2022 ARTISTS

Jenn Yonts

Jen is the creator of our beautiful Mountain Grrl logos and graphics. She holds a Bachelor of Art Degree in Graphic Design and a Masters of Art in Public Relations and Communications. She has been designing for 20 years.
For 6 years, she worked with the heavy metal band, Quiet Riot. During that time, she had the opportunity to design album covers, websites and other marketing materials for their band.
In addition, Jen has worked with local businesses such as Kentucky Mist Distillery and Southern Prep. She has been a designer of book covers and has worked Internationally with an array of clients from Canada, the UK, Australia and Germany.
An employee of The Appalachian Center for the Arts, she was born and Raised in Letcher County, Kentucky.
Look for Jen’s art as well as that of her talented daughter, **Jade Hart!**

Website

Meridith Mullins

Born in the coal dusted mountains of Eastern Kentucky, Meridith was always scribbling in journals or sketching pictures of athletes or musicians as a child. She can’t remember a time when she wasn’t thinking of unusual ways to express her feelings. Standing over six feet tall, everyone always encouraged her to learn the piano when she was young. They said that her long fingers would make her a natural. However, theory lessons and constant practicing was not a passion then, and not one now.
Originality and a love for art came from both sides of her family. Her father, Will “Tootsie” Mullins, a retired attorney from Paintsville, is quite an accomplished artist. He has been featured in local media articles and had several showings. He has also had pieces on display and for sale at some galleries in New Orleans. Her Mother, Lynn is incredibly gifted with all types of sewing and clothing conceptions. She has always had a love for creating and altering garments, even making her own prom dress in high school.
In high school, Meridith fell in love with the lyrical magic of country music, as well as the mythical shenanigans of early blues players. That combination of cultural prevalence in her life led to 30 years of artistic projects that include songwriting, poetry, woodworking, painting, and sculpture.
Her paintings are primarily done in acrylic, but also use other mediums such as oil, charcoal, and chalk. Some pieces even implement crayons and pencil. The subjects are always musicians, some famous, some regular people.
The sculptures are a hand sculpted box relief made from polymer clay and then molded in silicone and cast in resin. They are hand painted and mounted on a mixed media background that relates to the subject.
**Artist’s fun facts:**
Meridith has a collection of over 200 belt buckles and 300 rare beer bottles.
She earned a BA in business administration from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.
·She has two basset hounds named June Carter and Dottie West and two cats named Janis and Manny.
She was the owner of a construction company for 11 years.
She produced a 10 track album with all original songs.

Kayla Freeman

Kayla Lynae Freeman was born March 20, 1990 with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congentia (AMC) which didn’t allow her joints and muscles to properly grow and develop before birth. Confined to a wheelchair, she has let nothing in life stop her. From being a member of the SCHS Marching Band throughout middle/high school, graduating BSCTC with her Associates degree while discovering a passion for art she didn’t know she had. Kayla now volunteers at Inez Elementary where she inspires students every day to never give up.

By using a pencil in her mouth, Kayla continues to grow and improve as an artist. She has been a part of numerous group art shows at the Mountain Art Center in Prestonsburg, KY and hopes to someday have her own solo show. Kayla currently resides in Inez, KY where she continues to create and improve her art and is getting married this October.

Liv Taylor

My Journey

I am an Army Veteran from Harlan KY. I started my artistic journey to recover from a TBI and PTSD. I needed to find a new perspective on how to think, process and interact with everyday situations. Art therapy was my solution. Art therapy was my way back to the land of the Living. Art Therapy was my journey to the creation of - LandofLiv-.

I see Art everywhere I look. I interpret all things with curiosity and observation. Before I paint anything, I ask the important questions, why am I painting this subject? I research techniques and contemplate on definition and meaning. I break down complex images into smaller interpretations that my brain can reproduce. Finally, I watch this whole process bring a painting to life.

Whether it is a landscape, local wildlife or a place in the city, every painting contains life and a universe of its own. Creating art in this way has given me a new life to live. I extend an open invitation for you to join me, anytime, in the -LandofLiv

Fayth Hall

https://faythhallart.wixsite.com/ceramics

Fayth Hall is a ceramic and jewelry artist from Pikeville, Kentucky who received their Bachelor's in Fine Arts from Morehead State University in 2021. They primarily work with illustrated functional pieces that are meant to serve as memento mori, reminders of mortality, and to spark a discussion on death denial and the modern funeral industry. They have received second place overall at the "Everything Considered" exhibition in 2021 with Into the Jaws of Death, second place in functional 3d at the "21st Annual Gateway Regional Arts Center Exhibition" with Rack and Ruin, first place in Ceramics and Sculpture at the “20th annual Gateway Regional Arts Center Exhibition” with The World was Built on Bones, and second place at the “2020 Spring Showcase” with Never Better.

