TELLICO VILLAGE, Tenn. — The Art Guild of Tellico Village is keenly awaiting the return of its annual Art Show, where more than 200 of the guild’s members will present more than 250 works of original art from a wide range of styles and points of inspiration.

The artwork, much of which will be for sale, includes just about every medium under the sun. … Watercolor, acrylic, pastel, photography, wood carving, jewelry and ceramics — as well as mixed and stained glass — will all adorn the walls of The Community Church as live music soundtracks the strolls and gazes down its well decorated corridors.

BEST OF SHOW


Out of a flock of artists, only a select few have the honor of being voted Best of Show, especially in the second- through fourth-place slots, which encompass the “Peoples’ Choice Awards.”

These designations are voted on by attendees and awarded gift certificates from Jerry’s Artarama of Knoxville, a seller of extensive art supplies in all modes and mediums.

Kelli Sabin, one of the Guild’s Peoples’ Choice winners from last year, told The Connection how honored she felt having her work recognized by a collective of such prestigious creators … and ranked so highly amidst a gallery of impressive work.

“There’s some really high caliber art there,” Sabin said. “Being not too far from Chicago, I’ve seen some impressive art, and there’s some really, really good artists down here with some great pieces of media.

“I was flattered when I won the Peoples’ Choice [Award] because there were just so many other pieces there that were fabulous.”

AN INSPIRATIONAL ‘DETOUR’

Hailing from Northern Illinois, Sabin initially learned about the Guild when she was driving through her now home of Friendsville, when she saw dozens of people with easels and paint brushes working away outside while on her way home.

As a lifelong artist with a college education in the fine arts, she was immediately intrigued and decided to pull over. Having been a teacher at the tail end of her working years, she’d rarely had time to delve into personal efforts before retirement: But all that was about to change.

The detour has given her lifelong career a new beginning amidst artists from around the country who have found inspiration in the East Tennessee hills.

‘PAINTING IT BIG’

The artist said she’s become more partial to big canvases, something that intimidates many artists but acts as an exciting challenge for one with such a robust background in the field.

“You can just show so much more of your subject matter by painting it big,” Sabin explains.

With the scale decided, going back to her roots to find inspiration was the next task. Sabin eventually landed on a collection of oil paintings depicting horses, another exacting task that brought out the passions she’d held as an art student in the midwest.

“I just love painting big and I love painting horses,” Sabin said. “In college, that was almost exclusively what I painted.

“My husband and I actually met over a horse, and we had horses for years.”

The Clydesdale horse that Sabin eventually sketched out, grazing through green meadows, was an amalgamation of old photographs, remembered fairground stallions and bouts of heavy research that acted as the basis for what her winning piece would eventually become.

The work was so adored at last year’s show that Sabin said she had multiple people reach out about potentially purchasing the piece, to which she respectfully declined. It now sits as a centerpiece on the wall of her family room.

MORE HORSES AND … WELDING?

Continuing in her area of expertise, she said she’s currently working on two more equine related works, a racehorse and one peeking through a barn door, both of which she’s hoping to complete and submit for this year’s showcase.

With a resumé including just about every facet of two- and three-dimensional media, there’s not much Sabin can get thrown her way that she hasn’t seen before.

As she looks to expand her artistic palette into retirement, she’s employed the help of her husband to aid her newest endeavor: Welding. Her current work-in-progress piece on that front is a fishing pole lamp.

‘A FAVORITE COMMUNITY EVENT’

Alongside galleries and display cases, many of the creators present over the weekend-long event will also be participating in what the Guild refers to as “Artist Demos.”

Here, artists will share tips and tricks as they offer impromptu classes that help guide aspiring artists looking to enter their efforts into next year’s contest.

“This has become a favorite community event in Tellico Village,” Show chairperson and Guild president Donna Hart said. “And art lovers visit from Knoxville and beyond — often waiting at the door before the Show opens!”

This year’s Art Show of the Art Guild of Tellico Village will take place April 10, 11 and 12. Show hours are scheduled on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and April 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

An opening reception for artists to mingle with guests will take place on April 10 from 4-6 p.m. The event is completely free and open to the public.

You can learn more about the Art Guild of Tellico Village by visiting tellicoartguild.com.