Art on the River is a curated visual arts experience within the Rockin’ the River Arts & Music Festival, celebrating original artwork and creative connection in downtown Elba, Alabama. Hosted inside the historic Elba Theatre and extending into the surrounding festival footprint, Art on the River brings together gallery exhibition and outdoor artist market opportunities in a welcoming, community-centered setting. This year marks the first year of a formal juried and vetting process for Art on the River, reflecting a growing commitment to intentional curation, artistic integrity, and a high-quality experience for both artists and visitors as the event continues to evolve.
Meet the artists of Art on the River—creators whose work brings depth, beauty, and imagination to the heart of downtown Elba. This year’s artists represent a thoughtfully curated group selected for originality, craftsmanship, and creative voice, coming together for the first formally vetted year of Art on the River. From the gallery walls of the historic Elba Theatre to the vibrant outdoor artist market, visitors are invited to connect directly with artists, explore their work, and experience art as something personal, relational, and alive.
Meet the artists of Art on the River—creators whose work brings depth, beauty, and imagination to the heart of downtown Elba. This year’s artists represent a thoughtfully curated group selected for originality, craftsmanship, and creative voice, coming together for the first formally vetted year of Art on the River. From the gallery walls of the historic Elba Theatre to the vibrant outdoor artist market, visitors are invited to connect directly with artists, explore their work, and experience art as something personal, relational, and alive.
2026 Featured Artists
Mark Moseley
Mark Moseley is a creative artist from Elba, Alabama. He started painting at an early age, practicing and teaching himself painting techniques in his teenage years without assistance. He worked alongside his family's photography business for 30 years, picking up skills with light, composition, camera technical abilities, among others. He would continue to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from TROY's Department of Art and Design in 1996, and later a master's in Education with emphasis in Art in 1999. Mark was the owner and Creative Director at Moseley Studios from 2001- 2016, where he was in charge of coordinating photo shoots, marketing clients, video productions and graphic design. He later returned to his alma mater to work as Creative Director in the TROY Marketing department.
His digital paintings have graced numerous Troy Today magazine covers. Also, his photography and video skills have taken him internationally to document for TROY on various occasions. Mark has over 25 years of experience working with video, photography, digital tools, and painting in the private and public sector. Moseley continues to pursue photography and Videography alongside his painting. His subject matter includes distorted landscapes, impactful moments in his travels, and subjects that catch his eye along the path of life.
https://www.markmoseleyart.com/
His digital paintings have graced numerous Troy Today magazine covers. Also, his photography and video skills have taken him internationally to document for TROY on various occasions. Mark has over 25 years of experience working with video, photography, digital tools, and painting in the private and public sector. Moseley continues to pursue photography and Videography alongside his painting. His subject matter includes distorted landscapes, impactful moments in his travels, and subjects that catch his eye along the path of life.
https://www.markmoseleyart.com/
Rebecca Carr
Rebecca Carr is an accomplished artist based in Enterprise, Alabama. After a successful career in aircraft maintenance, Rebecca transitioned to full-time artistry in 2021, dedicating herself to her passion for capturing realism. Specializing in portraiture and wildlife, Rebecca skillfully uses various mediums, including acrylics, inks, pastels, and graphite. Her distinct approach features the use of a micron airbrush, allowing her to achieve an extraordinary photorealistic quality in her work, with an emphasis on the depth and expression of her subjects.
Rebecca’s talent has been recognized in numerous juried art exhibits, earning her several awards. In 2025 her painting “Unwelcome Company” won “Best in Show”, and in 2023 her painting “Delta Cascades” won “Best in Show”, both at the SAC’s Gallery Waterfront Show. Rebecca’s painting “Just a Peck on the Cheek” secured 1st Place in acrylics at the Montgomery Art Guild’s 57th Annual Regions Bank Show and this piece was accepted to the Art Fields Festival in Lake city, SC.
