A quick introduction to turning a bowl on a lathe several years ago was all it took to grab Mark’s interest in this activity. What began as an auxiliary storage shed soon turned into “Mark’s Tiny Woodshop”

Many upgrades later, both to the wood shop and woodworking skills, Mark spends his leisure time exploring what beauty is hidden inside a block of wood.

Mark prefers to work with what is readily available local and regional wood: cypress, cedar, hickory, or black walnut. He appreciates the natural imperfections that can quickly appear on a fast turning lathe. Insects and other pests can alter the interior grain of hardwood, producing a unique piece every time.

Mark is a member of AOA and PAL. He has been a featured artist for AOA at the Wood and Fiber exhibit in 2024 and is a regular at Elizabeth City’s First Friday Artwalk.

Mark’s Tiny Woodshop has been a craftsman during EC’s inaugural Bass Masters National Tournament in 2025, Camp Cales Pig Pickin on the Perquimans 2026, and a returning artist at Arts on the Perquimans.

My name is John Peel, and my studio sits just behind our home on the edge of a bean field in Pasquotank County. The privacy and openness of this landscape connect my workspace to the shifting agricultural seasons and the rhythms of life outdoors.

I work primarily with stoneware clay, focusing on utilitarian pottery. My pieces are wheelthrown and often altered. The forms and surfaces are inspired by the people, plants, and animals of Eastern North Carolina.

Wood firing plays a central role in my process. The kiln creates a dynamic interaction with the slips and glazes I use, acting like a river of fire that wraps around each pot. The fire and ash leave distinct markings, with directional patterns shaped by each piece’s position in the kiln, especially in relation to the firebox.

Saltglazed pottery, a tradition dating back to the fifteenth century, with a rich history in North Carolina is known for its strength and durability. My work continues that tradition, creating pots designed to withstand the demands of the modern kitchen.

You can follow along on Instagram or Facebook @johnpeelpottery.

Artist Statement: “I think of my paintings as a picture journal of my life, travels, and interests.

My paintings are an expression of what I see, feel, and hope to convey to the viewer. My aesthetic, hopefully, illuminates the existence visible nowhere else except in the works created. This is where each artist is unique. It is simply the culmination of all the invisible elements in this intricate process of creating. This is not a psychological unveiling of my innermost being, just a joyful adventure awaitng me to connect past and present in unlimited possibilities.”

Wanda Jo Putz is a native of Nebraska and has lived in North Carolina for the past 13 years. She started art lessons at an early age, discovering her love of pastel as she focused on animal subject matter.

She has studied art at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and from various instructors throughout her life. Upon moving to North Carolina, she fell in love with the coastal waterways of the Albemarle region, especially the beaches, with the enormous variety of wildlife and natural beauty.

A member of various local galleries, she has won awards for her pastels and acrylics and is happy to be painting often at her creative haven, River View Studio, in Hertford, NC.

Artist Statement: “I work in acrylic and pastel. Because of my love for the water, I spend a lot of time exploring the Albemarle Sound and the OBX beaches for inspiration. I love painting pelicans, posts in the water, rural scenes-all nature, really; I find that colorful and realistic rendering is where I feel most comfortable at this time.”

Description of Work: “I primarily use acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas or board. Most of my paintings depict the coastal waterways and the birds and animals of our area. I especially love detail work and enjoy painting textures and feathers.”

From Saturday morning watercolor classes at our local museum when I was 12, to high school studio art with amazing teachers, I always dreamt of having my own music and art studio.

I graduated from State University of New York, College at Cortland with a major in Studio Art, printmaking and a minor in music. I started a family and spent my days teaching piano and art classes from my home studio in Auburn, NY. 

As the years went by, I pursued mural work and piano instruction in various places on the East Coast of the US. Now, I have my studio right next door and after more than 45 years of teaching, my weekly music and art students still keep me hopping! 

I work in pastel, encaustic, mixed media, watercolor, and acrylic. 

Facebook as Nora Crouch and/or Rose Gate Studio.