenic trees and hills, rushing streams, and such beautiful colors of the fall season. I am honored and thrilled that my painting was selected to be in this year’s exhibit.

A Louisville native, I was the first grandson of both parents’ families. I developed strong relationships with all of my grandparents and loved their stories of our family. Both grandmothers introduced me to the respective family “picture boxes” and that 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 artwork. 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. Very early on, I admired the narrative work of Norman Rockwell and have been influenced by him as well. I am drawn to images that depict a sense of humor, irony or sexuality that is at odds with simple nostalgic memory many people have of the mid-20th century. I refer to the era as passive repressive. I find a challenge balancing depictions of what exists in an image verse 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, but want to include an element of surprise that checks that nostalgia with a dose of, maybe everything wasn't so rosy, or the characters' relationships to one another are not what they initially appear. Many times, that is accomplished with a provocative title for a piece.

Lee Whitney, a third-generation resident of Jamestown, Kentucky, with deep ties to Lake Cumberland. Her artwork is inspired by the natural beauty of the lake and the countless memories made while “living the lake life”.

Through her artwork, Lee memorializes Lake Cumberland to honor the legacy of those who came before her, to inspire future generations, and to encourage responsible stewardship to preserve the natural beauty of the lake.

I have a passion for photographing nature and the outdoor world. I aim to capture images of places, explore the colors and the way the light falls on them, and freeze that moment in time into an image that cannot be recreated. I love to travel to state and national parks to find these places and by sharing my photographs, highlight the beauty and importance of preserving these places.

Most every Monday, weather permitting, my wife and I enjoy playing golf at the Lincoln Homestead state park. The iconic log cabins for which the park is named are on east side of the tee box for the third hole above a tree filled hollow with a creek, and a covered bridge along with the log buildings. In the morning, sun light and shadows run across the forested lawn and dapple the buildings and tree canopies with light, a setting perfect for a long uphill drive and a par 5, or on another day, for an outdoor painting session or a picnic. In this painting, I wanted to capture the play of light on the Francis Berry cabin as it looks at 9 am in June when we are normally passing through. The barnwood frame for this painting has its own story: the oak boards of the frame come from a restored barn that sits on bottomland facing the Lincoln Homestead park, which is about a mile away on the other side of the Beechfork River. Appropriately, the frame is thus constructed from wood from the same era and physical location as the Lincoln homestead. The morning light on the yards of the cabins and the weathered boards that frame this painting remind us of life at the start of a new day, then and now, and the years that have passed since the pioneers first built the log homes and barns, a few of which still stand today.

“Autumn is the most beautiful time in Kentucky. I love exploring our state parks when the colors of the season are at full peak,” said Kelly Davenport, an award-winning photographer from Louisville, Kentucky.

Kelly captured this picturesque autumn image from the sky lift at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Kentucky. Natural Bridge is a 2,200-acre forested park and nature preserve. The park is surrounded by Daniel Boone National Forest and adjacent to the Red River Gorge National Geologic Area.

“As a photographer, I strive to capture the mood, as well as the vibrant colors of fall. I want my viewers to feel like they are riding the sky lift through the painted forest canopy. I want them to grab a sweater and feel the crisp autumn breeze.”

Kelly has had an interest in the Commonwealth’s geology since she took a Geology of Kentucky class in college. “Something special about Natural Bridge State Resort Park is its geological wonders,” Kelly said. “Having my camera ready to shoot while ascending on the park’s sky lift gave me a bird’s eye view. That unique perspective allowed me to capture the cliffs and the geological context of the park’s landscape.”

One of Kelly’s goals with her outdoor nature photography is to showcase the power of awe and wonder in quiet ordinary places.

“I hope my photography inspires people to explore our state parks and to reflect on what they can do to help protect our parks for future generations,” she said.

Kelly is a graduate of the University of Louisville. She’s a Kentucky Foundation for Women Artist Enrichment grantee and is a member of the Louisville Photographic Society.

Deer Love was photographed by Linda Flynn near her home in Boone County.

