David Zeleznik

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

Solar Eclipse

David Zeleznik is an underwater and nature photographer based in Essex, CT. While largely self-taught starting as a young teenager, David has achieved several underwater photography and lighting certifications with the Professional Association of Dive Instructors. Still in high school, David’s first ribbons were won at the Durham CT Fair photo contest for impressionist flower photographs. Fast forward several decades to 2018 when he had his solo exhibition “Images Sous-Marines” showcasing 41 of his underwater images at the Main Street Gallery in Chester, CT. From 2020 to 2023 David worked for the CT River Museum to photograph all of their public events. David is a graduate of Northwestern University’s engineering school and spent the last 30 years of his career as a Certified Project Manager overseeing multi-national software development teams for some of the largest corporations, such as IBM. It was only a couple of years after beginning his diving journey that he started pursuing underwater photography as a way to share the hidden marvels he was experiencing below the surface. Zeleznik’s photography is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Nita Vitaliano

Portfolio Categories: Paintings.

Sunset Lighthouse, acrylic, 20×16

Nita is the granddaughter of a commercial artist; her family instilled in her a love of creation and observation. Art has been a constant in her life, and she has been painting for as long as she can remember. Upon entering college, she was torn between the world of academia and the world of art. Ultimately, she chose to earn her Masters in History and work in education, forgoing any formal training in the arts. As such, her artwork took a backseat to her career and young family. It is only recently that she has begun to set aside time each day to pursue creating art. Nita’s preferred medium is acrylic, and she enjoys upcycling old canvases that are no longer wanted. She often paints landscapes, seascapes, and florals, and her latest interest are birch trees. Nita has recently exhibited works at the Mystic Museum of Art, The Slater Museum in Norwich, and Gallery 25 in New Milford. Currently, she shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT. Nita works at Capital Community College as an educational assistant, as well as a private tutor, and a commissioned artist.

Mary Alice Landry

Portfolio Categories: Painters and Paintings.

Feeding Time, acrylic and posca pens, 8×8

Mary Alice has an intimate relationship with Mother Nature and all her creatures. She advocates for wild endangered animals, signs petitions, and gets involved. She also supports domesticated animals and stands for animal rights and welfare. She also finds herself painting for them, in a variety of natural scenes. She creates with bold, happy colors and will do either abstract realism, abstract or whimsy. She also creates bold and playful or subdued stylized landscapes. She has been on disability for 8 years due to two autoimmune diseases and seven spinal surgeries. She lives with pain every day, but finds when she creates, she is taken out of time and space for awhile. She has had to adapt, but is grateful for her current abilities. She has been fortunate for the year of 2024 to have been in over 25 juried shows. Presently, she shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Mark Bavolack

Portfolio Categories: Painters and Paintings.

Maui Sunset, oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 3 feet h x 4 feet w

Mark has a passion for creativity, color and beautiful objects. After a long and satisfying career as color separator, retoucher and Commercial Printing Sales / Producer, Mark picked up the brush at an Art Retreat in 2019. From then on the canvas became his creative outlet. Self-taught and with a thirst for knowledge, Mark is constantly looking to learn from the experiences of others. Additional works can be seen from time to time at Old Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme and Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Lori Newmann

Portfolio Categories: Paintings.

Lambs at Dawn, acryic, 12×12

Lori Neumann is a local artist working in oils, acrylics & pastel. Lori studied Fine Arts at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and has exhibited at galleries and art shows throughout New England & Kentucky. Lori especially enjoys working with a palette knife in plein air while hiking at dawn and dusk. Lori is a member of the CT Academy of Fine Arts, the CT Pastel Society, the Madison Art Society, the American Impressionist Society and the Lyme Art Association. Lori especially enjoys painting rural New England landscapes & farm animals. She shares & teaches the love of art and believes that within each of us there is an artist, waiting to be released! Presently, she shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Laurel Hoynoski

Portfolio Categories: Paintings.

Supermoon Over Hidden Lake, oil on canvas board

Laurel Hoynoski is a local artist. Her primary medium is oils. She enjoys painting birds, landscapes, nature and still life. One of her oil paintings, a portrait of one of her four daughters, was featured in the Hartford Courant on May 8, 2011. She has participated in the Madison Art Festival in 2022 and 2023. Hoynoski is a featured artist at Spectrum Gallery’s Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Town Green.

Jean Watson

Portfolio Categories: Painters and Paintings.

Under the Silent Moon, Oil, 10in h x 8in w

Jean Watson paints landscapes, seascapes, still life, birds, flowers and animals using oils and pastels. She uses cold wax medium with oils for mostly abstracts. She has taken numerous courses and workshops and enjoys learning new techniques. She is currently a member of the Wethersfield Art League, Glastonbury Arts, Lyme Art Association and Gallery 53. She presently shows work at Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Geneva Renegar

Portfolio Categories: Painters and Paintings.

