Represented Artists:
Cher Thompson Austin
Cher is a native Atlantan who now resides in Duluth, GA with her husband, in their
studio home. Cher's work has been placed in private and corporate collections all
over the country, and she has been recognized as one the southeast's leading glass
artists. While her background is in watercolor, her love for glass as a child,
finally materialized over the last several years of producing art. After much
experimenting and self sacrificing (She jokingly refers to her DNA being "all over
the work"), she has honed her craft and perfected her design. Known for her static
colorful works, as well as, her flowing surreal imagery, Cher's work is highly sought
after by her collectors, many of whom own multiple pieces.
Artist's Statement:
Glass has intrigued me since I was a small child and I would imagine myself walking
inside the beautiful amber glass ashtray that adorned my family's coffee table. A painter
for many years, I began to feel that I could not achieve the depth of colors that I desired.
Glass soon filled that void for me leading me down a path that has become my passion. By
building stilts to allow the glass to be at different levels I am able to layer the
glass creating watercolor like images. I use a variety of techniques, textures and colors
to give my work the feeling of movement. I hope to create works that will engage the viewer
and provide them with new discoveries at each encounter.
Claire Dunaway
Claire received her B.A. in Fine Art from Presbyterian College in 2002, spending
a semester in London, studying Art. She is currently working on her MAED in
Secondary education. Experiencing the best of both worlds, Claire enjoys working,
painting and attending school as she divides her time between Marietta, GA and her
part-time home in Park City, UT.
Artist's Statement:
I believe in art created with expression and passion. I am inspired by the world
around me. Although I often work with a variety of subjects, a commonality in all of
my art is the significance to me. People, expressions and the language of the body
intrigue me. I am inspired by food itself, and as a way of bringing people together.
In this way, and through my family, I am drawn to the restarurant industry and the
hard work and heart it requires by all involved. I am moved by the comfort, expressions,
and individual personalities of the animals who are so dear to us. I respect the escape
from hectic life provided by nature and landscapes. Finally, I am inspired by God for
giving me eyes to see and the heart to create.
Linda Lindeborg
Linda Lindeborg did her undergraduate studies in studio arts at Virginia's Madison
College, now James Madison University. As two dimensional studio work proved
to be her forte, she continued her education at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with
emphasis on illustration and graphic design. What followed was a 25-year,
award winning career in commercial art until the time came for her to refocus her
energy and talent toward fine art. Linda and her husband Rik moved from
Atlanta to coastal Georgia in 1998 and she quickly gained a regional reputation
painting marine and coastal images, primarily in watercolor. By 2002, she
had expanded the focus of her painting to include oil media works, rural southern
images and abstracted multi media works which maintain her signature contemporary
realist identity.
Onyeke Ibe
Nigerian-born painter, Ibe (pronounced ebay) has achieved international recognition
for his dramatic approach to painting. Described as the most exciting young painter
to emerge from Sub-Saharan Africa since the 1990s, he was awarded "The Best SOLO
Artist of the Year 2006" at Artexpo New York. Ibe looks for inspiration in
"natural and humanistic traditions of contemporary realism and abstraction." His
paintings convey a spectrum of human emotions.
Ibe was born not long after the end of the Nigerian civil war and grew up in a
developing democracy that was abruptly terminated. Violence became the order of the
day. As a youth, Ibe realized that his artists' sensibilities could move him in
either of two directions -- either to fight back at such dehumanizing situations, or
to escape inward by searching for elements that reflect humanity. He chose the latter.
Encouraged by his father, a painter himself, Ibe was introduced to drawing as a youth.
He achieved success at the age of sixteen when he first exhibited at the National Gallery
of Modern Art in Lagos, Nigeria. Ibe was quickly offered a full scholarship to study art
at the high school. He went on to train at the University of Benin in Nigeria, earning
first class honors (summa cum laude) in fine arts. After moving to the United States, he
continued his education at Georgia State University.
