What Are You Doing During the COVID-19 Crisis? Meet Leslie Moody

Leslie Moody is a local artist from Watkinsville, GA who is very involved in the art community. Leslie's work has a unique style. In the past, she has focused on commissions, especially pet portraits.  In this unprecedented time of the recent pandemic, Leslie has been able to "let go" of her busy calendar.  She has been forced to "live in the moment'' and this has given her freedom.  Freedom to move at her own pace as well as the freedom to explore her style. This freedom has brought her peace in her work.  A phrase she heard in a recent podcast resonated with her..."Don't push the river."

This freedom within her art has sparked an interest in painting abstracts. Her past focus was on color, shape, lines, etc. The color was her comfort zone. At this point, she has freedom without fear to explore other avenues. In the beginning, she felt it was intimidating to explore unfamiliar areas. However, she has found it has released new creative energy.

Going through the "shelter in place" during the pandemic has made her realize the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the lack of busyness.

Leslie has been very involved in the OCAF organization. She has received recognition at OCAF as well as other art venues in the Athens area.

Her work can be found at Madison Markets, Aurum Studio at Lake Oconee, and Chops.

What Are You Doing During the COVID-19 Crisis? Meet Joe Coggins

Joe Coggins is a "Renaissance Man"...a person with many talents or areas of knowledge. Some of the adjectives describing this type of person would be intelligent, knowledgeable, artistic, social and cool.  If anyone lives up to this description, it is Joe.

Joe has had an interesting life, to say the least. Throughout his childhood, he was fascinated with all aspects of art. He started his formal studying of painting at the Atlanta Art Institute. His journey has included studying privately with famed artist and founder of The Artist's Atelier of Atlanta, Quida Canady.  He also took private lessons from the famed Russian artist and teacher, Constantin Chatov.

After graduating, he not only started painting professionally but taught art in Atlanta for twenty years.  During that time, he also painted and traveled his way across the southeast and Mexico.  His work of landscapes, marshes, and wetlands have been displayed in galleries throughout Florida. Joe paints in oils and watercolor. From his years of experience, he can help you select a frame that will "make" your painting pop and stand out from the rest. I have witnessed that many times. Joe is also an accomplished photographer.

Joe and his wife, Willene, have opened a wonderful warehouse in Watkinsville, "J. Coggins Frame Warehouse".  Stop in and talk with Joe at 9 School Street anytime 11-5 Tuesday through Saturday.  Joe also has plans to do wholesale. To view his art, go to www.josephcogginsart.com

He and Willene have a space at Madison Markets in Madison, Georgia showcasing his paintings as well as lamps and other home decor.

What Are You Doing During the COVID-19 Crisis? Meet Kathy Batten

Kathy Batten is a friend and a wonderful businesswoman...smart, resourceful and innovative. Kathy has a hot sauce business, Chile Today, Hot Tamale. She sells her products in many stores including Farmview here in Madison, GA.  Kathy also owns two houses that are in the Airbnb program...one in Asheville, NC and the other in Beaufort, SC. Her home in Beaufort has a long-time renter at the moment.  However, due to the fact that Asheville has shut down Airbnb temporarily, Kathy has switched gears from "hostess" to "visiting nurse hostess" because traveling nurses need housing during this time.

I have been a guest with Kathy at both houses, and they are perfect for any length stay. Her attention to detail as well as the location of the houses make them very attractive for a visit. Both areas have plenty to do for all ages.

Kathy wanted to share an on-line course she is taking, "The Science of Well-Being". To start, you take a short test to determine your core character strengths. There are 24 strengths and yours are ranked from strongest to weakest. Each day you have an assignment...it is a deep dive into your innermost character. You can access it by going to ViaCharacter.org

I also want to thank Kathy for allowing me to stage her house in Beaufort, SC last summer. To view the pictures, go to ritaknightstagingandredesign.blogspot.com

                                          Asheville, NC house near downtown area

                                           Asheville is an artsy town...plenty of galleries

                                                         Biltmore House Winery

What Are You Doing During the COVID-19 Crisis? Upcycling Jewelry with Susan Kelley

Yesterday, we met Susan Kelley who has returned to her creative talents during this trying time in our lives.  We talked about Susan's hobby of porcelain doll-making. Today, I would like to share her most recent hobby...upcycling jewelry. Susan purchases pieces of jewelry from antique stores and flea markets combining them with new pieces and findings. We will take a look at a few of her pieces today.

                                                Beautiful Necklace with Antique Perfume Bottle

                                                       Part of her extensive collection

                                                     Necklace made from puzzle pieces

                                                Necklace below made from 1850 brooch

What Are You Doing During the COVID-19 Crisis? Meet Madison resident, Susan Kelley

The Coronavirus has turned the world upside down! We went from our usual routines into a "storm" like we have never seen before in our lives...many have lost jobs, some have been very sick, some have lost loved ones, and others are just trying to make it day to day.

But, we are known to "adapt" and we have in many different ways.  During this storm, people have been forced to find a different routine. We will take a look at how different people have responded to this challenge.

The first one I spoke with is Susan Kelley, a long time resident of Madison, GA.  Susan is originally from Florida but moved to Madison from Atlanta, GA.   Susan is a fount of creativity...
she has made and decorated wedding cakes for many residents in this area. She has also made porcelain dolls complete with designing their hair from mohair and silk to the clothing appropriate for a certain era. Her most recent talent is upcycling jewelry.

During this time of crisis, she has gone through her many stacks, boxes, and drawers of miniatures and embarked on the task of organizing. She has also found dolls that needed to be clothed and went to the task of designing clothes.

She pulled out her large dollhouse and transported it to Atlanta to have electricity put in the house.
This project will take a few weeks and when it is completed, I will share pictures of the finished house...right down to the lighted chandeliers.

Here are a couple of pictures of two of the rooms in the dollhouse...the bathroom and one of the bedrooms...look at the detail from the clothes to the furniture. (Click on picture to enlarge.)

                                            One of the bathrooms...cowgirl in bathtub

                                            One of the bedrooms with rich sister & wild sister


                                       

Celebrate Valentine's Day with Fireball Pearl Earrings

Trinkets is delighted to offer these wonderful earrings in limited quantities. These large fireball pearls from Japan have a captivating luster. The word iridescence comes to mind...no two are alike. The pearl has a tail like fire resulting in the name. These rare pearls are a perfect gift to express your love for your one and only.

Valentine's Day, 2020..."Angel Blessings" and "Love Notes"

February is here...the month we celebrate LOVE in all its many forms. My creativity has blossomed the last week of January despite the winter weather. It was a mild month overall, but we did have some cold and rainy days. Some sweet gifts for this month of celebration of LOVE include small "Angel Blessings"...small canvases with Psalm 91:11 on the back,  "Love Notes"...4x6 canvases of Angels...Guardian, Healing, and Ascending...and larger angels in different sizes from 5x7 to 8x10.

Many of these can be found at MAGallery in downtown Madison, GA and in my ETSY shop, Rita Knight Designs...share the love with someone...a friend, a significant other, a husband, a wife...with one of these remembrances.