The Artist Gallery...

With my soul mate holding on tightly, we briskly walked along main street in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Although we are new residents to the area, we have visited this serene town many times before--each time a new surprise opens its arms and invites us in.

This lovely November morning we happened to spot a sign waving in the wind that read "The Artist Gallery" with a visual of an artist's palette that coincidentally I have used myself for a favorite project.

We entered this shop and were pleasantly greeted by the artist, Rick Hoyle, and his wife, Lana. Both Yoli and I were quite taken by the exactness of the artist’s pastels: It was as if they were actually dimensional photographs with a color overlay. They were exquisite, and since one of my good friends was a world-acclaimed artist, I felt a kinship with this quiet and gentle man.

Rick is very introspective; my guess is that he would rather have his paintings speak for themselves. Actually, I have found this to be quite true of most creative souls; my dear friend from California is quiet but there is magic in his brush strokes. And it seems to be the same for Rick--he has a "gift" which he is quick to point out comes from the Divine.

He explained that pastels are a difficult medium but he has found that working in this medium allows him the opportunity to draw as well as paint. Rick added: "I have often been asked how I get such detail with each piece of art as the images appear to be part of a photograph."

"Frankly, my work is truly an "act of love;" I love what I do and so I put a great deal of time and effort into each piece. I never rush my art, spending hours, days and sometimes months on one scene. Patience is a virtue, achieved by few, but a must in my work."

Rick is a person of God and recognizes, quite humbly, that all he has achieved is from the hand of the Almighty. He often inscribes his work with a passage from the Bible.

Come visit this shop, The Artist Gallery, and see for yourselves that this quiet man with a loving passion for his art will gladly allow you to take a part of his love home with you.

Colors from the Mind of Watercolorman...

The Christmas Shop On Main...

When I first discovered Jonesborough, this most unique of towns nestled in the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee, my mind coursed with nostalgia for the "good old days," for this town represents "the backbone of our nation," "the emerging South"...The beginning foundation of our great country!

This area is filled with good people, people of the land with a real sense of purpose and dignity, and for just that split second it allowed me to discard the fast pace of the ticking clock and the meter running....

A deep breath... relax... take a second or two and just listen to the stillness and the birds on the wing; taste the surroundings designed by the hand of God.

I love to walk hand in hand with my soul mate, Yoli, as we stroll up main street with little Bear at our side and chat with the local merchants and visitors like ourselves. With all my journeys and the "colors" of other moments in time and space, this just feels right!

Jonesborough is recognized as the oldest town in the great State of Tennessee; founded in 1779 after a large tract of land was purchased from the Cherokee Indians four years earlier. For a short while the area was actually called "The Country of Washington" when it was still part of North Carolina. It took another 17 years before Tennessee was recognized as a state.

The town still reflects the flavor of those early days. Take a close look at old photos and you will see that very little has changed. Which is actually a very good thing.

The town of Jonesborough today is alive, vibrant and personal with events such as: Music on the Square every Friday evening, live performances at The Repertory Theatre and, of course, the International Storyteller Center which is world famous and lends a good deal of earnest charm to a city already brimming with nostalgia. But the real “experience" comes from the local merchants that brings "small town friendship" to life…each shop proudly displaying its wares and, more importantly, their values and their traditions as they welcome the traveler and make him or her feel right at home with words of encouragement, a cup of home brewed coffee, or perhaps a treat for their puppy. Welcome to Jonesborough, a city at the epicenter of gentle!!

There is no greater example of kindness than the new and wonderful "The Christmas Shop on Main" where Susan Harrison and Cassie Kitzmiller have brought the splendor and joy of Christmas to Jonesborough.

Susan was a middle school teacher for twenty years and probably was a terrific teacher because she was always a "kid at heart.” While chatting with Susan, she remarked that, "In Virginia there was a great Christmas store, and I loved going there anytime of the year. I have always been crazy about decorating for Christmas which has been a family tradition forever. Mom gave me tree trimming responsibilities when I was in eighth grade and from that moment on I was hooked!"

“My Aunt Margie had two trees at her home and she let me help decorate those as well, each year trying to outdo the year before. All this was preparation for what was to come, I’m sure.”

Now, let's take a stroll down main street and enter ever so quietly "The Christmas Shop on Main." As the door opens, you are greeted with an explosion of colors, sights and sounds as your mind takes you to a far different place than the street you left behind. The charm of the shopkeepers is particularly pleasant as they are covered head to toe in the aura of Christmas. As you explore this quaint shop your eyes appear to be everywhere; as a small child might do, you point and smile, as

Susan calls out their names. There is Choppy O'Snow, the snowman, Cuddle Bunny Holiday, the bunny rabbit with the fuzzy fur hat and scarf, Court Kitty, the kitten court jester! The shop features a Pickle Ornament…a tradition that stems from certain communities in Germany. As the story is told, the child who first found the pickle in the tree on Christmas was awarded an extra gift from St. Nicholas.

As we continue to search the nooks and crannies of this special place, Susan continues to point out the unusual pieces on display such as Bingle Bells, a twist on the traditional jingle bells with Bling all over the top.

The shop also features artists such as Penny McAllister who designs wonderful clay and papier-mache ornaments and figurines….Bright, whimsical, old-fashioned....like Miss Reindeer, who wears a radiant polka dotted dress and striped stockings; and Santa who sits atop a bedazzling colored finial with a tag that reads "Jolly."

As we snoop some more, we discover that there are blown glass ornaments for everyone. The shop carries everything from frogs to wise men, Noah's Ark, penguins, candy canes.... Anything and everything imaginable to help decorate your home and that oh so special Christmas tree, compliments of "The Christmas Shop on Main." If it were only possible the walls would magically move and that tree standing majestically in the corner of the shop--so stunningly decked out in its array of spinning ornaments and brightly colored tops--would reappear in that corner of your living room that honors a space held sacred for Santa.

We noticed that the shop features a special collection of precious Fairies by Mark Roberts. They are truly one of a kind and many of them support a special cause: The Fairy of Miracles benefits St. Jude Children’s Hospital; The Spirit of Hope Fairy (dressed all in hot pink) benefits The Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation; and the purple and blue clad fairy is identified with The Make-A-Wish Foundation. I was humbled by this man's vision and its manifestation here among the shepherds.

It suddenly became crystal clear that I had entered a "moment in time" that could never be taken from me. It was so appropriate that we had come to this picturesque town and discovered the wonders of this small shop that might just as well have been called: "Handle With Gentle Care.”

Suddenly, Colors From the Mind of Watercolorman just added a new shade of

"Extraordinary" to its palette, and that color would forever be linked with: "THE CHRISTMAS SHOP ON MAIN..." And I would never be the same!

Colors From the Mind of Watercolorman...