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.
As we continue to navigate the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, our top priority is the well-being of our PlantHouse Asheville team. We are deeply grateful to share that all of our staff members are safe, but like many in the Western North Carolina community, they are facing immense challenges in the aftermath of this disaster.
At this time, we do not have an update on the future of our Asheville store, as the flooding caused significant damage. However, our focus is solely on supporting our team until we know more about the store's future. To help our incredible crew during this difficult time, we've created a GoFundMe where 100°/o of the donations will go directly to our staff.
None of the funds will be used for store rebuilding—this is purely for our people. If you're able to contribute or share, it would mean the world to us and to them.
We are continuing to support the WNC community by collecting supplies at our Charlotte locations, working with local organizations to get essentials into the hands of those who need them most.
Our hearts are with everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy. Thank you for being part of our PlantHouse family. Stay safe, take care of each other, and reach out if you need support.
Heidi Hoffer
I photographed Heidi Hoffer to be featured in the winter edition of Carolina Home & Garden the Monday morning before Thanksgiving. A synergistic and familiar energy existed between us, like old friends getting reacquainted. Her background was of boundless interest to me, and I couldn't help but think of the stories she could tell and the experiences she'd had. Her life reminded me of my father's, both galavanting across several continents in their formative years. In my eyes, her studio was a tapestry of her collected memories weaved through charcoal. At the end of my session, she took my photo to reference it for a portrait. I can't wait to see it finished.
Below, you'll find more information on Heidi Hoffer and her work, taken from her website.
I draw charcoal portraits for folks like you. I bring to life the character you present when you sit for the portrait or when you provide an ancestor’s photograph and a story or two about them. I draw heads, through full figures. My charcoal portrait artwork is inspired by dramatic Victorian daguerreotypes, ancient ancestors, and live clients. I specialize in drawing dynamic lighting and costumed portraits, having worked in theatre design for many years. I love researching and drawing costumes, dramatic theatrical lighting, and use my own Rembrandt style of lighting in the studio. So, bring out your cosplay, steampunk and martial artists! Each commissioned charcoal portrait is developed to tell an interesting story through light and shadow. Pricing varies depending on subject matter, medium, size and complexity. Please feel free to get in touch with me if you are interested in a charcoal portrait or have any questions. You can reach me at 405-564-4946 or by email: heidihoffer@gmail.com
My range of subjects includes
Your revered or goofy ancestors - bring me a photograph and stories about them! I love the lighting and formality in those old photos, including the Victorian and Edwardian ones!
Your loved ones – commission a beautiful, calm portrait of one or more! Bring them to sit for me. I prefer to take my own photos but can work from quality photos you provide. I’ll do a few different lighting set-ups, take reference photos, and rough-sketch them at our first portrait orientation session.
Your business – Let’s do your professional businessman or professional business woman, or the elegant lady and gentleman charcoal portrait! Remember the beautiful draperies and books behind portraits of scholars and thinkers?
Your talent and practice – Come as you are! I love commissions from other artists; musicians (I’m a bassoon player); dancers (I did jazz, ballet, and tap); baseball players (other sports like archery and riding horses or ATV’s, too): and Martial Artists (I did Tai-Qi, Yoga)! I’ll ask you to sit (or stand or swing or jazz-hands etc. for the me, and I’ll do study sketches and take plenty of reference photos.
Your Original Character –come as your character in your cosplay costume, martial arts clothing, or Steampunk alter-ego!
Have a new category for me? Let’s hear it!
I'm a Signature Member of The National Association of Women Artists. I'm also a member of the Portrait Society of America. Former member of United Scenic Artists Association 829, American Federation of Musicians, and United States Institute of Theatre Technology.
More of Heidi's work can be found on her website or in her studio located in the River Arts District.
NorthLight Studios
357 Depot Street
Asheville, NC 28801
As of writing this, it's been almost three months since Helene struck Asheville, and many are still living in uncertainty, including our artists. Please consider checking out the incredible work done by those featured in this blog, as well as other artists in the greater Western North Carolina region. Even if you can't make financial contributions, simply sharing their website with friends, signing up for their newsletter, or following and sharing their work on social media makes a huge difference in the amount of eyes that see the blood, sweat, and tears that they put into their remarkable work.
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