Erin DeHart, artist
Dogwood Crafters has been one of downtown Dillsboro’s art destinations since 1976. An artist-run cooperative, it boasts art and crafts in a wide range of mediums from its 100 members, among them Erin DeHart. Before she joined Dogwood Crafters 19 years ago, she traveled to shows and festivals to sell her work. “Dogwood gave me a permanent place where people could find my work throughout the years,” she says, “and it has become like a family to me.”
Mostly self-taught, DeHart began painting in 1991 when her daughter brought her a box of old paints and brushes. “Over the years, I have painted everything from portraits and landscapes to wildlife, ornaments and decorative pieces,” she says. In 1998, one of her hand-painted ornaments was selected for the Christmas tree in the White House Blue Room. She has taught classes at Southwestern Community College, Tri-County Community College and in her home studio.
Her work available at Dogwood Crafters includes original paintings, miniature canvases, ornaments and mixed-media artwork. “Much of my current work is inspired by the beauty and wildlife of the Smoky Mountains,” DeHart says. “I especially enjoy creating small paintings that visitors can easily take home as a special reminder of their time in our mountains. I am always experimenting with new ideas and finding new ways to give my paintings warmth, character and a touch of whimsy.”
She calls Dogwood Crafters an asset to the Western North Carolina area. “It gives local artists an affordable place to display and sell their work while supporting and encouraging one another,” she says. “It also preserves our mountain heritage, offers workshops and scholarships, and gives residents and visitors an opportunity to purchase something genuinely handmade in our community.”
Dogwood Crafters is located at 90 Webster Street in Dillsboro. Learn more at DogwoodCrafters.com.
