Loveland, Ohio – Here are just a few profiles of the many artists and craftspeople who will be displaying their wares next Saturday at the Loveland Art Festival in downtown Loveland.
The outdoor Loveland Art Festival is happening Saturday, September 7 from 11am to 4pm. You’ll be able to browse 70 local artists, sip a cool beverage, and have a bite to eat. You can browse pottery, paintings, fiber art, wood crafts, photographs, sculptures and much more.
The event showcases Loveland High School art students and will be raising awareness about two non-profits, Angels by the Trail and the Loveland Foundation Legacy.
Plan to stop out and enjoy the activities and do some shopping. Free admission and expanded parking. See their FaceBook page for all the details plus a map to the event. Also, there is much information at the FaceBook page of Whistle Stop Clayworks.
Alex Eicher’s interest in photography started when he took a class at Loveland High School and he is now a second year student at UNOH. He enjoys nature and sports photography and has taken pictures at FC Cincinnati games, at the Western & Southern Open, at O.U. football games and all around Loveland, Ohio.
Bonnie McNett has been a potter for almost 30 years and owns and manages Whistle Stop Clay Works. She primarily throws functional pots, but appreciates the subtle art of hand building. She is an enthusiastic naturalist, mother of three sons, wife and fierce friend.
Connie Springer’s paintings revolve around stories: street musicians in Poland, a billiard hall in Berlin, a spunky gallery owner in France, a Vietnamese street, museum-goers, or a flower market bristling with people. She paints from photographs, not only her own but those left her by her German-born parents, from whom she inherited her love of photography and art. Her work has been exhibited in solo shows in Cincinnati and Louisville and in group exhibits in Cincinnati and Massachusetts.
Ingrid Farnham was recognized as a “budding artist” at 12 and studied art through HS and began painting with oils. After a hiatus for career and parenting, she resumed painting (in watercolors) began taking private courses as well as courses from the Cincinnati Art Academy. She takes art vacations whenever possible and continues improving her watercolor skills. She had a solo exhibit at the Grail in Loveland and a member of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati. She believes that a painting must evoke a strong feeling. To express this joie de vivre, she uses bright and transparent colors, primary and secondary complementary colors, constantly inspired by Nature.
Jewelry making started as a casual hobby for Melissa Martin many moons ago but it wasn’t until 2015, when she picked up her first piece of sheet metal (recycled roofing copper from the scrap yard), that she really fell in love with the art form. She took a silversmithing class where she picked up a torch and started learning how to use fire to create art. Over the years, she has continued to challenge herself, advancing her skills and refining her aesthetic. She is inspired by the natural world and the jewelry she creates is a study of texture and organic forms. She fabricates each piece with care and intention: thoughtful adornments made by hand, by hammer and by heart.
Chris Heaton is a retired Science teacher and has enjoyed working with wood for over 30 years. While he has always used traditional woodworking tools (table saw, router etc), lately he has also begun to use the lathe and scroll saw to create some of his projects. His hope is to elevate normal, everyday items (a pen, a cutting board, a bread knife, etc) and by using natural wood, create a more beautiful, lasting handmade heirloom. He hopes you enjoy using his creations as much as he had making them.
