Collective Voice: Paint, Clay & Light

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@calderrenee

After a 20+ year career in marketing and advertising—developing integrated campaigns and directing award-winning TV commercials and documentaries for Fortune 500 companies—Renee Calder transitioned to ceramics upon moving to North Carolina. Immersing herself in the region’s vibrant ceramics community, she began exploring clay and experimenting with texture and found objects to transform discarded or overlooked materials into compelling works of art. Her current practice reflects a fusion of design and surface, aiming to engage viewers through unexpected combinations and challenge perceptions of everyday materials.

@viviancolemanart

Vivian Coleman is an award-winning visual artist known for her contemporary abstract paintings in acrylic and watercolor. Her bold, vibrant style reflects a passion for living life fully, often drawing on stories rooted in adventure and the outdoors. Vivian’s creative journey began in her grandmother’s art studio and garden and has taken her around the world—from hiking in the Himalayas to kayaking rivers and running sled dog teams in the Alaskan and Yukon wilderness. With a Master of Landscape Architecture from NC State University, she spent over three decades designing walkable, bikeable, and people-friendly communities as a city planner and landscape architect. Today, her artwork is deeply influenced by landscapes, travel, and her lifelong connection to nature, blending color and texture to evoke memory, movement, and mood—echoing the thoughtful placemaking that has shaped her career.

@nancyjoyceart

Nancy Hilliard Joyce is a mixed-media artist based in Concord, North Carolina, whose work explores the layered relationships between nature, time, and memory. Her latest series, Balance in Bloom, features flowing alcohol ink backgrounds paired with precise botanical and bird imagery, often composed using the golden ratio. Working with materials like gold leaf, graphite, ink, and acrylic, Nancy creates richly textured pieces that balance structure with spontaneity. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, she holds a BA in Art History from Wofford College and an MA in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. Her work is widely collected and appears in homes, hotels, public spaces, and airports around the world. Beyond her studio practice, she curates art for boutique hotels across the Southeast and serves on several arts-related boards, using her platform to advocate for environmental causes, education, and the creative community.

@langhornehelen

Helen L. Langhorne, a lifelong craft artist originally from Richmond, Virginia, now resides in Cornelius, North Carolina. Coming from a family of artists—her mother, Ruth D. Langhorne, a pioneering watercolorist and founding member of the Virginia Watercolor Society; her sister, Corinne L. Geras, a portrait painter; and her daughter, Cary L. Caldwell, a fused glass and mural artist—Helen has expressed her creativity across numerous mediums including pottery, designer jewelry, painting, needlework, and sculpture. She is best known for her sculpted polymer clay figures, one of which is featured in the craft book Finishing the Figure. Currently, her passion lies in pottery, where she brings together form, function, and color. Helen previously served as Craft Director for a chain of craft stores in Richmond and hosted a televised craft show during the 1980s and ’90s. Her lifelong mission to support fellow crafters is reflected in her published instructional booklets, newspaper articles, and the many classes she has taught.

@amy_pennell_myers

Amy Pennell is a painter based in Cornelius, North Carolina, whose work reflects a personal perspective of the world—one where beauty and light take center stage. She believes that with close observation and a touch of imagination, beauty can be found in even the most ordinary things. After spending eight years in Richmond, Virginia, where she was deeply involved in the local arts community, she returned to North Carolina and continues to paint and create. During her time in Richmond, she was part of the Swimming In Paint (SIP) group, painting alongside Chuck Larivey and fellow artists—an experience that greatly enriched her artistic journey.

@papamikeimages

Michael Ritzie is a self-taught photographer who transitioned from a successful career in general contracting to follow his passion. Since moving from Florida to North Carolina in 2020, he has drawn creative inspiration from diverse U.S. landscapes, shaping his evolving artistic vision. Specializing in landscape, astrophotography, and fine art, Michael has received recognition in local, national, and international juried competitions. His work is regularly exhibited in galleries nationwide, where he values connecting with other artists and sharing his unique perspective.

@drjamesshaver

James Shaver’s relationship with art began early, winning a county-wide contest in grade school and serving as an art assistant in high school before taking a long hiatus. At age 59, during a mandatory business shutdown amid the COVID pandemic, he rekindled his passion by focusing on Line and Wash painting as mental therapy. Later, after experiencing paralysis caused by four bulging discs in his neck, painting became valuable physical therapy, aiding his recovery and helping regain dexterity. He completed all the works in his current show despite partial paralysis. Drawn to subjects inspired by his travels, James creates depth through shadows, perspective, layers, and color, often blending his experience with acrylics by starting with pencil outlines, refining with ink, and finishing with detailed watercolor and ink work.

@vanessa_thorman_watercolor

Vanessa Thorman is a self-taught watercolor artist known for her intricate, lifelike portraits of birds and wildlife. She began painting during the COVID-19 pandemic, after trying a watercolor tutorial at the urging of her daughter—and quickly fell in love with the medium. In just five years, her dedication and skill have earned her national recognition, including First Place at the Mark Arts National Watercolor Exhibition and the ScholARTship Award from the National Watercolor Society. Through her work, Vanessa seeks to create moments of stillness and connection between viewers and the natural world, with the hope of inspiring a deeper sense of care and wonder for the species she portrays.