The stately wooded gardens of Dr. Alan Solomon

Perhaps one of the most magnificent areas in the Knoxville area, Dr. Alan Solomon’s gardens opens up a forest of greenery in an elegant fairyland setting.  More than 20 acres have been developed by Dr. Solomon who had little horticultural and landscaping experience prior to purchasing the land in 1971.  Now, with the addition of hundreds of wildflowers, coniferous and deciduous trees, and native plantings combined with over 700 tons of rock forming streams and waterfalls, the garden is a blend of natural and planned landscaping in a lush secret garden setting. It’s no wonder that this Knoxville treasure, Dr. Solomon’s garden, has been included in the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens,

As we arrived on the designated Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens visitation days, Dr. Solomon greeted each guest in the parking lot.  And then in his soft-spoken voice, he directed the soon-to-be-amazed visitors to areas of interest, pointing the way on a carefully marked map he had designed. As we walked the property, tall trees formed archways through which we could look down and discover new areas.  Waterfalls added sound to the otherwise quiet surroundings. And all our senses were restored by the peacefulness and natural beauty.

But there was also humor to be found in this stillness.  Life-size frogs kept watchful eyes over the comings and goings of visitors or busied themselves with needed repairs.

The pinnacle of our tour, however, was the sight of Dr. Solomon’s home.  Named GATOP (God’s Answer to Our Prayers), the vast hillside property and the craftsman-style home afford the owners a spectacular view from the front lawn.  Artwork blends in — enhancing the view and offering new textures and forms to complement carefully planned areas.

Lovely craftsman-style home of Dr. Alan Solomon blends in with its surroundings.

Tall sculpture strategically placed to capture the view from the front lawn of Dr. Solomon’s home.

With its elegant twists and turns, this sculpture on the front lawn leads the eye beyond to a glimpse of Knoxville from the front lawn of Dr. Solomon’s home.

A tiny frog perches on the porch of Dr. Alan Solomon’s home with the gardens in the background

It’s not hard to find solace here.  But it’s also not difficult to see that the work of Dr. Solomon and many others have improved on the natural “good bones” of the land.  In some places, we couldn’t decide if gardens were built around art or art was placed in a planned garden. We had no idea what came first. Nor did it matter.  The whole was prettier than the sum of its parts.

Carefully placed sculpture enhances the natural beauty of Dr. Solomon’s gardens

After thanking Dr. Solomon for the opportunity to walk through the garden areas and stand quietly on his front porch, we asked if we could get a picture.  The camera-shy garden enthusiast allowed us to snap him at play with the dogs who have traversed the land so often right alongside him.  A beautiful day.  In a beautiful setting. We felt grateful to have been there.

Dr. Alan Solomon with his faithful companions

For more information on the Open Gardens and Featured Gardens during Dogwood Arts Festival 2015, click here.

For all of the posts on this year’s festival, click here.

This concludes our series on Dogwood Arts Festival 2015.  We hope you enjoyed touring Knoxville at one of the prettiest times of the year.  Please make plans to come see us in 2016 — the dogwoods and the arts and the gardens will be right here!

Bert and Rusha Sams

The woodland home and garden of Suzie Hall.

One word could pretty much sum up the garden of Suzie Hall in South Knoxville: woodsy.  One of the many Dogwood Arts Open Gardens that allowed visitors to roam freely through a private space during the Dogwood Arts Festival designated times, Suzie’s garden is unique for its shade gardening opportunities and natural elements like boulders, tall trees, and a stream running through it.  I might have missed this garden had it not been for Suzie herself visiting the nearby property of Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick.  She introduced herself to me and then insisted I come see her place.  So glad she did.

Lovely, woodsy pathway to the second house on the property of Suzie Hall.

Suzie’s woodsy garden with its natural, almost uncontrolled pathways holds plants of choice but also “keepers,” those tiny pop-up plants that sometimes get a toe-hold and stay on ’til the owner deems the keeper an invasion.  Suzie said she welcomes all plants — the more the merrier.  So the garden has evolved — a balance of free-spirited plants and intentional ones.

My first sight after parking remains one of the delights of the trip — the sight of a hand-built cabin nestled into that peaceful, woodsy setting. My husband had to move that cabin three times, Suzie said.  And each time, he dismantled it, reconstructed it, and asked if we were done.  But he had it facing the “wrong” way (She smiled.) so he did it over — three times — til he got it just right.  And I just love it.

Focal point of Suzie Hall’s garden — this hand-built cabin, moved to this spot and reconstructed.

