Albert, Judith
Judith Albert attended the Rhode Island School of Design as an Architecture Major. She holds a B. S. in Interior Design from Case Western Reserve University. She has studied in addition at Cleveland Institute of Art, the Valley Art Center and Orange Art Center plus workshops with many instructors in England, Mexico, Florida and in the Cleveland area. Judith teaches watercolor on the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the new Queen Victoria where she has traveled to Australia, Germany, Canary Islands, and Russia. She currently manages the gift shop at Valley Art Center.
Crombie, Rob
Robert Crombie resides near Akron. He received his formal art training from
Cooper Schoolof Art and Kent State University. Over the past several years he has found great inspiration in the small villages and cities he has visited in the South of France. “St. Remy holds many special memories for me. It’s like home to me. I feel peace there“. His appreciation for the architecture and the personality of each small village come through in his
work.
The quality of Crombie’s work is best summarized in a quote by Sol Ostrow, Dean of Visual Arts and Chair of Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He states “Perhaps what is most effective is his treatment of the paintings surface. His brushwork and drawing bring the paintings into life. His patterns of agitated brush marks are descriptive and in the same instance they give the paintings an abstract quality. He captures, psychologically, his subject, be it nature or the back porch on a
building”. Crombie began painting again in 2002 after more than 30 years without touching a brush. He
pursued a career and family over his creativity. Now, he works on 2-3 paintings at a time. His work is on display in Cleveland, St Remy France, South Carolina as well as local galleries and Summer shows. He has always
believed the true “success” in being an oil painter is being very satisfied with your work and the final outcome of each painting. Nothing leaves his studio until it meets his approval through emotional connection, visual intensity and a
personality.
“The greatest compliment is that someone is moved by or drawn to my work. I am constantly
reminded who is really in charge of what is painted on that canvas. I hold the brush, I am given the blessing of vision and choices. We must all be real, be honest and put a piece of ourselves on the canvas for the world to
see. http://rhcrombie.com/
Cooper Schoolof Art and Kent State University. Over the past several years he has found great inspiration in the small villages and cities he has visited in the South of France. “St. Remy holds many special memories for me. It’s like home to me. I feel peace there“. His appreciation for the architecture and the personality of each small village come through in his
work.
The quality of Crombie’s work is best summarized in a quote by Sol Ostrow, Dean of Visual Arts and Chair of Painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. He states “Perhaps what is most effective is his treatment of the paintings surface. His brushwork and drawing bring the paintings into life. His patterns of agitated brush marks are descriptive and in the same instance they give the paintings an abstract quality. He captures, psychologically, his subject, be it nature or the back porch on a
building”. Crombie began painting again in 2002 after more than 30 years without touching a brush. He
pursued a career and family over his creativity. Now, he works on 2-3 paintings at a time. His work is on display in Cleveland, St Remy France, South Carolina as well as local galleries and Summer shows. He has always
believed the true “success” in being an oil painter is being very satisfied with your work and the final outcome of each painting. Nothing leaves his studio until it meets his approval through emotional connection, visual intensity and a
personality.
“The greatest compliment is that someone is moved by or drawn to my work. I am constantly
reminded who is really in charge of what is painted on that canvas. I hold the brush, I am given the blessing of vision and choices. We must all be real, be honest and put a piece of ourselves on the canvas for the world to
see. http://rhcrombie.com/
Deihl, Charles (Bud)
Bud Deihl holds graduate degrees in painting and drawing (1963) and sculpture (1965) from Michigan State University. For 14 years he pursued dual careers as a graphic designer and illustrator and as a college art professor. In 1974 he began a university administrative career first as Head of the Fine Arts Department at the University of Cincinnati, then as the Dean of Arts and Humanities at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He became President of Kendall College of Art and Design in 1989 and concluded his career as President of Columbus College of Art and Design.
Since 2004, Mr. Deihl has taught at the Valley Art Center. His courses have included general Drawing, Life Drawing, Master Classes, Oil Painting, and museum seminars at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Design. Mr. Deihl is an award winning painter, including, recently, Best of Show and First Place in Painting at the Gates Mills Annual Exhibition. He has juried many art exhibitions in the great Cleveland area, and offers private instruction in painting and drawing to adults.
