About Me
I am Jeff
Hi there!
MISSION
With my photographs I desire to tell the true stories about people and the natural world in which we live. Some photographs focus on people and their relationships with others. Other photographs document the unexpected relationships people can have with nature and wildlife in the natural world. Mankind has been given the responsibility to steward our natural world and I hope to promote conservation of our plant and wildlife before much of it is lost forever.
I would love to bring something new and unusual to people to help them understand their lives; nature and wildlife; and their interrelationships. To produce images that tell the true stories about nature and wildlife. As a result of the truth being revealed; myths, misinformation, and fears can be dispelled or removed. People can then understand, appreciate, and cherish the natural world in which we have the privilege to live, and the key place or role each species plays in the ecosystem we call earth.
BIOGRAPHY
Photography has always been an important part of my life. As a child, I was given a camera for my birthday. I was excited about the endless photographic possibilities. Mom had the foresight to not include the flash on my first camera. Even without being able to shoot in the dark, I had plenty of opportunities for surprise photographs. Mom made sure that she developed all the pictures in those days, so that no "unappreciated" pictures ever returned from the store. My brother and sisters quickly learned to be on the lookout for my photographic adventures. Along with the family fun, I learned to take useful pictures for science fairs and other school projects. I also used photography to promote the products of several of my parents’ businesses. I earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville before I began a career in public accounting. My journey continues with a desire to learn from every aspect of life.
I worked for over seven and a half years for a large international and regional CPA firms as an auditor and consultant gaining experience in many different industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, banking as well as many unusual medium and small business enterprises. After my public accounting career, I worked for a metal fabrication manufacturing company for over twenty-four years. For eighteen and a half years as their Chief Financial Officer and for six plus years as their Chief Executive Officer. In addition to my regular duties, my artistic skills were used in advertising and promoting this manufacturing company throughout my employment. Many of my images were used online, at trade shows, in publications, and even for decorating various offices.
For the past several years, I have been experimenting with different methods and techniques to utilize my photography. I have explored new mediums and techniques to discover which ones complimented each other. I now use this knowledge to balance the strengths of different mediums and to accentuate the primary focus of each photograph. My goal is to create unique pieces of art that reflect and illuminate the story or message.
My current professional memberships include the Tennessee Art League, Professional Photographers Association of America, North American Nature Photographers Association and the Brentwood Photography Group.
Jeff Mayfield
ARTIST STATEMENT
"Art communicates feelings and ideas through various mediums. My work uses visual media to express individual, emotional, and spiritual messages through the treatment and transformation of scenes from life."
SOME OF MY ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:
BEST OF SHOW Award from the American Iris Society in the Region Seven Inaugural Photography Contest
IMAGE PUBLICATIONS in various corporate magazines, books and Chambers of Commerce guides as well as the hardback book, Nashville In Harmony authored by Jacki Moss.
WORKSHOPS taught in various Middle Tennessee Art Leagues and Associations including workshops funded by the Tennessee Art Commission. These workshops covered different watercolor, mixed media and water media techniques as well as photography and art business topics.
SOLO SHOWS INCLUDE:
Stone Crest Medical Center; Corporate exhibits at Quality Industries Incorporated; Murfreesboro City Hall; City of Smyrna, Tennessee; Manchester Arts Center; Tullahoma Fine Arts Center: Cannon County Center For The Arts; Lannom Memorial Library in Tullahoma Tennessee; Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Manchester Tennessee City New Year’s Day Celebrations.
SELECTED JURIED, JOINT, AND FEATURED ARTIST EXHIBITS INCLUDE:
Featured Artist in Nashville, Tennessee at the Interfaith Dental Benefit at the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Mansion; Juried Artist in the The Annual Arts for Healing Gala Benefit for the Memorial Hospital Foundation in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Featured Artist for the Waterford Building Art Show Benefit for the Family and Children's Services of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Corporate Rotating Exhibit, Featured Artist in West Main Brick Oven Art Gallery, Manchester Tennessee; Featured Artist American Iris Society, Region 7; Featured Artists in Cowen, Tennessee at the Franklin County Art Guild; Featured Artist Boro Art Crawls in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Juried Artist Murfreesboro Art League at the City Hall Rotunda in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Featured Artists at the Mid South Bank in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Juried Artist Tullahoma Fine Arts Center in Tullahoma Tennessee; Juried Artist The Bradley Academy Museum & Cultural Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Juried Group Shows Manchester Center For The Arts in Manchester Tennessee; Juried Group Shows Cannon County Center For The Arts; Group Shows Coffee County Convention Center in Manchester, Tennessee; Manchester Rotary Club's annual art show; Featured Artists in Tullahoma, Tennessee at the Cokers Building for Southern Living Magazine; and Joint Show Artist for the Ark of Cleveland Benefit in Bradley County, Tennessee.