Archive

Joyce Samuel — My love for art began at a very early age. My formal training started with a scholarship to the Chicago Art Institute, where I spent all the time I possibly could. It continued through high school and later with adult education classes.

Marriage and family prompted a move to San Diego, CA, in 1970 and I studied under Joe Garcia, Susan Clark and Cloyd Bedke while raising my family and managing the Florist, Antique and Art Gallery I owned. In addition, I showed my work at many local Art League Shows and capturing numerous awards.

Since our move to the Southeast in 1993 and then to Bristol, TN, in 1998, I’ve been with the Watauga Valley Art League, Kingsport Art Guild, The Arts Depot, Art of the Highlands, 606 State Street Gallery, and other organizations. I have presented my work to the public over these past years at numerous juried art shows in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Kentucky.

I’m presently a resident artist at the Arts Depot in Abingdon, VA, and member and Treasurer of the 606 State Street Gallery in Bristol, TN.

My art is currently exhibited at many local commercial establishments both in Virginia and in Tennessee.

I paint what I truly care about and the things I love that are all around me and us. I’ve worked with all medias and watercolor is my passion. I feel a special charm in each subject I put to paper and wish to share it with others, hoping they will join me in my appreciation of what we truly do have to enjoy and be thankful for.

I’ve studied the artistic and assembly processes of fused dichroic glass, which allows me to further utilize all the wonderful colors and forms that abound here with us to create one of a kind pieces.

Michael Waddell — Mike was born and raised in North Carolina, where he attended elementary and Jr. High School. In 1968, Mike graduated high school from Fishburn Military School, Waynesboro, VA. Upon his graduation, he enlisted in the US Army. While stationed in Norfolk, VA., he met and married his beautiful wife of 42 years, Ingrid. In 1971, Mike relocated to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Mike became interested in photography. His first camera was a Cannon AE1 with an f 1.2 lenses, enabling him to photograph the sunsets and night-time scenes that surrounded the different locations where Mike was located. Due to the loss of 3 Canon cameras, Mike drifted away from photography and pursued other interest.

Mike retired from the U.S. Army in November of 1988 and moved to Bristol TN. While living in Bristol, Mike has worked for several organizations and as an Over the Road Trucker, until his retirement in April of 2010.

Two years ago, Mike, returned to photography and embraced the digital era with open arms. Now using a Nikon D3100 and three lenses a 50mm f 1.4, an 18-55mm zoom, and a 55mm to 270mm zoom lens, with the various software programs, Mike is able to create a world of more and brighter colors, surreal scenes and thought-provoking photos.

During Mike’s early years with photography, he worked very hard to develop his photos, using different aperture settings, exposure time, dodge and burn techniques on the enlarger.