Sea Smoke, fine art photograph

Whether Geneva is on the Shoreline of the Nutmeg State or inland wading in a lush stream or capturing the endurance of an 1800’s Dairy Farm, she is passionate about capturing the natural beauty and landscapes of Connecticut. She endlessly searches for new locations and new scenery many days awakening at 4 a.m. to get out there for one of a “Sunrise Sequence” session before dawn! Geneva has been honored to have two exclusive exhibits at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point campus. She is also honored to have been chosen by juried selection into the prestigious “Mystic Arts Outdoor Festival” in 2015 and 2016 and was chosen by juried selection into the Hygienic Art Gallery for the “The f-stops here” exhibit. She has exhibited at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center as well as at La Grua Gallery in Stonington. She was also chosen by juried selection to be included in the International Traveling Exhibition “Water, Water, Everywhere–A Paean to a Vanishing Resource” at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point campus. Presently, Geneva also shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Gary Connolly

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

From Night to Day, fine art photograph on metal, 12in h x 30in w

Gary’s journey in photography began in high school with a Nikon film camera, inspired by the grandeur of the West Coast’s national parks. As life led him to the East Coast, his love for boating introduced him to seascapes and sunsets, while his grandchildren’s energy drew him into sports and action photography. Advancements in camera technology and AI-powered editing have expanded his creative horizons, recently exemplified in his work capturing a solar eclipse in Montreal. A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Gary has honed his craft through photo development courses, Nikon School seminars, and FAA commercial drone certification. His professional experience includes legal photography, real estate and yacht marketing, and commercial videography. His work has been recognized in exhibitions such as the Shoreline Arts Alliance Images 2024 and displayed at Branford Hospice. His work is also displayed at Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, CT. As a member of the North Haven Photo Club, he has earned multiple awards in juried contests. Through his photography, Gary aims to freeze moments in time, inviting viewers to see the world through his lens.

Eileen Clark

Portfolio Categories: Mixed Media.

After 20 years creating sea glass jewelry under the moniker Odonata Seaglass, Eileen Clark discovered the world of mixed media art. She is an explorer of color, texture and techniques. Her work involves painting, collage, sculpting and 3-dimensional embellishments. Paint, beads and various objects found around the house or out in nature are her inspiration and supply chest. Never stuck in one style she prefers to create a series and then move on to a completely different technique. Her color palette is typically bright and vibrant so people can feel joy when they see her art.

Eileen lives in Guilford, Connecticut with her husband Dave. She is an exhibiting member of several shoreline art societies. In addition she participates in art festivals and recently installed a one woman exhibition at The Guilford Library. Currently, she is showing her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Dianne Gorrick

Portfolio Categories: Painters and Paintings.

Plein air painter Dianne Gorrick creates vibrant works of art depicting the beauty of the natural world. Although Gorrick selects peaceful subjects, her paintings are invigorated by bright colors and impasto painting. About her technique, she write,” I would say my style is Romanticized Realism. I want the viewer to be drawn into the scene and to enjoy looking at the painting”

After earning a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and a Master’s degree in Studio Arts from Wesleyan University, she became an Art Educator teaching at Bacon Academy for over thirty years. Gorrick’s artwork has won two National Endowment Fellowships; a research grant to study the Hudson River School of Painters and a fellowship to attend Dartmouth College. Her work has been shown at the Wadsworth Atheneum, the New Britain Museum, the Slater Museum, and the Ward-Nasse Gallery, NYC. Presently, she also exhibits work at Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, CT. She is an Elected Artist at the Essex Art Association where she has received awards for Best Painting and Best in Show. She is also a member of the Lyme Art Association. Gorrick has taken numerous workshops with the Plein Air painters of America and studied with master painters William Scott Jennings and Don Demers.

Carole Drong

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

Carole Drong is a photographer, graphic designer, and illustrator from Southeastern Connecticut. She received her education at Paier College of Art in Hamden, Connecticut majoring in illustration. Having held a variety of creative roles throughout her career, she has collaborated with many printers, publishers, advertising agencies and corporations.

Carole gained significant experience at Pfizer Inc, where she was a staff photographer capturing images of senior executives, scientists conducting experiments in their lab environments, as well as many corporate and community events. Her photographs have been published in calendars, magazines and brochures. Currently, Carole exhibits her photographs in galleries such as Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Bryn Souza

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

Bryn Souza is an award-winning Connecticut-based photographer. Her work has been on display throughout the state and in neighboring Rhode Island in solo exhibitions and alongside other artists in group exhibitions. She won the Photo of Distinction and People’s Vision Award through the Lyme Land Trust. She is also the First Place winner of the South County Tourism Department’s Photo Contest. During the day, Bryn works for DOGTV as the Director of Customer Experience. She applies her degrees in Public Relations & History and her MBA from Quinnipiac University to her day job while getting to take and enjoy photos and videos of dogs. Although her primary focus is landscape photography, she also has experience as a pet photographer with her work featured on MarthaStewart.com, Today.com, USA Today along with various pet brands. Bryn also shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Lynelle Abel

Portfolio Categories: Decorative.