Together, we roamed the pathways that Suzie and her husband had carved out of the property. Everywhere native plants like shade-loving hostas, ground covers, and perennials as well as bulbs and giveaways from neighbors and friends thrived —  a happy, harmonious mix of lush greenery dotted with floral surprises.

The couple had built two houses in keeping with the surroundings and almost a dead match for the original old cabin on the property but with modern conveniences. Expansive decks allow for coffee time.  And contemplation.  And rest.

Large decks allow for quiet time at the home of Suzie Hall.

At the sound of water flowing over a smooth expansion of rock, I paused to bend down and look into the cave beneath.  What a find this property must have been!

A waterfall runs over a mossy boulder. And underneath is a long, low-ceilinged cave.

Suzie’s love for woodland adornments is evident at every turn.  A bottle tree here, birdhouses there.  She pokes plants into found containers like old boots and whatever else comes her way.

It’s no wonder that on the Saturday afternoon of my visit, a photographer and her assistants were busy at work, focusing lights and setting up woodsy vignettes, backdrops for Prom pictures.  Who wouldn’t want to hold the object of one’s affection in such a lovely place?

Couple dressed for the Prom pose for pictures in front of the springtime azaleas in Suzie Hall’s garden.

Thanks to the Dogwood Arts Festival Open Gardens committee for finding this natural, woodsy garden.  And thanks to the owner/gardener Suzie Hall for allowing so many garden enthusiasts to enjoy it.

The natural garden of Suzie Hall

For a listing of the Open Gardens participants and camera sites for 2015, click here.

And do you have a preference in gardens?  Loosely structured?  Controlled plantings?  We’d love to hear about your love of gardens — just leave us a comment.

Rusha and Bert Sams

The welcoming view of the grounds at the home of Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick in South Knoxville.

A naturally occurring creek runs through the acreage surrounding the home, but Tom and Sandi have created ponds, added bridges and waterfalls, and manicured the grounds to provide a view that you would never know was here if you hadn’t visited them.  Tom also introduced guests to his dog who seems right at home among the hostas!

Checking out the guests from the comfort of Sandi’s garden!

According to Tom, Sandi is the mastermind behind the gardens on either side of the house.  Notable for the curved beds and meandering stream, Sandi’s gardens offer a variety of perennials and hostas in various stages of bloom and maturity. Featured in Fine Gardening magazine, the waterfall garden was also used as the cover.  (Source: Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens)

A waterfall at the top of the hillside and the various textures of the hostas add interest to this garden to the right of the main house of Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick.

You could almost hear the quiet, the peacefulness of this garden.  In hushed tones, guests wandered around slowly, pointing out various plants and reading the markers Sandi had added for easy identification. Surprises such as little houses and joyful statues could be found tucked among the plantings.

In another area near the waterfall garden, Oriental sculptures blended in with the towering shoots of bamboo and ornamental grasses.

To me, the most appealing aspects of this garden are the many native plants neatly clumped and secured for growing in their designated spaces.  It’s that master’s touch so evident in gardens where the gardener stakes out curved beds, forms intentional pathways, and makes places for everything with everything in its place.  Neat.  Tidy.  Yet natural and free-flowing.  Beauty at every turn.

Beautiful pathway with plantings by Sandi Burdick

An area of perennials, iris and birdhouses

Stone pathway leading to another garden area at the home of Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick

At the end of the tour, Sandi posed with Suzie Hall whose South Knoxville garden had been open for a couple of weeks as one of the designated Open Gardens of the Dogwood Arts Festival.  Rusha, insisted Suzie, you have to come see my garden, too.  It’s just up the street from here.  And today’s the last day it’s open.  Well, what else but YES could I say to an invitation like that?

Gardeners Sandi Burdick and Suzie Hall of South Knoxville

So look for the next post as we continue our garden tour through some of Knoxville’s finest! Or just scroll back through these lovely images from the peaceful gardens of Tom Boyd and Sandi Burdick.  We all need a respite now and then.

The happy garden of Sandi Burdick

For more information: 2015 Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens

To see the previous post — Lane Hays’s Garden: Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens 2015 — click here.

Greeting visitors at the entrance to Lane Hays’s garden were Dogwood Arts Featured Gardens volunteers.

Although it’s been several years since we last visited the lovely gardens of Lane Hays, we relished the thought of spending quiet time roaming this extensive lakeside property artfully enhanced by Lane’s vision and creativity.  Set on the banks of Fort Loudon Lake in Knoxville, the gardens were begun in 1992 using natural elements of a marble quarry located on the property.  Now, the additions of a cottage garden, rose garden, moon garden, and newly added waterfall features in the back of the property make this a Southern showplace.

