Autumn Glory and Art at Deep Creek Lake

Every October, Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County draw visitors for the Autumn Glory Festival, a long-standing tradition celebrating foliage, parades, crafts, and community. It’s one of the most popular seasonal events in Garrett County, and it has influenced my work for many years.

With Deep Creek Lake marking its 100th anniversary, this felt like the right time to reflect on some of my art created around this time of year.

The Spirit of Autumn Glory

I used to participate and exhibit at the Autumn Glory Art Festival, and it was a great opportunity to connect with locals and visitors.

In recent years, I’ve been in Florida when the festival takes place, so I no longer participate in the Autumn Glory art festival. Even so, the season continues to influence what I paint and how I see Deep Creek Lake.

Autumn Themed Work.

Common fall subjects in my paintings include farm scenes like Autumn, and outdoors scenes of wildlife like Turkey.

Art as Part of the Visit

For many people who attend Autumn Glory, art becomes part of their trip. They look for work that lets them return to a place year after year. I’ve seen that first-hand, both in person and through online collectors.

Even though I’m not exhibiting at the festival anymore, there are plenty of other talented artists in Garrett County that people can enjoy during their visit.

If you’d like to see more work, visit my gallery here. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

“Chasing the Wind” Documentary

Deep Creek Lake Sailing on Screen and Canvas

A new documentary, Chasing the Wind, takes a look at the sailing community on Deep Creek Lake. It follows the traditions, the families, and the races that have been part of the lake for generations.

The documentary was produced by Gina Martino Dahlia, with Cassidy Roark as Executive Producer, and was funded by the Deep Creek Lake Centennial Committee.

In this video, I see many of the same scenes I’ve painted over the years – familiar boats, starting lines, and racing scenes. In some cases, it was even the same people who have inspired my work. I sailed years ago and later spent summers watching children, grandchildren, and friends carry on those same regattas. Watching the Flying Scots lined up for the Firecracker Regatta during the Fourth of July weekend or grandchildren in sailing school lessons, gave me the material for much of my work.

I’m glad to see this piece of Deep Creek history captured on film. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch the documentary and see the connections for yourself.

The Bluegrass Standard

Featured in “The Art of Bluegrass”

I’m excited to share that The Bluegrass Standard featured my bluegrass artwork in a recent article by writer Kara Martinez Bachman, The Art of Bluegrass.

Kara captures how my lifelong connection to bluegrass music, starting with childhood memories of the Wheeling Jamboree, eventually found its way into my art. Over the years, I’ve gone from attending shows and playing in weekly jams to creating paintings that celebrate this music I love.

The article shares stories about my work for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass and for the first DelFest, along with the many musicians I’ve painted, from Bill Monroe to the Infamous Stringdusters.

If you like my bluegrass paintings, I invite you to explore more of the work here. While I don’t take traditional commissions, I’m always open to discussing the creation of work around a specific subject. Just get in touch here.

Visit During the Garrett County Artist Studio Tour

On Saturday, July 26, I’m opening my studio doors as part of the Garrett County Arts Council’s Annual Studio Tour, and I’d love for you to stop by.

While the Studio Tour runs over two days, I’ll be participating on Saturday only, so if you’ve been meaning to visit, this is your chance to stop by, see what’s new, and say hello.

This event is always a highlight of my summer. It gives me a chance to share new work and it’s a great way to catch up with old and new friends. Whether you’ve collected my work for years or are simply curious about the process, the Studio Tour is a relaxed, come-as-you-are way to connect with art, ideas, and the creative community here in Garrett County.

I’ll be on hand throughout the day to chat, answer questions, and share a little about what’s been inspiring me lately. There will also be light refreshments and plenty of art.

Event Details:

Saturday, July 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
2355 Turkey Neck Road
Swanton, MD 21561

If you can’t make it that day, studio visits are also available by appointment. Feel free to reach out to schedule a time that suits you.

You can find more details, including a complete list of participating artists and a printable tour map, through the Garrett County Arts Council.

If you’ve never done the tour before, I recommend making a day of it. The conversations, the spaces, and the drive itself are all part of the experience.

I hope to see you soon.

Back in the Studio

The summer season is here and I’m glad to be back working in my Garrett County studio once again. I’ve got new pieces in the works and look forward to sharing them with you during the annual Garrett County Artist Studio Tour on Saturday, July 26th. It’s always a special event—an opportunity to open the studio doors, meet new visitors and old friends, and showcase some of the work I’ve been developing. I hope you’ll save the date and stop by.

Below is one of my first new pieces for the season, A Fleet, sized at 15″x30″.

Visit the Studio by Appointment

If you’d like to visit sooner, I welcome studio appointments as well. Please feel free to reach out at rhyonke@gmail.com or call 412-447-1193 to arrange a time.

I look forward to welcoming you to the studio and sharing what I’ve been working on.