Rebecca’s artwork is displayed in Enterprise at numerous businesses including The Barrel Room, The Artistry Collective, Glow Korner, and The Pea River Historical Society.
Follow Rebecca on Facebook or Instagram @glass2graphite
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BZnjw1k9C/
Rebecca’s talent has been recognized in numerous juried art exhibits, earning her several awards. In 2025 her painting “Unwelcome Company” won “Best in Show”, and in 2023 her painting “Delta Cascades” won “Best in Show”, both at the SAC’s Gallery Waterfront Show. Rebecca’s painting “Just a Peck on the Cheek” secured 1st Place in acrylics at the Montgomery Art Guild’s 57th Annual Regions Bank Show and this piece was accepted to the Art Fields Festival in Lake city, SC.
Rebecca’s artwork is displayed in Enterprise at numerous businesses including The Barrel Room, The Artistry Collective, Glow Korner, and The Pea River Historical Society.
Follow Rebecca on Facebook or Instagram @glass2graphite
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BZnjw1k9C/
Shawna Lewis
Shawna Lewis is an artist deeply inspired by the beauty of the natural world and its ability to evoke emotion. Trained as an architect, she brings a strong sense of structure, color, and pattern into her artwork, finding joy in the interplay between design and organic form. Shawna lived in Japan for over 15 years, where Japanese aesthetics and culture profoundly shaped her artistic perspective and continue to influence her work today.
Her creative journey began with a desire to celebrate nature and its abundance. For Shawna, the process of creating is both grounding and restorative, offering a sense of peace and connection. She believes art should enrich lives, and through her work, she hopes to inspire others to slow down, reconnect with nature, and appreciate its quiet beauty.
You can explore more of Shawna’s work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unadorneddaughter
Her creative journey began with a desire to celebrate nature and its abundance. For Shawna, the process of creating is both grounding and restorative, offering a sense of peace and connection. She believes art should enrich lives, and through her work, she hopes to inspire others to slow down, reconnect with nature, and appreciate its quiet beauty.
You can explore more of Shawna’s work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unadorneddaughter
Andrew Batchelor
Andrew Batchelor is an acrylic painter/graphic artist living in Enterprise alongside his wife, Ashley, their two boys, and their somewhat crazed Cavapoo, Pickles. He studied art and design at both Troy University and Auburn University and has been a graphic designer, product designer, and product photographer for Jeffers Vet Supply and Lambert Vet Supply for over 20 years. His art is most recognized by its whimsical, illustrative style that tries its hardest to bring out the kid in each of us.
See more of Andrew's work here: www.etsy.com/shop/BatchelorStudios?dd_referrer=
See more of Andrew's work here: www.etsy.com/shop/BatchelorStudios?dd_referrer=
Kathryn Clark
Kathryn Clark is a retired federal law enforcement professional with 24 years of service in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, concluding her career as a superintendent in Yazoo City, Mississippi. After retiring, she relocated to Sebastian, Florida, but after experiencing four hurricanes, decided Florida was no longer the right fit. She eventually settled in Alabama, where two of her four grown children now live. She is the proud parent of three daughters and one son, and a grandmother to five grandchildren. Her artistic journey began in 1999, when she started melting glass as a way to decompress from the high stress of working in the prison system. What began as a personal outlet quickly grew into a passion. After retiring in 2003, she expanded her work into fused glass and wind chimes, and the creative practice soon evolved into a full-fledged art business.
Upon moving to Alabama in 2007, she began repurposing old windows she discovered locally, seeing them not as discarded objects but as perfect canvases for stained glass designs. For smaller-scale work, she uses picture frames to create interior art for homes. She continues to fuse glass for outdoor pieces, wall art, and seasonal ornaments, including pieces designed for Christmas trees. Today, she travels throughout the southern United States participating in juried art shows. When she is not creating, she devotes her time to caring for rescued animals. Her household currently includes five dogs, two cats, and two horses, all of which keep her happily busy.
