Smiling Cat Studio is named for the happiness and contentment I feel when creating something new, like a happy cat in a sunbeam! While I was originally juried into Heartwood with my hand-pulled linoleum block prints (linocuts) of baskets, I've since moved on to linocuts of cats and paintings of other animals that I've turned into cards and frameable prints. I also enjoy dabbling with other artistic mediums, line drawing, illustration, surface pattern design, embroidery hoop art, and writing among other creative pursuits.
I make wheel-thrown and hand-built stoneware pottery designed to be used in the kitchen, at the table and in the garden. Nature provides the inspiration for much of my work in both form and color.
Amanda Griffin creates unique wearable art inspired by nature and historical jewelry making techniques. Her work is handcrafted from copper and silver wire and polymer clay. She fell in love with wire in a sculpture class at Hollins University. She has reignited her love of wire sculpture on a much smaller scale with the jewelry she creates. Each necklace, earring, pendant, and ring is handcrafted, so even her favorite designs have inspired variations.
Amanda is a native of Carroll County, Va., and now calls Galax home. She has been a part of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts since 2014 as a student, a volunteer, a juried consignment artitst, and an instructor.
I work primarily with fine silver and fused and/or flameworked glass. My jewelry relates deeply to natural forms, incorporating actual textures from leaves, shells, etc. to enhance my pieces, many of which also reflect my faith. I also use textures that I have developed myself to expand my designs. Besides a limited production line of earrings, I also work one-of-a-kind and in limited series.