Nicole Pinkerton

Artists Statement by Nicole Pinkerton

Color has always inspired me; color can communicate an emotion immediately and for reasons that are oftentimes strictly instinctual. Through my work, I hope to inspire feelings of nostalgia, joy, innocence, and intrigue.

I use acrylic paint because it dries quickly. This allows me to change my mind, over and over, without terrible repercussions. Such a flippant attitude does not always benefit me in the real world, but on canvas, it makes the outcome richer. I've been using a screw to sketch the first outlines of my figures into wet paint, and then later after sheets of color have been added, I use it to etch back into the hidden layers.

In 2004, I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration. I hope to illustrate children's books in the near future.

Jennifer Jack of Good Fortune Soap

In May 2006, Good Fortune set roots in Chattanooga, Tennessee and grew under the care of Jennifer Jack (entrepreneur, graphic designer, and photographer.) After working in the corporate world for many years, she longed for a different lifestyle. Jennifer wanted a career that fed her mind, body, and spirit while also providing a way to connect and help others. After much praying, God blessed Jennifer by allowing her passions to become her calling. Combining her love of design, photography, and the craft of making things by hand—Good Fortune Soap was born.

“One day at a time” continues to be one of Jennifer’s mottos. From day one she studied soap making, natural ingredients, and the natural products industry as a whole. A mad scientist, Jennifer experimented by making hundreds of batches of soap, scent combinations, shapes, colors, and more. Self taught, she perfected the process night and day while working full-time as a graphic designer (she designed this entire Web site—nice, huh?). She continues to be very motivated by learning from others in the industry and attending soap-making conferences regularly. Eventually, from sharing a few really successful recipes with friends and family, Good Fortune became a hit.

December 2006 marked Good Fortune’s first big open house. In just two days, Jennifer sold hundreds of bars of soap and gift sets. Further, two Chattanooga, TN-based specialty shops placed orders, purchasing Jennifer’s entire collection of scents and gift sets. This success prepared Jennifer for the next step—going full-time with soap. After 8 months Jennifer took the plunge: she sold her house, quit her stable job, and took Good Fortune all the way.

The next step? Create a business plan that configures how Good Fortune was going to help change the world. Jennifer didn’t just want an amazing product that she could bank. She wanted products that embodied positive thinking and touched people’s lives physically and spiritually. The focus evolved to marketing her all-natural ingredients, healing essential oils, recyclable packaging, and donations of personal time and resources as a way to spread the word about the spirit of her company.

Currently, Good Fortune embodies a production studio and store front in Athens, Tennessee. The studio in Athens was once the family's dairy barn, but is now open to the public. Jennifer and her mother, Charlotte, worked side-by-side renovating the studio, making Good Fortune a family business. Good Fortune products are now sold throughout Tennessee as well as 5 other states. Keep your eyes open for our products near you, or let us know if you want to see our stuff in a specialty store near you.

Ashlea Mayo of Fawns Crown

Fawns Crown is a unique and eclectic line of handmade jewelry by Ashlea Mayo. Drawing from her background in graphic design, she adheres recycled, vintage and modern prints to thin wood shapes to create bold, funky, and whimsical jewelry.

Ashlea began crafting jewelry shortly after moving to chattanooga, tenn in 2004. She designs and assembles her jewelry out of her small studio alongside her dog harry.

Cat Collier

Artists Statement by Cat Collier

When I think about my art and about being an artist I have a difficult time writing up a statement of any sort. To summarize why I make art and how I make art is important. I have never had formal art training beyond high school so my depth of knowledge about art history is limited. What I have learned about making art has evolved throughout the last 15 years of my life, into what you see now. By choice I have struggled with the creative process, from the medium to the subject matter, to the concept. For many years I fought to merge collage and painting. I believe the only reason I can make art is because I have kept trying, experimenting and never losing sight of my responsibility to share. I used to think that making art was completely about process, after practicing my own process, I became aware of the fact that I did not have a "thing". For the last two years I have been working on a large "Forest" Tree Series. I think what you see in my art is my personal interpretation of all kinds of things but specifically I am influenced by color. The kind of color reminiscent of childhood, the color in graffiti, the color of light, the color of urban stuff, the color of monochrome. There is nothing symbolic in my work. You will not find political or religious messages seeping in through the cracks of my art and if you do it was unintentional on my part. What is intentional is line quality, everything I do is free hand, no tracing or projection. Also just as intentional are the seemingly visible mistakes. Creating a series of trees for my "Forest" Series has been my focus. My techniques have remained the same with the exception of incorporating wood grain contact paper into my collage. I appreciate the cross section of the wood grain instead of painting or collaging that part of the tree. It is a contrast between real and abstract graffiti inspired line quality. Bright colors versus the brown shades of wood trees simply represents life, a forest of trees growing, rising up as a family of trees, strong and full of hope. Some of my favorite artists are Blaine Fontaine, Sam Flores, Aaron Kraten, Julie West, Kathie Olivas, and Aaron Jasinki. My favorite art magazine is Beautiful/Decay. I currently live in downtown Chattanooga and work for Collier Construction Company. I make art all year long specifically for a biannual show with a group of women for the Clothesline Art Show. I am also fortunate to have my work hanging at Fitness Together on Gunbarrel Road. Look for my work at the upcoming Art.a.ma.jig, a auction raising money for the arts community and education in Chattanooga.