See Kathryn's work at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054488049180
Upon moving to Alabama in 2007, she began repurposing old windows she discovered locally, seeing them not as discarded objects but as perfect canvases for stained glass designs. For smaller-scale work, she uses picture frames to create interior art for homes. She continues to fuse glass for outdoor pieces, wall art, and seasonal ornaments, including pieces designed for Christmas trees. Today, she travels throughout the southern United States participating in juried art shows. When she is not creating, she devotes her time to caring for rescued animals. Her household currently includes five dogs, two cats, and two horses, all of which keep her happily busy.
See Kathryn's work at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054488049180
Erick Payne
Erick Lawrence Payne is an Alabama-based artist whose work is deeply rooted in heritage and history. A proud tribal member of the Echota Cherokee, Erick draws inspiration from Native American archaeological art and the cultural blending that shaped the Southeast. His pieces—primarily created in ink pen and oil paint—seek to preserve and honor the vibrant stories of tribal life, trade, and tradition. After a successful 25-year career as a licensed electrical contractor in the chemical plastics manufacturing sector, Erick transitioned into art following semi-retirement. His technical background and love for precision translate into intricate, historically inspired compositions that invite viewers to reflect on the past while appreciating its relevance today.
Raised in Decatur, Alabama, Erick’s passion for Native American history was influenced by his cousin Rickey Butch Walker, a noted author and historian who documented tribal culture and lineage across Alabama. Erick’s art is not only a creative expression but a mission—to keep alive the rich heritage of Native tribes and their role in shaping the region’s identity. When he’s not in the studio, Erick enjoys exploring the outdoors through hunting and fishing, continuinga lifelong connection to nature. His work aims to touch people historically and culturally, ensuring thatthe stories of Native America remain vivid and celebrated.
See more of Erick's work here: www.facebook.com/erick.payne.937428
2026 Gallery Artists
These fantastic Gallery Artists represent a curated collection of creatives whose work will be exhibited throughout the gallery during the festival. In addition to these artists, all Featured Artists highlighted above will also have work displayed in the gallery. Together, the Gallery Artists and Featured Artists form a cohesive exhibition that reflects the depth, diversity, and creative vision of Art on the River.
Reisa PetersReisa Peters has always been drawn to color, with a deep love for bold, vibrant landscapes and expressive patterns. During her husband’s 20-year Army career, she had the opportunity to attend workshops with accomplished artists including Dawn Whitelaw, Lori Putnam, Chad Boyd, Bill Fletcher, Kyle Martin, and Joy Thomas, as well as study locally with artists such as Barbara Gardner and colored pencil artist Dava Dahlgren. She now works primarily in watercolor, a medium she has grown deeply passionate about, and continues her artistic development under the guidance of local artist Helen Taylor Andrews. Now living in Enterprise, Alabama, Reisa finds inspiration in the surrounding landscapes and enjoys capturing the beauty of the region on both paper and canvas, considering herself both fortunate and deeply grateful for the artistic journey she continues to explore.
To see more of Reisa's work, go to: reisapeters.com |
M. YakimaM. Yakima is an award-winning artist whose work has been recognized across the Southeast for its expressive power, technical skill, and distinctive artistic voice. Over the past two decades, Yakima’s work has received honors in painting, drawing, watercolor, pastel, oils, mixed media, folk art, and photographic imagery at juried festivals, museum exhibitions, and regional art events. Notable recognitions include Best in Show at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art’s ColOhr Festival, multiple Juror’s and Judge’s Awards, and top placements at festivals such as Red River Revel, Festival on the Green, Riverwalk Arts Festival, TroyFest, and Artoberfest. Yakima’s consistent recognition reflects a sustained commitment to artistic exploration and craftsmanship, with work that resonates across mediums and themes and continues to earn distinction within diverse juried contexts.
View more of M. Yakima' work at: https://poshmark.com/closet/wise8angel |
Schoen Heier BonuraSchoen’s work is inspired by the natural beauty and energetic presence of crystals, blending fine art with Earth’s natural forms—especially geode structures. Founded in 2025, Eternal Elements Art by Schoen creates one-of-a-kind pieces guided by intuition, where layered resin and shimmering crystals reveal depth, movement, and light.
