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Paper Factory

There is very little left to discover in Midtown.  With all of the development over the last decade it is almost as if all of the old landmarks are gone. It feels like everything creative or unique about Midtown that is left has already been found.  Everything is clean and polished and there is chrome and glass everywhere.  It is hard to imagine an old concrete warehouse anywhere in midtown these days, yet alone one filled with the most creative and diverse group of world-renowned artists assembled under one roof.  This artist studio and impromptu gallery is truly one of the last hidden gems of Midtown.

Over the last ten years this ‘off the beaten path’ warehouse, an old paper factory, has housed a collection of artists ranging from the late Todd Murphy to its current roster of insanely talented photographers and painters like Douglas Stratton, Bonnie Beauchamp-Cooke, Linda Mitchell, and Clay Stapleford.  There is really nothing special about the building. It is a plain, unassuming warehouse; you probably have driven right by it, dismissing it as unimportant, just as many people do every day.  But, once inside, you are immediately immersed into a world of art and a creative community of artists at work.  Every day is different, each artist working on their next masterpiece and helping to drive the awesome creative energy that you feel as soon as your cross the threshold. 

Douglas Stratton

Everyone is familiar with the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words but, for Douglas Stratton, a local Buckhead resident and world-renowned photographer, there are a million words to be found in every image that he captures. The thoughtful choice of subject and his approach to capturing the image through multiple levels of exposure all add to the incredible distinctiveness of each photograph.  Each and every one of these beautiful photo’s composition and intriguing scenes are special and can only be described as an obvious Douglas Stratton original.

An avid explorer, Stratton has traveled to well over twenty counties in search of the perfect photo.  His travels have taken him from Ethiopia to Iceland and from Ossabaw Island, Georgia to the streets of Jerusalem.  Douglas believes that the more he travels the more he learns, not only about himself and his artistic process; but, about his unique relationship with each and every subject.  “I mostly shoot alone so that I can connect with my subject one on one,” said Stratton, “my art has a lot to do with adventure and a sense of shared intimacy with nature and animals.  You can see the intimacy of each relationship in every photograph. 

Stratton’s images immediately transport the viewer from where ever they are in their world into the heart of each photograph.  It feels like it is actually possible to just simply walk into each image and begin a dialogue with subject.  Stratton’s images are uniquely experiential, busy yet still, and ever so insightful.   “My passion for photography stems from a deep desire to capture the world around me and depict it the way it is seen by the human eye,’ said Stratton.  “

Bonnie Beauchamp-Cooke

For Bonnie Beauchamp-Cooke you do not need to look any further than her family farm in Madison, Georgia as her inspiration.  When Bonnie is not lost in the creation of her next multi-media painting at The Paper Factory she can still be found on the same family farm that was purchased by her father when she was only five years old. The farm and its animals have been a continued source of inspiration for years and those familiar landscapes and horses have also been the subject of many of her international critically acclaimed paintings. 

Bonnie is driven and motivated by her love of nature and her personal connection to God, which she shares with her viewers by including a cross in each painting. “I was asked to paint a giant cross on a large canvas and I really struggled with it because I needed meaning to my work,” explained Beauchamp-Cooke. “I put my heart and soul into that painting and from then on I included a hidden or bold cross in all of my work.”

Bonnie was photographed with her painting “Monroe”.  “The image is of a lady’s back to the viewer and she is looking back mysteriously,” said Beauchamp-Cooke, “her dress is of many layered colors and lots of texture.”  This piece represents a huge departure for Beauchamp-Cooke because it is giant.  “I have so much space in this midtown studio, now I can really go huge.  “Monroe” is 90 by 60 and Bonnie has to get on an old Todd Murphy scaffolding to reach the top of the painting.

Linda Mitchell

Linda Mitchell has been creating art with pencil, paints, crayons, mixed media, and found objects ever since she can remember. A native of Atlanta, Linda is continually inspired by the emotional landscape of life. “My own personal journey is always embedded in the work as well as explorations of societal, environmental, and political concerns,” said Mitchell.  “I use animals, both real and imagined as my vocabulary.”

Linda was photographed with her painting, “Fledging,” which depicts a young elephant as a winged angel.  It is quite clear that for Linda the painting is symbolic of intelligence, innocence, and spiritual beauty. “This celestial figure is an emissary from the vanishing wilderness of our Earth,” said Mitchell, “entreating the viewer to preserve our magnificent planet and all of its fragile environments.” The piece beckons us all to “take care of our beautiful earth and all its wonderous creatures.”

Clay Stapleford

While Clay Stapleford might suggest that he began to express himself creatively at the age of three while playing with a pile of dirt; just looking at “Stampede” tells a completely different story. “I remember being a young teenager having the epiphany- I’m not going to fit into what’s expected,” said Clay. “I also had a strong desire to create and contribute.” 

 In Clay’s own words, “To be a great artist or creator you have to be a rebel.”  Clay draws inspiration in the love, beauty, and the power of creation.  While Clay’s paintings are certainly an expression of his inspiration he is also changed through the artistic process. “It is the experience I also get to share as a human and that inspires me to paint.”

Clay was photographed with his painting “Stampede,” a product of a first-of-its-kind group art show in New York City entitled, “The Curious Mind,” that merged art with meditative intention through guided hypnosis. “I love this piece,” said Stapleford, “it’s so dynamic and it actually feels to me like a lot like NYC did on a busy Monday Morning.”

Clay’s ‘heart on canvas’ approach to his art can be felt in every brush stroke and choice of color. The beautiful patterns of his randomness are rooted in the love that comes from within an artist only when they have stopped taking themselves so seriously.  “Learning to be present and alive feels more than adequate,” said Stapleford, “like simply opportunity to grow.”

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