Tami Booher

Appalachian painter of the natural world. Tami Booher was raised in the coal fields in the southwestern region of the Appalachian mountains in Virginia. Tami has always been drawn to the beauty and nature filled area that is Appalachia. She now resides in the foothills of eastern Kentucky. Mainly a self taught artist, she began her artistic journey around 1995. Following an oil painting class to try her hand at painting, she was hooked. So began the journey, first with oils and then to acrylics. Most of her current work is composed in acrylics.

Cayci Maynard

Cayci Maynard was born and raised in Pikeville, KY. The mother of 3 beautiful children and a bonus mother to 2 more. She has always enjoyed art, and expressing creativity. Starting out doing special effects makeup, she disliked the process of having to destroy all of the pieces after they were finished. Thus, the idea of so sculpting with polymer clay came to life. Custom pieces are available via commissions on Cayci’s personal Facebook page. Other pieces can also be seen locally owned shops such as Moonlight Pathways and Hideaway Smoke and Vape.

Website

Jessica Salyer

Eastern Kentucky based award winning mix media artist, Jessica Salyer, has been honing her skills in the therapeutic and healing practices that creating works of art can have on the human experience. Her distinctive personal style emanates the vibrance that the mental and physical experiences we have can affect us greatly. Through an array of colors, you can see an emotional experience throughout most of her work that comes out through symbolism. Jessica works with a multitude of different mediums, such as, acrylics, oil, spray paints, canvases, wood work, and crafting supplies in her art work. Jessica has been exhibiting her personal work since 2014.
Originally a mix media painter, Jessica blended her painting skills with her own therapeutic practices of 10 years, bringing about her new passion Art Positive Project, Inc. Established in 2018, officially became a nonprofit organization in 2019. Jessica’s evolution into teaching the healing properties that creating can have, allowed her to introduce another element to this union and extended this experience to east Kentucky communities. Her use of teaching through her own experiences allows Jessica to challenge the boundaries of people’s perception of art and mental health. She utilizes guided meditation to which each participant can explore the depths of their own internal mental health and release any blocks that may otherwise go unnoticed or unresolved. Art Positive Project’s mission is to help spread mental health awareness and help give everyone an out of the box way of thinking about what we can do for ourselves to heal through the process of art. Jessica is excited about the future of Art Positive Project and hopes to further this experience to more regions in Kentucky and else where.

Make It

Kristy Townes

Kristy is 36 years old and has been an artist since childhood. Her interest in drawing began around age 6 and eventually grew into other forms of visual artistry as self expression! Painting was where she discovered the the most challenging and rewarding art form.

Kristy is mostly self taught but honed her craft with the guidance of her mother. Now she is the mother of an 8 year old daughter who is already showing an impressive interest in art. We hope the tradition of inspired and talented Appalachian artists continues!

Kasey Bartley

Kasey grew up in Belfry and moved to Marrowbone, Kentucky around 4 years ago where she met her husband. Working as a medical assistant at Pikeville Medical Center and a part time cosmetologist at a local salon. She found her love for art while painting at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The creativity was a relaxing way to combat the anxiety and depression of working in health care during a pandemic.

Kasey says, “I have always struggled with depression. During the pandemic, I was also diagnosed with bipolar depression which was difficult. Art has been my escape where I can create anything that I want freely! It’s truly an honor to a female Appalachian artist and I take pride in saying that. Please enjoy the art that I have put together for this experience!”

Cheyenne Smith

Cheyenne Smith is a multimedia artist and craftsman from Rock Fork, Kentucky. Cheyenne is a published illustrator and award-winning artist, whose work is published in literary journals and collected across three states.

She often works with small businesses creating paintings and holiday decor and also repairing signs. Cheyenne’s work can be seen in multiple businesses in Eastern Kentucky, as well as various social media platforms. She works with local cake artisans, sculpting intricate cake toppers, and also helping clients create meaningful memoriam pieces for loved ones they have lost.

Cheyenne has a studio in Rock Fork where she lives and works. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art and Associates in Engineering Technology/ Construction Management from Morehead State University in the spring of 2022.

