Projects

The Maggie Art Gallery

Honestly, I had a self-interest in photographing my framed spring images at The Maggie Gallery. However, the owner, Brenda Hopkins, and her curated collection of eclectic mountain artwork mesmerized me so much that I had to stay longer and take more pictures. If you live in Floyd or visit, you must stop by and talk with Brenda about the intersection of life, the Appalachian mountains, and art. I’ve recently changed out the leftover spring and summer images for fall ones.

Person in a green hoodie and brown beanie looking at artwork on a wooden counter, with another person behind the counter. Various paintings and portraits are displayed on the walls and counter.

Colorful beaded necklace and earrings on black velvet display

Woman in blue shirt sitting at a table with a clock on the wall and a photo of a dog in background.

Decorative shelving with art, vases, and candles

Person standing in front of easels displaying paintings, including landscapes and a winter scene, in an art gallery.

Wishtree Celebration

What an unexpected treat to photograph one of my literary heroes, Katherine Applegate, during her talk at Blue Mountain School. There was also a riveting performance by Appalachian poet, Mara Eve Robbins.

A person standing outdoors with a microphone, wearing a blue T-shirt with text, surrounded by trees and greenery.

Woman speaking into a microphone outdoors among trees

Woman speaking into a microphone outdoors

Person in colorful clothing and floral crown outdoors in a forest.

Three people in a wooded area, one person with arms raised wearing colorful clothing and a flower crown, two others standing together casually.

Outdoor Sculpture Gardens

My time walking through the Out There Sculpture Trail with Charlie Brouwer was nothing short of transformative. He views artwork as a conversation between the viewer and the artist. Highly recommend you schedule a free tour if you are local to or visiting Floyd.

A person wearing a hat and holding a stick stands on grass, observing a wooden sculpture in a forested area.

Wooden humanoid sculpture with raised arms in a forest setting

White wooden frame of a house structure in a forest, with trees growing through it. It includes a table and chairs made of the same material.

Abstract wooden structure resembling ladders in a forest setting

Wooden sculpture of a person with a lawn mower in a forest.

Medusa Art Exibit

A former firefighter turned homestead farmer, Tanja Vidovic somehow manages to find time to create an array of different artwork. I had the pleasure of recently photographing her Medusa exhibit at the Jesse Peterman Memory Library in Floyd. She used family and friends as subjects for her various Medusa paintings. Besides poetry, her novel, snake canes, and paintings, Tanja also made an awesome snake crown for viewers to try on.

Abstract painting of a figure with snakes as hair, inspired by Medusa, in shades of pink, yellow, and purple against a dark background.

Framed illustration of a person with snake-like hair reading a book.

Person with glasses holding a camera, wearing a Medusa-like headpiece with snake-like extensions, in an indoor setting with shelves and a framed picture in the background.

Framed watercolor painting depicting a woman dancing. She is wearing a flowing purple dress with her long hair swirling around, set against a warm orange background.

Colorful abstract painting depicting a face intertwined with snake-like shapes.

Living Traditions Festival

I had so much fun photographing artisans specializing in a variety of crafts including wood carving, metal work, pottery, painters basketmaking, and so much more. How amazing that the Floyd Center for the Arts brings attention to heritage crafts at this annual festival. I’m already looking forward to next year! Artisans shown here are Reida Sage—potter and woodworker Shuan Webber—woodworker. At the far right, Paul M. Kitchen, board director for Floyd Historical Society, demonstrates a loom from their collection.

Woman working on pottery wheel in studio

stack of quilts on a wooden chest next to a wrought iron bed frame and a small ornate table with a decorative lamp

Artist smiling at an outdoor art display table featuring colorful paintings of nature, including a peacock, cactus landscape, hummingbird, deer, and butterfly.

A man using a chainsaw to carve a wooden sculpture outdoors, surrounded by sawdust and woodworking tools on a small table.

Older man sitting at a loom holding weaving tools with yarn, in a room with red walls.

Art Exhibit

I’m super excited that the pictures below from Whittenberger Wilds, Ital Acres, Skipwillow Farms, and Boon Farm were accepted into the Farm Life and Art Exhibit at Floyd Center for the Arts, shown August-September, 2023.

A young girl holding a baby goat in a barn setting.