From the front of the house, the lake beckons.  Visitors to the property catch glimpses of the water from the planted gardens as well as pathways to the house.  And the walks along the way offer the peacefulness and serenity that typify Lane’s property in both the front and back of her home.

Cottage Garden

Featuring a variety of perennials and annuals in raised beds, the garden has a looseness about it even with careful planning.  Stepping stones, garden statuary, and birdhouses stand among the flowers bordered by picket fencing.  Pebble pathways lead you through the garden with many of the perennials identified by markers.

Rose Garden and Moon Garden

Although only one solitary rose showed its colors for the tour, Lane assured us that by Mother’s Day the fragrance of many varieties of roses will fill the air.  Notable about this garden created in 1996: labels for each variety and an arrangement of plantings that invites leisurely strolling. Also waiting for later spring to show its creamy blossoms was the west-facing moon garden, planted only with white flowers in order to catch the light of the moon as it casts a soft glow on the blooms.

Back Property

Lane led us through the old ornamental iron gate to the back of the extensive property where we were greeted by a stone frog (bought at auction, Lane said) dipping a fishing line into the pond. After walking the pathways we remembered from a previous visit, Lane gave us a tour of the “new” area just completed within the last year.  She’s added a stone bridge, re-positioned massive boulders, and created a formidable waterfall over a previously hidden rock face.  Quite the work of art.

Lane Hays’s backyard garden makes an indelible impression:  deep woods, native and acquired trees, shade-loving plants, and rushing waterfalls.  A respite for anyone touring the gardens that day.

Cathy Greenberg and Lane Hays enjoying the Dogwood Arts Featured Garden event

But then all of Lane’s gardens are impressive.  So glad she was open!

For more information:  Dogwood Arts 2015 Featured Open Gardens

Glass artists Matthew Cummings and Sam Meketon greet guests at Dogwood Art DeTour 2015

What a find:  the Matthew Cummings Studio at 131 Central in the heart of downtown Knoxville — our final stop on our Dogwood Art DeTour for 2015! Never even knew this place existed in the Old City, even though we’d dined at neighboring Crown and Goose and passed it on the way to several Rhythm ‘n Blooms venues along nearby Jackson Avenue.

But the sight of Finer Thoughts (Blue Spade) towering near the front window reassured us we were not only in the right place, but one of note as well.  Glass artists Matthew Cummings (studio owner) and Sam Meketon greeted us.  (Another employee, Thoryn Ziemba, was unable to be there.)

Matthew and Sam immediately began answering our questions.  Like how do you get those fine threads into the glass?  Well, you take a colored strand of glass, pull it out, fold it over, repeat, Matthew told us.

And the effect is stunning.  We moved in for closer looks.

Finer Thoughts (Blue Spade) by Matthew Cummings

We love to try new techniques, and art is our passion, Matthew told us. We stood mesmerized by the details in the pieces on display. But sometimes we have to think of ways to pay the bills.  

Finer Thoughts (Red Orb) by Matthew Cummings

So about four days a week, we make glassware.  Matthew pointed to a row of hand-blown drinking glasses along a ledge.  And we could tell right off this was unique stuff.  Slightly wavy.  A little bit thick.  Good to hold. We call our business Pretentious Beer Glass Company, Matthew added, and we blow each piece on a hollow blowpipe, shape it with pads of wet newspaper or wooden tools, and then grind the bottoms flat.  We hand sign each piece.  (For more info on how they do this, click here.)

Hand-blown glassware from Pretentious Beer Glass Company

Which one is your best seller? I asked.  Well, that would be the Dual Beer Glass, Matthew said as he stepped forward and picked up a glass with a divider piece.  You know like for a black and tan.  (Bert nodded.  He knew.)

See that divider? Now, that’s one unique handblown beer glass, right?

And, Matthew added, we’re expanding.  When you come back, you’ll see we’re adding a downtown brewery just on the other side of this showroom.  (Love that downtown progress.)

On the way out, we took a closer look at Sam’s and Thoryn’s art: beautifully crafted pieces with infused colors, sensuous shapes.  Would make enviable additions for anyone’s art collection.

We noted how glad we were that the Dogwood Arts DeTour Committee chaired by Matt Salley and Marcia Goldenstein had selected this venue for the tour.  It’s definitely one of a kind.  And right in our own hometown.

