2025 Demonstrating Artisan

Savely, Clay

Tree of Life Potters

Clay

Honoring the vast botanical realms of the Appalachian bio-region, each platter, plate, vase, mug, bowl, or jewelry piece is handcrafted and as unique as the plants that were impressed into it. This technique has been passed down from a university level trained father to son, and is inspired by visionary art, indigenous mysticism and the powerful magic found in the lush forests of the Blue Ridge mountains.

This unique form of ceramics is created from hand-built stoneware clay slabs designed with tedious impressions of local plants set delicately into patterns and mandalas that are highlighted by iron-oxides and various glazes. Using refined hand building techniques, our pottery is created by impressing flowers, ferns, leaves and tree bark delicately into stoneware clay. After the piece is formed and plants are pulled out, it is bisque fired. After a thorough sanding process, an iron-oxide stain is applied and wiped off negative space tediously to leave the stain in the impressions. Occasionally glaze is painted into leaves to mimic natural color. After a final glaze firing, the piece is vivid and functional.

TreeofLifePotters.com

Rochford, Grace

Designs By Grace

Mixed Media

Rochford has always been interested in history and early American crafts. Through this interest, she became acquainted with the historical American floorcloths. She enjoys demonstrating and educating the public about this craft. During the last 13 years, she has made these canvas products for home as well as for sale. The first piece, a large 8ft. rug is still in her front hallway. Many of designs are inspired by the colonial canvases, although she creates original and contemporary designs. The products begin with natural heavy cotton canvas. This canvas is stretched and coated with primer, artwork done, then a protective coats applied. The final step involves creating a folded under and glued hem. In addition to participating in many shows, Rochford has produced many and varied custom pieces, including historical reproduction pieces. She also worked with interior designers and have taught numerous floorcloth production workshops.

DesignsByGrace.biz

Kriebel, Donna & Ted

D.Masters Kriebel

Mixed Media

Original folk art paintings are done on gessoed board using acrylics. A series of glazes seal the paintings and a shrink coat is applied to create cracks (the aged appearance). Oils are rubbed in to define the cracks. When dried, the shrink coat is washed off and a series of varnish coats are applied. the paintings are then placed in hand-grained and frequently lettered frames.

Kara, John

Kara Wood Designs

Wood

Kara Wood Designs has been creating wonderful woodwork for over 20 years. All of the shapes and patterns are original designs done by John Kara. The business started in the early 1990’s and consisted strictly of collapsible baskets. Years later, John got the idea to angle-cut different shapes such as angels, trees and crosses. We work in an individual studio where we use hardwoods and laminations of hardwoods to make the artwork.

KaraWoodDesigns.com

Wolf, Susan

Gourds by Suzanna, LLC.

Mixed Media

My love for gourd art stems from my horticultural interests coupled with my desire to produce a functional as well as decorative product. To briefly describe my work, I pencil a design onto a gourd surface which is used as a template to carve or wood burn the design. To carve, I use woodworking tools, called gouges. By varying the size of the gouge and the position and length of the cut I achieve different designs. On occasion I relief carve with a power carver. After carving I embellish with dyes, acrylics, metallic rubs or patinas. I also use pine needles, sliced walnuts, brass knobs.

I am originally from Lancaster, PA. After receiving my Ph.D. in Biology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, I moved to VA in 1988 to conduct research at the UVA, Charlottesville, VA and subsequently at a VA Tech Research Station in Winchester, VA. In 2004 I left research to start Gourds by Suzanna LLC . I am currently self-employed and work out of my home in Toms Brook, Virginia.

Smith, Andy

Andy Smith Watercolors

Paper

My goal is to create paintings that capture subjects you may overlook, subjects that are all around you.
I do a lot of 1800’s historical sightseeing and enjoy that time period. I work with light, the use of light and dark and playing with shadows. My paintings are realistic with an underlying subtle abstract use of the brush. I take pride in being prolific, I paint everyday and am honored to earn my living as an artist…painting.

AndySmithArtist.com

Grabman, Marie-Helene

Marie-Helene Grabman

Mixed media

Using surgical scissors, I create cut paper designs from a single sheet of black or white paper, creating the dramatic effect of light versus dark with small bits of color (painted or cut paper) for focal points. A few of my designs have added layers of cut paper over the base cutting to create a dimensional effect.

The art is called “scherenschnitte”–or scissor cutting, a very old art form that developed in Switzerland and Germany in the 1500’s. The process is like woodcutting: you start with a blank resource and create the art by cutting parts of it away. Precision is paramount and it demands full concentration. Many of the cut lines are no thicker than thread-width. The paper is attached to the base mat with only small dots of glue so that the cutting floats within the frame, creating shadows. I feel this is an important part of the composition and it also works to identify the paper cutting from a pen and ink work or print.

Kid Friendly! Watch as a cutting is started then take it home and finish it yourself. Learn about the history of this almost lost art.

scissorcutter.com

Gladfelter, Kimberly & Bob

Poplar Hollow Studio

Mixed Media

Unique and One of a Kind mixed media folk art is created primarily with gourds, which have been cultivated for both functional and decorative purposes for thousands of years. Many of the gourds we use are grown on our Pennsylvania family farm circa 1886. We hand-select each gourd studying its shape and texture to determine what it wants to be; no two gourds are alike. Our artistic vision draws inspiration from life on the farm where the changing seasons, an affinity for treasures from a bygone era and cherished holiday traditions are all celebrated in our work.

We have been creating our gourd folk art for almost 20 years and various techniques are used. Often the gourd serves as a natural canvas with layers of paint, attention to detail and a multi-step antiquing process bringing the piece to life. In other instances, hand-sculpted paper clay and wood are thoughtfully combined with the gourd creating a natural synergistic composition which is then ready for painting and antiquing. A third technique is carving and/or pyroengraving (burning) the gourd using translucent ink dyes for color. Together the combined techniques produce distinctive folk art pieces that are imaginative, whimsical and festive.

PoplarHollowStudio.net