Instructors

All registration is online ONLY!

• Michelle Armstrong

  

  Michelle Newby Armstrong was the visual arts teacher at Cardinal Valley Elementary school in Lexington, KY for 31 years. As an activist and artist, she combines her understanding of art and the power that it has to bring beauty and convey a message. She has collaborated with a variety of artists and organizations to celebrate art in the community. Through these efforts she has created many public works of art and has exhibited in several local galleries and hosted workshops, celebrations, and exhibitions. Michelle’s studio is located in LuigART Studios in Lexington, KY where she is fortunate to spend time with several talented artists. Her artwork is often inspired by nature with the hope that we can learn to work together to create a healthier planet.

  • Fashionable Paperquill Jewelry- Mon Eve - March 15 6:30 - 9:30
  • Feeling Ducky- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Neurographic drawing- Wednesday Eve - March 17 6:30 - 9:30
  • Art & Soul For Kids- Saturday March 20 9:00 - 12:00
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• Patrick Armstrong

  

  Patrick Armstrong is known as a master craftsman in Lexington. His work has excellent attention to detail, and exemplary quality throughout. His wide range of fabrication and tool skills afford a unique approach to the problem solving that naturally occurs during a project. His work is found in some of the finest homes and businesses in Lexington, KY, Including La Belle House (former George Headley residence) and Epping's Restaurant. In addition to his contracting work, he is also part of a support network for local artists including his father Steve Armstrong,  his stepmother Diane Kahlo, and his wife Michelle Armstrong. His artistic endeavors include collaboration on a number of pieces with his father, including a mechanical zoetrope that imparted  motion to carved wooden dancers.  His wide range of skills make him an essential part of any arts team and his passion for the visual arts makes him an outstanding art teacher.

   

  • Fasten Nascent- Monday March 15 9:00 - 4:30
  • Resin Cuff Bracelets- Mon Eve/Tue Eve March 15-16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Assemblage Sculpture- Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 12:00
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• Michelle & Patrick Armstrong

  • Beginning Automata- Thur/Fri AM March 18-19 9:00 - 4:30 & 9:00 - 12:00
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• Thomas Ashman

  

  Hailing from Salt Lake City Utah, Thomas Ashman now lives and works in the magical town of Taos, NM, and is a book binder, doll maker, and mixed media artist who likes to create with one foot in the light and one foot firmly in the dark. Reveling in the irony of juxtaposition, Thomas starts with forgotten toys, discarded dolls, rusty metal, and other resurrected materials, then breathes a new and interesting life into these abandoned objects by transforming them into macabre story-tellers and unexpectedly complex studies of the literary characters and supernatural deities that inspire him. The haunting images adorning the covers of his glass and metal journals give his work a kind of classical darkness that conjures a spooky and ‘old-fashioned’ aesthetic.

  Coming from an academic background with a degree in English literature and music, his visual art explorations began back in the early 2000’s, and have allowed him to travel all over the country to teach his original “no-sew” metal book binding technique, and other workshops, at local shops and national retreats such as Artfest, Art & Soul, Art Unraveled, Create, Art Continuum, et.al. Thomas exhibits locally whenever he can, and has had his work published in Cloth, Paper, Scissors, and Somerset Studio magazines, and has received a few awards in juried exhibitions.

  When he isn’t in the studio, Thomas enjoys camping, kayaking, skiing, reading, educational podcasts, horror movies, live music, and banging his head and his drums, as often as possible (with a particular affection for classic heavy metal skullduggery). Thomas also loves just hanging out in his his 100+ year old adobe abode, baking cookies, growing flowers and vegetables, and watching true crime shows with his four favorite ladies. Leighanna, Lily, Peetie, and Jessie, and an ornery ol’ gato gordo named Hairy B.