For more information:

Matthew Cummings Studio, 131/133 S. Central Street, Knoxville, TN 37902; 865-688-0345;

Pretentious Beer Glass on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PretentiousBeerGlass

Facebook: Matthew Cummings Sculptor: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewCummingsSculptor

If you missed any of our stops along the Dogwood Art DeTour, here’s a recap of what we saw.

• Saw Works Brewing Company: Dogwood Art DeTour 2015
• Born, raised, made in Knoxville: Marc Nelson Denim
• Art DeTour 2015 at White Fox Beads and Davis Studio
• The art of Melanie Wood: Dogwood Art DeTour 2015
• The art of Diana Dee: Dogwood Arts Art DeTour 2015

We’d love to know what you thought about the DeTour.  Leave us a comment below.  And thanks for touring with us.

Rusha and Bert Sams

Johnny Miller supervises the renovation at Saw Works Brewing Company

Who knew Saw Works Brewing Company would be a stop on an art tour?  Well, someone would, and that would be anyone who’s noticed the art of handcrafted brewing exploding in The South.  Saw Works Brewing Company, formerly known as Marble City Brewing,  occupies the old Wallace Saw Works building at 708 East Depot Avenue, next door to Marc Jacobs Denim. And it’s Knoxville’s only micro-brewery.  During the event known as Dogwood Art DeTour on the afternoon of April 12th, Johnny Miller (Tasting Room Manager and Assistant Brewer) seemed pleased to show us around.

The space was quiet on that Sunday afternoon at two-ish.  We’re probably busiest on Fridays, Johnny told us — right about quitting time when folks stop by after work.

Johnny Miller stands ready to give us a tour during Dogwood Arts Festival Art DeTour.

Chalkboards on the wall hold names of brews — and news of the moment.

Chalkboards at The Mill at Saw Works Brewing Company

And Johnny was quick to point out two best-sellers, now award winners: Rocky Hop and Buzzsaw.  From the website:  Rocky Hop IPA: A traditional English platform loaded with tons of American hops, this beautiful autumn hued IPA stays close to our roots. (Makes you wanna try it, right?)

Award-winners on tap at The Mill at Saw Works Brewing Company

Kegs stood ready for delivery outside.  And inside (in the back room), we noticed a lot of plastic wound around fermentation tanks.  You’ll have to excuse the mess.  We’re remodeling and quadrupling our production capacity, Johnny told us.  These are all moving out.

A Pour It Forward board seemed like a great idea.  You post the name of a friend, and when the friend comes to Saw Works, he/she gets a free beer.  Good thing Garth Brooks’ name is on the list:  He’s coming to Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena May 28-31 to play for sold-out crowds.  A cold Saw Works Rocky Hop — free — just might be in his future!

Is your name on the list?

Now don’t just wait ’til it’s Art DeTour time to head over to The Mill, as they call this tasting room on E. Depot Avenue.  The folks at Saw Works offer tours at 5 and 6 PM on Fridays and Saturdays (and sometimes other days).  For 10 bucks, you get a 40-minute tour, a special tour pint glass, and brew, too! Oh, go on.  Do it for art’s sake!

While you’re there, grab a t-shirt from Saw Works!

For more information and touring times:

Saw Works Brewing Company, 708 E. Depot Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917; 865-247-5952; http://sawworksbrewing.com/the-mill/ and http://sawworksbrewing.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SawWorksBrewing?fref=ts

Whiskey dyed jeans from Marc Nelson Denim, Knoxville, Tennessee

Ad for Marc Nelson Denim — from website: marcnelsondenim.com

Dogwood Art DeTour 2015 took us a lot of places from the open studios of Diana Dee, Melanie Wood, and Shannon Davis to the heart of Knoxville on E. Depot Avenue for the art of manufacturing at Marc Nelson Denim.  Oh, sure.  We’d seen the ads of a handsome couple sporting whiskey-stained denim, but never knew the story — or even the location — of denim jeans causing a buzz in the fashion world.

Founder Marc Hall, born and raised near the old, now defunct, Levi’s plant on Cherry Street, took pride in wearing Levi’s partly because his grandfather, L. C. Nelson, had a flair for fashion and a love of quality.  My grandfather always told me that when you leave the house, even if you don’t have a million bucks, you should dress like a million bucks, said Hall (as quoted on website.)  And thus, the trend began.  Now, this small-batch craft denim brand produces sought-after limited quantity jeans named for Marc and his grandfather, Mr. Nelson.  (Full story here.)