Lynelle Abel is a self-taught pressed flower artist. After retiring from her leadership position in the Patient Experience division at the Yale New Haven Healthcare System, Lynelle found herself searching for a new creative outlet that would combine her love of flowers and nature – with the ability to share these gifts with others. Lynelle works with a Microfleur press and has gained much inspiration from renowned botanical photographer, Ellen Hoverkamp. Lynelle creates large framed botanical prints and has been commissioned to design keepsake prints using flowers from meaningful life events (weddings, funerals, retirements, etc.). Other work includes smaller glass frame prints, seasonal botanical pumpkins and note cards.

Lynelle resides in Madison with her husband and has two grown sons and a beautiful two-year-old granddaughter. Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut and she is a featured artist at Spectrum Gallery’s Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Town Green.

Roger Harvey

Portfolio Categories: Wood and Wood Artisans.

In his fourth year of college Roger switched from mechanical engineering at the University of Texas to art. He directed the Craft Center at the student union until he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He was a potter and teacher on Cape Cod for 11 years and a goldsmith in Boston for eight. He moved to Chattanooga, TN to do technical development in the jewelry manufacturing industry before returning to the craft world. He initially made salt glazed pottery and added wood in 2014. He now works exclusively with wood most of it done on a lathe. He primarily works with local wood that would otherwise be burned or chipped. Many of his pieces are made from spalted wood. Spalting occurs when fungi invade fresh wood and initiate the rotting process. Roger has been a member of the In-Town Gallery, a cooperative gallery in Chattanooga, TN since 2011. He now also shows his work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT

Anna Mastropolo

Portfolio Categories: Fabric-Fiber and Festival Artists.

Kate Street

Portfolio Categories: Decorative and Ornaments.

Enchanted Sea Tray

Kate Street majored in Psychology at the University of Maine and minored in English Literature. She also has a Master’s Degree in Health and Wellness from Springfield College. Though art had always been a life-long passion, she never found the time to devote to it other than doodling during her classes. Before having children, she and her husband, Graeme Street, owned their own personal training business in Essex, CT and had a radio fitness show on WLIS and WMRD. Once the children came along all her time was devoted to homeschooling their three sons. As her boys grew older, she found she could not deny the muse any longer. One day, five years ago she woke up with a compelling urge to paint and has been doing it ever since. Though mostly self-taught, she also gives credit to various artists who provide tutorials on-line. Even though she took the expected route of schooling, degrees, and education Kate is a life-long mystic and intuitive, making her relationship with the unseen world as strong (or stronger) with that of the physical world and it’s in her art that she can express this aspect of herself. She has show-cased her work at the Essex Coffee and Tea Company the last two years. Along with being a mixed media artist, Kate is also a published author, poet, and musician. Kate’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Carol Hawes

Portfolio Categories: Decorative.

Carol Hawes’s love of art began in her mother’s ceramic studio. Her artistic endeavors were put on hold with a marriage and three beautiful children…which became the magic of her life. It wasn’t until they were of school age, Carol went to work as a Teachers Aid in the Wallingford school system. This allowed her to be home with her family.

It wasn’t until much later that her journey into art began.

From painting on furniture and walls, Carol went on to create with cloth HELENCAROL DOLLS with a good friend and artist.

Retired, Carol began to explore her love for clay and paint, which is when her mother’s years of teaching began to come back to her.

It wasn’t long before she fell in love with air dried clay and its endless possibilities to create.

Carol enjoys painting birds, animals and pets using watercolor as her medium of choice. Still creating…Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Richard Abarno

Portfolio Categories: Decorative.

After completing his service in the army in 1964, Richard Abarno was able to attend Parsons School of Design in New York. Employed as a graphic designer in agencies and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Richard switched to advertising and corporate photography which he did for some forty or more years. When Richard moved from Rhode Island to Durango, Colorado, he started drawing and illustrating again. Might have been the altitude. Back to New England about 12 years ago, Richard started to experiment with sculptures and for the most part consider this phase of creativity self-taught. Richard will say doing them is the most enjoyable of all and he is not sure where the ideas come Richard, but he does have an ever-growing sketchbook.

Richard has created over two hundred sculptures and hopes to keep doing them until he no longer can. His hope is that they will bring others joy and stretch one’s imaginations. Richard tends not to use found objects since they have a different tempo to the self-made objects. Materials used include wood, clay, paper, metal and an occasional feather or two. Richard has received Awards form the Society of Illustrators NY annual show and publications, Society of LA annual awards show, Newport Museum of Art, Print Magazine annual, 3×3 Magazine of Illustration rewards annual, and Westerly Artist Coop regional show award. Richard’s work is exhibited in galleries in the New England area, New York and Japan and his work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Michelle Beauford

Portfolio Categories: Fabric-Fiber.