   

  ThomasAshmanArt@yahoo.com
  www.blacksheepartist.com

  • Glass Journal- Mon/Mon Eve March 15 9:00 - 4:30 & 6:30 -9:30
  • Have a Dremel Day- Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 4:30
  • Goth Tchotchkes.- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Sid's Toy Box- Wed/Wed Eve March 17 9:00 - 4:30 & 6:30 -9:30
  • Charming Sheet Metal Pendants - Thursday March 18 9:00 - 4:30
  • Animated Music Box- Friday March 19 9:00 - 4:30
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• Orly Avineri

  

  Orly Avineri is a mixed media artist, a teacher, and an author. She was born and raised in Israel, ended up in Southern California after living in the Netherlands for nearly a decade. Now living in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon she teaches workshops and retreats in intimate settings, locally, in the US, and abroad. Orly’s work’s purpose is to advance the well being of those who seek it through unique and intimate natural and man-made processes and materials. Engaging in a world that is far more expansive than her own enlivens her to no end and she hopes to invoke that feeling in others by introducing and marrying multiple media to inspire freedom of expression and a deep belief in the possibility, the power, and the beauty of change. All for the sake of a deep sense of interconnectedness to all.

  www.orlyavineri.com
  Instagram: @orlyavineri
  Facebook: @orlyavineri
   

  • Passport to Journal- Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur March 15-18 9:00 - 4:30
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• Lynn Blair

  Lynn was born and raised in a small town in Wisconsin full of nature, shapes and color which translates into her art.  Her professional career in healthcare has taken her around the globe teaching healthcare traveling to many different countries embracing new cultures, colors and art forms.  Lynn’s passion for all types of art blossomed into a career which is now her focus after retiring from healthcare after almost forty years of service to the community.

  Lynn is a jewelry and mixed media art instructor with a love of paper, fiber, fabric, paint, lace, hand stitching, mark making, beads, and all things mixed media.  She finds joy in taking found objects and recycled components turning them into beautiful pieces of art to display or wear.  Through her years in healthcare, Lynn saw first-hand how art was healing to her patients of all ages.  Her kindness and willingness to be patient and soft toward her clients has helped many people use art to heal and work through difficult life journeys. 

  It is important to breathe, so Lynn’s teaching style enables her students to be present and enjoy the process of being with each other, the process of learning, creating, and making glorious mistakes which enhance the outcome even more.

  Art brings people together with a similar interest generating a type of passionate energy you can only find within people who love to use their eyes, intuition, hands and mind to create.  For many years, Lynn taught a variety of jewelry and art classes in California where her work was displayed and sold at the Blackhawk Art Museum.  Currently, she is a member of PaperWorks and the Sonoran Arts League where she teaches a variety of mixed-media classes and art classes focusing on recycling.   

  Related to art, if you ask Lynn to describe herself, she will likely reply:  A lover of art, color and form of all types, someone who appreciates depth and texture, an educator, a creator, and a forever student since she believes in life-long learning.  Lynn would like to acknowledge the many instructors she has had the privilege to spend time with over the years.  Each one of them, in their own way, contributed to the artist she is today.

  Lynn is also a Certified Art Therapy Practitioner.    

  For inquiries about workshops, commissions, or collaborations, please contact:  Lynn Blair:  lynnblair@aol.com

     

  • Scribble Art- Mon Eve - March 15 6:30 - 9:30
  • Eclectic Boho Beads- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Tea Bag Art- Wednesday Eve - March 17 6:30 - 9:30
  • Decorating the Deli Bag- Sat Eve - March 20 6:30 - 9:30
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• Clarissa Callesen

  

  Clarissa Callesen is an international artist and instructor working in sculpture and installation art. Her chosen medium is discarded materials, found objects and textiles. Her work and teaching are inspired by her choice of non-traditional materials.  In choosing this medium, it is her objective to explore the margins to find beauty and value in that which our society has discarded. Clarissa has exhibited her art throughout the US, including the Museum of Northwest Art and solo exhibitions in Seattle, WA, Bellingham, WA, and Boise, ID. She was an artist in residence at Playa Artist Program in Summer Lake, OR, Brush Creek Foundation in Saratoga, WY, and Surel’s Place in Boise, ID, and North Street Collective in Willits, CA. Her work has appeared in the books “Soulful Stitch”, “Threads of Treasure”, “Who’s your Dada?” and “Art without Waste”. Clarissa has been sharing her passion for creativity for 15 years teaching both nationally, internationally, and online with her signature class Creating with Courage drawing hundreds of students. Her teaching style is down to earth and fun; embracing spontaneity and cherishing “mistakes” while challenging students to look at creativity in new and innovative ways. If you would like to get to know her better this is a wonderful interview.