Founder Marc Hall’s grandfather, L. C. Nelson

Our tour began with a greeting from the affable buyer and product developer, Kim Milligan, who directed us to one of the friendliest PR guys in town, Andy Jones.  Andy almost immediately took us to the racks of clothing, like the waxed denim shirt.  (Waxed, right?)

Andy explained that denim starts out white and then takes on the colors given to it — like the indigo blue we’re all familiar with.  Or orange, if you live in Big Orange Country!

Marc Nelson Denim jeans can be bought from racks or customized to a specific fit and size. But you need to wear them.  A lot.  Or that’s what Andy told us: They take on your shape and become part of you.  That’s why Andy — and the instructions on their denimology fact sheet on the website  — recommend not washing them — well, for at least for six months.  Surprised?  We were. But now it kinda makes sense.

Wear ’em for six months so they conform to you!

The newest for Marc Nelson?  The color of whiskey.  Andy again:  That’s right.  We put whiskey in the wash with the denim.  And this is the color we get.

As described on the website blog: We steep raw, natural 12 oz. Selvedge Cone Mills Denim,  in a barrel of Whiskey for 30 days. After the month, we wash it, soften it and hang it to dry. The pair is breathable, yet incredibly sturdy – ready for years of wear and conversations over thick, amber whiskey.   (And no, we didn’t sample the product in the bottles!)

They felt softer to us: whiskey-steeped jeans!

Housed in an industrial district, the Marc Nelson Denim showroom is urban all the way –from displays on rough-hewn wood panels to tables who had a past life in a manufacturing setting.

We wouldn’t have necessarily thought of Marc Nelson Denim being a favorite stop on an art tour.  But with the story, the craftsmanship, the unique quality of the garments — well, why not?  This IS art.  And, thankfully, it’s right here in Knoxville.

Bin full of signature buttons for Marc Nelson Denim

For more information:

Marc Nelson Denim, 700 E. Depot Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917;  800.605.9782; http://www.marcnelsondenim.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcNelsonDenim?fref=ts

Where to buy Marc Nelson Denim:  http://www.marcnelsondenim.com/locations/

For more posts on the Dogwood Arts Festival 2015, click here.

The Studio at White Fox Beads

First stop after seeing the work of Melanie Wood (Click here for post on that visit), we followed the sign into The Studio at White Fox Beads.  Owner Gail DeLuca proudly toured us through the large open studio on Homberg Drive where artists frequently gather, work, and collaborate — or seek advice as needed.  It was a place for advanced beading (if there is such a term), evidenced by the quality of work on display.

Inside The Studio at White Fox Beads, Gail DeLuca shows Bert some of the materials she uses to create her one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.

Once you see finished products like this intricate necklace, you understand the quality of this art — and know that this is not where beginners begin.

Intricately woven and beaded necklace by Gail DeLuca

While we wandered around the studio, a friend of Gail’s, Judi Talley of Dancing Fox Designs, remained focused on one tiny element of one tiny silver ring.  So focused, in fact, that she was able to shape a bit of the ornamentation on the ring while answering our most basic questions concerning types of metal, tools of the trade, time devoted to the process, etc. (And yes, she’s wearing two pairs of glasses. All the better to see, my dear.)

Focused on shaping a silver ring, Judi Talley shares her craft while continuously working.

A quick look around assured us that this was no place for novices, but you wouldn’t know it from the welcoming and genuinely helpful comments by both jewelry enthusiasts.  We felt comfortable there.  And we left with the feeling that if you wanted support with gemstones, metal, found objects, or glass beads, you’d find it here.

Tools of the trade at White Fox Beads

Davis Studio

Around the corner, Shannon Davis opened the doors to Davis Studio, a place we’ve passed hundreds of times but had never visited.  According to the Dogwood Arts brochure, three women contribute to the art sold at the studio:  Shannon Davis and Cynthia Tipton specialize in oil and watercolor, and Cindy Marshall does off-loom, beadwoven jewelry.

Shannon Davis poses in front of her colorful self-portrait.

In addition to showcasing the art of these three artists, Davis Studio represents numerous other area artists (listed on the website).  Other services include calligraphy, custom framing, and art classes for adults and children.

Work of Cynthia Tipton and others on display at Davis Studio, Knoxville.

Cynthia Tipton‘s beaded cupcake design (now reproduced on cards) brought out her humor as she added this tidbit onto the paper strip inserted at the top:  You will suffer from extravagance.