I’m a fiber artist who specializes in crocheted items. This is a skill I learned as a young child from my mother. I continue to learn and perfect this skill by creating different items. I love working with bright color palettes. Some of my favorites are shawls, wraps, and baby blankets.

I am a Respiratory Therapist of over 30 years. Unfortunately I had to be placed on disability 3 years ago. I have taken this time to increase my crocheting gift by donating to hospitals and different charities.

Paula Jacobi

Portfolio Categories: Fabric-Fiber and Fiber Artisans.

Golf Guy Pillow, upholstery fabric, pillow insert, ribbon trim, zipper and cord

Paula Jacobi designs and creates personalized custom pillows, having crafted over a thousand unique pillows using only the finest materials including upholstery grade fabrics, cording, forms, zippers and woven ribbon trims. All pillows are 12” X 16”, which fit nicely on a bed, chair, sofa, bookcase or easel.

Jacobi takes pride in her work, making great effort to match room décor and theme. Her pillows feature first and/or last names, dates, sport teams, colleges, boat and cottage names, inspirational thoughts, and comical expressions. Many of Paula’s pillows are in celebrity homes. Her favorite is “Jasper”, Dana Perino’s dog.

Jacobi is originally from Muskegon, Michigan and now resides in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She is married with two children and six grandchildren. Paula has held several jobs throughout her career including Direct Marketing and Fine Art Sales. She holds an Associate of Arts Degree. Jacobi’s pillows are currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Sarah Elliott-Caratasios

Portfolio Categories: Paper.

I Love You As Much As – page illustration by Bivenne Harvey-Staiger

Sarah Elliott-Caratasios is an accomplished author, social worker, and advocate dedicated to
uplifting families and communities through her writing and professional work. She holds a
Master’s in Social Work and specializes in empowering older adults and promoting women’s
health.

A mother of four and lifelong storyteller, Sarah resides in Connecticut with her husband,
children, and their beloved rescue pups. Her passion for history and storytelling inspired The
Adventures of Nibbles Munk Munk, the first in a cherished children’s book series designed to
foster meaningful connections through the joy of reading.

Sarah is deeply passionate about writing children’s books that bring families together, creating
heartwarming stories that spark laughter, love, and lasting memories. Her latest book, I Love You as
Much as…, celebrates the limitless love of family through playful and whimsical comparisons,
encouraging families to create meaningful traditions of their own. Her newest book is sold at Spectrum
Gallery in Centerbrook. CT.

In addition to her books, Sarah has authored wellness journals and developed online self-care
courses to help busy women and mothers prioritize their well-being on a budget. With her unique
blend of creativity and advocacy, Sarah is committed to inspiring others, whether through
imaginative tales for children or resources that empower individuals to lead balanced, fulfilling
lives.

Luke Giroux

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

Harvest Moon

Luke learned early in life that he had an eye for “framing” a photo. At 19 he got his first “real camera” and has been taking pictures ever since, often taking 100’s of photos on trips and vacations – both to chronicle the trip but to also capture in the lens anything he sees as “visually interesting.”

His philosophy regarding photography is mostly about just being there, in the moment, to capture a specific point in time. The light from the afternoon sun will never be exactly the same; the smile on the subject’s face or the clothes they’re wearing will never be exactly the same. So, if he sees something that might make a good photo, he will stop to shoot it. “Yes, a 35mm will take a better photo than any iPhone, and I use my Canon as often as I can. But it’s not always in my ‘back pocket,’ so I’ll grab the shot because I’m in the moment. And those are oftentimes some of my better photos.”

With a Business Management degree from CCSU, a career in marketing and public relations, and currently spending long days as the Director of Operations for a busy retreat and conference center, Luke’s creative outlet is his photography. Living in Chester with a cottage in Old Lyme, the lower Connecticut River valley is the canvas for much of his work. Luke’s photos have been exhibited at the Monastery Gallery of Art in West Hartford, including a solo exhibit, and can be found in photo calendars of New England landscapes. He is also showing his work at Spectrum Art Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Jake Barba

Portfolio Categories: Photography.

Bucking Bull, fine art photograph

Jake is a graduate of Skidmore College and currently works as an analyst in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He first started to take photography seriously during his senior year of college when he took a beginner photography course. He had spent a lot of time previously taking photos, but that intro course gave him the insight into actively forming composition that he carries with him to this day.

It has been six years since that course. In that time, he has showcased his photos in the Shoreline Arts Association’s IMAGES gallery as well as offered it in various street markets in New York and Connecticut. Jake is happy with the progress he has made with his photography and am excited where this hobby will take him.

His preferred subject matter has changed over the years, from landscapes, to wildlife, from travel photography to astrophotography. These photos come from Costa Rica during his time in the Peace Corps, when his host family took him to a rodeo on the first night of his stay with them.

Dora Dylanne Reyes & Don Carter

Portfolio Categories: Illustration.

