2024 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Exhibit

Rob Cameron, an Automotive Designer with a passion for bourbon, merges his creative outlet with his work through his Meeting Minutes project. This project was born from the mindless doodles in his meeting notebooks, which evolved into intricate pen and ink style drawings. In his piece "Through Proof," Rob inverts his usual approach by using a bottle as a canvas, representing the liquid as if it were still in the barrel and inside the glass. The black bottle and chrome liquid are a playful twist on his traditional black ink on white paper style.

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 Renee Torbit earned her art degree at William Woods University and has since pursued her passions for both art and horse racing. After riding as a jockey for eight years, she transitioned to track photography, eventually finding her way to Churchill Downs. Renee’s design, "Racing Spirits," combines her love for horse racing and Kentucky bourbon. It uses a dynamic angle to showcase Churchill Downs and the excitement of Derby Day, with bourbon logos cleverly integrated into the jockey silks. 

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Resko has been an artist for nearly his entire life, with over 20 years of professional experience creating art in the Louisville area. He has collaborated with various community and city projects and has worked with prominent bourbon brands such as Bulleit Bourbon, Jim Beam, and Angel's Envy. His work is featured at Bulleit Bourbon Distillery and in numerous public murals throughout Louisville. His design, "Silky Finish," draws inspiration from his past murals and pays homage to the first jockeys to win the Kentucky Derby, who were former slaves and sons of slaves.

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Terri Minton, born and raised in Beaver Dam, KY, is a self-taught artist who began painting and drawing just six years ago. She works with acrylics, watercolor, colored pencils, and calligraphy, bringing her art to life with vibrant color and shading. Her design, "The Long Pour," creatively incorporates the stave’s bunghole, symbolizing the full circle journey of bourbon from barrel to bottle and back through the glass.

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 Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Nate Michaels moved to Louisville in 2015 to pursue a full-time career as an independent artist. Specializing in portrait work and utilizing a variety of mediums, Nate's art is known for its vibrancy and life. His piece "Intensity" is part of a series of Derby-themed paintings he has been creating over the past two years, inspired by the excitement and energy of the Kentucky Derby, and showcased each May at the Bad Cat Boutique in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

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 Norma Drish is a self-taught artist originally from the US Virgin Islands who has lived in Louisville, Kentucky, for the past 28 years. Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues, including The Little Loomhouse, The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, and The Speed Art Museum. Working primarily with oil and exploring watercolors, Norma draws inspiration from personal experiences and the cycles of life, death, transformation, and resiliency in nature and human interactions. 

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 Molly E. Whitt draws inspiration from nature, her faith, and life experiences. Originally from Clarksville, IN, she now resides in rural Spencer County, KY. Her piece, "The Crystal City," reimagines Bardstown, KY—the "Bourbon Capital of the World"—by transforming its courthouse square into a collection of bourbon bottles, decanters, and glasses, capturing the intricate play of light and layers of design.

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 Josh Bova is a skilled wood artist who blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design to celebrate the natural beauty of wood. His piece, "Spirits in the Grain," is inspired by the rich heritage of bourbon-making in Kentucky. Using exotic hardwoods and marquetry techniques, Josh captures the elegance and complexity of bourbon bottles, mounting the piece on a charred bourbon barrel lid and incorporating copper leaf to reflect the journey from grain to glass.

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 Kelly Rice Brown is a painter and multimedia artist living on a small farm in Mount Sterling, Kentucky. After relocating from Lexington, where she worked as the Director of Marketing for Alltech’s sponsorship of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games, Kelly embraced the tranquility of rural life, deepening her passion for painting. Her design, "Spirits of Kentucky," is inspired by the charm, rich history, and spirit of the state. It celebrates Kentucky's world-renowned bourbon, bluegrass music, horse racing, and the beloved tradition of fried chicken. When not painting, Kelly enjoys fishing for crappie in Alabama or redfish in Louisiana. 

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 Kathryn Gray, a Louisville-based artist, holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Design from the University of Kentucky and has over 25 years of experience in interior design. Now focused on painting full-time, Kathryn is known for her vibrant use of color and painterly brushwork. Her piece, "I'll Have A Tumbler, Please," is inspired by the warm amber hues of bourbon as it catches light in a glass, embellished with gold leaf in remembrance of her father.

