While growing up, Manchester artist Laura Lebeda hiked for miles in the woods behind her house. “The exploration and freedom of that gave me a respect and love of the outdoors. I remember in our yard watching in awe at the large lilac bush covered with Monarch butterflies,” she says.

Now, Laura hopes that seeing her award-winning artwork will encourage people to explore and think about the strength, fragility and beauty of the natural world.

Artist and teacher Robert Thomas Mullen has a multifaceted experience in art that includes photography and metalsmithing, but it is creating jewelry that has been the backbone of his career, which has been influenced by a love of nature and an introduction to art in his childhood.

One of the first things you notice about pieces created by St. Louis artisan Sara Zigman of sarabeth designs (formerly TLZ Designs) is color. Her work is bright and bold. “Color is like my lifeblood,” Zigman says. “It’s an immediate energy boost to me . . . When it’s done right, it’s music.”