Kay (Hot Springs Villages, AR) Growing up in High Point, North Carolina, gave Kay an appreciation for furniture, which led to a 25 plus year career in Interior Design, including a fun stint on HGTV. Many years of teaching furniture painting and creating her line of chalked paint make Kay uniquely qualified.

Preston (Eureka Springs, AR) has many years of experience in all types of welding, having set up and run his own welding business, as well as a welding shop in Kansas City area for a large manufacturing facility.

Darla (Eureka Springs, AR) has a background in luthiery and her interest in woodturning came naturally through her work as ESSA’s Iron and Wood Studio Coordinator. She began using carbide turning tools and soon became proficient at turning pens, handles, bowls, etc. These tools taught her about woodturning by safely making smaller gift projects that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Aaron (Fayetteville, AR) is a collage artist and visual arts teacher. She teaches art and design at The New School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Aaron is passionate about sharing the therapeutic and meditative states that collaging can bring to the mind and soul. In her own words, “I like to create detailed and inviting worlds that I would want to step into. I work in both the analog and digital realm, but creating collages by hand and using vintage ephemera truly fills my heart with joy.”

Tom (Rogers, AR) has been doing found object metal art for the last 15 years. He also works as a lighting and electrical designer, brews beer and makes home-made root beer, writes music and plays several types of musical instruments.

Charles (Brasstown, NC) has taught woodworking at the John C. Campbell folk school since 2008, and teaches workshops nationwide on timber framing as well as woodworking.  He started woodworking on his grandparents’ back porch and it has been his passion ever since.

Natalie (Yonkers, New York) is a New York-based artist focused on historical surface patterning techniques including natural dyeing, pigment extraction, and marbling. These meticulous, layered processes incorporate plants from her studio garden. Natalie is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Ed (Melbourne, AR) has been exploring the wilds of Arkansas most of his life, and almost always with a camera in hand. After 34 years as a music educator, he retired to the Ozark hills with more time to concentrate on his photography. Ed is currently President of the Arkansas Craft Guild, Instructor for the Arkansas Craft School, and has been an artist on the Off The Beaten Path Studio Tour for 15 years.

John (Cane Ridge, TN) has taught 100’s of classes at most of the major craft schools and turning groups throughout the US and ten countries. His art is a part of 30 museum collections, and he is an Honorary Lifetime member of AAW, American Association of Wood Turners.

Mary Lou (Tahlequah, OK) is a retired elementary teacher who now spends her time honing her sills and teaching jewelry making classes in her Tahlequah, OK studio.Her creations have been featured in several galleries and are shown at Fine Art Festivals in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. Her creations have won numerous fine art awards.