J. Belinda Yandell
Visual Artist; Writer
Originally from Savannah, GA, J. Belinda Yandell has always been compulsively creative. She is a writer, artist, graphic designer and crafter. WRITER: She is the published author of one novel, "Small Change: The Secret Life of Penny Burford" available at Amazon.com. Her current novel, tentatively titled "Something Blue", is now being shopped to publishers. She describes her "genre" as "Southern-fried chick lit with more serious subtexts." The first chapter of "Something Blue" — about three generations of Southern women trying to survive a wedding — can be read on her website. ARTIST: Yandell majored in Fine Art and English at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, but did not become truly serious about painting until 2004, when she joined the Plowhaus Artists Cooperative. Since then, she has shown with Untitled, and at Carla Neet Design and the Art and Invention Gallery. Her distinctive, highly-stylized acrylic paintings feature jewel-like colors and bold lines in both figurative and abstract works. She is currently preparing for a two-woman show with fellow artist Jodi Reeves, entitled "Jodi with an Eye," referencing the fact that both she and Reeves have the same first name. The show, at the Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, will feature "twin" works of both artists based on certain themes, highlighting each woman’s unique style and perspective while challenging viewers to consider their own perspective. The show will open with a reception on Sunday, June 22. She has also worked as a graphic artist for the past 15 years. She has a highly popular online store featuring her designs on clothing and gift items at www.cafepress.com/craftywench. CRAFTER: Yandell is known around town as The Crafty Wench. Her professional crafting career began with hand-made and one-of-a-kind jewelry, but also includes an ever-changing stream of whatever strikes her creative fancy. Lately, she has been featuring lavishly embellished boxes, switch-plate covers and the soon-to-introduced customized sock monkeys and fairy dolls. The Crafty Wench is one of the founders/organizers of CRAFT a creative community, which promotes local, quality crafts around Nashville. March through September, CRAFT hosts a monthly street fair in the parking lot of the Lipstick Lounge which has become a popular event with East Nashville residents. CRAFT’s next event will be a major event at the Memorial Lutheran Church on Riverside Drive in Inglewood/East Nashville on June 28. For more information and a sampling of her work, please visit www.jbelindayandell.com, www.myspace.com/jbelindayandell and www.thecraftywench.etsy.com.
