Rotating Art Display

Featured Artist, Lisa Chaffman

The featured artist for May is Lisa Chaffman.

From her tranquil glass studio in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lisa Chaffman creates unique, colorful works of art inspired by a lifetime of aesthetic experiences. As a child in Atlanta, Lisa found that art gave her the active means to express her carefree, independent spirit. Art became the path she would follow throughout her life. Lisa graduated with a degree in graphic design. While she appreciated the world of digital art, she longed for her pencil, paint, and paper. Lisa began expressing herself in large paintings and murals. When asked to describe her art, she will immediately talk about the box. (Does the box need more explanation?) She believes in art as an active form of expression where her spirit can freely express itself.

Lisa’s independent spirit has been a true asset as her husband’s career required them to move 15 times to different cities throughout the United States. Using her talent wherever she landed, Lisa drew inspiration from each new experience and applied that emotional energy to create paintings that involved natural mixed media. She has used organic resources such as glass, crystals, and raw pigmented colors. She has applied the technique of encaustic painting using heated beeswax, resin and pigment. Lisa currently paints mostly with oils. She integrates all of her experiences into a unique interpretation of art.

Lisa’s path eventually took her to Amelia Island where she especially enjoyed recreating her feelings of living on an island. In Amelia, she won recognition in the community for her fun and colorful mixed media style. She showed her work in many galleries and ultimately had her own gallery.

As Lisa matured in the world, she longed for home. Her path has led her to move closer to Atlanta in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Lisa loves reflecting the peace and calmness she feels amid the beauty of the lake and all the mountains. She has embraced a more subdued, polished style. She still enjoys her love for color and large painting. Lisa is a member of the Gilmer Art League in Ellijay, Georgia.

The City of Young Harris is pleased to have seven works by Lisa at the Peach State Federal Credit Union, so stop by and enjoy her work.

Main Street Young Harris is creating a database of local artists from North Georgia and NC. Please take the time to share your information here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DL3PGKY. Our goal is to connect artists with events, opportunities, and potential grants. Thank you!

About the Rotating Art Display

In order to highlight the talented people in our awesome mountain area, the City of Young Harris has put together a community involvement initiative that showcases local artists. The Rotating Art Display at the Peach State Federal Credit Union and the Mountain Regional Library showcases the work of many local artisans. Artwork includes pottery, woodwork, jewelry, glass work, quilting, basketry, gourds, felting, photography, and paintings. The artwork will be on display for about eight weeks and is available for purchase through Main Street Director Rosemary Royston. If you are interested in having your art on display, please complete and sign the Rotating Art Agreement below, and submit to rroyston [at] coyhga.com (Rosemary Royston), who will follow-up with you to discuss next steps.

Below is a list of artists who have shown their work at either Peach State Federal Credit Union or Mountain Regional Library.