Visit Haywood Annual T-Shirt Contest
ANNUAL T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST
Scroll down to see this year’s designs!
Capture the unparalleled beauty of Haywood County’s corner of the Western NC Mountains with the Annual Visit Haywood T-Shirt Design Contest!
Haywood County-based artists (ages 18+) are invited to throw their hats in the ring for a shot at winning a $500 prize, a T-shirt with their design sold at the Visit Haywood Welcome Center, and serious bragging rights. Tap into what you love most about Haywood County to craft a design everyone from visitors to locals will be proud to flaunt.
Spectators, vote for your favorite design to get it through to the finalist round! The voting form will open once submission period closes.
Here’s the 2025 timeline:
- Submission portal opens: April 2, 9:00 AM EST.
- Submission portal closes: May 5, 11:59 PM EST.
- Voting period: May 7 – June 6.
- Final vote: June 10.
- Shirts in store: July.
2025 Designs: Round 1
Visit Haywood is thrilled to showcase the incredible creativity of our local art community in the 2025 T-Shirt Design Contest! This year, 12 talented local artists submitted 17 unique designs, each offering a creative take on what makes Haywood, well, Haywood!
Take a moment to explore each design below, pick your favorite, and cast your vote by clicking the “CLICK HERE TO VOTE” button at the top or bottom of this page.
Light of the Mountains
By AJ James
Artist Statement: “My design was inspired by our beautiful mountains and the hard working individuals that call Haywood County home. The mountains in the lantern represent the beauty of our landscape and the light it brings to the dark times that Haywood County has been through. The fall leaves represent what helps attract people to our beautiful mountain community, the mushrooms represent the hard working individuals that help make our community, and the dogwood flowers are for the state flower and also in memory of my late father, Danny James, who was a botanist that grew dogwood trees that are planted all around our community and my personal property.”
About the Artist: Aaron James, known locally as AJ, is a born-and-raised Haywood Native. As an award-winning tattoo artist at Euphoria Tattoo & Piercing, he spends much of his time creating art across multiple mediums. When he’s not creating, you’ll find AJ spending time with his family or fishing.
Sunrise
By James Judd
Artist Statement: Jame’s inspiration behind this piece was a Haywood County sunrise, “The mountains in the clouds fighting the sun for your attention.”
About the Artist: James Judd is a life long artist and illustrator based out of Waynesville.
Nightlights
By Seth Hatcher
Artist Statement: “Growing up, I had never lived in a place that had fireflies. So when we moved to Haywood County I loved all the fireflies that would come out in the summer time and had a lot of fun going out in the dark to catch them. And now whenever I am away during the summer to another part of the country, the fireflies are one of the things I miss most.”
About the Artist: Seth Hatcher’s family moved to Maggie Valley from Northern California. After 9 months in the Valley, they found their forever home in Canton. During his time in Haywood, Seth has developed a deep love and appreciate for the county’s beauty, which he uses as artistic inspiration for his drawing and woodworking.
The Outdoors
By David Suriano
Artist Statement: David’s inspiration for this piece was, “Walking, hiking, and just being immersed in our majestic outdoors.”
About the Artist: David Suriano is a senior visual communications and engineering consultant with over two decades of expertise helping clients across industries build exceptional digital experiences. He and his family relocated from Hendersonville semi-recently, having found their perfect community in Haywood County.
The Whistle Pigs
By Jillian Ohl
Artist Statement: “This T-shirt design was inspired some of Haywood County’s resident mammals which include the groundhog, Plott Hound, and black bear. Although they are nuisance to the vegetable garden, since moving here I have become fond of my resident groundhogs. With the groundhog as the band leader, The Whistle Pigs enjoy preform locally on summer evenings on the river front under the light of fireflies.”
About the Artist: Jillian Ohl is an artist and illustrator from Waynesville, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s of Art and Design from North Carolina State University’s College of Design and her MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture from Washington University in St. Louis. She has exhibited her work throughout North Carolina and the Southeast along with teaching courses and workshops at North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Museum of Art and Sawtooth School of Visual Art. She is currently Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Western Carolina University.
Majestic
By Sony Hatcher
Artist Statement: Sony’s inspiration came from a glimpse of an eagle she saw while walking at Lake Junaluska. “Eagles exhibit strength and beauty in the wilderness areas of North Carolina.”
About the Artist: Sony Hatcher is a wife, mother and grandmother who enjoys visiting people, making new friends, painting beautiful watercolors, and her faith. She moved to Haywood County to be closer to family, and is proud to call it her home.
Fun in the Sun
By Jansen Smith
Artist Statement: “My inspiration for this design is the beautiful mountains and rivers the surround Haywood County, with a 90’s vibe. the mountains also reflect the different sectors of town similar to a map.”
About the Artist: Jansen Smith is a Haywood County resident with a background in printmaking, mixed media, and graphic design. His work has been showcased in many publications and received multiple competitive awards, most notably from V.S.A (Volkswagen) in 2011. Recently, Smith’s art received an honorable mention in the Japan Parade NYC Art Contest (2022). Born with Cerebral Palsy, Smith has always been an advocate for people with disabilities in life and in art, and aims to inspire others with his art.
Encounters of the Haywood Kind
By Casey Brown
Artist Statement: “Crossings (or X-ings) define your experience of a place–that time you ran into a local Bigfoot festival, or that early morning drive through the fog where you encountered some elk feeding peacefully. They can be momentous or quiet, but in Haywood County there are ample opportunities to encounter new experiences out on the trails. Plus, who doesn’t like old road signs and their graphic gravitas?”
About the Artist: Casey Lance Brown is a landscape futurist who studied at Duke University, Harvard Design School, and as a fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Both sides of his family farmed the far reaches of the County over seven generations. Despite this long landscape history, no sightings of the Boojum have been verified.