Grassy field with large hay bales surrounded by lush green trees and rolling hills under a cloudy sky.

Brown goat surrounded by branches in a wooded area.

Close-up of a pink coneflower with a green and red center against a blurred green background.

Close-up of a brown and white goat with floppy ears in an outdoor setting.

Crooked Mountain

From early spring to late summer 2023, I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph the beautiful Crooked Mountain store, campground, and gardens. What a treat to see the grounds literally blossom. They designed a breathtaking pick-your-own bouquet garden with bright flowers like sunflowers and cosmos. They have also carved a beautiful trail through their property highlighting a multitude of ecosystems including a stream, marshland, pasture, and forests. (Available only to guests staying at their picturesque campground).

Campsite with a green tent and picnic table covered with a red checkered tablecloth and a cooler, surrounded by lush green trees.

Three tents set up on a grassy field near a campfire, surrounded by lush green trees and forest in the background, under a clear sky.

Pink zinnia flowers in a garden with a red barn in the background.

Whittenberger Wild Farm Animals

What fun spending hours with the Whittenberger animals. I love seeing the animals interact with each other and with the Whittenberger family.

Close-up of a turkey with detailed feathers and textured skin

Three ducklings sitting close together among grass and gravel.

Close-up of a piglet eating a green bean

A goat with brown and white fur standing among leafless branches.

Cozy Farmstay Guesthouse

I felt like I was getting a mini-vacation taking pictures at the Springside guesthouse at Skipwillow Farms. I loved the way the light streamed through the windows, offering glimmers into beauty of farm life with all the comforts of home around.

Rustic tiny house with wooden exterior, red-framed glass door, and small porch surrounded by trees.

Cozy attic bedroom with a bed covered in blue quilt, adorned with decorative pillows including one featuring an owl. Bookshelves on either side of a window are filled with books and a crow figurine. Two books are displayed above the window.

View through an open door showing a red barn and outdoor scene.

Kitchen shelves with various items including plates, glasses, mugs, a teapot, a knife set, a decorative plate, and a wicker-wrapped pitcher with glasses.

Rebecca Wildbear Website

In anticipation of the Feb. 14 publication of her book, Wild Yoga, Rebecca Wildbear and I worked together to recreate her website celebrating her soul-guiding, wild yoga, and eco-activism. What a joy to collaborate with the following nature-focused photographers and artists: Douglas Van Houten, Allison Ragsdale Photography, Sarah West, Chelsea Chapman, Stephany Seay with Roam Free Nation, Max Wilbert, Kelly Miranda Photography, and Kate Gardiner Clearlight. Check out Rebecca’s website rebeccawildbear.com to view breathtaking pieces from their collections and to learn more about Rebecca's upcoming book and offerings. While you're at it, try out Wild Yoga with a free video on the site!

Below are four of the five pictures I contributed to the website. The fifth picture of Rebecca and her dog shown on my home page.

White and yellow bloodroot flower in bloom

A scenic autumn forest with a winding road covered in fallen leaves, surrounded by trees with colorful foliage in shades of green, yellow, and orange.

Close-up of blue forget-me-not flowers against a blurred green background.

Rocky shoreline with ocean waves and distant sailboat

Farmstay Video

While vacationing with my family at the breathtaking Franny’s Farm in Asheville, North Carolina, I filmed this short video and stitched it together with imovie. Music: Blue Mountains by Gabriel Witcher. Voiceover by yours truly.

Ital Acres Photoshoot

During an extensive photoshoot, I photographed Maya and Ed Skopal and their beautiful Ital Acres farm, farm stand, plants, healing products, and new processing facility. I love how they use the photos I took for their Facebook social media posts. Funded by a Floyd County Economic Developmen t grant.

A family of five posing outdoors on tree branches, with a woman, a man with a beard, two young girls, and a boy, surrounded by green foliage.

Containers of herbal lip balm with marigold flowers in the background.

Close-up of purple lavender flowers on a green blurry background.

A woman at a market stall selling kombucha starters and herbal products, with bottles arranged on shelves and a sign displaying product information.

Cordwood house with timber frame, large windows, and a white door. The wall features sections of cordwood masonry with stones and wood pieces set in mortar. A patch of grass and pink flowers are in the foreground.

