Bussler.Fayetteville, Tenn., artist Chris Bussler says she's never entertained tourists quite this way before, but she's looking forward to her upcoming painting demonstration at the Tennessee Welcome Center on I-75 in East Ridge.
Her visit to the Chattanooga area is among statewide events marking Tennessee Craft Week, Oct. 6-15, a 10-day celebration of handmade arts and crafts. First events in this area are scheduled Friday at Chattanooga WorkSpace, In-Town Gallery and the I-24 Welcome Center in Tiftonia.
Bussler will be working Tuesday, Oct. 10, inside the Welcome Center in East Ridge. Her art is the focus, of course, but visitors might want to quiz her on her resume. She started painting only about five years ago after careers with the U.S. Navy and as a veterinary technician.
"Neither of my careers came into play with painting," she says. "I never realized I could paint at all until 2012."
She was reminded of a childhood longing for art at a Sip & Stroke-style painting party, a wine-soothed, guided attempt at putting paint on canvas for those who think they have no talent.
"I [had] heard about these paint parties, and when my mother-in-law came to visit, we decided to try it. We had so much fun, so I did a couple more. Then the art teacher was offering a drawing class for adults. I thought that maybe if I could draw better, I could paint better.
"I always look for chances for self-improvement," she explains. "I guess that comes from my military background. So I took the class, and as soon as I picked up that pencil, it all came back to me."
TENNESSEE CRAFT WEEK EVENTS IN THE CHATTANOOGA AREA
-Chattanooga WorkSpace: The monthly Open Studio Night, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, will be dedicated to Tennessee Craft Week with a WorkSpace Gallery exhibition by the Southeast Chapter of Tennessee Craft. Michelle Simpson is the featured artist in the ArtSpace Gallery, and WorkSpace studios will be open to visit with resident artists and get a glimpse of their artistic process. This month’s theme is “Fall Into Art.” (302 W. Sixth St., 423-822-5750, www.chattanoogaworkspace.com)-In-Town Gallery: In addition to October’s featured artists, Victoria Kile and Sandra Paynter Washburn in “Notions and Narrative,” In-Town will offer a display of fine craft at Friday’s open house, scheduled 5-8 p.m. Then on Friday, Oct. 13, there will be a Wearable Art Trunk Show, 5-8 p.m., with models showcasing hand-dyed garments and scarves by Traci Paden, handwoven wraps and shawls by Irene Catlin and jewelry by Eleanor Goodson, Marian Kern, Barbara Murnan and Carol Ott. (26A Frazier Ave., 423-267-9214, www.intowngallery.com)-Locals at Sewanee: For “Tennessee’s Own,” the gallery highlights one-of-a-kind works from lost wax bronze to hand-blown glass by several Tennessee artists, including metalsmiths and woodworkers whose techniques have been passed down through generations. (49 University Ave., 865-567-5563, www.myerspoint.com/locals)-Tennessee Welcome Center, I-24 at Tiftonia: Tullahoma glass artist Tammy O’Connor will demonstrate the process of stained glass Friday, building a stained-glass quilt square in the traditional method. She has more than 30 years’ experience in residential, commercial and liturgical windows and has taught glass artistry. (17180 Interstate 24 at eastbound mile marker 171.8, 423-821-2628)-Tennessee Welcome Center, I-24 at Nickajack: Hixson craft artist Timothy Russell will demonstrate the art of leather tooling on Saturday. A leather crafter for 25 years, he sells his work at high-end craft shows and Highland Games across the country. His mobile shop fits in a granite-topped kitchen island, which he brings with him to show each step of the process of leather tooling and to give bystanders a chance to try their hand at the craft. (Westbound on I-24 at mile marker 160 in Jasper, 423-942-0933)-TN Welcome Center, I-75 at Chattanooga: Fayetteville, Tenn., artist Chris Bussler demonstrates the craft of painting with acrylics on canvas on Oct. 10. She is a self-taught artist who paints by emotion and instinct and is inspired by color, especially warm, earthy tones. (100 I-75 at northbound mile marker 0.7 in East Ridge, 423-894-6399)
Bussler remembers that she was "always drawing" as a child.
"I wanted to go to art school, but my parents discouraged me," she says. "They both grew up during the Depression, and neither had finished high school. I was an honor student, so they said I had to go to college and have a real career. They said I was too smart to waste it on art. So when I graduated from high school, I joined the Navy, got married, had a successful career and never thought about art until that moment."
Bussler says oranges and earthy colors are favorites, as are beach scenes after living in Virginia Beach, Va., for almost 18 years, Puerto Rico for four and Pensacola, Fla., for 10 before moving to Tennessee.
She expects to work on old barns, a chickadee, an iris, old trucks and horses during her demonstration at the Welcome Center.
Tennessee Craft Week is held in conjunction with American Craft Week. It earned top honors from the national organization in 2015 and 2016 for its statewide craft demonstrations and hands-on experiences at all 14 Tennessee Welcome Centers and the Nashville International Airport. Nearly 75 official events are scheduled this year. Get the full schedule at http://tennesseecraft.org/tennessee-craft-week
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.