Behind the Curtain | Hauntingly Beautiful Halloween 2014 – Artists That Inspire

One of the things I love most about working for Rogers Gardens is being surrounded by the creations of so many talented artists! As a creative person, I am inspired on a daily basis by the level of detail and imagination demonstrated in these pieces. I especially love seeing their take on Halloween themes and this year we’ve added even more artists to our Halloween collection. As you can see above, we have a great assortment of licensed product, showing Bethany Lowe, Nicol Sayer and Tina Haller, but we also are honored to have original pieces available. Here is some of their amazing work!

Joyce Stahl –

Drawing inspiration from all things magical, spooky, wicked and whimsical Joyce Stahl spends many hours hand stitching each of her individual characters in her Ohio studio. Joyce works with fine fabrics, antique lace, vintage buttons, wool, and paint to create her mischievous cast of frightfully delightful ‘Little Enchanted Ones’.

Scott Smith –

Scott Smith is a full time artist working from his ‘Rucus Studio’ in Michigan. His overactive imagination is nourished by people, nature and the past. Autumn, with the harvest and fall leaves, sets the color palette for most of his Halloween art. He is fascinated by antiques and loves the notion of giving life to something that once had a purpose, but whose time has run out. Each of his curious and unpredictable characters is made from an original sculpture and finished with a variety of materials.

William Bezek –

William Bezek has been a professional artist since his senior year of high school. He studied fine art at San Francisco’s Academy of Art College before working as a visual merchandiser, showing paintings and sculptures in galleries, creating for television production, and designing scenery and costume for theater. William currently lives in New York’s East Village and in the Hudson Valley.  New to Roger’s Gardens this Halloween we are very excited to share with our guests his Petrified Pillar & Terrified Taper candles.

Nicole Sayer –

Nicole creates at her home studio in California. Her figures and dolls are a reflection of her passion for collecting antique dolls, toys, vintage fabrics, trims and household implements. Sayre has traveled the world in search of the perfect element for each of her creations. It is from these collections that she draws her inspiration. Each of her one-of-a-kind papier-mâché dolls is made by hand, clothed in vintage fabrics.

Bethany Lowe –

Bethany Lowe, a self-taught artist, has been designing for over 25 years. Her original one-of-a-kind creations are based on folk-art legends inspired by her vivid imagination and life experiences. Each piece is hand sculpted, painted, and dressed in costumes using vintage fabrics and trims that she has collected from around the world.

Debbee Thibault –

‘An The Gobble-Uns ll gits you Ef you Don’t Watch Out’

We are thrilled to showcase this original work by local artist Debbee Thibault. Starting with her imagination Thibault used wooden dowel and wire to shape the armature, before sculpting papier-mâché and giving life to the work with paint. Debbee’s entire cast of characters is inspired by her childhood love of old toys combined with her vivid imagination. The whimsy of her work touches the child that lives in each of us.

Wendy Addison –

Californian artisan, Wendy Addison studied fine art at an early age. In 1993 she opened her studio in an old garage and, combining her love of art and antiques began to create what she called ‘objects for an imaginary life’. Using antique materials found at flea markets, including old sheet music, tarnished tinsel, vintage crepe paper, Victorian scrap, and silver glass glitter, Addison’s work connects with some lost sense of magic from times past.

Vergie Lightfoot –

Vergie Lightfoot has been creating original art for over 24 years and has always had a great passion for Halloween. As she experimented with different mediums she created what are now known as, ‘Ole Soul Pumpkins’.   They are all made by hand and no two ever look alike. With up to 18 layers of paint on each piece they take countless hours to create.

Eric Cortina –

Taking inspiration from around the world, Eric Cortina works in his Laguna Hills studio to create beauty. His original and imaginative collection is designed with an attention to detail and an eye for color that results in truly distinctive heirloom pieces.  These vintage porcelain pieces are all one-of-a-kind; each is jeweled by hand and made to be treasured.

Sylvr –

Sylvr’s shrines are inspired by her visits to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. Surrounded by the dimly lit neo-gothic architecture she was mesmerized by the play of candle light upon gilded surfaces. Drawing on her varied background in fashion and window display Sylvr seamlessly blends together her inspirations to create a unique one-of-a-kind style. Each one of her pieces is painstakingly assembled using mixed medias. A single crystal in one eye is her signature.