January is a nice time to reflect on the past and this month we are celebrating our West Virginia artists on display from 2016. In the last 12 months, we featured photographers, sculptors, painters, jewelry makers, illustrators, a clay artist, a graphic designer, and a hat maker!

We kicked off 2016 with an article titled “Hats off to the New Year” which showcased Denise Young, (pictured above on the left) a self taught artist who makes adorable hats with ears. Click here to learn more about Denise! In February, we featured Terry Shutko’s work in the key of c(ubism). Our article helped promote Terry’s opening artist reception for his art exhibit at Carnegie Hall. Click here to read our feature on Terry!

In March, we expanded our horizon by learning about Aspen Tree, a jewelry maker who specializes in wire wrapping crystals. Click here to read our feature on Aspen! Our artist for April was Daniel Perry, (pictured above on the right) who is inspired by the masses. He is a graphic artist who does graffiti, illustrations, and fine art. Click here to read our feature on Daniel!

For the May issue, we featured an artist who is devoted to clay. Her name is Diana Hunt and she has maintained a studio and sold pottery in Greenbrier Valley for over 30 years. Click here to read our feature on Diane!

Summer arrived and we met Merideth Young who is motivated to save the planet. She concentrates on metalsmithing and jewelry design. Finding a way to repurpose aluminum into jewelry is her gift to the environment. Click here to read our feature on Merideth!

In August, we featured Hashtag Lewisburg’s “Catastrophe” illustrator, Emily Sullivan. She not only offers us with refreshingly witty cat comics but she’s a very talented illustrator and draws tortured withered old faces which you can see displayed at the Wild Bean. She says, “They’re unsettling in the way they force the viewer to look at or relate to the inevitable decline of their mortal selves.” Click here to read our feature on Emily!

In September we featured JP Owens, who is influenced by Pablo Picasso, M.C. Escher, Keith Haring, and Henry Moore. His abstract style is done through paintings and sculpture. You can see his designs on many things including skateboards, guitars, t-shirts, and shovels. Click here to read our feature on JP Owens!

For October issue we interviewed Alaskan Fisherman and American painter, Jon Rene Gaujot. In his feature, he shared his near death experiences as an Alaskan fisherman and also described his paintings where he works with fast 3D bold colors and layered vague realism. Click here to read our feature on Jon Rene!

Happy sunshine colors took the focus in November with our interview with Karen McClung. Everyday, her biggest obstacle is finding a place to paint. For now, it’s her dining room. But one day, she hopes to have her own room dedicated as her art studio. Click here to read our feature on Karen!

Last month, we interviewed Jenny Harnish, a multimedia journalist who works for the Register Herald. Aside from her 9-5, Jenny’s mission in life is to bring together the best short documentaries about people who have spent time in the criminal justice system with her website, prisonstories.org. Click here to read our feature on Jenny!

You can learn more about all of these artists at christinae6.sg-host.com. In the search box on the right, enter “wv artist” and every artist will show. If you are interested in being featured as our WV Artist of Display, reach out to us at info@christinae6.sg-host.com. We are always looking for talented artists to feature every month.

– HashtagWV #85. January 2017