Since 2004, Mr. Deihl has taught at the Valley Art Center. His courses have included general Drawing, Life Drawing, Master Classes, Oil Painting, and museum seminars at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Design. Mr. Deihl is an award winning painter, including, recently, Best of Show and First Place in Painting at the Gates Mills Annual Exhibition. He has juried many art exhibitions in the great Cleveland area, and offers private instruction in painting and drawing to adults.
Dicker, Tessa
Tessa has a B.A. in fine arts from Washington State University. Specializing in photography. Tessa also has a Montessori teaching certification for ages 3-6. She has taught at Gilmour, Ruffing and Horizon. These teaching experiences help her relate well with families and small children. Tessa has a family of her own consisting of a three children, a dog, bunny, goldfish and a very understanding husband with a graphic design background who works with her on sports photography.
Tessa founded Fancy Photography four years ago. Fancy photography takes on all aspects of photography from individual portraits, family, wedding, special events, commercial photography, sports photography, homes, pets, senior portraits, and all this can be done in the comfort of your home or on location or at my studio, which is located in the Chagrin Falls area. Tessa enjoys teaching digital photography for the Valley Arts Center. She receives great pleasure in helping people understand how to use their cameras to their full potential.
Tessa founded Fancy Photography four years ago. Fancy photography takes on all aspects of photography from individual portraits, family, wedding, special events, commercial photography, sports photography, homes, pets, senior portraits, and all this can be done in the comfort of your home or on location or at my studio, which is located in the Chagrin Falls area. Tessa enjoys teaching digital photography for the Valley Arts Center. She receives great pleasure in helping people understand how to use their cameras to their full potential.
English, Emily
Emily English has a passion for helping children explore the world of art. She graduated from Hiram College with degrees in both Art and Education. Because of her teaching background, she understands that children need many varied experiences with art in order to foster their creativity. Emily teaches children’s camps, classes and workshops at the VAC.
Fincun, Liz
Liz Fincun graduated from Miami University of Ohio as an Art Education Major. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Art with Multi-Age Visual Arts Licensure. Liz has a wide range of experience from drawing to metalworking. During a semester in Boston, at Mount Ida College, pursuing a major in Fashion Design, Liz tutored fellow classmates in drawing. The growth in their ability and confidence sparked the realization of her call for teaching. Beginning her official teaching experiences in daycares, Liz has also taught art classes at Germantown Intermediate School, Eaton High School, summer camp drawing and painting at Orange Art Center, and is teaching two courses for the VAC starting in Fall 2012.
Graham, Susan
Susan Graham is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she
majored in studio art She is a signature member of the Ohio
Watercolor Society. She is a past trustee of OWS, and spent 10 years as their treasurer. She is the a board member of the Orange Art Center, and their current treasurer, and she is a past board member of the Valley Art Center. She has taught drawing for the VAC, and is currently teaching a class in acrylic painting. She teaches two watercolor classes at the Orange Art Center. She is a participating artist in Watermedia Techniques for Releasing the Creative Spirit by Marilyn Huey Phillis, AWS/NWS. Susan is a past board member of The C. Kirk Rhein Centerfor the Living Arts in Lakeside, Ohio, and a Life Member of Whiskey Painters of America. She has exhibited and won awards in numerous national and local juried shows,
including the Gates Mills Show.
majored in studio art She is a signature member of the Ohio
Watercolor Society. She is a past trustee of OWS, and spent 10 years as their treasurer. She is the a board member of the Orange Art Center, and their current treasurer, and she is a past board member of the Valley Art Center. She has taught drawing for the VAC, and is currently teaching a class in acrylic painting. She teaches two watercolor classes at the Orange Art Center. She is a participating artist in Watermedia Techniques for Releasing the Creative Spirit by Marilyn Huey Phillis, AWS/NWS. Susan is a past board member of The C. Kirk Rhein Centerfor the Living Arts in Lakeside, Ohio, and a Life Member of Whiskey Painters of America. She has exhibited and won awards in numerous national and local juried shows,
including the Gates Mills Show.
Grunau, Mel
I have 30 years experience as a painting instructor in various art facilities throughout the area. I
have also served as an adjunct painting instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Art. I received my Bachelors of
Arts at Baldwin-Wallace College and my Master of Architecture at Kent StateUniversity.