“I am always amazed at the wild life in Kentucky, and here my subjects look anything, but wild! Although the original version of the photo was in color, I chose a black and white medium to better highlight how peaceful and unafraid my wildlife friends are in sharing our Kentucky home.”

My name is Sandra Halter. I recently retired as an Adult Protective Services social worker with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Over the years, my photography has transitioned from taking snapshots to using the camera as a creative tool. My primary focus is nature photography. Milky Way Night Sky Aurora / Fenton depicts one of the dozens of challenges of nature photography. This shot is unique because the yellow glow from the bridge lights cast a warm hue in the night sky. The goal of my work is to capture on paper the wonderous variety and beauty of nature for the enjoyment of all who view it.

As an artist based in Richmond, Kentucky, my passion for photography has led me to pursue a multidisciplinary approach in my works. With a meticulous eye for detail and a deep understanding of composition, lighting, and storytelling, I use photography as a means to capture and convey profound emotions and experiences. As an art teacher, I am constantly inspired by my students and their unique perspectives, which in turn feeds into my own creative process. My work is a reflection of my personal journey and the world around me, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty and complexity of life captured through the lens. This particular photograph encapsulates my love for the mountains of Kentucky, nature, and hiking.

Kimberly Hamilton is an Eastern Kentucky native and graduate of both Eastern Kentucky University and The University of the Cumberland’s; where she obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in art education, as well as a PhD. in Educational Leadership. Since completing her Art Education degree in 2009, Kimberly has established her career as an Art Educator in Richmond, KY. Now teaching at Madison Central High School, Kimberly spends a great deal of time sharing her love of art with her students, creating art for herself and others, and spending as much time outside with her husband and their three dogs as possible.

As a 5-year resident of the state of Kentucky, I am constantly impressed with the outstanding variations in green here! Bright green, deep green, blue green, olive green, and many more shades surround us when we step into nature in Kentucky. Though the subject of the painting the Bridge Arch at Natural Bridge State Resort Park, this is really a color study of how I experience the beautiful location when I allow my sense to wander.

The ancient sandstone arch was formed approximately 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian geologic period and originally was the cliff of a waterfall. The gentle stream that flows under it is the only remaining clue.

When I saw it and decided to paint the arch, I knew the piece should represent its colorful history as it has a tropical origin with marine waters, animalia, native populations, settlers, geologist, botanists, and now people who appreciate exploring all facets of the Gorge’s beauty. Those influences struck my imagination in the reinterpretation with paint.

Grace Herrmann grew up in Northern Kentucky, where she fell in love with photography. She is currently a graduate student at Western Kentucky University focusing on Geosciences, but she continues to practice and experiment with photography to continue growing. Grace has photographed areas in Kentucky, Japan, and Costa Rica. Her photography mainly focuses on landscapes and flowers. You can see more of her work on viewbug.com and smugmug.com.

This image was taken at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.

I had never seen a Civil War recreation until I moved to Kentucky and experienced a reenactment of the Battle of Perryville at the pivotal battlefield of Perryville, now a Kentucky State Park. I learned what a great medium a reenactment is to tell a historic story through sights and sounds. The cannons blasting, horses running through billows of smoke, and the costumed reenactors taking very seriously their roles in telling this important story. I also discovered the meta surrealism for the reenactors, transformed as period characters of the 1800s while also still in the here and now of the 21st Century. The duality of remaining in character while still engaging in modern life adds unintentional consequences and humor. I wonder if the builders of outhouses back in 1862 would have dreamed that over 160 years later outhouses would continue to be used, but become transportable, mass-produced, easily maintained, and publicly shared by hundreds of people (soldiers and civilians).