  http://www.clarissacallesen.com/

  Instagram @clarissacallesen

   

  • Eco Dyeing : Color, Chaos & Botanical Magic- Mon/Tue March 15-16 9:00-4:30
  • Spill the Gelli Beans! — A Two-Day Gelli Printing Adventure- Wed/Thur March 17-18 9:00 - 4:30
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• Kecia Deveney

  

  Kecia is a mixed media artist whose work lives somewhere between book, object, and quiet offering. She works with fabric scraps, paper, stitching, and found elements, allowing intuition and material memory to guide each piece. In her classes, Kecia encourages a slower way of making—one rooted in listening, touch, and letting go of perfection. Her teaching is soft, supportive, and process-driven, welcoming artists of all experience levels. www.keciadeveney.com

  • A Place For Fragments: Building a Mixed Media Art Journal- Wed/Thur March 17-18 9:00 - 4:30
  • She Carries Her Story: A Roll-Up Story Figure- Fri/Sat March 19-20 9:00 - 4:30
  • Worn & Woven: Stitched Story Necklaces- Sunday March 21 9:00 - 4:30
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• Rochelle Gaukel

  

  Rochelle has always loved art – it has been a way to express herself and her style. Her road to creating jewelry began 12 years ago where she attended a chandelier class in Cortona, Italy. From that point on she fell in love with the art of soldering and jewelry making. It truly has been the best journey of her life meeting so many wonderful people, learning new things, and opening many doors to new opportunities. 

  • Soldering 101/Glass Charms- Monday March 15 9:00 - 4:30
  • Leather Cuff Bracelet with Soldered Bezel- Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 4:30
  • Soldered Garland- Wednesday March 17 9:00 - 4:30
  • Plaster & Soldered Shrine- Thursday March 18 9:00 - 4:30
  • Catherdal Glass Wall Hanging- Friday March 19 9:00 - 4:30
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• Micah Goguen

  

  Micah Goguen grew up in Central Georgia and obtained his Bachelors in Art and Art History and his Masters in Art Therapy from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. He focuses primarily on bringing art to the community and using art as a form of communication for those struggling to understand and cope with life situations.
  Goguen produces work while teaching art to both adults and children. He also volunteers time at the local community center and works with adults in alcohol and substance recovery as well as uprooted and traumatized children. Using mural work, art for entertainment and art therapy for healing, Micah collaborates with school systems, local shops, and non-profits to help unify and most importantly “spread a message”. The overall vision is to focus and rededicate back to a buy local, shop local mentality that strengthens community through unity and purpose.
   

  • Luscious Layers with Watercolor- Monday March 15 9:00 - 4:30
  • Expressive Landscape in Pastel- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Envisioning Vistas- Tue/Wed March 16-17 9:00 - 4:30
  • Mono Print Landscapes with Open Acrylic- Wed/Wed Eve March 17 6:30 - 9:30
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• Tonya Gray

  

  Tonya Gray had been creating and selling her artwork for 30 years, first as a ceramics artist, then as a painter. She sells at art shows around the country and is at Portland Saturday Market most weekends (Market member for 15 years). Her work is quiet, thoughtful and fun, and often brings a smile. 

  Tonya Gray <tonyagrayartworks@gmail.com>

  • Folk Art Painting: Flowers and Fruit - Monday March 15 9:00 - 4:30
  • Birch Trees and Chickadees- Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 4:30
  • Folk Art Painting: Cats & Dogs- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Folk Art Painting: Birds & Branches- Wednesday March 17 9:00 - 4:30
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• Pamela Sue Johnson

  

  Pamela Sue Johnson is a self-taught mixed-media artist known for her expressive, layered work and her engaging teaching style. With a passion for helping others access their own creativity, Pamela designs and leads creative experiences that inspire, empower, and encourage joyful self-expression.