I frequently conduct painting and collage demonstrations and workshops and have served as both selection and awards juror for art organizations. Also, as a Charter Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, I have served
on its Board of Trustees, as an Annual Exhibition Chairman, Awards Chairman, and as a Regional Show Chairman.
My works have been purchased for numerous private, corporate, national and international art collections.
Visit my website for additional information, www.mjgrunau.com.
have also served as an adjunct painting instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Art. I received my Bachelors of
Arts at Baldwin-Wallace College and my Master of Architecture at Kent StateUniversity.
I frequently conduct painting and collage demonstrations and workshops and have served as both selection and awards juror for art organizations. Also, as a Charter Member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, I have served
on its Board of Trustees, as an Annual Exhibition Chairman, Awards Chairman, and as a Regional Show Chairman.
My works have been purchased for numerous private, corporate, national and international art collections.
Visit my website for additional information, www.mjgrunau.com.
Hill, Ron
Graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in graphic design
and illustration. Ron is a full time high school instructor in commercial art and part time cartooning instructor at VAC. Ron Hill by the numbers: has drawn more than 100,000 quick-sketch caricatures since 1982; taught cartooning at The Valley Art Center for 20 years; for 12 years has created editorial cartoons for The Chagrin
Valley Times and The Solon Times; illustrated 11 books on theology which have been translated into 4 languages; collaborated with his wife on 3 ten-foot tall guitars, 3 Chinese zodiac animal sculptures, and 1 five-foot tall garden gnome. Member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Northern Ohio Illustrators Society.
http://www.ronhillartist.com/ Phone: 440-349-0211
and illustration. Ron is a full time high school instructor in commercial art and part time cartooning instructor at VAC. Ron Hill by the numbers: has drawn more than 100,000 quick-sketch caricatures since 1982; taught cartooning at The Valley Art Center for 20 years; for 12 years has created editorial cartoons for The Chagrin
Valley Times and The Solon Times; illustrated 11 books on theology which have been translated into 4 languages; collaborated with his wife on 3 ten-foot tall guitars, 3 Chinese zodiac animal sculptures, and 1 five-foot tall garden gnome. Member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Northern Ohio Illustrators Society.
http://www.ronhillartist.com/ Phone: 440-349-0211
Hobbs, Mary
I have over 40 years of drawing experience and have won numerous awards and honors. I have been a fashion illustrator and art director. Some of my clients included Bobbie Brooks, Lampll Fashions, Richman Brothers, Campus Sportswear, Milgrim’s, May Co., Higbee’s, Halle’s, The Plain Dealer, etc. I have done furniture ads for such notables as Brewster and Stroud, J.L. Goodman, all now gone. I spent 5 years at Sedlak Interiors which is doing well and still strong. I learned a lot while a retail artist for 5 years at The Plain Dealer. http://www.maryhobbs.net/
Jackson, Darlene
A founding member and past President of VAC, Darlene has taught at Cuyahoga Community College, and Orange Arts Center as well as VAC. She is a member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, and Whiskey Painters of America. Darlene has won awards in many exhibitions, including at the Butler Museum of American Art. Darlene continues her own art education by taking workshops with renowned artists once a year.
Jacobs, Susan
Susan Jacobs is an artist, art teacher, and entrepreneur. A lifelong resident of the Youngstown-Sharon area, Susan is retired from the public school teaching. She holds a B.S. in art education, elementary certification, and Master Teacher Secondary Art degree, with a concentration in painting from YSU. Currently she teaches graduate workshops as an adjunct professor at Ashland University, and instructor for Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV Continuing Professional Education in PA. Susan also teaches painting and drawing classes to local artists, and is sole proprietor of her dog biscuit company Blissful Biscuits, www.blissfulbiscuits.com. Susan's children's book is also available on that site. Her latest accomplishment is founding and directing the Community Artworks www.communityartworks.com
Kaman, Tricia
Many of Tricia’s paintings have won awards in national and international competitions. In less than two years, twenty of her works have been featured in a variety of art publications, including Artist’s Magazine, Art Buzz, Richeson 75, and Oil Painters of America. Her work has shown in many juried exhibitions, including the Grand National at the Salmagundi Club in New York City and Mile High International in Colorado.