Ibe has traveled extensively through the United States, Mexico, South America,
Europe, Asia, and Africa. His work has been featured in art publications as well
as major museums, private collections, and galleries around the world.
Tiffani Taylor
Since 1998, Taylor has been designing and painting murals and commissions, as well
as solo and collaborative community service murals in Savannah for Goodwill Industries,
Open Arms Home for Medically Fragile Children, the Boys & Girls Club of America,
and Union Mission. Tiffani is currently designing pottery for the Salvador Dali
Museum, painting corporate and residential murals around the United States, and
painting heartfelt images on canvas and pottery represented in galleries across
the South East.
Vickie Johnson
Vickie sold her first painting in 1969 at the age of 13. She has continued to create art
over the years, touching the lives of many through her philosophy of giving to the community
around her. A native of Tennessee, landscape and people in their natural environment have
been her themes, with trees being a favorite subject. Portraiture is also a love of hers,
and her involvement in the Atlanta Fine Arts League has afforded her the opportunity to give
back to the families of young people who have lost a child in the war in Iraq by painting
the fallen soldier's portrait as a gift to the family. Since living in Atlanta, Georgia,
she has also broadened her themes to include cityscape, receiving commissions to paint
scenes from Atlanta and New York. Teaching art, both in the public schools and privately,
affords her the ability to travel during her summers, in search of sights yet unseen and
beauty yet unpainted. As an award winning teacher she has come to understand the
tremendous impact that an artist can make on the lives of people, both young and old.
Artist's Statement:
Art is a powerful tool by which we impact the lives of others. This carries a great
responsibility. I try to make every stroke that I create a present to the viewer - an
expression of what I see and feel. It is always my hope that someone will identify with my
perceptions and desire a piece of my expression as a part of their existence. I enjoy
working in oil and acrylic, and will typically have a realistic piece in the composition
mode at the same time as an abstract piece. When I get weary of the "tightness" of realism,
I will move over to my abstract and "loosen up!" Art is a gift and I derive pleasure in
sharing it with others. This is my responsibility - to create something that pleases God,
myself and others through the ability given me.
Kristy Goggio
In 1988, Kristy graduated from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) as a
drawing major. Receiving full year scholarship in 1986. Going out her own in 1991,
Kristy founded and operated Arc East Art & Frames, a dual purpose retail custom picture
framing business and gallery, which she operated for over 10 years. Presently, she
create oil paintings that are sold through various Fine Art Galleries throughout the Midwest.
The scope of her work is very dynamic, whimsical and kindrid. Kristy is also contracted
with Wild Apple Graphics, which is an international graphics and licensing company. Her
role is to create artwork that is then produced into posters and other home dˇcor
products. This art work is designed to meet home décor trends and is marketed globally.
Artist's Statement:
My newest body of work encompasses word play and phrases as an integral part of the
paintings. The paintings are all about the titles. I am currently in my fifth year of
creating bird paintings. My newest birds are "made-up" as were my past, and the message
of relationships is still often revisited but with a lyrical approach, the tone has more
to do with the irony of life or gesturing with play on words. My birds have become very
simplified. Sometimes the expression or mood is only hinted by the bird's body stance,
other times a very detailed eye reveals much of the bird's thoughts. These paintings are
not tricky or complicated; actually they are intended to be accessible and approachable.
Each bird character touches on aspects of real life personalities. My birds "wear their
emotions on their beak."
Kay Hibbard
While she has lived in the Atlanta area for most of her life, from 1996-2003 she lived in
Clearwater, Florida and found inspiration for her watercolors on the beaches. Preferring
to paint on location, Kay could be found painting scenes of palm trees and tourists.
The tropical landscape remains a favorite subject as she visits the coast periodically
painting in oil and watercolor.