She creates commissioned and memorial works honoring meaningful moments and loved ones, including tribute art infused with a small portion of ashes from a human or pet. Each piece is titled and includes information about the energetic properties of the crystals used. In 2025, her work received multiple local exhibition honors, including a Merit Award, Honorable Mention, and 2nd Place in Mixed Media. Schoen lives in Enterprise, Alabama, and is also a 500-Hour RYT Yoga Instructor specializing in Ashtanga, Iyengar principles, and Yoga Nidra. You can Contact Schoen at: [email protected] |
Courtney MaddoxCourtney Maddox has been refining the process of long exposure photography for the better part of 15 years. Her 'light paintings' are a mixture of surrealism, imagination, and patience that validate the expression "there's more than meets the eye." Armed with an idea, various flashlights, a tripod, and the night sky, it never ceases to amaze her what she will capture next. Courtney says, "It's easy to maintain my focus with long exposure photography due to the nervous anticipation coupled with excitement during the process. The adrenaline spike felt when unrealistic expectations create incredible results is unparalleled." All of Courtney's light paintings are raw, unedited photos, as she is aggressive with preserving the natural state of the light she is capturing. She currently resides in Elba, AL with her husband and their vocal dog, Bowie. As a modern day renaissance woman, she can be found with her hands in just about anything, from speaking at tech conferences to daydreaming on her next big project. She wants to thank her friends and family for the support that has kept her grounded in creativity throughout the years. Her goal is to 'expose' more people to the various stages of light through the unique style of long exposure photography.
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Rachel GoreRachel Gore is a mosaic and mixed-media artist based in Birmingham, Alabama. Her work explores themes of memory, transformation, and inner knowing through figurative and symbolic imagery. Using hand-cut glass, found materials, and richly layered textures, she creates intimate pieces that hold both fragility and strength. Her work invites quiet reflection, offering space for emotional resonance and personal meaning to unfold.
To see more of Rachel's work, go to: Instagram: @rachels_artstudio |
Heidi TilleryHeidi Tillery's artistic style is characterized by a love of loose forms, impressionism and abstract expressions, all brought to life with a playful palette of fun, lively colors. Drawing inspiration from her life experiences, family and friends, Heidi's work resonates with warmth and joy, inviting viewers to connect with the emotions behind each piece. Always eager to try new techniques and mediums, Heidi enjoys the challenge of mixed medium styles, which allows her to express her creativity in diverse ways. Through her art, she seeks to bring happiness to others, making each creation not just a piece of art, but an experience filled with joy and imagination. Always eager to try new techniques and mediums, Heidi enjoys the challenge of mixed medium styles, which allows her to express her creativity in diverse ways. Through her art, she seeks to bring happiness to others, making each creation not just a piece of art, but an experience filled with joy and imagination.
You can find more of Heidi’s works at: Hue-la-la.com |
Featured Live Art Experience
The Elba Courthouse, Painted Live
Throughout the festival, acclaimed portrait and fine artist Betty Tyler will be creating a live painting of the courthouse on canvas, set up inside the historic Elba Theatre. From the first brushstroke to the final detail, visitors are invited to witness the artwork unfold in real time as Betty captures the shifting light, atmosphere, and spirit of this local landmark. This all-day process offers a rare opportunity to slow down, observe, and experience how presence, intuition, and environment come together on canvas over the course of the day.
Betty Tyler is a portrait artist whose work moves fluidly between realism and abstraction, always grounded in the textures and stories of real life. Working in oils, acrylics, pastels, and watercolor, she approaches each painting as a conversation—one built patiently through observation, intuition, and the physical rhythm of the brush. Portraiture, in particular, has long been one of her deepest passions, and she finds joy in every stroke that brings a subject to life.
