Congratulations to the talented artisans juried in during our May 30th session! We’re excited to introduce them and share a bit about their work. Learn more below!

MEET JEFF & KRYSTLE ADKINS!

SUMMERS COUNTY | STAINED & FUSED GLASS

“Kraken Glass N Crafts is owned by artists Jeff and his wife Krystle Adkins. We really enjoy the beauty of stained and fused glass. They strive to make quality glass pieces for others to enjoy. Stained glass is created by cutting pieces of colored glass into specific shapes and then joining them together with copper foil. The pieces are arranged to form a design and then soldered together to hold the composition in place. We solder hooks or hanging devices onto most of our stained-glass pieces for easy hanging options. They are finished with polish to a high shine. Fused glass uses different colored layered glass, adding textures from frit of different weights and sizes, and may have embedded materials between layers. The glass is carefully heated and cooled in a kiln to avoid cracking, resulting in smooth, often more abstract or sculptural designs. Many pieces require multiple firings to complete. Most pieces are hangable or are set in a stand for display.” 

 

MEET JAMES CANTLEY!

RALEIGH COUNTY | WOOD

“Each piece begins with selecting hardwoods based on grain pattern, tone, and natural color variation. I intentionally use contrasting wood species so the natural hues create depth and visual contrast without relying heavily on stains. The wood is milled, cut, and shaped using a combination of traditional woodworking tools and precision cutting methods. Designs are developed around West Virginia themes, including landscapes and state silhouettes. Individual wood elements are carefully arranged so the natural color differences form mountains, ridgelines, and scenery. Pieces are then hand-assembled, sanded, and finished to enhance the wood’s natural character while ensuring durability. In selecting works, I incorporate resin as a complementary medium. The resin is poured and cured in layers alongside the wood to create dimensional West Virginia scenes. This mixed-media approach adds depth and movement while preserving the warmth and authenticity of natural materials. All pieces are handcrafted from start to finish, combining traditional Appalachian woodworking techniques with contemporary.” 

 

MEET PAMELA COX!

NICHOLAS COUNTY | FABRIC TOYS

“During my teaching career I guided students in entering their work in numerous exhibits which include the following galleries: Tamarack, Beckley Art Center, City National Bank Lobby Gallery in Beckley under the direction of Jonathon Grose, Richwood Mt. Color Art Show, and the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. Each woodland animal measures 7 inches tall and five inches wide. They are made with felt, thread, and embroidery thread. Their clothing is made from fabric that includes wool, cotton, and silk blends. Lace, plastic eyes, and miniature buttons are used to add detail. The body parts are cut from felt and then sewn together. The eyes are punched and secured into the head. The body, limbs, and head are stuffed and stitched shut. Next, the limbs and head are attached to the body using a toggle and hand-stitching. Small details, including eyes, nose, and paws are stitched in place. Once the animal is finished, fabrics are chosen and clothes are cut out. The clothing is assembled with the sewing machine and the animal is dressed. Small details, such as buttons, collars, and ties are hand-stitched to personalize each character.” 

MEET CHRISTINA CRAVEN!

HARRISON COUNTY | PHOTOGRAPHY

“Christina started as a hobbyist whose goal this year was to do something out of her comfort zone: applying to have her work shown at Tamarack Marketplace. She uses lightroom after taking photos with my canon 6d mark ii camera. She’s very excited to be able to share her work and be able to grow more as a photographer under the Tamarack artisan family.” 

 

 

 

 

MEET SHERYLYNE DOLAN!

BOONE COUNTY | PAINTING

“My love for art started when I was about 10 years old; drawing people and landscapes was the beginning. In high school, the passion fueled as I received an award for my work over 2 years. During that time a painting of mine won first place in the Boone County Fair. I have no formal art education. My friend and mentor Geneva Miller had an art studio and held classes in Boone County for almost 30 years. We had weekly class with several artists, who painted together all that time. We participated in the Boon County Fair during that time as well. Again, I won a first-place ribbon for a still life painting. In 2022, I was selected by the West Virginia Cultural Center for display in the “Emerging Arist’s” exhibition.” 

MEET ANGELA GREENLIEF!

BRAXTON COUNTY | CERAMICS

“Angela’s education is in professional writing with minors in journalism and English literature. As a self-taught artist, she developed her skills in art and sculpture with her subject of choice often being the human form and face. She works with a variety of clay materials as their differences aid in showing texture and creating an end result that is uniquely hers.” 

 

 

 

 

MEET JADE HOOVER!

FAYETTE COUNTY | DRAWING

“Jade grew up in the foster system and started drawing to keep herself busy and grounded. Completely self-taught, Jade uses her art to express appreciation for the blue collar and those whose jobs are less valued in modern society. Jade primarily uses graphite or paints in black and white with a hint of color from time to time. Jade hopes to one day finish her degree in psychology and move forward to help children who grew up like her find the stability that art has given her.” 

 

 

MEET HOLLY KINCAID!