  Pamela has been a core instructor with the Art & Soul community since 2022 and has taught at events throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond for the last decade.  She has also worked as a guest teaching artist in local schools and has served as an artist-in-residence in Southern Nevada, near the desert landscapes of her childhood.

  Pamela is the creator of Art Zine, a publication dedicated to creative inspiration and the intuitive artist’s journey. Based in a rural forest community near Vancouver, Washington, she now spends part of the winter season snowbirding in the deserts of Nevada.

  Learn more about Pamela here:
  Website: https://www.pamelasuejohnson.com/
  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamelasuejohnson11/
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamelasuejohnson/

   

  • Inspired Words with Collage- Mon Eve - March 15 6:30 - 9:30
  • Wild Heart with Waterolors & More- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Expressive Wierdo Faces- Wednesday Eve - March 17 6:30 - 9:30
  • Painted Crows- Sat Eve - March 20 6:30 - 9:30
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• Chris Karpiak

  

  Chris is a soulful Creative whose work lives at the intersection of wild and inner landscapes. Chris blends introspection with expression through mixed media exploration, and crafts spaces where others can awaken their inner spark to remember who they are beneath the noise. She explores creative processes that weave their stories into her life’s journey; for her, art and life are inextricably intertwined, creating meaning together.

  Chris is passionate about empowering women as she helps them find their inner light through creativity as a vehicle to expansion, empowerment, strength, and love, so they may come home to their authentic selves. Chris has taught thousands of students across the world, helping reconnect them to their creative core, finding their true voice. 

  Chris has been an Artist in Residence in Orquevaux, France, October 2023, and is honoured to have her work in the Denis Diderot Gallery (France).  Her work has been part of the 2024 and 2025 Artist Almanac and she is also a regular contributor to Somerset Studio, the world’s premier mixed media magazine.

  Currently Chris is working on writing a book and finishing up her oracle deck while teaching in-person, on-line and in her studio.

  chriskarpiak.com

  instagram https://www.instagram.com/christinekarpiak/

  you tube https://www.youtube.com/@chriskarpiak/videos

  • Quiet Bloom: A Mixed Media Journey- Thursday March 18 9:00 - 4:30
  • Woven Whispers- Friday March 19 9:00 - 4:30
  • Connections- Saturday March 20 9:00 - 4:30
  • Layered Stories: Mixed Media Bunting- Sunday March 21 9:00 - 4:30
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• Carol Lang

  

  Carol is a life-long quilter with a passion for sharing what she’s learned by teaching both art and traditional quilting. She makes quilts that tell a story, reflect emotions and connect with the viewer on a personal level. Her love of texture and fiber is the driving force of her work, and she enjoys helping others find their creative voice through fabric and thread.  

  Her work has been displayed in numerous art venues including the American Quilters Society (AQS) Paducah, Sacred Threads in Indianapolis, Mancuso in Philadelphia, Middletown Arts Center in Middletown, Ohio, and the Aullwood Center in Dayton, Ohio.

  Carol is a member of the Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Artists of Cincinnati, Ohio (CQAFA) and has served on the Board in numerous capacities, including as president. She says the opportunity to work with like-minded artists has been invaluable.

  • Barn & Landscape Art Quilt - Beginner to Advanced- Mon/Tue/Wed March 15-17 9:00 - 4:30
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• Caitlin McNamara

  

  Blue Dot Jewelry began when Caitlin discovered precious metal clay. For her, silver clay was an answer to the question of how to create lasting jewelry that captures and pays homage to the ethereal details of the natural world.

  Caitlin considers herself fortunate to have grown up surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. In 2006 she moved to New York City, where she worked for several years in journalism and design. Blue Dot Jewelry — so named for our blue marble home and all the tiny wonder it holds — began on the kitchen counter of her Brooklyn studio. After a fulfilling decade of making jewelry full time in the Hudson Valley, she moved back to Portland, where she lives with her husband and two kids.