Tyler is especially known for her large-scale portraits, often painting works as tall as six feet. She describes these life-size creations as a true adventure—an immersive process that allows her to explore presence, expression, and human character at full scale. Her work can be found in universities, corporate offices, and private collections, reflecting both technical mastery and emotional depth.
Her artistic foundation was shaped through formal study at North Carolina State University and enriched by private instruction with accomplished artists, including Tom Edgerton of Washington, D.C. galleries; Rodney Moser, a noted watercolorist featured in Artist Magazine; Marla, an international oil painter from Spain; and Bob Rankin. Tyler also studied oil painting in Florence, Italy, an experience that further refined her classical sensibilities and appreciation for enduring artistic traditions.
Beyond her studio practice, Tyler has remained deeply engaged in arts education and community service. She has been affiliated with Alamance Community College, served on the board of Alamance Artisans and the Alamance County Arts Council, and is a member of the Portrait Society of America. Her commitment to accessibility in the arts is evident in her work teaching art classes to foster children in Alamance County, North Carolina.
Tyler is the director of TylerD Studios and Gallery, where she continues to create, teach, and mentor. Through her work, she brings together technical excellence, lived experience, and a genuine reverence for the human story—captured one portrait at a time.
Tyler is especially known for her large-scale portraits, often painting works as tall as six feet. She describes these life-size creations as a true adventure—an immersive process that allows her to explore presence, expression, and human character at full scale. Her work can be found in universities, corporate offices, and private collections, reflecting both technical mastery and emotional depth.
Her artistic foundation was shaped through formal study at North Carolina State University and enriched by private instruction with accomplished artists, including Tom Edgerton of Washington, D.C. galleries; Rodney Moser, a noted watercolorist featured in Artist Magazine; Marla, an international oil painter from Spain; and Bob Rankin. Tyler also studied oil painting in Florence, Italy, an experience that further refined her classical sensibilities and appreciation for enduring artistic traditions.
Beyond her studio practice, Tyler has remained deeply engaged in arts education and community service. She has been affiliated with Alamance Community College, served on the board of Alamance Artisans and the Alamance County Arts Council, and is a member of the Portrait Society of America. Her commitment to accessibility in the arts is evident in her work teaching art classes to foster children in Alamance County, North Carolina.
Tyler is the director of TylerD Studios and Gallery, where she continues to create, teach, and mentor. Through her work, she brings together technical excellence, lived experience, and a genuine reverence for the human story—captured one portrait at a time.
Vendor Artists
Shanda DannerShanda Danner is a self-taught artist who began painting a year and a half ago after retiring from Jeffers Inc. in Dothan, where she worked for 27 years. She primarily works in acrylic and mixed media, often incorporating embroidery into her paintings. Shanda lives in Dothan with her husband of 48 years and has two grown children and two granddaughters. Her work focuses on creating pieces that stop viewers in their tracks and invite them to pause, reflect, and discover the story behind each painting.
Her artwork can be viewed at [email protected], and she welcomes questions about the stories and meaning behind her pieces. |
M. YakimaM. Yakima, also a 2026 Gallery Artist for Art on the River, is recognized across the Southeast for an expressive and versatile body of work. Over the past two decades, Yakima's work has earned honors at juried festivals and museum exhibitions, including Best in Show at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art’s ColOhr Festival and multiple Juror’s and Judge’s Awards. Spanning painting, mixed media, folk art, and photographic imagery, Yakima’s practice reflects a deep commitment to craftsmanship and artistic exploration.
View more of M. Yakima's work at: https://poshmark.com/closet/wise8angel |
Kaleyah GilbertKaleyah Gilbert creates original artwork, fandom art, and participates in art prompt challenges. She uses her illustrations to design a variety of products, including stickers, bookmarks, art prints, and more. Her work is vibrant, whimsical, and playful—well suited for those who enjoy fantasy themes, bright colors, and a cartoony art style.
Kaleyah can be contacted through her email at [email protected] and various social media platforms. |