Artist's Statement:
I like to paint from life and simplify what I see. I prefer my paintings to have
somewhat of a painterly quality. I see beauty in things that may not ordinarily
be considered beautiful such as an elderly person, a broken shell, wilted flowers,
or a gray day. It is the relationship of shapes and values, mostly, and then colors
that intrigue me. I try to translate that into a painting. I do not tend to
purposefully exaggerate with color or proportion because it seems enough drama
exists already.
Julia Speer
Artist's Statement:
I am an artist and an educator. I have been working in clay for about 10 years.
My first degree was a BFA Drawing and Painting from UGA in 1978. I went back to
school for a degree in Art Education in 1997 and took a beginning ceramics class
my final semester to fill an elective. I fell in love with the medium and have
been working in clay every since. I also teach elementary school in Cobb County,
GA. I live in North Atlanta with my husband Michael and our dog, Max.
Jeff Montaigne
Jeff has a long history within the world of art. Through painting, drawings, sketches
and sculpture, he has created many distinctive pieces for the individual collector
and for the corporate marketplace. With over 25 years of art in his veins and
heart, he recognizes that art is indeed a powerful vehicle, one that solicits an
emotional connection.
Over the past decade, Jeff has been highly sought after to create these large and
beautiful paintings that evoke a strong connection between the owner and the lyric.
His larger artworks can be seen in the corporate marketplace, as well as in private
homes and offices.
Artist's Statement:
"Every single day I literally think of about 100 or so song lyrics that I want
to paint... then I think about the time it will take... Ah, time... the greatest
gift indeed... perhaps I should paint more of that instead..."
Ingrid Bolton
Born and reared in Germany, Ingrid also lived in Switzerland, the Philippines
and nine different US States before settling with her family in the Atlanta area.
In 2002, she received a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts (Magna Cum Laude) from
North Georgia College and State University. Further, she studied with accomplished
and nationally known artists including Marc Chatov, Ann Templeton (OPA), Anita
Lentz, Lala Mulherin Street and, just recently in Spain, with Calvin Liang (OPA, PAPA).
Ingrid is a member of the Dunwoody Fine Arts Association, (Atlanta, GA) the Artisans
of Flowery Branch (Flowery Branch, GA). Her paintings have been accepted in
various juried Atlanta area exhibits, have won several awards and hang in private
and public collections.
Artist's Statement:
As I am exploring the fascinating and challenging world of creating art, I find
myself on the most exciting journey of my life. My "Golden Years" provide the
perfect opportunity to finally nurture my life-long artistic longings and to
realize a dream of being an artist. Oil painting is my primary interest although
I do work at times in various mediums such as acrylics and branch out into other
artforms i.e. creating Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs). Oils allow me to express
harmony through their rich and deep satin-like properties, while acrylics, provide
spontaneity, hence, infusing greater energy to my work. Whether painting landscapes,
flowers, animals, portraits or anything that surrounds me, I strive for an artistic
interpretation that captures the spirit, beauty or mood of the moment.
Amy Michelle
Amy Michelle is an up and coming new artist in the Atlanta area. Originally from
Michigan, she developed her interest in art at an early age with a natural ability
to express her personality in her work using bold colors, textures, layers, vintage
materials; like sheet music, old books and other unusual finds to create her mixed
media pieces.
Within each piece, Amy incorporates a small message that she hopes will have meaning
to its future owner with most of her work being done with a pallet knife; she
creates the texture she desires.
Amy's studio is in her home in Cumming, Georgia. She is a member of the Alpharetta
Art Guild. Donating artwork regularly to local silent auctions for charitable causes
such as the Georgia SPCA, Junior Achievement, Relay for Life to name a few, is
something she feels is a great way to give back. Her work can currently be seen at
vboggs Galleries in Suwanee, Georgia.
Artist's Statement:
We all have an artistic side or something we want to express for others to see.
It is so amazing to me when someone comes along and falls in love with something I
created; an expression of my feelings and passion on canvas... that is the ultimate
feeling for an artist.
Submission Guidelines for artists seeking representation
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