RALEIGH COUNTY | MIXED MEDIA

“Holly is an art teacher at Parks Middle School in Raleigh County and actively encourages her students year after year to grow creatively and artistically. Her work originates as a digital sketch on an iPad, where ideas are shaped and refined. The image is then etched into wood or a watercolor-primed canvas panel, creating a tactile foundation. She builds the surface with gouache, allowing for rich, matte color, and at times incorporate paint pens to emphasize line, pattern, and intricate details.” 

 

 

MEET PHILIP KIRK!

LINCOLN COUNTY | PASTEL

“I paint in soft pastel on a textured paper: either velvet paper, archival sandpaper, or pumice media on watercolor paper. As soft pastel is used as both a drawing and painting medium, I personally view the finished pieces more as paintings due to the layered technique and coverage. I have completed a significant number of personal commissions, including portraits, pet portraits, scientific illustrations, and other illustrations over the years, ranging from fine art to more graphic design type work including drawing coloring books, comics, and stickers.” 

 

MEET JEFF MOINE!

WAYNE COUNTY | CERAMICS

“I was born in Wadsworth OH where I attended public school. I enjoyed the excellent art program in the Wadsworth School System and decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in art education at Grace College in Winona Lake Indiana the art professors at Grace were very talented and committed to guiding their students to success and spirituality. Grace College is where I got my love for pottery working with Gary Nieter master potter. After graduating from Grace, I received a teaching license in Indiana and did a little bit of substitute teaching in Indiana before getting a job teaching art grades 1-12 in Crum Elementary and Crum HS in Wayne Co. WV. After teaching for 5 years in Crum, I transferred to Wayne Middle School in Wayne WV where I taught for 15 years. Next, I transferred to Buffalo Middle School, also of Wayne Co, where I taught 20 more years. I had the privilege of teaching all three of my sons at Buffalo Middle. They were all very talented but had completely different styles. My wife is also a talented artist and says that they all got their talent from her. After 40 years teaching in WV I had acquired a permanent teaching license in WV and decided it was time to retire, but 2 weeks after retiring, I applied applied for my teaching license in KY and got a job teaching at Poage Elementary in Ashland KY after 2 years of teaching elementary school in Kentucky I finally retired for good. I think. Helping students understand concepts that make it possible for them to do things that seemed like magic a few days ago is what makes teaching art so fulfilling to me. My friend and fellow art teacher, in Wayne Co. told me about the Open Pottery Studio at Huntington Museum of Art and I have been working on my skills there for the last 4 years.” 

 

MEET DIANA NELSON!

POCAHONTAS COUNTY | PHOTOGRAPHY

“I was born and raised in West Virginia. I grew up at the foot of Back Allegheny Mountain in Pocahontas County, where generations of my family have lived. I take my phone/camera with me wherever I go. Some photos are planned and some are not. I started taking photos of nature during the Covid lockdown to cope with the isolation and anxiety of the pandemic. I never thought of myself as a photographer, but when I looked back at my photos, I was comforted by the beauty I captured and wanted to share the experience.” 

 

MEET RUSSELL NESMITH!

WOOD COUNTY | WOOD

“I live in Parkersburg, West Virginia. I am retired and am a full time woodturner. I have a shop at home where I love to turn anything my mind can come up with. I have also been teaching woodturning at Woodcraft in Parkersburg for the last year and a half. I am a member of Mountaineer Woodturners in Ripley, West Virginia. As a club member I do different demos throughout the year. I am also a mentor in our mentoring program that we have on the fourth Saturday of every month. To create finely crafted, functional, and artistic wood turned pieces that honor the natural beauty of wood, combining traditional techniques with thoughtful design to produce pieces that are both timeless and meaningful. I harvest all my wood locally. I cut my own blanks for bowls, vases, lidded boxes and everything else I make to ensure I am using the best quality wood. At least 95 percent of the wood I turn is local and native to West Virginia. Everything Is turned in my small shop at my home in West Virginia, each piece is carefully designed, turned, finely sanded, carefully finished and buffed to highlight the texture, color and grain of the wood. Each piece is made to last a lifetime and to be passed down for generations.” 

MEET KATHLEEN PAYNE!

RANDOLPH COUNTY | PHOTOGRAPHY

“Kathleen is a West Virginia native and has enjoyed creating art since childhood. In 2025, Kathleen started her own business, Pure Victory Art, LLC, to turn her creative passions into a career. Her business name was inspired by her own: Kathleen means “Pure”, and Victoria means “Victory”. As a wildlife and nature photographer, Kathleen brings her camera with her on travel and outdoor adventures. Her hand-painted originals and photographs are often inspired by the natural wonders of God’s creation or by plein air scenes, and sometimes by farm and ranch life. She frequently features animals in her artwork because she loves them. Kathleen is mainly a self-taught artist but is grateful for the instruction she received from a wonderful high school art teacher; a photography teacher in college; and from classes, articles, and books by other artists. In addition to cartography, drawing, painting, and photography, Kathleen also enjoys fishing, hiking, horseback riding, playing guitar and singing, cooking, and going to visit the ocean when possible .”

MEET JO DUGAN PEREZ!

