Her husband, John, does the gutting, cutting and the painting. Graham crafts facial features out of clay and buys mohair off the internet that she curls to make mustaches and long beards.
“People absolutely love them. We did our first Christmas show at Hara Arena about 10 years ago,” said Graham. “I won First Place at Holiday at Home about six years ago. They’re one of a kind and sort of like the Cadbury Bunny. Once they’re gone; they’re gone.”
Graham remembers her first stab at creativity. She crafted homemade potholders using a kit, and sold them door to door when she was 7. She majored in marketing and merchandising at Webber International in Florida, but took various art classes on the side. The Santa art is mostly brown; some are painted blue. She gives them puffed up cheeks and twinkling eyes. Some of the eyes are made of glass so the light shines through.
Graham has been a member of the Ohio Gourd Society for the past eight years. Prices for the Santa gourds range from $35 for a Santa pen to up to $400 for the largest Santa Gourd Glows.
You’ll find other gifts that are lower or a little higher than that price range within the gallery.
Diane Coyle is featuring “Changing Seasons,” her watercolor paintings, in the Members Window. Another member artist, Rosie Huart, is a featured artist this month as well. “Winter’s Garden” is comprised of her mixed media artworks, including paintings, handmade paper and collage. All the proceeds from Huart’s art for November and December are being sent to the Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She decided to give to that charity when she saw a recent report by ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer on “Children of the Plains.”
The newest member, Debra Grantz Wolf, is presenting her watermedia paintings for sale. She has been taking art lessons from two Town & Country members, Coyle, and Trish McKinney. She started with Coyle in watermedia, and received lessons in that medium, plus mixed media and acrylics from McKinney. They told her she was ‘ready‘ to show her work.
“I was excited to finally show my work,” said Wolf, who has lived in Centerville for the past 12 years, and joined Town & Country this past October. “I like watercolor because it keeps you flexible and helps you stay loose. I love flowers, and the beauty and bounty of nature.”
She has also written a book called “Peace-abilities,” which was published in 2009 and is distributed by Parent Child Press. It’s a teacher’s manual for student curriculum.
“I feel privileged to be here with all these wonderful artists,” said Wolf. “Our world needs to have more beauty and art.”
Over 30 local artists are presenting unique, one-of-a-kind gifts this Christmas season. You can choose from jewelry, pottery, fiber art, paintings, photography, silk scarves, wooden boxes, glass bowls, cards and various ornaments.
Contact contributing visual arts writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.
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