Steve Hoffman, somewhere between Danville, Perryville and Parksville, Boyle County

Photograph on Metal

Steve Hoffman uses photography as a creative form of expression and to nourish his soul. His photographs try to capture the joys, struggles, beauty, and humor of everyday people, animals, places and things in action. Kentucky is rich in this kind of subject matter to photograph, which Steve does use either his Nikon D-70 or his smart-device (whichever is handiest). A number of his photographs have been selected for inclusion in various Kentucky exhibitions. His day job, which he won’t be giving up any time soon, is to engage as many people as possible with local, national and international visual, literary and performing arts artists and programs. His Instagram page captures life on his farm, as he sees it.

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, I started visiting friends in the lakes area of Western Kentucky and immediately fell in love with the beauty of the area. So, I decided to make Kentucky my home in the Sawanee area in April 1995.

The lakes intrigued this city girl to try fishing, where I unknowingly met my future husband of 28 years on the banks of Lake Barkley.

I started painting with my uncle as a teenager in Monument Circle Indy. I would sit and paint beside him and always get a big thrill when I'd actually sell a painting. It was a short period of my life, but one that started a love for art. But as life sometimes goes, I never got the opportunity to pursue it.

At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, I had been talking to my husband about it, and he built me an easel and bought paint and brushes for our anniversary. After 40 years of not picking up a brush, I didn't know if I still remembered how. I haven't stopped since. As a self-taught artist I'm trying new things and techniques, but the lakes and farms of the area are my favorite.

Clouds Over Barkley is just one example of that beauty and it's an honor to have it chosen.

My hope is that my art can show the beauty of this world God has so richly blessed us with. This is why I paint, to preserve the beauty of this world for future generations, in case, God forbid, it ever disappears.

You can see more of my work on my Facebook page, Sheila's Country Canvases.

I'm B. Deatonne Johnson ...Visual Kreative Storyteller

When a photograph evolves into a painting turned into reality. I was Gifted with the ability to tell Visual Stories through my lens. I started as an Artist and a Geek:-) One day… I picked up the camera. WoW!! My GIFT is my Lens…or my Eye. People are attracted to YOUR Lens. Much like a scripture or verses given to a Preacher… you will get a different interpretation from each one.

Today, I see an original photograph and if it speaks to me… I convert it to a Canvas Print. Beautiful to hold and display in the right home.

A career spanning over 40 years, I am a Photographer | Film maker | Artist and operate a full production company, LG TV PRODUCTIONS LLC.

Feel free to visit my sites...
artbydeatonne.com
deejohnsonphotography.com
lgtvproductions.com

For more than a decade, award-winning photographer Jason Jones has focused on wildlife and landscape photography. As a native of Dawson Springs, the neighboring Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is often the subject of his craft.

When the Northern Lights were visible in Western Kentucky on May 10, 2024, his first stop was this long-standing tower at the resort. It provided the perfect backdrop for others to witness this long-awaited event through his lens. The breathtaking result is what you see here in Northern Lights at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.

Jason's images are often used in newspapers and on websites and social media. He captures special moments and treasured memories to promote events all over Kentucky. To see more of his work visit jones photography on Facebook.

Hello, my name is Alyssa King, and I am an amateur photographer living in Owenton, Kentucky. I took the photo of the moon, Beautiful Night by sitting on the banister of my back porch. I live in a country kind of area, so stars and the moon are easiest to see at night.

For a while now I've held a mild curiosity that turned into a fascination and obsession with the night sky. I moved to Lexington a few years ago, and that was when I was just starting to photograph these night landscapes. I wanted to capture how amazing they are in hopes to share my love of the stars with as many people as possible. Having such awesome wilderness and nature to explore so close to home has been a privilege that not all have the access or means to do. Although this is not what we would see with the naked eye, I don't think this subtracts from how awe-inspiring it is to stare up into a clear sky full of twinkling stars.

About the photo: In early fall of 2022 I wanted to capture a more unique image of Cumberland Falls, having seen and captured many images of its moonbow. This image is actually comprised of more than a total of 100 individual photos. Multiple exposures have been taken of the sky in a panoramic manner and stacked to increase the exposure and decrease the noise in the image. The foreground was then taken at a lower exposure for much longer to reduce noise and composited with the stacked sky images. While we can't see the Milky Way as clearly as this with our eyes, this image is still an accurate representation of what you would see if you snapped a photo at the time, just much brighter!