Great Egret w Vanilla Cupcakes

DORA DYLANNE REYES

Dora is a baker turned watercolorist and graphic artist. Self-taught, she started painting just before the pandemic. While others were locked down baking at home, Dora was painting her own baked goods and sweet treats. Very quickly, Dora discovered that her compact, yet expressive studies of sweets and other simple objects could translate well for the greeting cards market. In 2021, she created Luvfish Greeting Cards and Art to bring that dream to reality. Concepting, painting, writing and even printing her own cards, Dora has created a line of over 60 cards available at local retailers.

In 2022, Dora began collaborating with artist/illustrator, Don Carter (as Edgar Allan Slothman). Her unique concept was to incorporate her watercolor and digital desserts with his Audubon prints. In 2021, Birds and Their Just Desserts / Let Them Eat Cake brought their work together in its first public exhibition. The Birds & Desserts series has since grown and is exhibited and sold in Connecticut and Massachusetts universities and galleries.

“We’ve created a fantasy world for these birds filled with vibrant colors and sweet treats. Every story is different and each approach is unique. Sometimes we pay homage to a film, an artist, a cultural tradition … or just simply have our fine feathered friends enjoying a piece of pie, just because they can”. — Dora

Presently, Dora continues to bake, write, paint and create 3D fish. She lives in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts.

DON CARTER
aka EDGAR ALLAN SLOTHMAN

Edgar Allan Slothman is the pop art persona of designer, illustrator, author and award-winning creative director, Don Carter. The illustrator of seven picture books for children, Don has also created two Disney animated short-form animated series, Happy Monster Band and Dance-A-Lot-Robot.

Don’s first book, Wake Up House! by Dee Lillegard was named one of the New York Public Library’s “100 Titles for Reading and Sharing” in 2000. School Library Journal also listed the book in their “Best Books 2000.” Publishers Weekly in a starred review wrote, “Visually striking…Carter makes his children’s book debut with arrestingly tactile, sculptural illustrations.” Get To Work Trucks has been named a “Best Book of the Year” by Child Magazine and a “Top 100 Book of 2002” by the New York Public Library. His Heaven’s All-Star Jazz Band celebrates the pioneers of jazz and has received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

A life-long love of birds and illustration have most recently come together in his reimagining of Audubon’s Birds of America series in a simplified, graphic style. And in 2022, Don began collaborating with baker-turned-watercolorist, Dora Dylanne Reyes. Dora’s unique concept was to incorporate her watercolor and digital desserts with Don’s Audubon prints. In 2021, Birds and Their Just Desserts / Let Them Eat Cake brought their work together in its first public exhibition. The Birds & Desserts series has since grown and is exhibited and sold in Connecticut and Massachusetts universities and galleries

“I was working on a Florida Cormorant and was just about to put a fish in his mouth when Dora suggested something a little more interesting … a piece of black forest cheesecake. To the ornithological purist in me it made no sense at all, but it looked absolutely amazing. From there, the Birds & Desserts series took off.” —Don

A graduate of Paier College of Art, Don is a creative director with Adams & Knight, a marketing agency based in Avon, Connecticut. In 2017, he was inducted into the Connecticut Art Directors Hall of Fame. Don lives in the beautiful Pioneer Valley area of Massachusetts.

Christian Kunze

Portfolio Categories: Paintings.

Coil, pastel, 24in h x 18in w

Chris Kunze graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Painting/Illustration. He has had a long & successful career in Advertising and Promotion. His illustrations and designs have been used in books, magazines, newspapers, product packaging and logo design.

Chris’ fine art has always remained important throughout his career as a commercial artist. He has had many solo and group shows in New York City, Westchester County and lower Connecticut, showcasing his oil paintings, watercolors and illustrations. Chris was part of an ongoing show at the Arthur Kalaher Fine Art in Sag Harbor, NY from 2011-2019. In 2018 he had a solo show of his watercolors at Teatown Lake Reservation.

In 2019 Chris began his participation in Arthouse. NYC’s “Healthcare Heroes Show”. He has memorialized several healthcare workers who lost their lives during the height of the Covid pandemic. These oil portraits were given to their families and were on view at the Big Plaza Screen in New York City.

Teaching is a passion that has come to the forefront in the past 15 years for Chris. He has been teaching a plethora of subjects among them drawing, oil painting, watercolors, and more at local Westchester art schools. He is currently teaching at Scarsdale Adult School, in Scarsdale, NY, and Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Chris grew up in Europe and Westchester County. He currently resides in Salem, Connecticut.

Maria Campbell

Portfolio Categories: Pottery.

Flying High Vase

Maria Campbell enjoys working in a variety of media including ceramics, mosaic, pastel and jewelry. She was a longtime member of Wesleyan Potters, attended the Lyme Academy and studied at both Haystack Mountain Craft in Maine and Snow Farm Craft Center in MA. Always curious, she explores variations on a theme and experiments with one-of-a-kind works. She views making art as an adventure. She always had time for being creative, even while attending graduate school and working as a financial analyst. She is now “retired,” but really isn’t! Her work is now shown at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT

Kim McGennis

Portfolio Categories: Decorative.

