'Roads I Have Traveled'
November 6–28, 2026 @ Johnson County Center for the Arts
“As a child, I was always intrigued by color. I loved colors that matched, that were complementary and also flashed against each other,” said Babs Ausherman, November’s featured artist at the Johnson County Center for the Arts.
“I have been working with textiles in one form or another since I was very young. My true love of color really developed as a yarn dyer and knitter,” Ausherman said,“I dyed many variegated yarns (multi-color) and would find such pleasure as the colors slipped through my fingers and then became a garment or accessory.”
Ausherman and her husband Ron moved to Mountain City, Tennessee, in 1999. In the early 2000’s, she started Miss Babs Hand-Dyed Yarns & Fibers, a business that is now known internationally. She started in her kitchen, and as the business grew, she moved to a larger building. Finally, in 2017, Ausherman built a large studio on Cold Springs Road.
As a hand-dyer of yarn, Ausherman realized her love of all colors. This love of color allowed her to appeal to customers who want and need a variety of colors for their knitting and crochet patterns. In early 2026, she sold her business to Ivy Campbell who had worked for her for many years.
Ausherman comes from a family of artists who among other things are sculptors, glass blowers, painters, and a potter. She was influenced by her older siblings and nieces and nephews with art throughout her life.
She has been painting as a hobby for years, but now that she has retired, she is painting more regularly. She has painted in watercolor, acrylic and oil, as well as collage in abstract landscape, botanical and fully abstract styles. This show“For Love of Color” reflects her passion for strong colors that evoke visual joy and color play.
“My hope is that people will find my abstract painting to be energetic, joyful, confusing, interesting and enjoy searching out the different elements and layers in the paintings,” said Ausherman.
The works of Babs Ausherman are celebrated at her first solo show, For Love of Color Nov. 6. The show opening is from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Johnson County Center for the Arts Gallery on Main, Mountain City Tennessee. This is a wonderful time to meet the artist, enjoy seasonal refreshments and music by harpist Marie-Jo Thumb.
Category: Exhibits