Joyce’s process is like jazz.  Her paintings begin as thin oil washes on primed canvas; loose and abstract. They only suggest objects accidentally.  After they dry, she draws on them with vine charcoal to find some images and structure.  Finally comes the oil paint. 

Marcie’s hats are all her own designs and one of a kind.  They are handknit of 100% wool,  then agitated in very hot water in a washing machine, reshaped and set out to dry. 

Kristine loves the smooth flowing lines of Art Nouveau and the playful color inspirations she finds in nature.  Her beads are all made by hand using some kind of clay technique.  She does not paint or draw on them. 

For 119 years, a dedication to craftsmanship, design, and tradition has guided the work of Berea’s special craft program.  Today more than 85 students work 10 to 15 hours per week in the various departments of Student Crafts.  From the sales and distribution areas to the studio areas of Wood, Weaving, Ceramics, Jewelry and Broom Making, our students produce and market works that maintain strong ties to the elemental nature of the Appalachian region- design excellence, a respect for materials and the honor that comes from hard work.

Greg Seigel's pottery exhibits beautiful fire marks and subtle variations of color thanks to the unpredictable atmosphere inside his wood fired and gas fired kilns. The flames have a similar effect on the glazes causing lovely subtleties.

Greg formulates and mixes all his own clays and glazes and is the official Elk Creek Vineyards potter, having created all the pieces on the bar and the sinks in the restrooms.

Betty enjoys plein air painting as well as painting from life. Whether working with oils, encaustic, or fiber, she finds expressing herself through art to be essential to life itself.  Betty’s fiber and encaustic work tends towards the abstract, while her oils are more impressionistic

Everything starts out white! Cathy begins her textile pieces by dyeing the silk or cotton fabric with Procion Fiber Reactive Dyes which bond with molecules of the fabric giving them permanent color. The scarves are dyed using watercolor or shibori techniques.

Because Mark is a self-taught Flameworker his process is unique.  Known for his intricately sculpted figures Mark begins his creations by heating  low expansion hard glass rods (borosilicate) with a torch and then manipulating them with sculpting tools.  

Each of Theresa’s still life paintings begin by collecting her subjects.  Thrifts stores, antique shops, farmers markets and the garden, are all treasure troves for her sense of design.  Placement and lighting for her treasures on top of an old dresser in my studio provide her with more control over the subject than painting a landscape. Getting to work from the actual setup instead of a photo is a bonus.