  • Bronze Clay Jewelry: Making Pendants & Earrings- Thursday March 18 10:00 - 5:30
  • Bronze Clay: Making Charms & Beads - Friday March 19 10:00 - 5:30
  • Sculpt a Hollow Form Charm - Saturday March 20 10:00 - 5:30
  • Botanical Pendants in a Frame- Sunday March 21 10:00 - 5:30
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• Kathy Murphy

  

  With over two decades of hands-on experience, and 14 years as sole proprietor of Macon Mud Pottery Studio in Macon, GA., I have established a career as a multidisciplinary maker, although my primary medium is clay. Trained initially in architecture, I transitioned into art to pursue a “simpler life”. What could be more simple that mud?  Whether in the studio or the classroom, I am process driven. For as long as I can remember, I have been a “maker”, and the process of creating is more important to me than the medium.
   

  Artistic Philosophy: As both a maker and educator, I am driven by the belief that each step of the creative journey offers an opportunity for discovery. My architectural background informs a disciplined approach to structure and composition, while my love of traditional craft techniques keeps the work grounded. Whether shaping clay, carving linoleum, forging metal, or building three-dimensional forms, I try to foster an environment where experimentation and skill‐building go hand in hand.

  For inquiries about workshops, commissions, or collaborations, please contact:

  Kathy Murphy    maconmud@gmail.com     maconmud.com   IG:@maconmudpottery

   

  • Bold, Beautiful Prints: - Mon Eve - March 15 6:30 - 9:30
  • What a Relief! Block Printing with Linocut Techniques - Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 4:30
  • Tetra Pak Printing- Tuesday Eve - March 16 6:30 - 9:30
  • Block Printing on Textile - Wednesday Eve - March 17 6:30 - 9:30
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• Jacqueline Newbold

  

  Her life journey gives Jacqueline Newbold a never-ending source of inspiration to represent gems of the world in her color-filled paintings. Her watercolor journal has become a visual diary and constant companion everywhere she travels. Using a warm and playful color palette, Jacqueline enjoys capturing a moment in time by painting the dappled sunlight on a field of lavender, or the brilliance of a tropical beach. She introduces color in the shadows and sun-drenched areas, which creates a luminous glow in her paintings. Primarily a watercolor artist, she uses her watercolor journal as a springboard for exploring creative ways to incorporate mixed media into her art and providing the bases for her larger creations.

  Jacqueline is a member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon, the Northwest Watercolor Society and the High Desert Art League. She teaches watercolor workshops locally, nationally as well as leading painting workshops in France and Italy. She has several articles published in the mixed-media magazine, Cloth-Paper-Scissors about creating art while on your journey. Jacqueline has partnered with Daniel Smith Art Supplies to create a watercolor traveling kit. Her self-published book, Watercolor Journeys is a helpful guide for beginning to advanced watercolor enthusiasts and her workshop DVD with Interweave has just been released: Art Journals On-The-Go: How to pack, prep, paint, and more.
  
  Website: www.newboldart.com
  Blog: http://djnewbold.blogspot.com
   

  • Pen Magic Watercolor Fun- Thur/Fri March 18-19 9:00 - 4:30
  • Adventures with Watercolor- Sat/Sun March 20-21 9:00 - 4:30
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• Robin O'Neil

  

  Robin O’Neil is a textile artist and educator whose intuitive, freeform quilts burst with color, texture, and movement. With a background in philosophy and special education, she began quilting in 1973 and later abandoned templates to embrace spontaneity. Her large-scale works are tactile celebrations of creativity, joy, and wonder. O’Neil has taught nationally, completed a residency at Château d’Orquevaux, and been featured on PBS and at QuiltCon. Her quilts invite connection through bold expression and fearless improvisation.

  robinoneilquilts@gmail.com
  https://www.robinoneil.com/
   

  • Boro Bags- Friday March 19 9:00 - 4:30
  • Inset Circles- Saturday March 20 9:00 - 4:30
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• Jesse Reno

