Randy (Eureka Springs, AR) started woodturning as a hobby 40 years ago and has been very actively turning for the past 11 years. His turnings include all forms of the craft and he is a member of the American Association of Woodturners and the Stateline Woodturners Association (Rogers, AR).

Darla (Holiday Island, AR) is an artist and luthier who began her interest by customizing existing guitars as a hobby, eventually gaining professional training while attending Galloup School of Lutheri. Building cigar box guitars was a way to continue practicing fret work that soon turned into a passion that she now focuses all of her art towards.

Kurt (Henrietta, NY) has 20 years of woodturning experience, 175 internationally published articles, and has delivered 100s of demos and classes.  He enjoys the entire continuum of woodturning. A frequent instructor on all facets of woodturning, he’s well known for pens, ornaments, and lidded boxes. 

Doug (Eureka Springs, AR) has been working with his hands, in various media, his whole life. He has taught many people how to create their own work in glass bead making, kayak building, pottery, woodworking and drum making. He is passionate about sharing his skills with others.

Steve Palmer is a juried member of the Best of Missouri Hands Artisan Association & currently designs and builds custom furniture.

Julie Hop (Rogers, AR) earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from Columbia College, Chicago. She has been a muralist and has participated in exhibits in Chicago, New Orleans and Eureka Springs. Julie has designed and implemented art classes for children, teens and adults and has experience as a public school teacher. She is currently Program Coordinator at ESSA.

Fran (Eureka Springs, AR) began practicing mosaics in 1990 under the guidance of James Hubbell. She has furthered her studies in Italy and workshops in the U.S. She is inspired by the reflective qualities and design of Byzantine mosaics, translating them into modern materials.

Jason (Eureka Springs, AR) has been a percussionist for over 30 years and is the owner of New World Drums. He has apprenticed with master drum builder Doug Powell beginning in 2017, and has assisted Doug in several drum-making classes at ESSA.

Cheri (Elkins, AR) grew up in Texas and graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, and moved to the Ozark Mountains in 1999. Cheri has been working with stained glass since 1994, and combining glass with tree roots since 2001. Cheri has displayed her work in the Art Expo’s in New York and Las Vegas, the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, and in Chicago, Texas, and Arkansas.

Louis (Rockaway Beach, MO) is a wheelwright, wainwright, master carpenter and toy maker. He is a portly, bearded man that likes making toys for children around Christmas time (….sound familiar???). He started out learning to make his own toys as a child from his father who, despite being blind, was proof that if there is a job to be done, you find a way to do it. Louis has extensive experience building sets and props, and you can see some of his work – such as a 42′ tall chicken or a 16′ dog – in Branson, MO.