Cynthia Tipton’s beaded cupcake design — available on cards at Davis Studio.

When we left Davis Studio, Cynthia Tipton had taken a seat under the tent where she would eventually demonstrate her craft for festival goers.  I’m waiting for a friend to deliver a five-foot canvas that I’m going to work on today, she said.  Too bad we couldn’t get back to catch that action!

Cynthia Tipton waits for a five-foot canvas under the tent where she’ll demonstrate her craft.

For more information on these two studios and the classes they offer, check out the locations and websites below.

Davis Studio, 315 Mohican Street, Suite 2, Knoxville, TN 37919; 865-584-1219; www.davisstudioart.com

White Fox Beads, 5111 Homberg Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919; 865-980-0237; www.whitefoxbeads.com

For more information on Dogwood Art DeTour, click here.

For all the posts on Dogwood Arts Festival 2015, click here.

Soft light bathes the Westmoreland Waterwheel in this painting by Melanie Wood.

Melanie Wood.  Ahh, Melanie Wood.  For those of you following our blog, you know we met her in 2012, wrote about her beautiful home studio and richly colored impressionistic art, and then republished the post again this spring in anticipation of a second visit. We’re grateful for Dogwood Art DeTour 2015  and Melanie’s willingness to open her home once again for visitors to enjoy!

Melanie (who’s truly as gracious as the paintings are lovely) greeted us at the door but then picked right up with her work, just as the Dogwood Arts brochures promised:  “See artists working in their own studios.” And what a studio!  Filled with natural and focused artificial light, Melanie’s art world holds tools of the trade: standing easel, oil paints, assorted brushes, and inspiration everywhere. (Even her clothing that day mimicked the colors she loves.)

Art studio of Melanie Wood

As we faced the patio and the courtyard beyond, we saw paintings on display literally glowing in the morning light: flowers, country homes, even fish in Melanie’s soft colors of blue, gray, peach, rose, and yellow.

Close-up of Melanie Wood painting featuring a blue color palette.

This year, Melanie told us, I’ve modified my color palette a bit.  You’ll see more blues since that’s what is trending in home decor.  (Melanie is vice-president of design for a leading home fashion manufacturer.) One of the onsite volunteers directed us to the dining room to view the “new” paintings on display.  The same subject matter — floral arrangements, still life, homes in the country — filled the room but with the colors of indigo, pale blue, and cream that Melanie is incorporating into more and more of her paintings.

On display in the Woods’ dining room were a few pieces in Melanie’s new color palette.

In the living room, more traditional paintings were on display — mostly studies of people and places the Woods have visited, all with the vibrant color and joie de vivre that typify Melanie’s art.

Painting of ballet dancer hangs above a desk in Melanie Wood’s living room.

Tranformed into a staging area for more paintings for Art DeTour was Melanie’s sunroom. It held paintings a bit more contemporary, perhaps, but with Melanie’s signature soft colors and the muted blues she’s using now. We admired the one of a single boat on still waters for its serenity and peacefulness.

It was during our first visit in 2012 that we purchased one of Melanie’s originals of a home in France.  Today, Melanie’s portfolio includes even more colorful countryside vignettes reminiscent of the travels abroad she and husband Tom still talk about.

If you asked us what we liked best about this stop on the Art DeTour — the artist, the paintings, or the home studio — we would be hard pressed to make a decision.  Let’s just say this:  If Melanie Wood is a featured artist in 2016, we’ll do all we can to see her — and the art — again!

Home and studio of artist Melanie Wood, Knoxville, Tennessee

Melanie Wood, Artist: 1000 Craigland Court, Knoxville, TN 37919; www.melaniewoodart.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.wood.731?fref=ts

For more information on the Dogwood Art DeTour or any of the Knoxville Dogwood Arts Festival events, click here.

For more posts on this series focusing on Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival, click here.

In addition to these centrally focused flowers, the town of Knoxville, Tennesee celebrates dogwood blooms as the central motif and focus of the Dogwood Art Festival.  It’s an annual celebration of spring, the profusion of arts in the area, and outdoor activities enjoyed by all.  People from around the world travel to Knoxville for the celebrations.  But those of us who live here take nothing for granted: the arrival of both the dogwoods and the festival have become the center of something beautiful and enjoyable each and every spring.  Hope you’ll come, too1

For more entries in Ailsa’s Travel theme: Centre on her blog Where’s My Backpack?, click here.  

For more information on Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival, click here.  All our posts on the 2015 Festival are located here.