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Artist Highlight: Susan Minyard
Sweetwater Pottery
Susan Minyard
Functional PotteryA little over forty years ago some friends and I decided to try to save the earth by buying as much of it as we could. We found a wonderful old 500 acre farm that had been abandoned in 1946, before the use of pesticides. We incorporated as Sweetwater Community Land Trust, dedicated to stewardship of the land. I opened the pottery in 1984, wondering if it was possible to make a living doing what I loved. Imagine my surprise when I was successful!!
I’ve been traveling for years to sell my pottery and have loved the romance of the road, but as I get older, I want to stay home more and just make pots.
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Artist Highlight: Robin Horn
Mixxed Messages Painting & Naked Fairy Apothecary
Artist: Robin Horn
Mixed Media/Painting/Jewelry/Resin
Robin Horn creates art as Mixxed Messages Painting and as The Naked Fairy Apothecary. She describes herself as possessing an innate love of rocks, color, plants, metals, and energy. While nature serves as her primary inspiration, she also draws from the mystery inherent in nature and life, as we can never know everything.
Having attended art school in Colorado, Robin has been painting all her life. She spent 27 years in Florida, where she “raised two beautiful sons and had many great adventures.” During her time there, she worked for a company specializing in faux finishing. Robin recounts leaving a trail of unauthorized paintings and collages across several states before finally settling in Missouri. She moved to the Ozarks in 2018, believing Missouri to be the safest place in case of various potential events. She praises Missouri for its blended culture, the people, and the sense of limitless possibility.
Despite life’s interruptions, Robin has remained dedicated to her passion for painting and creation. She enjoys using mixed media and pushing the boundaries of understanding. Her open-minded approach to life, she believes, has positively influenced her art. Through her work, she strives to communicate complex emotions and concepts. Robin is thrilled to be working on new art again, finding renewed inspiration in meeting like-minded individuals and having a space to display her creations.
In June, Robin will be teaching a class on flow painting. She describes it as a lot of fun and always a kind of surprise because you never know how it might turn out—much like life, where the future is always uncertain.
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Artist Highlight: Mara Bosch
Cat Track Studio
Artist: Mara Bosch
Painting / Sculpture / Jewelry / Functional Fiber ArtsMara creates art in several mediums, including (but never limited to) paint, sculpture, jewelry, and functional fiber arts. She is continually inspired to try new things; her creativity is boundless. Mara painted the amazing mural in Jessi’s pottery studio at Living Lands (pictured here), and it was truly incredible to watch her bring it to life.
Mara is an artist deeply rooted in her love for our local landscape. Inspired by the rolling hills, deep hollows, and flowing creeks, she creates beauty in many media from her home and studio outside of Mansfield, MO.
Her focus on ecology and spirit reflect in her carefully crafted works you see here. Mara’s hope is that nature speaks to you through her pieces, that you notice and connect with the beauty of the land around you and the heart inside.
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Artist Highlight: Jennifer Fannen
J. Fannen Art
Jennifer Fannen
Wildlife Painter
Jennifer Fannen was born and raised in Utah where she developed a deep love of nature. She spent her childhood exploring the mountains, forests, and deserts of the state, and her love of nature was instilled in her at a young age.
After graduating from high school, Jennifer met her husband and they moved to the Ozarks with their 3 son where she continues to live and work as an artist. Jennifer and her family live on a farm in the Ozark Mountains and spend a lot of their free time exploring and enjoying the wildlife and natural wonders that surround them, and she brings her firsthand knowledge of nature into her paintings.
Jennifer is a representational wildlife and nature artist, and her paintings are known for their realism and attention to detail. She often paints animals in their natural habitats, and she captures the beauty and wonder of the natural world in her work. Jennifer’s paintings are realistic and expressive, and they capture the beauty and grace of her subjects. She is particularly skilled at depicting the interplay of light, shadow, and color, and her paintings often have a realistic quality that makes the viewer feel like they can step into the world she created.
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At Living Lands Studio, we offer an array of experiences working with clay! We have Kids Clay Play on Mondays and Wednesdays, where each child gets to explore hand building and trying out the pottery wheel! We also offer classes for adults ranging from one time fun experiences on the wheel and hand-building seasonal decor, to in detail step by step courses to help you become an expert potter.
Follow us on Facebook for updates on class opportunities and to find our scheduling link. You can also reach out by call or text any time at 218-260-0976.