The Lookbook is a photographic journal featuring galleries of our more extensive client work and projects.
Early in 2024, I started working with Bold Life Publication, the parent company of Asheville Made and Carolina Home and Garden, two magazines local to Asheville and the Western North Carolina region. Asheville Made features articles on local artists and craftspeople, while Carolina Home & Garden is an all-encompassing magazine that features articles about architecture, interior design, decor, and outdoor living. Since our collaboration began, I've been able to consistently see my portrait photography published in printed format.
Most rewarding, though, is that I've also had the privilege of meeting and photographing incredible artists, being invited into home studios, and engaging in conversations about processes, artistic inspiration, and the journey that has led them to their current place in life. People trusting me with their history and stories is the part of my work as a photographer that I cherish the most and feel is the greatest responsibility I have as a photographer.
In light of Helene's impact on Western North Carolina and Asheville artists and their communities as a whole, I thought I'd share the portraits created working with each subject photographed for Asheville Made and Carolina Home and Garden, along with a bit about them in their own words and where you might be able to find their work.
Luke Whitlatch
Photographing Luke Whitlatch was my first assignment with Bold Life, which was published in Asheville Made. Wolves from the WNC Nature Center howled on the cool spring night as we worked in his home studio. We spoke about his formative years in Wyoming and how the Indigenous Culture of his surroundings shaped his beliefs and artwork. Below is an excerpt from Luke's Wikipedia page.
Luke Whitlatch, born in 1977 in Casper, Wyoming, is an American, Asheville, North Carolina–based artist. His paintings have been shown in Los Angeles, New York City, and Wyoming. His work has been reviewed in Modern Painters and the Columbia Art and Literature Review.
Whitlatch grew up in Wyoming before moving to Los Angeles to study art at Otis College of Art and Design, where he received a BFA in 2001.
Selected solo exhibitions
2021 "Do you call day night?" solo show, Tracey Morgan Gallery Asheville, North Carolina
2018 “Here lies the void I once knew” solo show, Scarlow's Gallery Casper, Wyoming
2013 “Hand of the Slumber Man,” solo show, Richard Heller Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2010 “Ghost in the cargo van,” solo show, Corridor Gallery, Casper, Wyoming
2008 “The Goodstein Incidents,” solo show, Bandini Art, Culver City, California
2004 “The Confines of Expressionism,” solo show, Timbrespace, Los Angeles, California
Selected group exhibitions
2019 "A Consuming Fire (with Eric Anderson); Keystone Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2018 “It’s OK,” group show, Charlie James Gallery Los Angeles, California, Curated by Sacha Baumann
2014 "6018 Wilshire Blvd." group show, Edward Cella Gallery Los Angeles, California, Curated by Carl Berg
Luke's work and information can be found on his website at https://lukewhitlatchart.com/.
Aaron Hill
Photographing Aaron Hill was my second assignment for Bold Life, which was published in Asheville Made. I met Aaron at his studio in Asheville's famed River Arts District. It was a hot summer evening, the air thick with humidity. We spoke about our love of sports and his collection of baseball and basketball cards, all huge inspirations for Aaron's work. Below, you can find information about Aaron.
Aaron Hill is a painter/illustrator focused on portrait and figurative art. He is best known for his unique, artistic take on recreating vintage photos and print collectibles such as sports cards.
Aaron follows his art wherever his mind may take him. He’s not necessarily tied down to a certain style or subject. He paints what he enjoys and chases after interesting ideas like personal tarot cards, portraits on skateboard decks, or recreating vintage photos of family members from the past.
Check out Aaron's work on his website and visit his gallery in the River Arts District.
Pink Dog Creative
St.Claire Gallery
342 - 348 Depot St.
Suite 104
Asheville, NC 28801
Diana Gillispie
Photographing ceramics artist Diana Gillispie was my third time collaborating with Bold Life. It was a late summer afternoon when I showed up at her home studio to photograph her, her space, and her work for both Asheville Made and Carolina Home and Garden. It was a fun session. She spoke about her artistic journey and her son. I admired the space, and she told me her husband is an architect, which is partly why her studio was so lovely. It felt like I had entered a sanctuary that few others had seen. At least, that's the story I told myself. I felt a sense of familiarity with Diana, though, and I thought we'd get along well outside of a professional setting.
Diana doesn't have much information about herself on her website, but the below snippet was taken from her About page.
My new line of pottery is minimalist in design, inspired in part by my appreciation for Asian ceramics, notably contemporary Japanese. The pottery is both hand built slab construction and wheel thrown, sometimes a combination of both. All pieces are finished in either a matte black or, by contrast, a glossy white glaze.
You can find Diana's incredible work locally at the Odyssey Gallery of Ceramic Arts in the River Arts District or on her website.
Odyssey Center For Ceramic Arts
238 Clingman Ave Extention
Asheville, NC 28801
PlantHouse Asheville
I photographed PlantHouse Asheville and their Kokedama workshop in the summer to be featured in Carolina Home & Garden. PlantHouse is a regional company with seven locations across Virginia and North Carolina. Three sisters participated in the Kokedama workshop on the day of the shoot, which was more like an intimate event shoot than anything else. More information about PlantHouse can be found below.
PlantHouse is an experienced-based terrarium workshop and premium plant store. We combine plant-based activities, products, and environments that bring people together in a way that inspires connection and creativity.
Visit one of our retail locations and experience the modern plant revival through do-it-yourself terrariums, organized workshops, premium plant shopping, and a modern yet eclectic ceramic collection.
Due to Hurricane Helene's impact on the Western North Carolina region, the PlantHouse location in Asheville is temporarily closed. There is a GoFundMe page to support the employees who find themselves currently without work. Information on the GoFundMe campaign is below.
