The 2008 Art in the Woods Festival will feature about 40 artists and fine craftsmen. The talent and range of their mediums at the Festival will be diverse and will include painting, woodworking, photography, pottery, jewelry, textiles and more. We have a juried selection process to ensure the caliber and integrity of the Festival’s artists and their work.

The artists in this year’s show follow with an example of their work and contact information.

We are always expanding our designs as we are inspired by the natural world which we are so passionate about.  With backgrounds in wildlife photography, art & nature illustration, we have incorporated our knowledge and love of nature into our jewelry.

 Al’s paintings are highly detailed images of subjects that may include wildlife of any kind.  He is at ease painting elephants or butterflies, rattlesnakes or gold finches.   Al is a previous winner of waterfowl and conservation stamp and print competitions in South Carolina, Minnesota and Maryland.  He has contributed much of his work to conservation organizations and other groups, which have benefited financially from its sale.  He has recently published a brand new children's book of young North American mammal paintings and natural history, NORTH AMERICAN BABY ANIMALS, and he is currently completing a similar book, AFRICAN BABY ANIMALS.

Bob has been photographing nature’s beauty for over 15 years. He has received awards for his photography in Pennsylvania, New York, Arizona and Canada, as well as an International award from the Nikon Corporation in Japan. Bob’s work has been published in books, catalogs, calendars and greeting cards.

   Over the past 30 years David has developed and produced the unique program, “Presentations in Pastel.” The programs, designed to honor individuals and organizations, feature David’s creation of a painting accompanied by a custom soundtrack.

   David has traveled extensively throughout the Southwest capturing the beauty of that part of the United States. He particularly enjoys painting outdoors at the site of his subject. Many of his works are of things not normally considered subject matter for painting. He refers to them as his “unlikely beauties”…and many times end up being the most admired.

Hand thrown and hand built pottery items reflecting and utilizing the natural elements around us.  Based on the ancient art of Ikebana, "pin~frog' pots are designed to be a casual, creative, and uniquely handcrafted container for anyone who enjoys the natural beauty of flowers.  We also make bird feeders and birdhouses, wind chimes and wall hangings.

In the past ten years or so, I have been developing my own unique techniques of manipulating copper sheet and wire, learning along the way through trial & error, to see what I can or cannot make it do, hammering, sanding, filing, stretching, heating, cooling, soldering and much sweating, to have this metal become something that astonishes even me when I have finished the piece.

 Many of my ideas might come from shapes I see in nature or my most inspirational pieces come from my daily meditations.  As an ordained minister, I see the artistic talent and potential in every individual that is just waiting for its self-discovery.  It wants to come out of us and bring joy to those who view it.  We are all creative beings being driven and guided by divine power.

Dawn produces elegant artisan jewelry.  She creates unique pieces inspired by people, art, poetry, music, media and nature.  Each item is one-of-a-kind and is created from quality materials.  Designing custom pieces for special occasions like weddings, recitals or formal parties is something she loves.

Sue Perry Rufus began using natural feathers as a canvas in 1994 and hasn't run out of inspiration yet.  A single feather painting can capture a deer as it bursts from the trees while from another a chickadee looks as though it will sing its famous call at any moment.  As popular as the individual feather paintings are, Sue is most recognized for her unique mural paintings on full turkey, grouse or pheasant "fans" or tail feather spreads.  Her paintings are mounted on handmade paper created by the artist herself containing feathers, leaves and other natural items. 

Judy’s love for the outdoors and nature is reflected in her highly detailed oil paintings of wildlife, flowers, nature and country scenes. Living in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest, Judy has the opportunity to see wildlife daily and spends hours photographing animals and flowers for reference material for her art. She brings her paintings to life through her realistic style and enjoys adding a little humor to many of her wildlife paintings.  Judy pays particular attention to the animal’s eyes, as this is where she brings “life” to her paintings. 

Bill Smith grew up in suburbia Western New York.  This self-taught photographer has always been inclined toward the landscape.  He has spent a lot of time hiking in the outdoors.  He has been and is always in awe of all the beauty in nature -- too much beauty not to photograph it. 

Bill's goal in making prints is to bring the viewer in to be an active participant in the composition and let him or her experience what he felt.  He concentrates on individual objects as rocks, grasses, trees and man-made structures which become worlds in their own right within the larger whole of the landscape.  He hopes these photographs bring to those who see them a heightened awareness of our natural world.

If you have met me, you know I'm a thinker as well as a prolific artist. I view my life as if it were a banquet, I don't gorge myself on one favorite food, I sample everything, a portion of this and that and Maybe...by the end of my life, I will look back and be honestly able to say... "I've had a great life!"

Kathy and I are recyclers, artists, writers, and free thinkers. When I turned 50 I decided I would stay true to myself and by doing so I have concentrated on taking my art to the next level. I believe that creativity is like a mistress in that creativity likes to be showed things, taken out, listened to, nurtured, and showered with gifts. If you don't do the work she'll leave you for someone else. My basic belief is:"If I can get my mind around it, I can make it happen.”

Focusing on birds often heard seldom seen
  Mark is a local nature photographer currently residing in Montville, Ohio.  Although most of his subjects are birds, he photographs many butterflies as well as wild flowers, reptiles and amphibians.
  Previously, Mark's work has been centered in northern Ohio.  Now his travels extend as far north as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, east to the Allegheny Mountains, and south to Florida.
  Mark uses all manual cameras and lenses and all photographs are in full frame 35mm format without manipulation of any kind.
  Mark exhibits his photography to increase awareness of the wildlife around us and to highlight the need to protect their natural habitats as their existence truly protects our environment.

Nan's focus is on creatures from the wild and those uncultivated plants and insects they need to survive. She brings to life the smaller, often overlooked critters–in all phases of their life cycles. Her current series’ on Butterfly and Moth Life Cycles and on Dragonflies honor those subjects.

Nan’s fusion of Art and Nature rests on her art training and decades of research in Nature and the natural sciences.. A nature writer once described Nan’s work  "It's not just nature art…it's art!"