Anne Webb, Pottery - Magnolia Springs AL

A native of Canada, Anne relocated in 2000 from Ontario to coastal Alabama, where she currently shares a studio with Lowell Webb.

She discovered the joy of working with clay in 1993 when she signed up for a pottery introduction class as a diversion from her day job. Ever since university, she had been looking for something that was intrinsically satisfying, and it appeared clay was it -- the connection was immediate, and she hasn't looked back since.

Mostly self-taught, Anne prefers to work on the potter's wheel.
"The clean, graceful forms that one can achieve on the wheel can equally stand on their own without adornment, or provide a good foundation for most any decoration, whether it be a simple glaze, free form brushwork, or carved design."

Anne makes both high-fired functional ware as well as one-of-a-kind art pottery. She draws design inspiration from the world around her here on the Gulf Coast, and is strongly influenced by the aesthetic and spirit of Asian and Celtic design, as well as that of the Art Nouveau Period.

"Pottery has a distinct human connection. It is a tradition strongly rooted throughout human history, transcending both cultural and chronological lines. Revisiting works from the past is a celebration of our diversity, giving us a reference point as both artists and human beings. "

Visit the Webb Pottery website: www.webbpottery.com
and blog at: http://www.webbpottery.com/blog

Scott A. Blackwell, Cajun Art & Design - Waveland MS

"When i ate my first crayon as a kid, I knew I wanted to be an artist."

Scott Blackwell... A Contemporary Humorist, with a Cajun and Carribean Twist, who takes art seriously, but with a big dose of humor and color.

Scott takes his work to another level of depth using vibrant colors and textures to produce his wacky world of original and limited edition pieces. His mediums consist of acrylic paint, gypsum cement, found objects and new building products found at local hardware stores. His original paintings are on canvas with a technique he designed to create a look as though it were a tile.

Scott grew up on the Anna Maria Island, Florida, attended Ringling School of Art and achieved a BFA from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana. Scott has moved back and forth from Florida to Louisiana several times after graduation. His heritage, being half Cajun, made him settle in a little town called LaPlace on the outskirts of New Orleans. After ten years he relocated to Waveland, Mississippi, where he lives close to the Gulf beaches and the bayous.

"My mentors were always Salvador Dali, Peter Paul Rubens, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Gary Larson's "the Far side"." Scott's inspiration comes from the beaches, his Louisiana heritage, and a good roaring fire.

Scott's works are currently sold in galleries in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Michigan. and have been sold to private collectors in 24 different countries.

He has been included in many group shows around the country, including the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans (1993), The New Orleans Museum of Art (1991), and in 1993 he was featured in the show Real New Orleans on Channel 26 TV. He was also Featured Artist at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (Bear Creek Bluegrass Festival) Children's Museum, Gulfport, MS (2005), and at Jubilee CityFest, Montgomery AL (2005)

Scott can now be reached at:
Mombo Graphics, 436 Sandy St., Waveland MS
email: mombocompany@aol.com

William Colburn, Sculpture - Fairhope AL

William F Colburn, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and currently resides and works in Fairhope.

Following in his father's footsteps, he began welding at a very young age and over the last 15 years has successfully worked at establishing a business all his own, producing unique and creative metal sculptures. His work includes Artistic Studio Furniture, indoor and outdoor sculpture, as well as structural and accent architectural pieces.

William has exhibited in many States throughout the U.S. and continues to travel the nation, participating in art festivals primarily during the spring and summer months. Since 2000, he has won numerous arts and festival awards and gained recognition in the iron and metal art industry. William's work has also been marketed by art and home design catalogs such as Sundance and Crow's Nest Trading Company.

Each and every piece of William Colburn’s fabricated iron and steel sculpture is created by the artist in his private studio. Metal is cut using a plasma or gas fueled torch, shaped over a forge, and weld fabricated. Other projects involve individually casting molten metal using sand-cast molds of William’s own design. Brass, aluminum, and natural stones are incorporated into many of his projects.

Tools used in the process include hand held torches, a coal-fired forge, mig and tig welders, and various hand held hammers. No commercial or automated equipment is used in any phase of the creation or design process.

Maria Spies, Pottery - Silverhill AL

Maria Spies has worked as an independent ceramic artist since 1973. Originally from Mobile, she has studied with many national and international artists but most of her time has been spent in her own studio working and developing her own styles and skills.

Maria’s work appears in many galleries and collections throughout the country. Teaching others through classes and workshops has also been an important part of her career. This has kept her in touch with students and helped them to develop a respect for the ceramic arts.

Maria has also been active with non-profit organizations throughout her career serving different positions as an officer, board member and volunteer. She has chaired and juried numerous shows and exhibitions. Recently awarded Best of Show at Mobile’s Arts Alive 2008.

To find more out about Maria, please visit her website:
http://www.maria-pots.com