GREENBRIER COUNTY | STAINED GLASS

“My formal training in the visual arts includes a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History from the University of Maryland. I also hold MA and Ed.S. degrees from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies (Marshall University). I opened my first art studio in downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia in 1979 and taught drawing and painting. This is where I began to work with stained glass. Later, I moved to Virginia and was designated a “Virginia Professional Artisan” by the Artisan Center of Virginia. I now reside in Alderson, West Virginia and continue my work with stained glass design and construction. It is all about color and light! When I first encountered modern stained glass, I was so smitten and I realized that working in that media would become my passion. Inspiration for my designs has come from my multi–cultural background, natural forms, and the images that pop into my head. I also love art history and the work of my predecessors. Presently, I am focusing on abstract stained-glass panels and designing and building lamps. The beautiful forms of nature such as flowers, butterfly wings and ocean waves can appear in my work. My abstract panels contain an energy of color and movement that can bring a mood of excitement into space. Twisting and broken forms, complementing colors and sometimes surprising lightning bolts can illuminate my work.” 

MEET RAVEN J. RAVARY!

FAYETTE COUNTY | INSTRUMENTS

“My name is ‘Raven’ J. Ravary. Very few people know me as John, my given name. I have never had a reason to create a resume, so please bear with me. I was born in Toledo, Ohio, June of 1960. I attended Catholic grade school and begged to go to public high school, which I did and was an honor student all but my last semester, to keep a deal with my father. I was voted ‘Most Promising Art Student” out of 1,000 people in my graduating class. I went to engineering school at U of Toledo for 3 years for computers. I switched majors to Art in my Junior year, driving a wedge between my dad and myself, and I soon ran out of money. I came down to the New River and became a raft guide. I have always been crafty and have made things my entire life out of wood, fabric… you name it, from crocheted hats to wall hangings, sculpture, utilitarian objects and furniture. They let me have an entire wall to paint in my senior year art classroom! I have won a few snow sculpture awards in Telluride Co. back in the 80’s and the cash prices amounted to $1,000 and a free airline ticket anywhere I wanted. Most of my art had been given away as gifts or was never intended to be sold, until I found the art of Lutherie… making stringed instruments. I took a class when living in Maui, Hawaii in 2007 and now I have 85 instruments made and have helped about 30 students to make themselves. I truly enjoy the teaching part. Also, having a hobby that pays you back is a real bonus I am 65 years old, and my life is divided into groups of 20 years. Twenty in Toledo, then 20 as a raft guide, then 20 on Maui, and now 5 years back here in Fayetteville. I seek to display my work at Tamarack because I feel that it an excellent expression of statewide pride to show what Mountaineers can do, and the institution is unparalleled in the state. I have been juried once before, 25 years ago, when I thought I might make spearheads and flint tools for a living. I still hold that flint snapping is about the most difficult craft that one can learn. But you can’t string it up and play music with others!”

MEET KAREN WAKEFIELD!

NICHOLAS COUNTY | MIXED MEDIA

“My career has encompassed instructional design, graphic design, teaching, marketing, and educational and training communications development for schools, state agencies, corporate, and healthcare audiences. Throughout this time, I’ve pursued creative passions and freelance commission opportunities in photography, mixed media arts, and jewelry design. A new chapter begins as I’ve now transitioned out of the workforce to fully embrace my artistic journey. I use two processes in my mixed media collage and assemblage work. A gesso board base is used for work which will have heavy or wet media, such as liquid body acrylics, watercolor, or heavy/textured acrylic mediums or work which may have heavier objects and elements attached. A heavy mixed media or watercolor paper/board is used for work which uses drier media, such as colored pencil, pastels, paint sticks, and lightweight gel prints and collage papers. The works are either referenced from my own photography or incorporate my photos within. In the ‘Breakthrough’ piece, a physical collage base is then digitized and layered with a photo, within Photoshop, to produce the final image. Alternately, photos are printed on tissue and layered within the collage such as in the ‘Perfect Song’ piece. I do not use commercially produced photos, clip art and decorative papers, magazine images, etc. Occasionally I use portions of old book text and graphics, in small accents, purely as a design element. Any prominent text elements, such as a quote or poem, are digitally designed and printed by me. I paint and gel print my own colored and patterned papers, with a variety of paper weights and transparencies, to use as collage fodder. In 3-dimensional assemblage pieces, I do use found objects, as ‘supporting actors’, to visually communicate the story of the piece or to help provide physical structure.” 

MEET DENNIS KING!

KANAWHA COUNTY | CERAMICS

“Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1949, Dennis P. King graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Engineering in 1972. That same year, he began working as a civil engineer for the West Virginia Department of Transportation. He later received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration and the West Virginia Department of Transportation to pursue graduate studies, earning a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University in 1975. Dennis continued his career with the Department of Transportation until retiring in 2008. Dennis began his artistic journey in clay in 1996 through classes at Carver in Charleston, West Virginia. He continued his studies in wheel throwing under professional potter Mike Garnes. In the late 1990s, he was selected into the Allied Artists of West Virginia for his work in clay and was juried into an art exhibition at the Sunrise Museum in Charleston. Today, Dennis continues to work in clay, porcelain, and glass, specializing in both hand-building and wheel throwing techniques.”