by Julie Dodd
For illustrator Grayson Cooper, being an Artist-in-Residence at Great Smoky Mountains National Park was an inspiring way to explore nature and then incorporate those experiences into art.
“My work is inspired by nature, outdoor recreation, and the people and creatures who call Appalachia home,” Cooper said. “I am a West Virginian and am always outside. So, I love taking inspiration from the landscape around me. I am especially inspired by the lesser-loved creatures and plants around me — the slimy, crawly, weird pieces of nature that aren’t as easily loved.”
Cooper hiked and painted almost every day of the month-long residency in September 2024.
“My favorite hikes were Charlie’s Bunion, Alum Cave, Andrews Bald and Grotto Falls,” Cooper said. “I got to discover so many new plants and animal species. I had never seen elk before, so that was one of my favorite painting experiences.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is one of more than 50 National Park Service locations that sponsor an Artist-in-Residence program. During 2024, GSMNP hosted five artists – one a month from July through November.
Friends of the Smokies supports the Artist-in-Residence program by funding a furnished apartment inside park boundaries and reimbursing artists for art materials.
The deadline for applications for the 2026 Artist-in-Residence program is March 1, 2026.
Art sessions for park visitors
Each Artist-in-Residence leads art sessions with park visitors at the Oconaluftee and Sugarlands Visitor Centers.
“I created line art for three different poster designs, which I printed and brought as coloring sheets for my visitor engagement at the visitor centers,” Cooper said. “Participants could pick from any of the three, and I brought a range of supplies for participants to use for coloring the sheets.”
Process for creating art designs
Creating the designs for the art posters is a multi-step process.
“I start with researching any of the species I am illustrating to get a knowledge and understanding on them. I usually follow with a series of sketch studies to start finding the shapes and patterns in my subject matter,” Cooper said.
“Once I feel confident, I start a more refined study. Once I have all my elements, I spend time puzzling them together on the size I want. For my posters, I worked from both photographs and sketches I did while in the park. I usually start with watercolor sketches, which then get finished digitally.”
Artists donate original art to the park
Each Artist-in-Residence is asked to donate an original work inspired by their residency within one year upon completion of the residency.
Ranger Sheridan Roberts, coordinator of the Artist-in-Residence program for the park, said the art is used in a variety of ways.
“Sometimes during their residency, artists come up with work that is immediately useful to the park,” Roberts said.
“One of the wonderful images Grayson created was adapted to create gift towels for our Volunteers and for use by the Resource Education Team.” [See image on right.]
Connecting with art community at Arrowmont
The Artist-in-Residence has the opportunity to connect with the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg.
“During my time in the park, I got to build connections with artists at Arrowmont,” Cooper said. “Visiting with others artists and finding kinship was so important to me during my residency. I also got to volunteer at Arrowmont, helping to pack youth art kits for arts education. I loved spending time learning about the work Arrowmont does and helping the local arts community.”
Professional development as artist
Cooper said that the Artist-in-Residency was helpful for professional development as an artist.
“I graduated with my BFA (Bachelor’s in Fine Arts) in 2023 and am still finding my path in the arts world and finding the work I want to do. In college, I discovered natural science illustration, which opened me up to combining art with science and nature,” Cooper said.
“My residency gave me an opportunity to explore this theme of work and build my portfolio. Also, as a younger artist, having this opportunity helped me build my confidence and résumé as I build a professional arts career.”
Grayson Cooper’s website and social media:
Website: mossy-morels.squarespace.com
Instagram: @mossymorels
GSMNP Artist-in-Residence program
This is the fourth of a series of blog posts about the 2024 artists: Anna Marie Pavlik, print maker; Kyle Petersen, photographer; Lauren Connolly, multidisciplinary artist; Grayson Cooper, illustrator; and Nicki Allen, quilter.
You can find out more about the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Artist-in-Residence program and the application process on the park’s website.
The submission deadline for the 2026 AIR program is March 1, 2026.
About Friends of the Smokies
Friends of the Smokies is the official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Through private donations, fundraising events, and specialty license plates in North Carolina and Tennessee, Friends of the Smokies raises money to fund needed projects and programs in the national park that would otherwise go unfunded.
Learn more about how to get a Friends of the Smokies license plate at BearPlate.org. You can make a direct tax-deductible donation at our website. We are also grateful for those who pitch in at our donation boxes throughout the park. Every gift makes a significant difference for our beloved Smokies.
Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter and email updates at friendsofthesmokies.org/stay-in-touch/