2023 Demonstrating Artisan

Smith, Andy

Andy Smith Watercolors

Paper

Andy Smith has been a full-time watercolor artist for 36 years. He loves painting antiques and the 1800’s time period and finds his subjects by traveling and sightseeing at historic areas. He loves light and the way it transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary. Andy’s paintings start with a hand-drawing which gives them an intimate feeling. He paints every day, creating fresh paintings and only prints two pieces a year, which retains the integrity of his original paintings.

AndySmithArtist.com

DeWitt, Robert & Dominique

Wood

Our work is inspired by traditional American treenware with a contemporary design sense. Over the years, we expanded our work to include a variety of kitchenware and now custom furniture for the whole house. We use local, regional, and salvaged hardwoods, always keeping in mind sustainable forestry practices. Many of our pieces are made from trees harvested from our property.

DeWittWoodworking.net

Bognar, Tom & Carole

Callaway Colonials

Mixed Media

Having an interest in history and art, the Bognars have combined both decorative and utilitarian items from gourds-Folk Art Gourd Pottery. Throughout history there are many references to gourds. As the world’s oldest pottery, they have been used for their functionality as containers of all sorts worldwide. During the fair they will explain the background and historical use of gourds and the preparation of them through cutting and cleaning. A gourd that is planted one year, dries for months, and is ready for use the following year is a unique interest to the public.

The techniques used on their work includes: carving, watercolor, paint, pen & ink, dye work, and wood burning. Our line consists of bowls, baskets, jugs, vases, canisters, pockets, clocks, and pitchers. Designs are inspired by historical motifs, botanical/nature, graphics, and seasonal.

Bognars gourd work has been featured in magazines, television and part of other quality art events.

Shriver, Alison

Alison Shriver Designs

Mixed Media

Inspired by a collection of early family silhouettes, Shriver began creating silhouette collages incorporating antique papers with original ideas. When creating an original, the hand cut silhouette is the main subject, it is juxtaposed with relevant maps, stamps, antique ledgers & letters, beach collections, fossils, leaves, branches, wax seals, etc.

The silhouette collages are of many different subjects, including sailing ships, antique chairs, tables, dog breeds, cats, tea pots, pitchers, tureens, sea life, birds, butterflies, farm animals, horses, presidents & famous peoples silhouettes.

Shriver has been creating, exhibiting & selling original art around the world for nearly 30 years. The work continues to evolve each year which is extremely rewarding.

AlisonShriver.com

Proctor, Jeanne

Needles and Threads

Fiber/Textiles

Proctor thinks of quilts as paintings made of fabric. The technique of quilting layers of fabric to produce bedding, clothing, and even armor can be traced back centuries. She is inspired by early quilt makers who produced functional pieces that were also truly beautiful, often made with scarce or repurposed textiles. The quilts are based on traditional quilt block designs. They may use a variety of fabrics and colors or may be simply two fabrics. Proctor want the quilts to be used. They are not intended to be stashed away and they are not just bed coverings. She uses machine piecing and machine quilting techniques. The fabrics are all cotton and battings are mostly cotton. Her hope is that the quilts are enjoyed by others and that this early American art form is carried forward in future generations.

JeanneProctorQuilts.com

Waterford Quilters Guild

Fiber/Textiles

The Waterford Quilters Guild of Waterford, VA creates an original quilt to be raffled off each year at the Waterford Fair. The quilt is hand or machine pieced by the members of the guild and is hand or machine quilted. The proceeds are used toward preserving the tradition of quilting and to promote knowledge and understanding regarding the art of quilting. The Quilters range from traditional to modern quilting techniques. They also support various causes in the Town of Waterford.

WaterfordQuiltersGuild.org

Robinson, Gary & Jeannette

Jack Mountain Crafters

Fiber/Textiles

Handmade brooms are constructed of broomcorn and sapling handles or hand-shaped wooden handles. Various sizes of domestic brushes, including kitchen and clothing brushes, are made using only broomcorn and twine. The history of broom-making, including Shaker and Appalachian influences, are discussed during show demonstrations.

Durnell, Andrea

Mixed Media

Durnell, 2022 Waterford Artisan of the Year, is a mixed media artist working in natural fiber, wood, repurposed antique or vintage fabrics, leather, and clay. She’s a storyteller and adventurer at heart. “If I could have Jules Verne over for dinner, I would.” She is also a collector and admirer of textiles, tools, and objects from the past and uses the carvings and collections to create the chapters of her life in imagery evocative of 17-19th century lithographs, literature, and satire. The provenance of materials often makes its way into the brief stories of each character as a way to punctuate their tales, to preserve old materials, and honor the methods for making them. Durnell uses only hand tools and prides herself on creating one-of-a-kind characters using wood she finds on her adventures, injecting a bit of humor, and promoting the old idea of “making do.” The characters look like they have lived a lot and have a story to tell. She feels her job, once they are at a show, is to connect them with the next leg of their journey.

Durnell will be doing a moderate amount of wood carving to show the method of choosing wood for her characters and the use of hand tools. She will be demonstrating clothing design and draping methods as well as the making of the tiny leather shoes. As always, the stories of the characters with the provenance of their vintage materials, are an integral part of her work. The collectors come to hear the tales!

AndreaDurnell.com