A lifetime Ohio resident, Tricia teaches workshops periodically at the Valley Art Center. She served for eight years as Ohio Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America. The artist paints, conducts workshops, and displays her original oil and pastel paintings at Tricia Kaman Studio/Gallery -- a renovated workspace in the School House Galleries on
Murray Hill. The Studio/Gallery has been participating in the Little Italy Art Walks for 23 years. Tricia paints only from life. She says, “Working with living models adds a sacred dimension to my painting. It allows me to witness the beauty of the human form and the divine element of the human soul. My joy is painting what I love most . . . people.”
_______________________________________________________________
Tricia Kaman Studio/Gallery
2026 Murray Hill Rd.
Hours by Appointment
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
216-559-6478 www.TriciaKaman.com
A lifetime Ohio resident, Tricia teaches workshops periodically at the Valley Art Center. She served for eight years as Ohio Ambassador for the Portrait Society of America. The artist paints, conducts workshops, and displays her original oil and pastel paintings at Tricia Kaman Studio/Gallery -- a renovated workspace in the School House Galleries on
Murray Hill. The Studio/Gallery has been participating in the Little Italy Art Walks for 23 years. Tricia paints only from life. She says, “Working with living models adds a sacred dimension to my painting. It allows me to witness the beauty of the human form and the divine element of the human soul. My joy is painting what I love most . . . people.”
_______________________________________________________________
Tricia Kaman Studio/Gallery
2026 Murray Hill Rd.
Hours by Appointment
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
216-559-6478 www.TriciaKaman.com
Kinchen, Hope
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Lax, Scott
Scott Lax is a novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, film and television writer and educator.
Scott graduated from Hiram College with a B.A. in English, and studied Shakespeare at the University of Cambridge in England. As a drummer, he performed with Bo Diddley, among others. Scott began writing nonfiction in 1992, and became a Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference Scholar in Nonfiction in 1993. He began writing fiction that same year, and received a Sewanee Writers’ Conference Fellowship in Fiction in 1998.
His novel, THE YEAR THAT TREMBLED, was called one of 1998’s “Milestones in Fiction,” by “The Denver Post.” The “Midwest Book Review” called it “Articulate with passion, humor and heartbreak.” The novel was named Vermont Book of the Year Runner-up. His award-winning short story, SALES CALL, was published in 2010. The judge commented that the story “works like an update on ‘Death of a Salesman…and holds the reader’s interest throughout.”
As source-writer and producer of THE YEAR THAT TREMBLED, a feature film, Scott was named Midwest Filmmaker of the Year at the Cleveland International Film Festival in 2002, and won three other first place national film festival awards.
Scott adapted the novel for the stage. “The Year That Trembled,” the stage play, successfully premiered at University School in 2003. As a nonfiction writer, Scott has received numerous awards for his essays and features.
As an educator, Scott has taught and lectured at numerous schools, universities and writers conferences. Some of his adult students have gone on to be published and win literary awards. One of Scott’s students anonymously established the annual Scott Lax Wildacres Writers Workshop Scholarship in North Carolina, in Scott’s honor. Scott has written for Comedy Central television, and recently co-created and co-wrote a television pilot, which is currently being shopped in Hollywood. He is working on a new novel and a memoir of first-time fatherhood. He lives with his wife, Lydia, and son, Finn Scott, in the Chagrin Valley. You can learn more about Scott’s work and teaching at www.scottlax.com.
Scott graduated from Hiram College with a B.A. in English, and studied Shakespeare at the University of Cambridge in England. As a drummer, he performed with Bo Diddley, among others. Scott began writing nonfiction in 1992, and became a Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference Scholar in Nonfiction in 1993. He began writing fiction that same year, and received a Sewanee Writers’ Conference Fellowship in Fiction in 1998.
His novel, THE YEAR THAT TREMBLED, was called one of 1998’s “Milestones in Fiction,” by “The Denver Post.” The “Midwest Book Review” called it “Articulate with passion, humor and heartbreak.” The novel was named Vermont Book of the Year Runner-up. His award-winning short story, SALES CALL, was published in 2010. The judge commented that the story “works like an update on ‘Death of a Salesman…and holds the reader’s interest throughout.”
As source-writer and producer of THE YEAR THAT TREMBLED, a feature film, Scott was named Midwest Filmmaker of the Year at the Cleveland International Film Festival in 2002, and won three other first place national film festival awards.
