The time has once again come for Oxford’s famously fun Double Decker Arts Festival to grace the streets of the Square. This year, the festival will house more than 160 booths and vendors featuring crafts, drawings, glass, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. Among the many participants, these artists will have booths featured in the annual festivities:
Peyton Hutchinson
Mississippi native and Ole Miss alumna Peyton Hutchinson can be found at booth No. 101, near Hinton & Hinton. Her paintings, which are vibrantly colorful and wonderfully serene, are reminiscent of the impressionist movement.
“Down to the River to Pray” by Peyton Hutchinson. (Photo courtesy: Facebook.com)
Her love of painting and landscapes began when she was studying abroad in Provence, France. It is no surprise that the gorgeous scenery and rich history of the city inspired her and her artwork.
“I recently returned from a plein-air painting excursion to Lake Como and the Tuscany regions of Italy. The enchanting and romantic villages surrounding the lake provided ample opportunities for creative expression,” Hutchinson said. “Here, I employed the plein-air painting techniques developed by such French impressionist painters as Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne.”
Hutchinson said this style helped her capture scenes through the use of vivid color and light. In Tuscany, she applied this technique to her paintings of wine country and poppy fields.
Aside from gorgeous European landscapes, Hutchinson now draws influence from both everyday life and reminders of places she loves. Her paintings, which can be found in both solo exhibits and galleries, are lovely displays of both color and emotion.
From bright fields of sunflowers to calm, hazy riverbanks, her work acts as a warm reminder of the beauty found in everyday life and nature.
B. J. Weeks
B. J. Weeks, another Mississippi native, will exhibit her work at booth No. 153, which will be near Insomnia Cookies. As a multimedia artist, Weeks works with everything from wall murals to refurbished furniture. Primarily, she works as a painter. Her pieces tend toward abstraction and make excellent use of color and multimedia.
In reference to her fine art, Weeks noted, “When working on an abstract piece, I enjoy adding various mediums such as plaster, metals and paper for added interest. Multi layers of paint are often added to my designs. Many of my paintings are finished with a high shine; it pulls you into the art and enhances the colors so vividly.”
“Blue Intensity” by B.J. Weeks (Photo courtesy: Facebook.com)
Weeks also finds time outside of painting to work on household pieces, such as restored antique furniture and painted ceilings. Murals are one of her strong suits; she’s painted play rooms and wine cellars alike. Most noteworthy of all, however, is Weeks’ art studio on the go, Splatter.
Splatter paint parties are an opportunity to allow one’s creativity and inner child out for a fun afternoon among family and friends. This business is a way for Weeks, a strong supporter of the arts, to share her passion for painting with others.
“I love, love, love painting, creating and truly feel blessed that I have been given this amazing gift,” she said. “I thank God daily for my blessings and the gift of sight to see all of the beauty that surrounds me.”
Page Gregory Matthews
Hailing from Texas, Page Gregory Matthews is a young and talented artist. This weekend, her display will reside in booths No. 8 and 9, close to Ya Ya’s Frozen Yogurt.
Necklace created by Page Gregory Matthews (Photo courtesy: Page Gregory Matthews)
Matthews founded her company, Page Gregory Matthews Designs, with a love for both painting and fashion. Her passion for jewelry began at a young age and carried her all the way through college at the University of Texas at Austin, where she formally trained in the arts. After working with several interior designers in the Houston area, she established herself as an artist and grew her brand from there. Her gorgeous paintings, from soft abstracts to tranquil landscapes, can be found in homes all across the country.
On several occasions, Matthews has painted custom pieces for clients, tailored to their needs and spaces. Her work often features a wide array of calming, cool tones ideal for any environment in need of a personal yet artistic touch. Matthews continues to create accessories, selling expertly crafted bags and jewelry. These chic pieces often feature leather and beadwork, as well as antlers and natural stones.
Tim Pace
Recycled metal artist Tim Pace will also be present on the Square at booths 129 and 130, set up beside Proud Larry’s. Tim makes art from worn-down, scrap pieces of metal, repurposing them into wonderful sculptures.
“Basically, if it can be welded, I can use it,” he said in his artist’s statement.
“Fish” by Tim Pace (Photo courtesy: Tim Pace)
Using welding tools and his imagination, this eco-friendly artist creates both decorative and functional art. From the 20-foot-tall praying mantis standing outside a Jackson library to the beautiful wine racks featured on his website, it seems this artist has it all.
According to the artist, “Pieces range in height from works that fit on a tabletop to 8-foot-tall sculptures and include an assortment of people, animals, flowers, insects and abstracts, to name just a few.”
Each piece Pace creates is uniquely handcrafted, signed and numbered by the artist himself. Surprisingly, Pace was actually never trained in the arts.
“I have no formal art training and was an electrician by trade before deciding to pursue my art full time in 1998,” he stated.
His passion drove him to create these special sculptures that now grace many homes across the country.
