Folk Art Road Trip! - Catch up on news from our road trip across the deep south

We set our sails for a partial Grand Tour of the Deep South to visit with Sarah Rakes, Cornbread, Bailey Jack, Lonnie & Twyla Money and Cecel Allee about two weeks ago and our clocks haven’t stopped since! Here's a very brief play-by-play of our trip with a few pics from the road. Hope you enjoy!

SARAH RAKES - Our first stop was to catch up with Sarah Rakes and pick up a lovely floral entitled The Best Zinnias on a Table Top. We learned of her improved health and her renewed call to paint. She’s been working on a new garden at a friend’s house while watering her own creative garden.

CORNBREAD - Next on our list was a visit with Cornbread in his cellar studio. After a few steps down into his windowless workspace - a world filled with old photos, oddities and artistic fodder surrounded us. We hit the road after a few hours of discussing everything from dinosaur bones, rock hunting, NASA, a new salad restaurant and a shared love for beef jerky.

BAILEY JACK - A few hours later we arrived at Bailey Jack’s front door. We were greeted by the artist and her charming son, then given a tour of her gorgeous new home. Bailey tells us about her Stay at Home series - dreamed up during quarantine and inspired by her collection of lush arm chairs. Like many artists (and most people), the financial effects of the pandemic were rough to say the least. Canceled shows and social distancing don’t prove to be lucrative for a traveling artist but nevertheless, Bailey’s following continues to grow.

LONNIE & TWYLA MONEY - After a little shut-eye in Knoxville, Tennessee the tour moseyed through some major mountain ranges and finally landed at Lonnie and Twyla Money’s bucolic Kentucky paradise. Long before we met the couple on their porch, the welcoming committee greeted us in the drive way (Sam the lab and a cat who’s name we can’t remember). After hours of catching up, learning about an exhibition of their art at the Lexington Library and getting our guinea hens in a row – Lonnie and Twyla took us on a tour of the 100 year old, three story barn that doubles as Lonnie’s studio. The barn was built by Lonnie’s grandfather, Jacob Money, a woodcarver originally from Switzerland. We said our goodbyes to the lovely couple and their animal cohorts then hit the road to our final stop.

CECEL ALLEE - Cecel Allee’s isolated home in central Georgia is lovingly referred to as Lemonade Farm. As it sounds, her home and studio are whimsical and refined (think down home comfort meets Architectural Digest). Bottle trees and string lights can be found throughout the property. Her trademark milky pastel palette can be seen splattered throughout her barn studio. Reeds at the end of her yard give way to a hidden path where a secret dock hangs over a private lake. Her magic and that of the land can be seen in each of her paintings.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY - Besides much needed visits with old friends, this whirlwind tour consisted of driving 26 hours over the course of four days, a stop at the Waffle House (because if you don't stop at the Waffle House, are you even on a road trip?), a search for the perfect biscuit, winding mountain roads, a contemplative detour on the Trail of Tears in northeast Georgia and an attempted stop at Corbin, Kentucky’s KFC Museum (sadly, they were closed). P.S. Louie also had an ejoyable vacation of his own with his best bud, Charley. Click here to view all new available artwork!

We are kicking off the fall season with a very special guest, Kimberly Hodges. Kimberly ventures to Sanford, Florida from her mountain-tucked studio in Asheville, North Carolina for a one day pop up show featuring her original artwork alongside her wildly popular small batch wood prints. Guests are welcome in to meet the artist and enjoy some seasonal refreshments. She draws inspiration from the woodland inhabitants of the misty Blue Ridge Mountains, oceanic life and bouquets of fresh picked flowers. Her whimsical style and understated elegance make her crowd pleasing creations easy to love. Click here to RSVP to Kimberly Hodges' Pop Up Show!

Folk Art Private Collection Tour What's more fun than visiting an folk art gallery? Getting a behind the scenes look at a private collection! Click here to watch a video tour highlighting a vast private collection.