Scott adapted the novel for the stage. “The Year That Trembled,” the stage play, successfully premiered at University School in 2003. As a nonfiction writer, Scott has received numerous awards for his essays and features.
As an educator, Scott has taught and lectured at numerous schools, universities and writers conferences. Some of his adult students have gone on to be published and win literary awards. One of Scott’s students anonymously established the annual Scott Lax Wildacres Writers Workshop Scholarship in North Carolina, in Scott’s honor. Scott has written for Comedy Central television, and recently co-created and co-wrote a television pilot, which is currently being shopped in Hollywood. He is working on a new novel and a memoir of first-time fatherhood. He lives with his wife, Lydia, and son, Finn Scott, in the Chagrin Valley. You can learn more about Scott’s work and teaching at www.scottlax.com.
Levin, Elaine
Elaine Levin is an accomplished weaver and member of Cuyahoga Weaver's Guild. She studied under Betty Clellan and Dorothy Gregg.
Mettee, Jan
Jan Mettee is a watercolor artist who has lived in the Chagrin Falls area for over 20 years. Her paintings most often reflect her love for this area and for the Finger Lakes region of New York, where her family has owned a summer cottage for nearly 60 years.
As a painter and teacher, she celebrates close-up images of every day life, and explores the effects of watercolor on a variety of paper surfaces.
Educated at Skidmore College and Kean College, she became a student of watercolor years later at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin and eventually one of its instructors. Working primarily in her home studio, she also teaches and conducts workshops throughout northeast Ohio. In the fall, she spends several weeks as an instructor in New York.
An award winning artist, Jan’s work has been selected for exhibition in local, state and national shows. Locally, a number of her pieces are included in Cleveland’s Hillcrest Hospital Collection. In 2005, she was commissioned by the city of Rochester, NY to create a painting for their Annual Lilac Festival Poster. She is represented in New York by the Rini Rohrer Gallery. A member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, she received their transparent watercolor society award in 2005.
As a painter and teacher, she celebrates close-up images of every day life, and explores the effects of watercolor on a variety of paper surfaces.
Educated at Skidmore College and Kean College, she became a student of watercolor years later at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin and eventually one of its instructors. Working primarily in her home studio, she also teaches and conducts workshops throughout northeast Ohio. In the fall, she spends several weeks as an instructor in New York.
An award winning artist, Jan’s work has been selected for exhibition in local, state and national shows. Locally, a number of her pieces are included in Cleveland’s Hillcrest Hospital Collection. In 2005, she was commissioned by the city of Rochester, NY to create a painting for their Annual Lilac Festival Poster. She is represented in New York by the Rini Rohrer Gallery. A member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, she received their transparent watercolor society award in 2005.
Mettee, Kim
As a lifetime artist my focus has toggled between various media all of which common threads are woven. My world is a celebration of colors and shapes, rhythmic and life giving that stimulate and sing. Whether painting or designing jewelry, steady hands meticulously and lovingly render creations of beauty.
My designs are an investment of my knowledge and experience reflecting the exuberance and intensity by which I closely observe and interpret my surroundings. At the same time my creative process is instinctive and emotional. I use a variety of elements ranging from ancient to antique, vintage to contemporary beads and components. The use of repurposed materials reflects a philosophy that I am passionate about, reduce, reuse, recycle.
I love to mix it up with wood, shell, silk, suede, fiber, metal, glass, salvage, items from nature just to name a few. The riot of colors, patterns and meanings is funneled and refined into intensely personal works of art. Each creation is one-of-a-kind and stands alone as an heirloom adornment of personal expression.
Visit Kim's website at http://www.kimmetteedesigns.com
My designs are an investment of my knowledge and experience reflecting the exuberance and intensity by which I closely observe and interpret my surroundings. At the same time my creative process is instinctive and emotional. I use a variety of elements ranging from ancient to antique, vintage to contemporary beads and components. The use of repurposed materials reflects a philosophy that I am passionate about, reduce, reuse, recycle.
I love to mix it up with wood, shell, silk, suede, fiber, metal, glass, salvage, items from nature just to name a few. The riot of colors, patterns and meanings is funneled and refined into intensely personal works of art. Each creation is one-of-a-kind and stands alone as an heirloom adornment of personal expression.
