In his paintings, Charleston’s Nathan Durfee blends equal parts Monet, Norman Rockwell and Dr. Seuss. Then adds a pinch of whimsy and snark. Artist: Born in Vermont, Durfee grew up in Lake Tahoe, CA. He received a BFA in illustration at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2005, but gradually made the shift…
A self-described landscape sculptor, Kentucky’s James Wade is inspired by a sense of place. Company/studio: Hammermark Studio, which started in 2002, is located near Lexington on the artist’s family farm. Artist: Born in Columbus, IN, Wade moved as a teenager to Lexington, KY. He studied art at the University of Kentucky, where he earned a…
Georgia native Evan Blackwell Helgeson creates layered abstract paintings that reflect a love of nature, travel and color. Artist: The Georgia native grew up in Roswell and earned a BFA from the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. She also holds an MFA from School of the Museum of Fine Arts…
Virginia’s Anne Scarpa McCauley uses wild honeysuckle in her distinctive coiled baskets, trays and sculptures. Company/studio: Honeysuckle Baskets is located in Free Union, VA. McCauley, a self-taught artist works from home, mostly outdoors. She began making honeysuckle baskets in 1974. Artist: Born in Windsor, VT, she moved at age four with her family to the…
North Carolina jewelry artist Jason Janow describes his rustic yet refined designs as “precisely nature.” Artist: Growing up in Amherst, VA, Janow loved the outdoors and took an early interest in jewelry. Later, at age 30, he made a career change and enrolled in Haywood Community College in Clyde, NC, where he earned a degree in…
For Atlanta ceramic artist Kate Pak, making pieces that feel good to hold and touch is an integral part of her craft. Company/studio: Kate Pak Handcrafted Ceramics. The artist has a studio at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta. She has been a resident studio assistant/artist since 2022, but creating her work since 2017. Artist: Born in…
Atlanta artist Michelle Laxalt describes her ceramic sculptures and works on paper as intimately-scaled, abstract, biomorphic and purposefully ambiguous. The artist: Born and raised in Reno, NV, Laxalt graduated in 2014 from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a BFA in ceramics. She relocated to Atlanta for grad school, earning an MFA from Georgia State University…
Maybe best-known for his detailed tree ring drawings, Atlanta artist Steven L. Anderson works in a variety of media to explore the power and beauty of nature. Over time. And on us. Artist: Grew up in Ann Arbor, MI, and graduated from University of Michigan and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where…
Self-taught Kentucky woodturner Chad Eames tries to highlight the natural features of the wood – knots, voids and bark inclusions — while still maintaining a modern feel with his designs. Company/studio: Chad Eames WoodWorks started in 2008 and is based in Lexington. Eames’ workshop is in his garage. Artist: Born in Royal Oak, MI, and…
North Carolina glass designer John Shoemaker draws on antique and scientific glass forms to create his modern apothecary flasks and drinkware. The artist: Originally from Pennsylvania, Shoemaker began blowing glass in 2008 at Tyler School of Art at Temple University, where he earned a BFA in glass. Over the years, he has extended his education by…