Local Art

Louisville Stoneware

Made exclusively for ...at Mary's, the Doo Dah Tumbler was created in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Stephen Foster, the Musical. A mold was had crafted of the musicman and carefully colored with Louisville Stoneware's definitive green. Pairing the tumbler with the Musicman Pitcher and the Augusta platter is the perfect compliment when cooling off during the hot Kentucky summers.

The Doo Dah tumbler comes with its own recipe card. Be sure to get your set soon. The tumbler cost $35 and the 1 quart Bar Pitcher is $65.

Donna Ellis

Donna Ellis is a self taught artist with a passion for oil painting and a love for local street scenes and architecture.

Inspired by her grandfather, Donna began painting as a young girl. She continued to enjoy it throughout her life while also experimenting with various other art forms but ultimately chose oil painting as her favorite form of expression. She was always drawn to the natural and yet intense colors of oils as well as their texture and endless versatility.

Beginning with a few scenes of the historic downtown, Donna began selling her artwork at a local shop. The positive response she received encouraged her to continue and she has since built a small following, expanding her sales to art shows as well as private commissions. Her latest endeavor involves still life scenes incorporating bourbon bottles from local distilleries. Having been in the restaurant business for many years Donna had always enjoyed good working relationships with the various distilleries in town and is very aware of the role of importance they play in our community. The still life paintings as well as works of the distillery properties seemed a natural and obvious subject of interest for her work.

Donna Cheek – Kentucky Bourbon Recipe Lamps

For years now Donna Cheek, a Kentucky Proud member, has been making Kentucky Bourbon Recipe Lamps from recycled bourbon bottles. Donna collects empty bottles & fills them with all the ingredients that go into bourbon which includes corn, rye, wheat and barley that they grow on their farm. The homestead located in Cox's Creek, Kentucky in Nelson County was built by a prominent member of the Foreman family, James P. Foreman. In 1949 the Cheek's purchased the property. Today it is still an operating farm.

Susan Christensen

"I have had an interest in art throughout my life, drawing with crayons as a child, and later working as a professional artist. I received a BA in art from Webster College in St. Louis. I have been making art ever since. I was interested in the art form batik and displayed batik paintings at many art shows while living in St. Louis. After moving to Kentucky I was looking for something simple and portable. Thus began my special attraction to watercolor.

At my first watercolor workshop I fell in love with the pre beauty of transparent watercolor. I attempt to stay loose, paint boldly, and release the magic of clean, vivid color into the chosen subject. I enjoy painting simple scenes with a surprise in composition or color choice. I realize that I may have found an art form that is portable but certainly not simple. Still, I love the challenge and unpredictable nature of the medium.

In 2008, I retired from teaching, and although I still help out at Bardstown Primary from time to time, I enjoy having the opportunity in my life to paint more seriously and more often."

~ Susan

Sharon Milliner, Painting and Fiber Art

Sharon Milliner was born and raised in Louisville and currently resides in Mount Washington, Kentucky. She graduated from The University of Louisville with a B.S. in business administration. Her art career began June 2007 upon her retirement as Chief of Operations of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. Just prior to her retirement she renewed her childhood interest in art and enrolled in community art classes. Much of her training has been under the knowledgeable and patient guidance of Linda Jones and Tom Scott, distinguished watercolorists. In addition to her expression of art on paper or canvas, she creates one of a kind wearable art by hand dyeing, painting and felting her fibers of choice—silk and wool. She has trained with local fiber artist Pat Sturtzel, and Nicola Brown an international felt artist from Ireland.

Milliner shares her talents as a contributing artist for the Bullitt County Barn Quilt Trail. She lead a group of community volunteers in the creation including layout, drawing and painting of 15 large quilt blocks installed throughout Bullitt County. She also contributed her time to assist in painting two 40 foot murals on the Joe B Hall Avenue underpass in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. She is an active member of Central Kentucky Art Guild, Fine Art Bardstown Society, Bullitt County Arts Council, and Visual Artists of Bullitt County.

Milliner's artwork and fiber art has won awards in exhibitions and juried shows throughout the region and appears in private collections in the United States, Great Britain and Russia. Her creations demonstrate her excitement with color and aqueous techniques. The subject matter for her paintings varies from floral, landscapes, animals and portraits. She is delighted when a viewer identifies with her work and the story of the painting. Her fiber art design is abstract and nonrepresentational. They express her freedom to color outside the lines.

Milliner draws her inspiration from the beauty of God's creations and the joy of living surrounded by nature.

Daphne Seaman, Polymer Clay Artist

"For me, the act of creating puts me in touch with my Creator God. The use of polymer clay in my art is the most recent means of expression in my life that began with ceramics and fiber arts. I am passionate about "junk", scraps, and found objects, too, and love to recycle these into my art.

The range of color possibilities in polymer clay and the intricate patterns made with millefiori techniques constantly amaze and excite me. Polymer clay gives a voice to a playfulness in my spirit and captures my delight in life, in color, in texture, and in form."

~Daphne

Ellen Baker Finn, EBF Designs for Crows

"I have always had kind of a ridiculous passion for jewelry. My friends and family have often teased my about my "crow-like" attraction to all things sparkly and shinny. Just last year, after a suggestion from Mary Carey herself, I decided to take a jewelry design class so I could begin to make my own sparkly things! I have been thrilled to fill the shelves of my office with jars of bright and luminous semi-precious stones--their beautiful colors and sheens inspire me. I have also been surprised to find how much I also enjoy the more mechanical aspects of bending, shaping and knotting the sterling silver wire and seeing each piece come to life. I love being able to "test" all of my creations myself and with four daughters, nothing makes me happier than seeing my own jewelry dangling from their lovely lobes and encircling their beautiful necks!"

-Ellen

Ron Perrin, Photographer

Ron Perrin is a photographic nomad. Always on the go, Ron works in various photographic disciplines, graphic design and large format printing. Passionate about travel photography and the documentary image, Ron often finds inspiration in nature, rural settings and faraway places. His work and adventurous spirit has lead him to work in various locations around the globe- traveling, shooting and seeking new material all the time.

Ron graduated from the University of Louisville in 2003 with a BFA in Photography. During this time he explored abstract photography, studio and commercial photography, Journalism, European archaeological dig site documentation and various alternative photographic processes.

In 2006, Ron and a collaborator published their first photo documentary covering Muay Thai boxing camps in and around Thailand, Southeast Asia.

Ron often has formal photographic exhibitions and his work can be found in various personal, corporate and private collections across the nation and abroad.

Ron currently lives in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Randy Burba, Poster Edge Photography

Randy is a Nelson County native who resides in Bardstown with his wife of 30 years, Cece Downs Burba. They have two sons, Michael and Jeremy. Randy is a graduate of Nelson County High School and the University of Kentucky.

A professional photographer with The Kentucky Standard (1981-1986) and Salt River Electric (1986-present), he has captured numerous state and national awards for both his photography and writing.

Randy began his new business, Poster Edge Photography, in 2010 and is excited to be a part of the very talented Nelson County art scene. Through his poster edge photo techniques, Randy is able to take quality photographs and turn them into something that borders on a painting and highlights to the original photo to make them distinctive from other pictures.

Art lovers can choose from one of his inventory pieces, which focus primarily on local buildings, nature and wildlife, and outdoor scenes, or they can request a photo of something close to their heart, be it an antique car, family pet, old home, etc.

Please feel free to contact Randy at his home (502-348-9534). You can also see his work inside the pages of Kentucky Living magazine as part of his job as Vice President of Customer Service & Marketing at Salt River Electric.