Haywood Beauty in Action
By Deborah Palmer
Artist Statement: “My design is a tribute to the spirit and natural beauty of Haywood County. At its heart, the quilt block background pays homage to our rich and vibrant arts scene. Surrounding this are symbols of the many outdoor adventures that define life here—hiking, skiing, and motorbiking—set against the backdrop of the majestic mountains and the serene waters of Lake Junaluska. It was important to me to include all the towns that make up Haywood County, as they each offer unique experiences. The color palette was intentional with green representing our lush, rolling mountains and scenic landscapes; blue reflecting the abundance of pristine streams, rivers, and lakes; and yellow capturing the warmth and beauty of our breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Together, these elements express what I love most about this incredible place I call home.”
About the Artist: Since retiring from the corporate world. Deborah Palmer has fully embraced her creative side as a photographer, author, and content creator. Her photography takes inspiration from the breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife of Haywood County. Her YouTube channel, Time with Grams, aims to nurture a love of reading in young children, a common theme in her children’s book, Grandma, I’m Bored. While much of her time is spent behind the camera or in front of a storybook, she enjoyed stepping away to design a logo reflective of everything she loves about Haywood County: the arts, the outdoors, the community, and the natural beauty that makes it feel like home.
Morning Commute
By Jillian Ohl
Artist Statement: “I am grateful for having one of the most stunning morning commutes to work. Using my daily drive as inspiration, I included Haywood County landmarks and native plants to create my design. This includes Sunburst Falls, views from the Blue Ridge Parkway, milkweed, black eyed Susan, and rhododendron, and our state dog, the Plott Hound.”
About the Artist: Jillian Ohl is an artist and illustrator from Waynesville, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s of Art and Design from North Carolina State University’s College of Design and her MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture from Washington University in St. Louis. She has exhibited her work throughout North Carolina and the Southeast along with teaching courses and workshops at North Carolina State University, Appalachian State University, North Carolina Museum of Art and Sawtooth School of Visual Art. She is currently Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Western Carolina University.
Yearly Pass
By James Judd
Artist Statement: For this piece, James took inspiration from “vintage park passes and the beauty of a sunrise over the mountains.”
About the Artist: James Judd is a life long artist and illustrator based out of Waynesville.
The Music
By David Suriano
Artist Statement: David’s inspiration for this piece was, “Our region’s amazingly vibrant music scene.”
About the Artist: David Suriano is a senior visual communications and engineering consultant with over two decades of expertise helping clients across industries build exceptional digital experiences. He and his family relocated from Hendersonville semi-recently, having found their perfect community in Haywood County.
Smoky Mtn Sunrise
By Greg Vaeth
Artist Statement: Greg’s inspiration for this piece came from the glow of a sunrise in Haywood’s own Great Smoky Mountains.
About the Artist: Greg Vaeth has lived in WNC for over 15 years and in Haywood for over 6 years. He currently owns a small Hiking/Guiding Business in the area. You can find his artwork all over Haywood County in locations like the Haywood County Arts Council, Frog Level Brewery, Cold Mountain Art Collective, Clementines Boutique, and more. Greg grew up on the manufacturing side of T-shirts, has a graphic art background, and founded “Mtn Merch,” a small store in Asheville where everything was locally made or sourced. Greg and his family call a 12 acre farm in Waynesville home, though he spends as much of his time outdoors as possible.
Smoky Mtn Sunrise, version 2
By Greg Vaeth
Artist Statement: Greg’s inspiration for this piece came from the glow of a sunrise in Haywood’s own Great Smoky Mountains.
About the Artist: Greg Vaeth has lived in WNC for over 15 years and in Haywood for over 6 years. He currently owns a small Hiking/Guiding Business in the area. You can find his artwork all over Haywood County in locations like the Haywood County Arts Council, Frog Level Brewery, Cold Mountain Art Collective, Clementines Boutique, and more. Greg grew up on the manufacturing side of T-shirts, has a graphic art background, and founded “Mtn Merch,” a small store in Asheville where everything was locally made or sourced. Greg and his family call a 12 acre farm in Waynesville home, though he spends as much of his time outdoors as possible.
Haywood’s Ray of Sunshine
By Amanda Cooke
Artist Statement: “My inspiration comes from the happiness I feel when I look up in the mornings and see the colorful skies painted before me; each day is a new canvas.”
About the Artist:Amanda Cooke, started her own custom apparel and accessories business, Cooke’s Comfort-N-Things, in 2012. Being an independent artist for over 12 years has allowed her to create logos, marketing materials, and a wide variety of custom items for all types of businesses and other customers. Born and raised in Haywood County, there will always be a huge part of her heart rooted in the mountains.
HAYWOOD
By Greg Vaeth
Artist Statement: Greg’s inspiration for this piece came from the undeniable natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Haywood County.
About the Artist: Greg Vaeth has lived in WNC for over 15 years and in Haywood for over 6 years. He currently owns a small Hiking/Guiding Business in the area. You can find his artwork all over Haywood County in locations like the Haywood County Arts Council, Frog Level Brewery, Cold Mountain Art Collective, Clementines Boutique, and more. Greg grew up on the manufacturing side of T-shirts, has a graphic art background, and founded “Mtn Merch,” a small store in Asheville where everything was locally made or sourced. Greg and his family call a 12 acre farm in Waynesville home, though he spends as much of his time outdoors as possible.
Haywood Mountains
By Antonio Echeverry
Artist Statement: For this piece, Antonio drew inspiration from the mountains and towns of Haywood County, and from a T-shirt design he admired in the past.
About the Artist: Antonio Echeverry is a student in Haywood County who first started this design as a project for one of his courses.
