Our Business of Art Experts
Carol Heisler-Lawson
Juried Shows, Fine Craft Fairs and Artist Presentation
With over three decades of artistic experience, Carol Heisler-Lawson is a skilled artist and business owner, renowned for her creative journey in the quilting and art industries. A graduate of Edinboro State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1987, Carol’s artistic expression has evolved across various media, culminating in her ownership of Lorac Designs, a business she founded in 1998.
For over 25 years, Carol has been a fixture on the East Coast art show circuit, gaining recognition for her unique quilting designs and vibrant oversized bed quilts. In 2017, she transitioned into show management, drawing on her extensive industry knowledge and commitment to supporting working artists. As Associate Director of Rose Squared Art Shows, Carol helps lead respected fine art and fine craft events throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Her responsibilities include mentoring artists, coordinating and managing artist juries, supporting exhibitor selection and show curation, overseeing event logistics, managing the Rose Squared social media team, and providing hands-on management before and during each show. On site, she serves as a key point of contact for participating artists, addressing operational needs, resolving issues, and helping create an organized, professional, and welcoming experience for artists and attendees.
In addition to her personal artistic endeavors, Carol has dedicated 28 years to providing custom quilting services, helping fellow quilters bring their visions to life with precision and craftsmanship. Her long-standing commitment to the quilting, fine craft and fine art communities and her active participation in the arts showcase circuit have made her a respected leader in both fields.
Tim Bacon
Fine Craft Fairs, Woodworking and Creative Business
Tim is a retired sales and marketing executive and entrepreneur. He now works full-time as a self-taught woodworker and co-owner of White Dog Woodworking, a central Pennsylvania studio known for handcrafted functional pieces made with local figured hardwoods, veneers, inlays and resin.
Working closely with his wife, Kim, they have been active participants in juried fine art/craft shows since 2019. His career in sales and marketing, combined with his experience in juried shows gives him invaluable insights into how to present and sell work at high end shows, including pricing, booth layout, show selection and customer engagement.
Kim Piermattei
Fine Craft Fairs, Woodworking and Creative Business
Kim graduated from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and began her career as a litigator in the Philadelphia area, where she spent more than two decades working on medical malpractice, product liability, and mass‑tort cases. After relocating to central Pennsylvania in 2014, she continued her work as a general practitioner.
She is also one of the artists behind White Dog Woodworking, a studio she shares with her husband, Tim Bacon, who first introduced her to the craft. They each create individual pieces as well as collaborative work, selling at juried craft shows and online. This combination of legal experience and hands‑on creative work allows her to teach artists in a way that is grounded, accessible, and directly connected to the realities of running an art‑based business.
Ric Jones
Seasoned creative executive and fine art printmaker.
Ric Jones has spent his career working where art, design, and business meet. He holds a BFA in fine art and an MA in design, and his professional experience spans creative direction, marketing, and business strategy. As creative director at a national consumer brand, and later as co-founder of MoJo Active, he worked with organizations to clarify what products and services they offer, reach the right audiences, tell their stories, and turn good ideas into sustainable marketing plans.
Ric’s second wind is as an advocate for the arts and artists — and as a fine art printmaker. He believes artists are the real stars of the show - the talent that people come to see - whether it’s at art shows, galleries or museums. His own printmaking studio work gives him a direct understanding of the decisions artists face: how to present their work, find opportunities, communicate its value, and make room for the business tasks that come with a creative career. He knows those tasks matter, but also that they can take time and energy away from making art.
At Maykyn, Ric brings both sides of that experience together. He helps develop straightforward business education that artists can put to use—grounded in sound marketing and strategy, and shaped by the realities of working as an artist.