Shakti’s Meal Mixes

I wrote copy for Shakti Natural Nutrition’s delicious and healthy Indian mixes, which make Ayurvedic balanced meals easy for anyone to put on their family’s table. Best of all, I cooked, took photographs, and ate each of these warmly spiced and nourishing meals myself. Posting this makes me want to whip their flavor-packed khichari, ghavan pancakes, dal tarka soup, and upma for dinner. Now that would be a feast like no other!

Three arancini rice balls garnished with small green leaves on a white plate.

Close-up of a stack of golden, fluffy pancakes with visible air holes on the surface.

Creamy risotto garnished with a small green herb on top in a white dish.

South Indian kesari dessert in a white bowl with raisins and black mustard seeds

Skipwillow Farm Soaps

I love the 100% natural Skipwillow Farm soaps brimming with wholesome milk from their beloved goats. The luxuriously creamy soaps have definitely soothed my winter dry skin itch. Here are some pictures taken at The Soup Shop. Skipwillow Farm soaps photographed on gorgeous Singing Tree Woodworks cutting boards.

Handmade soap bars with decorative patterns, labeled "Skipwillow Farm," arranged in a wooden tray.

Handmade soaps on a wooden surface, wrapped in labels with "Skipwillow Farm" branding. Various colors and shapes, including purple and yellow.

Handcrafted soap bars with labels in a wooden tray.

Floyd Moonshine Cover

A picture I took of our country lane featured on the fall 2022 cover. Inside, the local literary magazine focusing on agrarian themes included several of my black-and-white farm pics of cosmos flowers with insects on them.

Cover of Floyd County Moonshine, Fall 2022 issue. The background features a winding road through a forest with autumn foliage. The title "Floyd County Moonshine" appears along with a list of contributors. The issue number is 14.2 and the price is $12. Cover photo by Kristine Carter.

Dog Portrait Inspiration

When I emailed Marian McConnell research questions to flesh out details about my main character’s journey into a mountain cave for my middle-grade novel, The Bones We Breath Through: A Dragon Poets Tale, she kindly invited me to visit her property and see the entrance to Murder Hole Cave. While there, I observed the deep connection she shared with her rescue dog, Lily, and took the below picture. A few days later, she sent me a photo of the below artwork, for which she used my picture as partial inspiration. I’m impressed by how Marian brought out Lily’s eyes, ears, and expressions.

You can view more of her fabulous creations in her art folder on Facebook. Her artwork adorns the picture book, The Seed and the Song, and her adult fiction novel, Emergence. She is currently writing and illustrating a book about Lily.

Close-up of a dog with a brindle coat and white markings sitting on a person's lap, with the person's hands resting on the dog in an outdoor setting.

Illustration of a brown and white dog with a red collar and "Lily" name tag.

Pictures in Farm Video

I’m so excited that the videographer, Christopher Angileri, used my portraits of the Skopal family and pictures of Ital Acres plants in his informative video about their farm, made possible by a grant from Floyd County Economic Development.

Skipwillow Farms

Thanks to F loyd County Economic Developmen t’s grants, I photographed the Upson family and their Skipwillow Farm, goats and chickens, milk and eggs, and add-on packages for guests. When I redesigned their website, I incorporated pics from previous photoshoots, revised text, and added pages.

A family of six standing in a grassy area with a leafy background. The father is wearing a checkered shirt and jeans, holding a young child on his shoulders. The mother is wearing a gray top and jeans. Two children are standing in front of the parent

Close-up of a young black and white goat in a barn

Three glass jars of milk with colorful lids and a small bouquet of wildflowers on a table, with a red barn in the blurred background.

Angela Dribben’s Exhibit

I photographed Angela’s Dribben Exhibit at Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd, VA, on display from May and June 2022. STEM shared the complexities of an autistic mind through assemblage and mixed media—layering material on medium in honor of each element’s original conception while elevating the whole as a united story. Learn more about Angela’s beautiful artwork and writing.

Three canvas art pieces with animal silhouettes made from newspaper and colored paper on a wooden surface.

Silhouette with floral pattern and collage elements

Wooden board with paper collage art featuring a tree, rabbit, and bird; small boxes with decorative paper cutouts on a wooden surface.