The late great Ray Charles released his version of “Georgia on My Mind” in September 1960. More than six decades later, the iconic song serves as the inspiration behind the cover of the Spring 2026 issue of The NEWTON Community Magazine. Candice Dean, the owner of Candi Warhols on Floyd Street and The House of Nosh & Brew restaurant on U.S. 278 in Covington, took roughly 40 hours to complete the work. She titled it “Mr. Charles” in honor of the Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, who died in 2004.
“The flowers in the bottom right-hand corner are Cherokee roses, the state flower,” Dean said. “The colors are meant to invoke the feeling of spring, renewal of the earth and the warmth of the sun.”
An East Point native, Dean moved to the area at the age of 5 when her father started a position as lieutenant paramedic with Newton County EMS services. She graduated from Eastside High School in 2003 and opened Candi Warhols—a hybrid retail store with a main focus on vinyl records and band apparel that also includes skateboards and accessories, as well as local artwork—alongside her husband Justin in 2023.
“Growing up and going to school here, I’ve made some amazing friendships along the way and met my amazing husband while working here,” Dean said. “The people of this community are truly some of the most loving and caring people. They look out for one another and take care of each other.”
Dean has been an artist for 15 years under her art company The House of Old and New. Her work includes paintings, murals and furniture restoration. Some of it can be viewed on her website at www.candicedean.com.
“My style as an artist is more that of street and abstract,” Dean said, “with added components of realism.”
A special thank you to Candice Dean for providing the artwork for the 2026 spring cover of The NEWTON Community Magazine
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