Mixed Media

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.

Gladfelter, Kimberly

Poplar Hollow Studio

Mixed Media

Unique and one-of-a-kind mixed media folk art is created primarily with gourds. Many of the gourds are grown on the PA farm where I reside with my husband and co-artist, Bob. The shape of the gourd is studied to determine what it wants to be. No two gourds are alike having various shapes, sizes and textures. Sometimes a piece is created by individually hand-painting a gourd with it’s original unaltered shape using layers of acrylic paint with meticulous attention to detail. Other times mixed media work is created with paper clay hand-sculpted onto or over the gourd altering its shape and then hand-painted. A multi-step, hand-rubbed aging technique using an umber wash finishes each piece before sealing and adds to the old fashioned charm. Most of the pieces are whimsical and holiday themed. The simplicity of country life on the family farm, the changing seasons, an affinity for treasures from a bygone era and holiday traditions…these things are all celebrated in my work.

PoplarHollowStudio.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

Hollick, Michele

Stenciling by Michele

Mixed Media

Hollick has been making floorcloths for over thirty years. For many years she was one of the judges and later the chairperson for SALI (Stencil Artisan League, now IDAL) and their certification process. They would jury each applicant’s work at an annual convention. Many applied but few passed the rigorous test.

Stenciling is Hollick’s passion. Each time you lift off the stencil it is amazing to see what appears. She loves the work of the early stencilers and has been fortunate to tour homes in New England that have original Moses Eaton and Rufus Porter work. In the past she has been recognized in Early American Life and the top 200 Craftsmen. Her work appears in many magazines and books about decorating homes from the late 1700-early 1800’s. Hollick participates in many shows like the League of NH Craftsmen and sells to places like Colonial Williamsburg.

Hollick has done work for the Franklin Pierce homestead in NH, and Harriet Beecher Stowe house at Bowdin College.

StenciledFloorclothsbyMichele.com

McKellar, Judith

Judith McKellar

Mixed Media

The sculptors of the Renaissance inspired McKellar to major in sculpture in college where she learned both ancient and modern techniques, among them bas relief. Relief means that the subject matter physically stands out from the background in varying heights to simulate atmospheric perspective. Her work emphasizes the natural world, including flora and fauna as well as domestic animals. Each piece is designed, modeled and cast by McKellar personally.

[email protected]

Jeffords, Barbara

Mixed Media

Art has been a part of Jeffords’ life since she was a child watching her father paint. He instilled a love of the beauty of nature and the simple things in life that mean so much to all of us. She has been painting professionally for around twenty years. Growing up in a rural setting with farms and glorious beauty of the seasons is what inspires her paintings. It’s fun to bring the beauty of the countryside and maybe an untold story of an old house or barn to life! Jeffords always has a story in mind behind the landscape and people in her art. Her hope is that the artwork will bring you to another place. A place where you can feel the breeze in the fields, the comfort and warmth of another time and the contentment of “Home”.

Kid Friendly! Children can watch Barbara as she shows them how to take basic shapes and turn them into animals.

facebook.com/Barbara-Jeffords

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