Cotton Tail Joe, acrylic

Kim McGennis believes that we are all connected throughout the ages through art, because art is a powerful form of self-expression and is the window into all our souls. Kim has been obsessed with art, painting, drawing and photography ever since she can remember. McGennis looks for examples of art in the world around her. Each piece of art that she finds has a story and each piece of Kim’s art has a piece of her heart inside it. Hence, she includes a story on the back of each painting and a certificate of authentication. Kim uses ecologically friendly acrylic paint, and her paintings are coated with several layers of protective, clear finish.

McGennis studied art at Boston College, and she has two Master’s Degrees from the University of Westchester in Pennsylvania and from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT. Kim apprenticed her photography with two professional photographers in 1993 and soon thereafter opened her own business. McGennis also creates funky hand painted furniture. During the day Kim teaches French and Spanish, and, on the weekends, she photographs beautiful weddings. McGennis’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook Connecticut.

Layne Manginelli

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Cherry Bowl; Christmas Ornament, exotic woods; Fanxy Cutting Board, maple and walnut

Layne Manginelli has been a woodworker for over 20 years. He was introduced to this craft by his father, a very talented Wood carver. Layne has taught himself new techniques and methods to develop his own style over the years. Woodturning and custom wood working are his specialties, where his work frequently features unique and rare woods, which add color, shape, and complexity to each one-of-a-kind piece. Layne enjoys incorporating the natural beauty of materials into bowls, and his designs frequently feature geometric shapes and patterns that are diligently planned. Manginelli’s entries in the Durham Fair and art festivals include bowls, cutting boards and furniture, which have won him many distinguished awards. In 2024 Manginelli took best of show at the Old Saybrook art festival. Layne is a featured artist at Spectrum Gallery’s Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Town Green.

Malgorzata Wrobel-Kruczenkow

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Born in Poland Malgorzata Wróbel-Kruczenkow is a painter and author of multimedia installations. Graduate of the Faculty of Cultural Studies at the University of Białystok and the Faculty of Painting and Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. Winner of the Grand Prix at the 3rd Piotrków Trybunalski Art Biennal (2015). Scholarship holder of the President of the City of Białystok 2015. Honorary Mention of the Director of the Art Gallery in Legnica within the national review promoting young talents Promotions 2015 in Legnica. Scholarship holder of the Podlaskie Voivodeship Marshal, 2023. Took part in many individual exhibitions, art shows and festivals. Malgorzata Wróbel-Kruczenkow presents paintings that express the original vision of the artist, who is not afraid to experiment with form and color. The painter refers to the tradition of Polish and world art of the 20th century but does not imitate it uncritically. We find in her work echoes of Polish Colourism like Jan Cybis and Tomasz Tatarczyk, but also of Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning. In the artist’s works we can notice the influence of the tradition of Polish colorism. Exploring color is her main point of interest. The impastos she applies to the canvas give her works dynamics and expression, and at the same time allow them to maintain a certain mystery. Some of Malgorzata’s paintings are painted swiftly, as if the time for painting was irretrievably running out. They are sometimes nostalgic and at other times dramatic. They also approach the principles of American abstract expressionism and Art informel tradition of the 1940s and 1950s.

Malgorzata Wróbel-Kruczenkow is a featured artist at Spectrum Gallery’s Autumn Arts Festival on the Madison Town Green.

Autumn Lake, acrylic on canvas, 5in h x 7in w

Hills in Connecticut, acrylic on canvas, 5in h x 7in w

Path in Autumn Forest , acrylic on canvas, 5in h x 7in w

Barbara Hernandez-Froehlich

Portfolio Categories: Decorative, Festival Artists, and Jewelry.

Celtic Rosary Necklace

Meet Barbara Hernandez- Froehlich, a retired 20-year law enforcement veteran from New York, now living in Connecticut. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and for the past two years embarking in her new adventure…. creating small mixed media art. Self-taught, she decorates seashells with sweet images, making them one-of-a-kind pieces. She also uses photographs, embedding the images in glass panels and making a beautiful addition to your home decor or memorialize a happy moment by using customer’s photos, by request. Within the past year, she has attended many wool-felting classes, given by instructor Lori Neumann of Menagerie by Lori. Using wool, she is now creating dolls, as decorative pieces, with different colors and various heights.

While Barbara is busy making her wonderful creations, she still makes time for her husband and pets. You can find some of Barbara’s works at local arts and craft fairs and her artwork is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Samuel Swap

Portfolio Categories: Paper.