Sarah Hiles of Artizen Metal

Artists Statement by Sarah Hiles of Artizen Metal

I am an artist who's favorite material is metal.

All metals.

I love hammers and files and FIRE.

I switched my major from painting to metal at Memphis College of Art in 1995.

Then I hid out at a crafting haven ~ The Appalachian Center for Craft, in rural Tennessee for 3 years. I happily honed small metal skills. There I fell in love with blacksmithing. I made some really neat damascus steel knives ;). Eventually I decided to rejoin society.

In 2000 I returned to Memphis College of Art to graduate with a BFA in Metal(2002).

Since then I have been employed as:

Welder for Local Steel Sculptor
Welder for Steel furniture company
Blacksmith for Architectural Iron Studio
Fine Goldsmith for jewelry designer, NY showroom
Muralist @ St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital
Fine Art Painter for Designer Furniture company

In 2005 I began my own Metalsmithing Company. I have had independent websites, trunkshows, and do craft festivals.

My work changes a lot. Right now I am enjoying the etchings. I like to draw on the metal.
Hope you like them too.

Steve Swayne

Artist Statement by Steve Swayne

Steve Swayne, acrylic paintings and stained glass

Steve credits his wife for launching his career as an artist ten years ago. The couple shared an appreciation for the arts and Steve had commented many times of his own interest in the stained glass medium. So to celebrate their first Valentine’s Day, Beth helped Steve get started by giving him the gift of lessons in a stained glass course.

The course marked the beginning of an artistic journey that is one of Steve’s great joys in life. He spends his days and his skills as a chef working in the research labs with Whirlpool Corporation – but spends much of his free time in his home studio creating stained glass works and most recently, paintings.

Born in Idaho in 1963, Steve grew up in a family of artists. His grandmother was a classically trained oil painter, and his grandfather a folk artist. Steve spent summers with his grandparents and learned different artistic techniques through both observation and practice.

Steve moved on from Idaho to live in diverse locations including Buffalo, Seattle and Boca Raton, and settled in Chattanooga in 1997. He enjoys exploring the tradition of folk art in the South and his pieces reflect that spirit. Steve’s acrylic paintings depict religious and nature themes, as well as his love for a family that includes three dogs.

Steve signs his paintings “S. Evets” in recognition of the dyslexia he was diagnosed with as a young man, a condition which caused him to frequently sign his name in that manner. His dyslexia has influenced his work by motivating him to show that artistic expression is possible in spite of such challenges.

Steve often works on multiple paintings and glass works at one time and explores the incorporation of different textures and three-dimensional views into his works.

Steve Swayne has exhibited his work at the House of Blues at Myrtle Beach, Whofest in Atlanta and Normalpalooa in Chattanooga. He has received the Laverne Ownby Memorial Award for his glass works from the Nillie Bipper Art Show in Cleveland, TN. His glass designs have been used as themes in marketing efforts by the Chattanooga Symphony. Steve’s work can also be found in galleries in Chattanooga and Atlanta.

Lisa Norris

Artists Statement by Lisa Norris

In 1992 I graduated from Parsons School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and sculpture. Painting, bookbinding, sculpture,
photography and teaching consume my life, and I enjoy every minute of it. My vast collection of vintage objects not only inspires my work, but also becomes an important part of the finished pieces. Bringing decorative papers and found objects together keeps my hands busy, my creativity flowing, and my life festive. Instructing workshops, exhibiting my collages and participating in outdoor art festivals allows me many opportunities to express myself through my art. Collecting, creating, and sharing make it possible for me to have a creative life.