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. I enjoy the arts and have devoted a lot of my life to advancing the arts in my community. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a master’s 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 artists, helping them develop their own skills and creativity.

The Chaperon: Green River Steamboat is an acrylic painting of the steamboat that traveled from Bowling Green, Brownsville, and Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, in the early 1900s. At that time, travel was mostly by horseback, horse drawn carriages, train, or steamboat. So, the Chaperon was responsible for bringing many early visitors to the Green River and Mammoth Cave area. When the steamboat came to Brownsville and docked, it was a major event for its day. The history of Brownsville, Mammoth Cave, and Nolin Dam State Park have become quite a fascinating subject with Edmonson County’s bicentennial coming up in 2025. We hope to share the rich history of our country with another generation to remember the blasting of the horn announcing the arrival of The Chaperon.

As an artist, I enjoy exploring and developing my skills and constantly challenging myself to improve in creating new art pieces. I am a realistic painter, I enjoy all areas of the arts, But I truly Enjoy Painting, drawing, photography, and ceramics. I now devote a lot of my time and energy promoting the arts; visual arts, crafts, photography, music, literature, dance, and drama in Edmonson County through the Edmonson County Arts Guild, spending time with my family and enjoying the beauty around me every day.

This photograph of a bald eagle encapsulates the raw power and majesty of one of our nation's most iconic animals. In this image, the eagle's piercing eyes, and commanding presence symbolize freedom and resilience. The intricate detail of its feathers, beak and talons highlights the grace and strength of this inspiring bird at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park on the shores of Kentucky Lake. Through this photograph, I aim to evoke a sense of awe and respect for the natural world, reminding viewers of the importance of conservation and our role in preserving the habitats that sustain such extraordinary creatures. This image serves as a testament to the beauty and grandeur of wildlife, inviting contemplation and a deeper appreciation for the wonders that exist within Kentucky. Through amazing conservation efforts, the bald eagle has made an impressive resurgence after once being placed on the endangered species list in 1978.

Eric Nally is an award-winning photographer and loves traveling the state and photographing Kentucky state parks to showcase the beauty our state has to offer. He was also involved in the rescue of a different bald eagle in 2020 at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, where he is a Volunteer Photographer. Eric is passionate about nature, wildlife, and landscape photography.

This painting presents an autumn view overlooking Kingdom Come State Park in Cumberland, Kentucky. I began painting in 2021 and enjoy the challenge of capturing the rural beauty of our Appalachian vistas that are both magnificent and familiar to many Kentuckians. My favorite landscapes are views with layers of rolling mountains fading into the horizon, and I love that the viewpoint of this painting includes both the beautiful fall foliage on display and the man-made elements in our State Parks that help us to access and enjoy the land, like the tiny road winding between the trees and the edge of the overlook created to view such beautiful scenery. I’ve only been painting for 3 years, so I am continually amazed at how paint can be used to create such realistic artwork that also includes an emotional element to it. It’s an honor to have my artwork included in the Team Kentucky Gallery exhibit! My work can be found at angelajoyart.com or my social media/Facebook page AngelaJoyArt. The reference photo for this piece was provided by Yasmin Arvin.

I love to capture in a single photograph, details that other people may not notice. I try to record in that image a raw moment in time, an expression on someone’s face, an artist’s hands, the smudge of dirt on an otherwise pure white tablecloth; the things we see but don’t acknowledge with more than a glance. These are things we see each day, yet there are stories behind these small details, and it is my goal to tell a small piece of that story in a single image.

Kentucky is full of beautiful and inspiring State Parks. However, those parks are nothing without the people who made them come alive with their adventures and stories. It is the story of the people who lived their lives and made their history in these parks that I am drawn to.