ABC’s of Bats by Samuel Swap, softcover 56 pages

Samuel Swap is an Illustrator, Printmaker, and Educator from Essex, CT, and is obsessed with all and every form of the line. Sam draws on his love for the natural world to communicate the bountiful wonders biodiversity has to offer us even in our small enclave of the world. Drawing from the worlds that filled his imagination as a child, from the books of Walter Whick’s ISPY, to Bill Watterson’s Calvin And Hobbes, Sam’s busy drawings try to highlight the unknown within our natural world, to reignite that feeling of childlike discovery with every new detail and flip of the page.

After growing up in Essex and attending Valley Regional High, Sam took a keen interest in photography and design, following in his father’s footsteps. Teaching at Bushy Hill Nature Center, Sam found he had a keen ability to communicate and translate the world around him for younger generations, and while pursuing photography, started doodling on the side. However, After attending the Hartford Art School, Sam fell in love with the art of illustration. Combining his favorite worlds of art, communication, and education, Sam graduated with a degree in Illustration in 2022. After graduating, Sam started teaching art as an educator at Old Lyme’s Florence Griswold Museum. His work can be found in the Florence Griswold Collection, as well as the Cooley Gallery in Old Lyme.

Recently, Sam decided to start his own publishing house, Third Cat Press (named after his adopted cat, ChaTrois), to publish his own children’s books and stories. Sam’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Elisa Eaton

Portfolio Categories: Pottery.

Long Geometric Edge Tray

Studying the work and ideas of Kandinsky and Der Blaue Reiter, Elisa Kayser Eaton has been interested in expressing the spiritual in art. Researching her family history (my grandfather was 1/2 Algonquian) led Elisa to the artwork and ideas of Native America from where she now draws her inspiration.

Eaton started pottery making as a small child, digging clay out of the brook behind her house and shaping crude bowls. She continued from there taking pottery classes and workshops with many teachers including Barbara Diduk, Kim Dickey, and Grandmother Marsha. Elisa’s BA from Dickinson College is in Fine Arts with a studio arts concentration in ceramics.

Elisa’s pots are hand built using the traditional methods of coiling, pinching and scraping. The pots are then carved, sculpted and slip-decorated with designs inspired by the Northeastern designs of my ancestors as well as motifs of the Anasazi, Hohokam, Mimbres and other peoples of ancient America.

A member of Wesleyan Potters in Middletown CT since 1991, Eliza has had work in the Wesleyan Potters Gallery/Shop and Annual Exhibit and Sale. Her work is also exhibited in the Agonist, Fisher Gallery (FVAC), ACE, ArtWorks Gallery (Ware, MA), Canton Clayworks, Artwell Gallery, Epigee, Center Framing and Art, and Guilford Arts Center.

Bruce & Gail Barton

Portfolio Categories: Jewelry.

Acqua Seaglass Pendant

Bruce and Gail Barton spend the winter months living aboard their boat in the northern Bahamas collecting rare sea glass shards. The area is rich in beautiful old sea glass as a result of numerous shipwrecks on the reefs off the islands during the early 1800’s. Their jewelry creations feature old and very rare pieces of sea glass and pottery.

Prior to opening the business Sea Glass Designs 18 years ago, Bruce was an electrical engineer. Bruce’s engineering background carried over to create innovative designs including bezels that reflect light back into the sea glass enhancing the color of the sea glass. Gail in addition to her role as jewelry maker is the business manager for Sea Glass Designs. She formerly held the position of business manager for 25 years for the State of Connecticut. Both Bruce and Gail have studied jewelry design at Metalwerx School of Jewelry Design in Waltham, MA.

Bruce and Gail are members of the North American Sea Glass Association, Society of American Silversmiths and MJSA. They received the Second-place award at the St Lucie Florida Botanical Garden Art Show. Their jewelry is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Jena Maki

Portfolio Categories: Paintings.

Waiting for Dawn, oil on canvas, 30in h x 24in w

Jena Maki is an artist known primarily for her landscape work in oils. Working in realism, and inspired by the picturesque landscapes of New England, her paintings transport viewers into a realm where reality seamlessly merges with the imagined.

Maki’s artistic journey is defined by a profound connection to the autumnal essence of nature. While her primary focus lies in portraying the feeling of home in New England, her vision extends beyond landscapes as in recent years she has begun to incorporate the seasonal and everyday wildlife into her work. She invites viewers to see where the familiar becomes extraordinary, and the ordinary is imbued with autumn magic. The art serves as a testament to the timeless allure of nature and welcoming feeling of familiarity.

Jena Maki received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. For five years, she has been imparting her expertise as both teacher and studio manager at the Connecticut Art School, where she continues to inspire and mentor aspiring artists. Since moving back to CT, she has been participating in vendor fairs, selling both originals and prints of her paintings. Ena is currently a featured artist in Spectrum Gallery’s Autumn Art Festival on the Town Green in Madison Connecticut.

