"Tough Tales"

Tough Tales opens with the story of the 'world famous' turnip. On a warm summer day John Henry Toney plows up a turnip. Butch Anthony reaches down to pick it up and discovers what will change their lives forever, the vestige of a human face punctured into its skin. John Henry draws it and the rest is history. Fifty dollars later, both John Henry and Butch become folk artists. And so The Artsiders begins, from the personal stories that make up so many lives, the series searches out the multi-tiered aspects of the artistic drive.

Butch Anthony

From an early age Butch Anthony has had this burning desire to forge his own personal path in life. Or maybe just the boredom growing up in the small town of Seale, Alabama was enough to spark his creative energies. But regardless Butch continues to apply his imagination in ways most artists work years to accomplish. The years of collecting junk have given way to Butch's Museum of Wonder, kicking the animals out of his father's barn; Butch has created a museum of his imagination for all to see.

Vollis Simpson

For over thirty years Vollis Simpson has been constructing his whimsical versions of the American windmill. Originally built from recycled materials, Vollis now buys fans and reflectors by the hundreds. In relation to art, Vollis says, "It's all work, ain't nothing easy about it. If you don't want to work, you better not start it." So Vollis sets the tone for an exploration into finding your vision and sticking to it.

John Henry Toney

As John Henry tells it, "I was taught in school to draw." After many years of working at the local mill and plowing the fields surrounding his area, John Henry has one again discovered his artistic calling. With the help of his close friend Butch Anthony, Frank Turner and Buddy Snipes, John Henry spends his late evenings conjuring up the images of his life. Philosophical and deeply religious, John Henry loves to tell the stories of his life and how they relate to his artistic vision.

"Matter of Makin' It"

Matter of Makin' It continues the search for stories of the American artistic experience. In the second episode of The Artsiders, each artist relays how their spirituality plays into their art and their lives. From Eric Legge's philosophical aspects of nature and the "dog", to RA's and Myrtice's holy visions, the show takes a more serious look at the aspects of the visionary artist.

Eric Legge

With degrees in both Philosophy and Anthropology, Eric Legge does not necessarily fit the mold of the self-taught artist. Entering Eric's many environments, one quickly begins to understand his vision of peace and harmony. Flowers, dogs and the universal human face fill the spaces of his life from floor to ceiling. Your are literally engulfed in his artistic message.

RA Miller

Call him an old-fogy; call him crazy, RA Miller knows his true calling. From the onset of his visions from God, RA has spent his life searching for ways to please his maker. From his early days as an evangelical preacher, his career as an auctioneer, to his eventual visions of his "Red Devil", RA continues to seek ways to spread the word of God. From his shy childhood, RA would attack his demons and explore a world of the mystical.

Myrtice West

When Myrtice first began her painting career, she painted from photographs and local attractions in her area. Though her true calling would reveal itself in the horrific nature of the daughter's life. Murdered at an early age, Mytice has spent her adult life painting images from the bible, images that were revealed through her late-night visions from God as she dealt with the sadness of her daughter's murder and her. "You don't get over that and you get scared and you hurt and you fear. And I think that's a lot that made me go into the visions and things, you know to read the bible and stay up all night and then try to put it down on, but I've got lots of people to thank."

"It's About Respect"

It's About Respect weaves through three generations of artistic vision. Michael Banks starts the journey with a strong desire to succeed in the world of art, Lonnie Holley takes the viewer through his environment of historic significance and then we rest with the vision of Jimmy Lee Sudduth's childlike creativity.

Michael Banks

When Michael Banks was a teenager he felt like he was on top of the world. A self-described master of realistic drawing, Michael would be convinced to let one of his teachers take his drawings abroad to show his work. He would never hear from her again. His frustration would push him away from art and into the life of any American teenager, drinking and partying. But the drive to paint would not die and Michael rediscovered his true calling, but this time Michael would explore his inner visions.

Lonnie Holley

"I didn't realize I was an artist, until my house caught a fire. And a fireman was standing around saying this guy is not an amateur he's a professional artist and I'm looking around wondering who he's talking about." These days Lonnie Holley knows the importance of art and of being true to life's artistic calling. On first look, Lonnie's environment takes on the appearance of a junkyard, but take the time to explore his yard and Lonnie's visionary relationship to human history soon takes shape.

Jimmy Lee Sudduth

Jimmy Lee Sudduth has been experimenting with mud since the age of seven. Now 95, Jimmy Lee continues to paint with his mud-sugar concoction mixed with color. Proudly self-taught, Jimmy fluidly interweaves his stories of painting with the songs of his childhood. Whether it's his dog Toto, his Mama or Abraham Lincoln's cabin Jimmy Lee has a story to quiet your curiosity.