Visit Kim's website at http://www.kimmetteedesigns.com
Paetz, Cathy Davies
Catherine Davies Paetz loves to create wearable art that brings people joy. Her original jewelry designs, made from silver metal clay and/or silver wire, explore playful line work or surface texture and may be accented with gold, enamel, beads, or pearls. Catherine has been creating jewelry for more than 35 years and has a BFA in Metals. As a Certified PMC Artisan, she regularly teaches classes and workshops in jewelry making. She has presented seminars at International PMC Guild Conferences, written several magazine articles, an instructional book, and her jewelry has been included in numerous books and other publications.
http://www.cdpdesigns.com/
http://www.cdpdesigns.com/
Peterson, Aline
In 1983 with two small children to support I worked part time at Delphi Stained Glass. I started with flat glass windows, quickly moving into sandblasting. In a short time I tried fusing (melting glass in a kiln). I was hooked! Mostly self taught, I have never graduated from the School of Hard Knocks, my favorite class being Trial and Error. Along with the failures have come many breakthroughs that guide my design. I continued to learn new techniques, lamp working, off hand glass blowing and sand casting are a few. My new work combines design elements of several techniques.
Richert, Sandy
Sandy has been on the faculty of Valley Art
Center since 1978. She teaches the classical techniques of this ancient craft focusing on the why as well as the how, encouraging students to find and follow their
strengths. Her work has been widely exhibited including in The Cleveland Museum of Art May Show and the Smithsonian’s National Air and SpaceMuseum. She received first place in the 1993 VAC Juried Show and a purchase award in its 1982 anniversary exhibition.
She coordinated the Celebration of Enamel in 2004 obtaining for VAC one of the first grants offered by the international Enamelist Society for promoting the art of enameling. She has written articles on the medium for Glass on Metal magazine and produced a slide presentation and video on enameling for Ohio Designer Craftsmen. She has also served on The Kent State University Foundation Enameling Outreach Program Advisory Board.
Center since 1978. She teaches the classical techniques of this ancient craft focusing on the why as well as the how, encouraging students to find and follow their
strengths. Her work has been widely exhibited including in The Cleveland Museum of Art May Show and the Smithsonian’s National Air and SpaceMuseum. She received first place in the 1993 VAC Juried Show and a purchase award in its 1982 anniversary exhibition.
She coordinated the Celebration of Enamel in 2004 obtaining for VAC one of the first grants offered by the international Enamelist Society for promoting the art of enameling. She has written articles on the medium for Glass on Metal magazine and produced a slide presentation and video on enameling for Ohio Designer Craftsmen. She has also served on The Kent State University Foundation Enameling Outreach Program Advisory Board.
Rusek, Joan
Joan Cooper Rusek has a dual career in fine art and freelance writing. She is an award-winning sculptor and potter and has taught fine art classes and workshops at the Valley Art Center for about 20 years. Her spirited work has been selected in the region’s most prestigious juried shows including Gates Mils Art Show, Fairmount Fine Arts Center and the Valley Art Center. She won the pottery award at the Youngstown Women’s show, a purchase award for Art on The Square, Best 3-Dimensional Art from the Valley Art Center’s juried show, and honorable mention from Fairmount Fine Art Center. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. She resides in semi-rural Chesterland, Ohio.
As a writer, and creative force, she has also been involved in numerous award-winning advertising and public relations campaigns. Individually, she won a gold award for creating and writing a regional multimedia public awareness campaign and two silver awards for a print advertising campaign. She has also won several national awards for news and feature writing in her work with Sun News.
Joan produces art that is functional and decorative. Influenced by the natural world, she incorporates plants, animals and sometimes insects she sees in her backyard into her work. She also sees beauty and whimsy in faces, facial features, hands and feet, which can provide either the form or the decoration in her artwork.
She works in clay, mortar, concrete, wire, glass shards, crystal, glass beads and polymer clay. She said in her next life she is going to work in lighter-weight materials, but for now she is grounded in working with materials from the earth.
Joan is also a Reiki Master and is both a student of and a teacher of using energy for healing and self-discovery. She has taught workshops incorporating energy, creativity and art in Florida, New York and Ohio.
Contact her at jcooperrusek@yahoo.com or (440) 729-4290. You can also friend her on Facebook, but be patient – sometimes she likes to unplug to allow space for creativity.
