Karine Maynard (vice president of Maynard Studios, Inc.) is an artist, blacksmith and architectural designer who uses metal and architectural space as her media. She works alongside her husband Matthew and is also the creative director of their company. Karine has a vocational degree in accounting, received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin and attended graduate school at the University of Kentucky for both art studio and art history. In 2010 the couple incorporated Maynard Studios and expanded their business to include not only the custom, one-of-a-kind railings they specialize in, but a new furniture line as well. In recent years their business has expanded exponentially.
Maynard Studios has fulfilled custom commissions across the United States and also works internationally. Corporate commissions include local distilleries Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark; Apiary Fine Catering of Lexington, Ky.; Bar Dogwood of San Francisco, Calif.; 10th Mountain Whiskey of Vail, Colo., and 21C Museum Hotels. The Maynards pride themselves in understanding the needs and expectations of their clientele and the market that they serve. They were also recently awarded the highest honors in blacksmithing, the Ernest Wiemann Top Job Award for interior forged railings from the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association. They have been featured by the Artist Blacksmith's Association of North America and have been written about in international books and articles on contemporary blacksmithing. The couple has also received several Citations of Achievement from the Kentucky House of Representatives.
Karine has sat on several local, community boards and is the founder and president of the Anderson County Arts Council, which is responsible for facilitating an annual "Travel the Art Trail" event featuring a number of local artists. She has been a presenter and panelist at the Kentucky Creative Industry Summit and other arts council events; a member and juror for the Kentucky Arts Council's Architectural Artists Directory; and a juried member, juror and board member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen. Many of their products are listed as Kentucky Proud. Karine has also been the recipient of the National Ornamental Metal Museum Research Residency and the Kentucky Arts Council Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship.