As a youngster, Judy Howell learned pencil drawing from her grandmother and would accompany her when she went to paint with fellow artists. After her grandmother passed away, Judy inherited her paints and brushes and she began painting and selling her work for home decor in Southern California. Wanting to improve her skills, Howell moved to Santa Barbara where she studied art at school, visited museums and art galleries, and participated in plein-aire painting groups as often as possible. Judy moved to East Tennessee in 2015 and continues to create and teach. She is a member of area artist groups, has won numerous awards for her paintings, and has her work in local galleries. “I am an artist best known for using Premium Acrylic paints that are eco-friendly to capture the beauty of outdoors in impressionistic style paintings,” she says. “My paintings are created using several layers of color in order to evoke atmosphere, feelings, and flashbacks of the past. I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors and all the colors of nature and in an age of technology, I want my paintings to speak to our human desire to feel alive.”

Dianna Tucker, who lives in Stoney Creek, the home of her ancestors, is also an amateur photographer and draws inspiration from her photographs to create her realistic illustrative paintings. She concentrates mostly on garden scenes. “Gardens have become both my canvas and my sanctuary for creative exploration,” she says. “Through my art, I seek to convey emotions of peacefulness, simplicity, and joy.” Dianna’s paintings have won awards at county fairs and in exhibits held by local art leagues and galleries. A special honor for her was to be chosen as one of the artists for an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. She also participates in fundraisers for local and regional arts organizations and contributed work for a fundraiser Fischman Gallery established to help artists in Asheville’s River Arts District impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Fischman Gallery is excited to welcome these two talented artists. Because the first Friday of the month is July 4 this year, we will be holding the artists’ reception for “Echos of Emotion: A Visual Journey” on Friday, July 11, from 6:30-9 p.m. Fischman Gallery is located in Atelier 133, 133 N Commerce St, Johnson City. Regular Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The Gallery has an accessible entrance on Commerce St. For more information, visit fischmangallery.org, Instagram, email fischmangallery@gmail.com, or call 423-430-8441