- Art has been a part of Temple's life since childhood. She loved watching her Dad draw figures and studied nature to teach herself to paint in her style of realism with a softened impressionistic feel. She studies the old masters and continues learning from contemporary artists to grow and develop . She says art enriches her days and gives her the opportunity to express in her own way, the beauty of life and God's blessings. Whether in her studio or en plein air in her community in the beautiful Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee , art is always inside her heart . While Temple works primarily in oils, her acrylic work can be seen in murals on the Musical Heritage Mural Mile in Johnson County TN. She believes in living life to its fullest and encourages others to do the same. Temple is a founding member and on the Board of Directors for Johnson County Center for the Arts and served as Assistant Director for its first seven years. The Center for the Arts is very important to her as it provides encouragement and resources for the community and many artisans. She is also a member of Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, American Impressionistic Society, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Tennesseans for the Arts, American Artists Professional Leaugue, Preserving a Picturesque America, Johnson County Arts Council, Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and the Johnson County Center for the Arts Heritage Club. She is one of the original Committee Members of the Long Journey Home Yearly Musical Heritage Festival which celebrates and preserves the musical and cultural heritage of Johnson County, TN. Temple has her art work in many homes and businesses including the Mammography Center, Chapel and Corridors of Johnson County Community Hospital, a permanent piece in the Johnson County Library commissioned in memory of B.K. Mount, a Laurel Bloomery painting at the Johnson County Art Center purchased by the Johnson County Music Club and art on display at Johnson County Bank. For many years, she has taught classes and provided art supplies to children through her signature project, the Sunshine and Smiles Program and worked with the Johnson County Arts Council to provide scholarships to graduating seniors and many other projects. She developed an Artist with Heart Award in 2022 which honors a local adult and student artist each year in memory of her friend, Nann. Children's art and supporting other artists have always been very important to her as well as collecting works of art , studying and learning from other artists. When she's not painting, Temple enjoys time with her husband, Mike, grand kids and family, yoga, walking, farming and Church. She is blessed to be a full time artist now and is retired from a career in customer service at Johnson County Bank, a State of TN Licensed and Nationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Criminal Justice Specialist, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and State of TN Licensed PreNeed Agent.
RECENT AWARDS , SHOWS, HONORS: 2025 -Cristy Dunn 12 for 12 January Challenge and February Group Show at Johnson County Center for the Art -Entry in the Community Show 'What was, What is and Whatever Shall Be ' at JC Center for the Arts -Two Person Show with John P Jackson coming in June at J C Center for the Arts -Features in the Spring Art Edition, Summer, Fall and Winter Editions of Charleston Style & Design Magazine -Ads and features in Voice Magazine for Women and Carolina Mountain Life Magazine 2024 -Curated, led and sponsored the 3rd Annual Cultural Heritage Plein Air Event for Johnson County Center for the Arts in 2024 working with renowned artists Lori McNee and Lewis Chapman as Awards Judges. -Watauga Lake Winery chose Temple's painting 'Blue Moon Over the Backroads' to be featured on a Special Edition Wine Label . -Collaberated with renowned artist John Jackson for an invitational show "The Edge Effect" in August and September 2024 at Johnson County Center for the Arts and will be working with him on a show for June of 2025. -Griffin Art Gallery in Jonesborough TN juried Temple's work to be included in the 'Pattern of Art" Show in June/July 2024. -Accepted into the Spring and Summer Oil Painters of America Online shows and the Associate Member Online Juried Show 2024 for the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. -Demonstrated and featured among amazing artists at Martin House Gallery Women's Show in Blowing Rock, NC -Featured in the solo show "Seasons of Home" at Johnson County Center for the Arts in March. -Used her art work and love of nature to partner with Preserving a Picturesque America in a project for Laurel Creek Trail upkeep. --Several entries accepted into the PleinAir Salon by PleinAir Magazine and has ads in several editions and also in editions of Fine Art Connoisseur, Carolina Mountain Living Magazine and Voices Magazine for Women. 