Leslie enjoys pushing paint around. Adding collaged elements to the paint surface adds something different to a traditional image-making process. Leslie grew up in Alabama with an artist & art teacher mother and an architect father. Leaving Alabama after college, Leslie exhibited for nine years in the Washington, DC metro area before moving to the Shenandoah Valley in 2005. She earned a BFA in Painting from Birmingham-Southern College and completed post-graduate studies with fellow Alabama native Bill Christenberry and collage guru Mindy Weisel at the Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington, DC. Leslie currently lives in Staunton, Virginia with her husband and their son.

Cynthia Burke is known for her sometimes humorous and often thought provoking paintings of animals and birds. Her inspirations range from the work of the Early Dutch naturalists and the lithographs of the 19th century to the photos she takes today. The pieces now at The Barn Swallow are small paintings on copper. The copper has been treated with an acid, and then the image is painted in oil and covered with wax. The wax preserves the metal as well as creating an "old" look. Over the years the exposed copper may darken, like a penny, further enhancing the "aged" look of the piece. Cynthia’s other work may be seen at her studio in the McGuffey Art Center.

As a self-taught artist, Leslie is creating classic but unconventional jewelry. She uses organic materials such as unusual pearls, wonderful gemstones, amazing sea shells, and beautiful botanicals that she immortalizes in silver. She also loves to recycle vintage findings to use as a finishing touch to her work. Her jewelry is designed with a focus on symmetry, texture, and color. Her attention to detail assures the wearer that what they have is hand crafted and high quality; no two pieces are the same. You can contact Leslie at leslie.chisholm@gmail.com or visit her website www.lesliechisholm.com.

John Grant – photographer After a long career in graphic design and publishing, John has come full circle, back to his original interests and his instinctive love of photography. Experimenting with the latest technological tools, his work most often focuses on botanical imagery. The works of Irving Penn, Mapplethorpe and even Georgia O’keefe come to mind as inspirations. Although John has been producing his art for a relatively short time, he is honored to be represented by Getty Images worldwide, by Kathleen Ewing Gallery in Washington, D. C., Page Bond Gallery in Richmond, and of course by his favorite artisans and friends at the Barnswallow. To see more of his work or to contact John, please visit johngrantstudios.com.

Lotta Helleberg – textile artist Intricate, resilient, coarse, bold, and delicate – leaves are the true inspiration for Lotta's work. She uses a printing technique in which impressions of actual leaves and other plant materials make up the pattern. Fabric paint is applied to the back of the leaf which then is pressed onto the fabric. Each item is made of natural linen or linen/cotton blends and are constructed in her studio, with extra attention to details and finishes. The result is a collection of lovely objects that brings the deceivingly simple beauty of nature into everyday life. You can contact Lotta at info@inleafdesign.com, 434-882-1569 or visit her website www.inleafdesign.com and blog www.inleaf.blogspot.com.

Britta-Lena Lasko is a cellist, photographer, and broommaker living in Charlottesville, VA. Her primary medium is hand-painted black and white photos as well as handmade brooms. Functional and a bit whimsical, her work brings brooms to a level above and beyond their usual place in the cleaning closets of many homes. She specializes in celebratory artisanal brooms, such as wedding brooms, but she also makes functional brooms as well. Each broom is made by hand from natural undyed broomcorn, a type of sorghum grown specifically for making brooms. You can contact Ms. Lasko at 540-219-1442 or Chicopee44@aol.com.

Local artist Misty Mawn has had a strong passion to create art ever since she was just old enough to hold a pencil. As an avid doodler, collage artist, and painter she loves to gather all of these creative outlets and infuse them in each piece of work that she creates. Her passion for art continues to bless her life with purposeful work and fulfilling adventures. She studied studio art at Moravian College, started and ran a pottery business, and has since retired from clay to focus on painting and teaching workshops around the world. You can read more about her work and life on her blog: www.mistymawn.typepad.com.

Anne Scarpa McCauley – basket weaver Anne's honeysuckle baskets are original and unique. She has never taken lessons, studied books or contacted other basket makers for ideas. Having made honeysuckle baskets for over thirty years, she is extremely competent in her field, and can now make the baskets she once dreamed of. Anne has over the years won many awards and is also a member of Strathmore's Who's Who. She lives outside Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and five children. You can contact Anne at anne@honeysucklebaskets.com, 434-978-4679 or visit her website www.honeysucklebaskets.com.

"Even before I was fully hatched, I have had a deep love for drawing and painting which has sustained me throughout my life. I was trained as an illustrator, and I currently create illustrations for childrens' educational materials. When I work on wood panels I am reminded of the Northern Renaissance artists who painted angels on wood. My birds are intended to be reflections of angels—winged messengers who live between heaven and earth. I hope that when you look at my paintings, you'll begin to understand their language, and hear what they are saying to you. I currently live in Charlottesville with my wife, our nearly-two-year-old daughter, our grumpy dog, and our friendly cat." Visit Steve's website at www.stevemorrisonillustration.com. His email is stevemorrisonillustration@gmail.com

Cary Oliva – artist and photographer Cary enjoys making all sorts of things creative: from photographs to greeting cards to marble coasters. After discovering an alternative photographic technique using Polaroids, she began looking for a new medium to transfer her images onto and discovered the wonderful texture of bottichino marble. Each tile is hand-crafted and baked to infuse the image onto the marble making it etch resistant. As a self-taught artist, Cary continually strives to learn new ways to explore her creativity and enjoys displaying her work in and around Charlottesville. To see or learn more about Cary’s art, she may be contacted at cary@bycary.com or 434-971-7765.

Tim O'Kane – painter, illustrator, and photographer Tim O’Kane is an artist, photographer and birder who has lived in Central Virginia for thirty-five years. Locally and on journeys elsewhere, he makes quick studies of the birds he encounters, sometimes at feeders but more often in the wild. He looks for active poses that show the particular nature of each species. You can contact Tim at tim@timokane.com, 434-295-8807, or visit his website www.timokane.com where you can find portfolios showing a wide range of the fine art and photography.

Joe Sheridan is a rustic furniture maker, painter and educator. He has been living and creating works of art in central Virginia since he graduated with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts from James Madison University. Born in Albemarle County, Joe currently lives in Waynesboro with his wife and three children.