Jessica & Matthew Cowher

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Jess Cowher, a native of Southbridge, Massachusetts, developed a passion for photography during her teenage years. Documenting her life and friendships through images, she honed her skills early on.After earning an A.S. in Nuclear Medicine, Jess transitioned her career into RadiologyIT. In 2004, she married her childhood friend, Matthew.As life continued on, Jess rediscovered her love for photography, particularly black and white photography. Traveling provided inspiration and fueled her artistic pursuits. With her husband’s encouragement, she made time to explore this passion.Photography offered a refreshing contrast to her daily routine. More than just a hobby, it became a source of expression and a way to connect with others.In recent years, Jess and Matthew embarked on a joint venture, Stag and Hemlock.Matthew’s graphic design skills combined with Jess’ photography led them to create a unique online store. They specialize in beautiful, painstakingly hand textured fine art prints as well as Jess’ captivating black and white images.Jess and Matthew currently reside in N/E Connecticut, with their beloved Old EnglishBulldog, Stella Nova.

Hand textured photograph of Roses by Vincent van Gogh. Textured with matte decoupage medium. 4×6 and 5×7 available
Old East London, fine art photograph on cardboard backing, 4×6 and 5×7 prints available
Summer in Old Montreal, fine art photograph on cardboard backing, 4×6 and 5×7 prints available

Cathy Lovell

Portfolio Categories: Fabric-Fiber and Festival Artists.

Sunny Sun Flower Scarf

Cathy Lovell’s lifelong interest in the creative arts continues to guide her through a gratifying career as both art educator and studio artist. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire and Wesleyan University, Cathy has taught in the Newton, MA, Greenwich, CT and East Lyme, CT public school systems. She has also taught private classes in various fields including stained glass, jewelry making and silver work, enameling, ceramics, glass bead making, and quilting.

In the interest of furthering her own education, Cathy received a scholarship to attend the Pilchuck Glass School where she worked with Dale Chihuly and Patrick Reyntiens. Her interest in felting began with a workshop led by Lynne Ocone at the Guilford Art Center. Cathy is a member of the Northeast Feltmakers Guild where she has had the priviage of participating in classes given by world renounned feltmakers. Cathy credits her friend and fellow feltmaker Catherine Stebbinger with sharing ongoing creative energy, inspiration, and encouragement. Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Hand Dyed Silk Scarf

Little Dots Felted Purse materials are hand dyed silk gauze and merino wool

Silk and Merino Wool Felted Wall Hanging materials are hand dyed silk gauze and merino wool

Marjan Babaie Nasr

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Marjan (pronounced “mar-john”) obtained her Bachelor and Masters in Fine Arts at the Academy of Fine Arts, Bologna, Italy. She was also a painting instructor at the Bologna and the Ravenna Academies of Fine Arts. She has been a professional painter for over 20 years with exhibitions in Venice, Milan, Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, and Berlin. In 2017, she displayed her painting “Life” at a special exhibition at the Louvre Museum, Paris. Her subjects include flowers, portraits, and calligraphy. Marjan has also worked as a restorer of renaissance and baroque Italian paintings and frescoes.

Marjan was trained as a classical singer. In 2023, Marjan moved to Guilford, Connecticut and is presently showing her work at Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store in Centerbrook, CT. Marjan is also a featured artist in Spectrum Gallery’s Autumn Art Festival on the Town Green in Madison Connecticut.

Dance of Nature, watercolor, 13.5in h x 16.5in w framed

Sea Breeze Earrings

Tenderness of Life, acrylic on canvas, 10in h x 8in w

Jena Maki

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Ragged Ablaze, oil on canvas, 24in h x 36in w

Harvest Shadows, oil on canvas, 14in h x 11 in w

To Be Seen, oil on canvas, 12in h x 16in w

Gillian Carson

Portfolio Categories: Festival Artists.

Gillian Carson, originally from England, now resides in charming Essex, CT, where she finds inspiration in the rich history of New England and her English roots. Her passion for crafting jewelry manifests in pieces that harmonize old-world elegance with modern sensibility.

With a distinct floral and vintage aesthetic, Gillian specializes in crafting heirloom-quality hairvines, combs, pins, and earrings using exquisite materials such as pearls, quartz, crystals, and opals. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted in Gillian’s Essex studio, embodying a commitment to authenticity and durability without the use of glue.

Gillian’s creative journey began with a profound appreciation for handcrafted artistry, rooted in the timeless practice of fabric manipulation. Combining traditional sewing techniques with contemporary jewelry-making, she brings her designs to life from initial sketch to final refinement.

At Carson & Co, every creation starts with a sketch, translating imagination into detailed blueprints that guide each meticulous step of production.

Gillian is a featured artist at Spectrum Gallery’s Autumn Arts Festival on the Madison Town Green.

Cascading Strawberry Earrings, strawberry quartz, gold-plated earwires and chain

Eternity Harvine, freshwater pearls, diamante crystals, brass flowers

Meadow Breeze Hairvine, brass flowers, freshwater pearls, smoky quartz