Toril Lavender

“I am Toril Lavender. My grandparents were from Norway and my name Toril is the feminine of Thor. I was born in Arizona, raised in California and upstate New York, and have lived and worked in Huntington, West Virginia for the past 20-plus years. The “hammer” that was magically drawn to my hands has always been a camera. I’ve been shooting professionally for more than 30 years at newspapers in Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia. I’ve also shot for dozens of national and regional magazines as well as lots of professional event photography such as festivals and concerts. A life-long traveler, I’ve published two travel books with my husband Dave, who is a writer. Our two Dave Trippin’ books explored day trips to amazing places in what we call “the Appalachian Galaxy of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.” Currently I do brand photography for a brewery and three restaurants in Huntington and Charleston. I am also the in-house photographer for Blenko Glass, one of the largest and last hand blown glass companies in the U.S. I also do portrait and wedding photography in the Tri-State. The daughter of an internationally-known biologist, I have always had a fascination with nature and spend my free time exploring the rich - and often overlooked - bounty of beauty in our Appalachian mountains, rivers and hills.”

Carrie Wilson

Growing up in Lexington, Carrie has always considered Eastern Kentucky to be her home away from home. Both of her parents are from small towns in eastern and southeastern Kentucky. Her Grandfather, who she calls Papaw, is Howard "Dirty Ears" Stratton. The co-founder of one of the largest festivals in Kentucky, Pike County’s own, Hillbilly Days.
Traveling to and from festivals, an enormous love for bluegrass music began. Attending various bluegrass and country music shows in central Kentucky, she always bring her camera to capture that emotion of the musicians during their set. The passion for photographing these amazing artists has culminated into a photography journey with amazing Appalachian artists.

Website

Corbin Fouts

Corbin Fouts is an Appalachian folk artist based out of Pike County, Ky. Starting her arts career in music, Fouts needed to find a new muse, first starting her dive into painting in the summer of 2015 with a simple art project. Since then, Fouts has gone into all mediums. Showing vibrant colors and expression, she has set to capture her personal view of old time lore and myth.

Drawing most topic and scenes from stories told by the old timers of her area (and from her own experiences in music and tour), she uses bold techniques and harsh color to draw outsiders into her view of the topics.

Fouts currently tours her art into the Eastern side of the United States, but also shows with permanence at the Mountain Muse of Prestonsburg Ky, where her art maybe be seen year round and purchased.

Angie Kendrick

Pike County native Angie Kendrick has been engaging in creative activities and making art since elementary school. While working full-time, she is taking classes online to pursue a Bachelor's degree. Angie has been happily married for 24 years and has a son who is graduating from Morehead State University this spring.

She has recently discovered a new love for digital art a few years ago, and is learning all the ever changing facets of creative technology. She also is very passionate about dog portraits and is focusing on those endeavors at this time..

Robin Carpenter

Robin was born in Greenup, Kentucky. She grew up in a home with a talented mother whose artistic ability supplemented the household income. This led to her love of art. A registered nurse by trade, when the hospital where she worked closed and other family tragedies occurred, Robin retired and began devoting more time to art as a means to heal. She is a self taught acrylic artist who finds inspiration in painting animals.

Many times she becomes so involved in a particular painting, that the piece becomes a small part of her. She currently paints at home in my small studio , that is affectionately called The Wren’s Nest.

Autumn Chapman

Autumn is from Belfry, Kentucky. For the better part of her life, she has found beauty in all sorts of different mediums, locations and aspects of life. She finds that her artworks reflect the beauty that she’s encountered and hopes to share with others.

Hefner Hare

Homegrown in Lovely, Kentucky. Heather has over 11 years of experience in the art world, and works everyday to hone her craft and capture a subjects energy with paint. She was the winner of the 2021 Special Award by Ashland Pride for the 1st LGBTQIA+ Pride Show. She was also the 2022 GGAC Board Choice Winner for the 9th Annual Women in the Arts Show with the Grayson Gallery.

Heather hopes her work will act as a pop culture mirror, and have you asking yourself if art imitates life, or if it's the other way around." She’s excited to see what the future holds and thrilled to be exhibiting at this years Mountain Grrl Experience.

Haley Weddington

New for 2022

YOUTH

ART GALLERY

Updates coming soon!!!

Zoe Howard

Zoe Howard is an eastern Kentuckian and a proud local artist. She is also an Appalachian rock songwriter/ musician. She finds that music and art go hand to hand in life.