  

  Jesse Reno is a self-taught mixed media painter. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil, and painting and exhibiting his works since 2000.
  Jesse has amassed over 3000 paintings in the last 12 years, and has exhibited his work extensively across the US and Canada as well as France and Mexico. Jesse's work has been covered in various art publications including Juxtapoz, Artnews, Artension, dpi and Somerset Studio just to name a few. One of his largest works can be seen in Winnipeg, Canada where he was commissioned by the Province of Manitoba to create a 25 x 40 ft mural as a reminder to the cultural importance of the Native American people in the region.
   

  • Freedom to Create- Fri/Sat/Sun March 19-21 9:00 - 4:30
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• Robin Roberts

  

  ROBIN SANFORD ROBERTS is an artist and theatrical scenic designer working in models and mixed media. She has designed scenery for multiple theatres including the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Repertory, Denver Center Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage and Broadway.

  She holds a degree in Architecture from LSU and a MFA in Scenic Design from UCSD. She also studied at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts, Fontainebleau and at Sir John Cass School of Art, London Polytechnic. Robin teaches and designs scenery for the Department of theatre at University of San Diego as well as art classes at Art on 30th and The Athenaeum in San Diego.

  Her teaching style embraces the student wherever they are-working to support and encourage each person’s individuality and personal style. She brings joy and enthusiasm to classes and truly embraces the creativity of each person.

  “I have an obsession with old books and other ephemera. The fragments and bits of pieces come together to make a new piece. I enjoy working with pieces from the past that have a history of a previous life. I am inspired to create new work from placing the old elements into a new format.”

  Student feedback:

  Donna A:

  The course was well organized with a perfect balance of art history and studio time. Her demonstrations were all well prepared and relevant to the lesson of the day. The course was filled- and she managed to give everyone personal guidance, and she fostered a sense of community within the group. I learned new techniques and was moved out of my comfort zone to try new things. Pretty amazing. Not only that even though the studio time was serious- we all had fun. 

  Carolyn O: Robin was super 
  knowledgable, articulate, engaged, and dedicated to making every minute count sharing her individual techniques.

  Instagram: @mizrobin
  www.robinsanfordrobertsart.com

  • Inside the Box: Assemblage Art from Found Treasures- Monday March 15 9:00 - 4:30
  • Little Alters Everywhere- Mon Eve - March 15 6:30 - 9:30
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• Susan Schenk

  

  Collage is a wonderful way to wake up the sleeping artist within. Collages are unique individual expressions, just like the artists are. I am exploring a range of subjects without a political agenda, welcoming the technical challenge of making realistic renderings from recycled materials. I enjoy making something attractive from discards, appropriating images and putting them together in intriguing ways.  Like any artist, I am especially thrilled when my work calls to a viewer to come closer and spend some time engaged in the piece.  While my pictorial collages are best viewed from a distance, a close up inspection can reveal a very different piece of art.

   

  "My goal as an artist is to let my work bring joy to the viewer."

  • Animal Portrait Collage- Tuesday March 16 9:00 - 4:30
  • Stencils, Maps and Collage- Sunday March 21 9:00 - 4:30
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• Tiffany Smith

  

  Tiffany is a Mixed Media Artist with a passion for demonstrating art's impact on everyone. Through vibrant color, layers, texture, and storytelling, she inspires others by fearlessly "reimagining what's possible." Traveling and collaborating with artists nationwide, Tiffany's free spirit and loose style are evident in her art, especially her handmade books (over 100). Outside the studio, she's a thrifting enthusiast and passionate recycler, turning trash into art. Living in the Gulf Coast woods of Alabama with her husband Josh and their many furbabies, Tiffany's art has been published in numerous publications. She is one of the founders of The Ugly Art Club and offers online art experiences.

  • The Looking Glass- Wednesday Eve - March 17 9:00 - 4:30
  • Stitch, Scrap & Style: Textile Art Bracelet- Friday March 19 9:00 - 4:30
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