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Michelle Bennington typically found writing contemporary and historical mysteries set in Kentucky, finds peace and joy in painting. Her piece, "Kentucky Sunset," is inspired by her love of old barns and a photograph she took of a barn at sunset. As she explores the Bourbon Trail, Michelle's favorite bourbon so far is Woodford Reserve, though she’s eager to discover more.

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 Kaiden Walden is a second-year interior design student at the University of Kentucky, minoring in economics with plans to pursue a master's in architecture and manage her own firm. Passionate about art and philanthropy, Kaiden is excited to contribute to the impact Bourbon With Heart has on the community. Her design, "Bourbon Strides," employs monochromatic principles to create a narrative where spilled bourbon transforms into free-running horses, symbolizing both Kentucky's bourbon industry and the spirit of the Kentucky Derby.

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 Jenny Heins is an entrepreneur, consultant, and artist who uses her creative talents to give back and inspire. Her work, including her piece for the Bourbon With Heart exhibit, reflects her deep appreciation for Kentucky's bourbon heritage and her commitment to growth and resilience. "For The Love Of Kentucky" merges Jenny's love for spirits with her signature floral style, incorporating bourbon glasses and a carefully selected bottle. The playful swirls and inclusion of the Goldenrod, Kentucky's state flower, celebrate the rich tradition and natural beauty of the region, creating a harmonious blend of art, nature, and bourbon craftsmanship. 

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 Jennifer Millard has always been passionate about sketching and painting outdoor scenery and animals. Though she has worked full-time in a corporate career for the last 25 years, she has consistently created art throughout her life. Living in eastern Appalachia, Kentucky, has been a significant inspiration for her plein air painting. Her piece, "The Kentucky Way of Life," was inspired by the breathtaking views of Appalachia, capturing the region's natural beauty and evoking a sense of timelessness and connection to the land.

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 Hector Urdaneta has been an artist for over 15 years, educated at the Martin Tovar y Tovar school in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. With a background in architecture, Hector’s work integrates structural elements with acrylic on canvas, creating dynamic visual experiences. His design "Lou round eye" is inspired by the skyline seen while crossing the bridge into Louisville, using the vanishing point technique and the barrel head's circular form to create a 360-degree illusion. The red roses in the design symbolize the Kentucky Derby, while bourbon reflects the vibrant spirit of Kentucky. 

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 Drew Flavell’s art is inspired by his faith and the beauty of life. His design, "Alpha to Omega," represents the journey from grain to glass, mirroring how our experiences shape us over time. Drew and his wife, Jessica, are active in their community, bringing people together through Bourbon and the Bible and supporting Jax Bourbon Social's efforts to find a cure for MS.

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 Louisville native Donyalle Jackson, known as "Donnie," grew up in the West End near Shawnee and developed her passion for art early on. After earning her BA in Visual Arts from the University of Louisville, she now works as a full-time artist, focusing on education, community engagement, muralism, and project management. Her piece "Smoke Break" is inspired by her time as a bartender on Whiskey Row, particularly the signature Smoked Old Fashioned she used to make. The lingering scent of burning oak staves and the fond memories of working with bourbon influenced this nostalgic and evocative work. 

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 Brittany Samsil is the owner of Art by Brittany, a full-time portrait artist who also specializes in epoxy work. Based in Owensboro, KY, Brittany frequently travels for her work, collaborating with nonprofits and businesses to create unique pieces. Her design, "A Kentucky Classic," is inspired by her personal love for cigars and bourbon, often enjoyed while she paints. The lighting in the piece reflects the ambiance of her work area, capturing the essence of her creative process.

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 Ashley Fackler, though not a native Kentuckian, appreciates the state's beauty from an outsider's perspective. Her piece, "Through the Fences," captures Kentucky's great landscape as seen from behind fences, symbolizing the unique vantage point she brings to her artwork. Ashley’s favorite bourbon is Old Forester, perfect for a hot toddy.

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 April Schweiss is a self-taught artist and native of Louisville who primarily works with acrylics and digital media, considering all of her creations as illustrations. Her design, "flushed cheeks + glass clinks," is inspired by the charm of a warm breeze drifting through a picnic party, filled with mint juleps, bourbon on ice, lemonade, and laughter. April draws inspiration from nature, dreams, and tall tales, creating pieces that offer a soft escape from the world's harsh edges. 

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