John Curry works in the Gunsmith Shop at Fort Harrod in Harrodsburg Kentucky. There he takes joy in recreating the muskets and rifles that were used during the time that Fort Harrod was operational while sharing stories of Fort Harrod with the visitors. He is a writer and an artist, but most importantly he is a storyteller. I had the opportunity to spend time with John Curry in June of 2024. I was captivated by the stories of the history of Kentucky, including the exciting Long Gun Hunt adventures that have become legendary. His love of the pure and honest reality of making a life here in Kentucky during the 1700’s flows from him in such an interesting and engaging way, that you just can’t help but want to hear more.

I encourage those who don’t take the time to explore the Kentucky State Parks to take a day to do so. Imagine yourself over 200 years ago, walking the deer trails, searching for your food, and finding shelter in a Rock House that you hope isn’t occupied by some growling beast. Take a step back in time and imagine…

As an amateur photographer I enjoy taking nature pictures. This photo was taken one autumn afternoon during a weekend getaway with my husband at Lake Cumberland, Jamestown, Kentucky. We love visiting Kentucky State Parks and enjoying all they have to offer. Nothing is more relaxing than spending time near a lake and enjoying the surrounding nature.

Art has always been my way of connecting with the world and expressing what words often fail to capture. Though I am not a full-time professional artist, painting has been a lifelong passion that I’ve nurtured through training and endless hours at the easel. My goal is to create an expressive yet representational rendering of the ephemeral beauty of life and nature. Through my work, I hope to invite viewers to share in the profound connection between people and the ever-changing phenomena of the natural world.

Thank you for taking the time to view my work. It means a lot to me, and I hope my paintings bring a bit of the same happiness and wonder to you that creating them brings to me.

Katie pays homage to her hometown roots with her collection of oil paintings depicting simple streetscapes in and around the city of Covington, Kentucky. Dramatic lighting gives otherwise humble scenes a pop of energy. Katie hopes her paintings shed a bit of attention to a hidden gem on the south side of the Ohio River, historic Ritte’s Corner in Latonia, a neighborhood of Covington, Kentucky.

Born in Covington and raised in Northern Kentucky, Katie attributes her talent to her artist/teacher mom and grandmothers. They inspired her to spin her passion for art into a career. After graduating from Morehead State University with a BA in fine art, Katie founded her photography business. In addition to portrait photography, Katie is an award winning painter and member of the Cincinnati Art Club. She shows her paintings every spring at the Duveneck Art show where her painting “Ritte’s Corner” won top prize in 2024. Katie currently resides in Covington with her husband, two sons, dog and chickens.

I work mainly in acrylics, but also sometimes in watercolors. I was always drawing and painting as a child and into my teen years, and still now as an adult. It has always been something I enjoy. I have a love for animals and the natural world. These appear frequently in my compositions. Cultural influences also appear in my paintings. My grandmother and parents grew up in Appalachia, and I often incorporate elements from stories they told me when I was a child–like honeybees, handmade quilts, and local wildlife and landmarks. Including these things in my paintings brings me closer to my roots and spirituality. I enjoy using vivid colors, and my paintings usually include a bit of whimsy. My work brings me feelings of peace, contentment, and a connection to my home. These are feelings I also hope to share with others when viewing my paintings. I live on a small hobby farm with my husband and three children in central Kentucky. I enjoy painting what I see at home. Painting is not just my hobby, but also my respite and my self-care. I am happy to share it with others. My painting Black Bear, Bees, and Viceroy Butterflies is meant to represent Kentucky’s untamed, natural environments and abundant wildlife.

This photograph was taken early this year (2024) at the Cumberland Falls in the Daniel Boone National Forest.

As I was admiring the big waterfall, what captured my eye was actually a trickle of water falling from the colorful rocks on the opposite side of the fall.

With the sun rays hitting the water mist at the right time it created a faint rainbow floating over the body of water that I was glad I was able to capture and translate into this piece.

For me, a photograph is more than just capturing an entire scenic view – my eyes focus on small details within the beautiful scenery I am walking through, and my hope is to convey to others what my eyes see in that particular moment.

lartephotography.com