As a writer, and creative force, she has also been involved in numerous award-winning advertising and public relations campaigns. Individually, she won a gold award for creating and writing a regional multimedia public awareness campaign and two silver awards for a print advertising campaign. She has also won several national awards for news and feature writing in her work with Sun News.
Joan produces art that is functional and decorative. Influenced by the natural world, she incorporates plants, animals and sometimes insects she sees in her backyard into her work. She also sees beauty and whimsy in faces, facial features, hands and feet, which can provide either the form or the decoration in her artwork.
She works in clay, mortar, concrete, wire, glass shards, crystal, glass beads and polymer clay. She said in her next life she is going to work in lighter-weight materials, but for now she is grounded in working with materials from the earth.
Joan is also a Reiki Master and is both a student of and a teacher of using energy for healing and self-discovery. She has taught workshops incorporating energy, creativity and art in Florida, New York and Ohio.
Contact her at jcooperrusek@yahoo.com or (440) 729-4290. You can also friend her on Facebook, but be patient – sometimes she likes to unplug to allow space for creativity.
Senechal, Mary
Mary is a registered nurse and artist. She began practicing nursing in 1974 working in diverse practice environments such as the intensive care units of various medical centers, the emergency room, and community nursing. Attending Rhode Island School of Design continuing education classes she studied drawing, two dimensional design, and painting. Since moving to Ohio in 2004 she has pursued the study of the creative process and creative problem solving. She has taught classes and donducted workshops for adults and teens in varying settings around northeast Ohio on this subject. She has exhibited her work at the Gates Mills juried artshow, the Valley Art Center juried show, and the Art in the Halls show at the Federated Church of chagrin Falls. Her work is in several private collections. She teaches Pastels at the Valley Art Center.
Shea, Tracy
I have been making pottery since 1982. I fell in love with clay immediately and at a young age. This memory is part of what motivates my love of teaching children about such a “magical” medium. I have had a few years of ceramics education at area community colleges and Akron University, but most of my education has been through studio work, making pottery at Hale Farm and Village, contact with other working artists, and through motherhood and family life. I also have a background in textile silk screening and mail order catalog production. http://www.sheaclay.com/
Steinberg, Michael
Michael Steinberg's photographic experience spans over three decades in the Cleveland area where he has been a wedding photographer and commercial photographer. His photography has been featured in The Knot wedding magazine and his contemporary, photojournalistic style of photography has appeared in publications such as Time, Business Week and Forbes.
One of Cleveland Ohio's best wedding photographers, Michael has worked in all parts of northeast Ohio including Akron, Youngstown, Canton, Lorain, and as far away as Sandusky and West Virginia. What is it that sets Michael apart from other photographers? Maybe it's his keen eye for beautiful compositions or his friendly, easy-going personality or possibly his extraordinarily honest shooting philosophy. His high-end, digital images have set a new standard in digital wedding photography. He is also experienced with a wide variety of wedding photography services including Protestant, Orthodox Jewish and Catholic weddings. Michael is also an award winning member of WPJA and a member of Digital Wedding Forum.
One of Cleveland Ohio's best wedding photographers, Michael has worked in all parts of northeast Ohio including Akron, Youngstown, Canton, Lorain, and as far away as Sandusky and West Virginia. What is it that sets Michael apart from other photographers? Maybe it's his keen eye for beautiful compositions or his friendly, easy-going personality or possibly his extraordinarily honest shooting philosophy. His high-end, digital images have set a new standard in digital wedding photography. He is also experienced with a wide variety of wedding photography services including Protestant, Orthodox Jewish and Catholic weddings. Michael is also an award winning member of WPJA and a member of Digital Wedding Forum.
Stewart, Denise
Denise Stewart holds a BS from Boston University in Education and earned her BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art in Printmaking. She has taught classes and exhibited work locally for many years. She is currently a resident artist at Zygote Press.
Vencl, Kathy
Coordinator and instructor for children’s classes and camps. Art is Kathy’s second career; after attending Kent State University, Kathy has studied the concept of the value of art in children’s lives. An instructor for the English Nanny School for 10 years, Kathy loves classical shape and form, which drew her to become a potter.
Yonker, Jeni
Jeni Yonker attended Albion College where her studies focused on methods and techniques of printmaking. After receiving a B.S. Degree in Textile Science from Michigan State University she continued her studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She enjoys sharing her passion for art with others.