2020-2023 -Featured in the community show "Embracing Authenticity in 2022 and the "l'll Fly Away " show in 2021 and was the solo featured artist with the show "Stillness" in August 2022 at Johnson County Center for the Arts. -Won 2nd place award for "Laurel Creek-The Perfect Day " and Honorable Mention for "Fiddlin Fred" in the Inaugural Cultural Heritage Plein Air Event by Johnson County Center for the Arts. An article in outdoorpainter.com by PleinAir Magazine on October 2022 featured the awards and the event. -Painted a series entitled "My Favorite Places" which shares the beauty and heritage of Johnson County in 2021/22 and created a booklet showcasing the works, people and areas represented. -Collaborated with artist Cristy Dunn to create a journal entitled "Inspire" which serves as a personal growth workbook featuring art and healing. -Artists in Residence at the Johnson County Center for the Arts December -March, 2022. -Featured among some great artists at the Martin House Gallery's Blowing Rock Women's Show in 2023. ~Past Art Awards and honors : -1st, 2nd. 3rd place, Best in Show Awards at the Long Journey Home Art Shows in 2016 and 2017, -Chamber of Commerce Art Award 2018. Danny Herman Traveler's Art Award in 2017. -Ed Cook Memorial Art Award as well as a People's Choice Award for her paintings in 2017-2020. -A featured artist of the JCAC Art in the Garden in Mountain City, TN. -Art work was featured in the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation's Gift of the Heart book. - Chosen to paint an ornament for First TN Lady Haslam for the TN Residence in 2012. -Art has been featured in several Tomahawk Newspaper articles ad a feature in the Blowing Rocket, NC Newspaper. MURALS: -Painted the Lopsided 3 train that ran in Johnson County for the 2018 Long Journey Home Musical Heritage Tour. -One of the artists to paint the 1925 Fiddler's Convention Community Mural led by Artist Cristy Dunn, -Worked with artists to paint "Legacies" 2019 murals. -Led a Grief Workshop to complete a "Music of the Mountains Mural " for 2020. -Collaborated with artists Cristy Dunn and Lewis Chapman to paint the mural "A Day in the Life of a Song" for the Musical Mural Mile 2020. - Painted with artist Cristy Dunn to create the "I'll Fly Away" interactive mural in Mountain City, TN in 2021. - Worked with other artists to create a mural for the "Artists and Old Crows Scavenger Hunt" in Heritage Square of downtown Mountain City, TN. - Worked with Cristy Dunn in a community mural project for 2023 honoring Clint Howard, local musician. -Collaborated with artists, Cristy, Lewis Chapman, Jacob Proffitt and JP Burnham to create the 2024 mural "Appalachian Elixir". -Painted a beach scene on a 60 foot wall as a commissioned piece.
~COMMUNITY AWARDS AND HONORS: Recipient of the Rotary Club Volunteer of the Year Award, the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce Mary Ahrends Volunteer of the Year Award and the Civitan of the Year Award. Past President of many organizations such as Kiwanis, Civitan, Positive Thinkers Women's Civic Club, Johnson County Arts Council and the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation and has been a board member of Heritage Hall Theatre, United Way of Johnson County and Relay for Life among others; served as Chair of the Taste of the Mountains event for the Johnson County Community Hospital Foundation and served two terms as Board Chair. She enjoyed organizing several runs to help those fighting cancer. Community enrichment, supporting other artists and the arts and giving back have always been an important part of her life.
Proud Member of
Johnson County
Chamber of Commerce
Working with children in Sunshine & Smiles is a blessing to me
...and I love doing Art & Renewal Classes!
...and Murals!
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or the life of another." -Helen Keller
"TESTIMONIAL: "Temple supports other artists and the Arts and serves our community in countless ways. She leads our Sunshine and Smiles Program (teaching and providing art supplies) for children. Temple has been part of bringing to life numerous murals in Mountain City including her solo piece, "The Lopsided 3" train that once ran in Johnson County. The many organizations in which she has played an important role in developing and leading are indicative of her love and commitment to God, family and community. Her role as Assistant Director is immeasurable . " ~Johnson County Center for the Arts 2022