PAINTINGS and PRINTS
Our painters have been carefully selected based on their skill, ability to convey their inspirations, their commitment to their artistic profession, and willingness to provide Galley Zella Exclusive Collections. This helps ensure that our collectors will have newly created collections of paintings each year to experience. These artworks are available exclusively at Gallery Zella. We anticipate our collectors will look forward to these exclusive new creations and seriously consider adding new favorites to their collections on an annual basis.
Longtime local master painter Jon Houglum has dedicated his entire adult life to painting and has created stunning collections of museum-caliber artworks. Jon studied with a master Dutch painter for seven years to perfect the art of underpainting and creates "stunning lights from within" in his master works. Jon has an impressive list of awards and is regarded as one of the finest art teachers in the world. His avid students live and paint in over 25 countries around the globe.
We are also proud to feature longtime local Wendy Cordwell
who has dedicated over 20 years to her art and annually
creates extraordinary collections. She is a master collagist
and uses antique papers to create hauntingly memorable
images of wolves, dogs, horses, birds, and even roosters.
In addition, she has exquisitely collaged our very own Bryson
City Steam Engine; steam and all. Her original collages are both
charming & affordable. Her unique artworks have definitely
touched a cord with our collectors; we sell more of her work than
any other painter in the gallery.
Robert "Bob" Boynton's award winning work is a combination of photography and painting. The photographic portions of his work are high-resolution digital gicléés, printed on canvas in a six-color process. Bob then extends the photograph by hand painting the frame in acrylic to complete the artwork. This combination is a perfect marriage between photography and painting, allowing Bob to utilize his abilities and passions in this creative and unique art form.
Bob's interest in photography developed during High School where he was a yearbook photographer and worked part-time in a photographic studio. He used his photographic knowledge to earn spending money during college. While in South West Baptist University, Bob majored in Psychology and Art. After graduation, he pursued a career as a florist. Bob began his creative career with Walt Disney World as a floral designer in 1984 in Orlando, FL. His artistic career took on many forms over the decades including set design and fabrication of the inaugural "live" musical performance of The Lion King. Bob's breathtaking set was such a success that it was then cast and re-created for all of the Disney parks all around the globe. Bob retired from Walt Disney World after 22 years of service as an art director and decorator. We are proud to have an exclusive collection of Bob's artwork at Gallery Zella.
Prints of our artists' originals offer a perfect way for emerging collectors to start acquiring images by their favorite artists. It is also a wonderful way to take your memorable Bryson City, NC experience back home with you... as a treasured and affordable visual memento of your visit. For example, Gallery Zella commissioned painter Marilyn Horsch to create her unique vision of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad as it moves through our Bryson City area on a crisp dark night. (see left). She created a richly colored art piece that is now available at Gallery Zella as an original painting and as a print.
Vicki Van Vynckt is an Oil, Pastel, Acrylic, Alcohol Ink, and Printmaking artist who paints her wonderful original oil on canvas pieces with a starting wash of acrylic to bring out the natural light of the images she paints. She hopes to unite people in realizing the oneness we all share with the natural world through her artwork.
Christine Schlageter is an acrylic paint artist who has enjoyed drawing since her childhood. She moved to Asheville from Germany in 1971 and tries to paint every single day because of her late husband's love of her artwork. Her favorite things to paint are animals, florals, architecture and machinery.
Debra Carroll is an acrylic pour artist who loves the abstract and freeing nature of acrylic pouring. She loves using bold colors and experimenting, as well as teaching others about art.
Curt Reffner is a self-taught artist learning to express himself through art. He primarily paints landscapes in oil on canvas, and hopes to recreate the emotions of the places he has visited in real life through his art.
Featured Paintings & Prints
"GSMR Steam Engine #1702" by Wendy Cordwell
"Moonlit Ride" by Marilyn Horsch
Bryson City Town Square - "Springtime" by Marilyn Horsch
"Looking Back" by Jon Houglum
