Waterlilies, oil on aluminum, 8×8

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 writes,” 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.

Pine Cones, acrylic, Indian Ink, gouache, 16 x 20

Gillian Goodlad’s work often takes inspiration from the landscapes around her, both here in Connecticut and her Scottish homeland. Gillian works mainly in acrylics, but also incorporates a range of other media including, Indian ink, wax and watercolour. Her landscapes include representational and semi-abstract images which seek to capture the sense of light and mood in each setting. Whilst landscape is a large part of her work, Gillian also paints a range of other subjects including portraits and still life.

Although largely a self-taught artist, Gillian gained a Diploma in Fine Art from Birmingham Art College in her 50’s. She has exhibited in various galleries and exhibitions in the UK, and since establishing a home in Connecticut 18 months ago, has exhibited at the Townhouse Gallery, Stamford and The Keyes Gallery, Willoughby Wallace, Library, Stony Creek CT. Alongside exhibiting her work, Gillian is kept busy with private commissions. Goodlad’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Tulip Smiles, silk

Gloria Nilsson is a professional teaching artist. She enjoys teaching art at Spectrum Gallery, including the Fashion Illustration & Nature Camp programs. Gloria also teaches a weekly art program at Masonicare at Chester Village and was the Art Instructor at St. Mary School, Branford, CT (currently East Shoreline Catholic Academy) for the 2017-2018 school year.

Nilsson received her degree in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute and worked as a graphic designer for several years. She is currently applying a variety of techniques and painting with acrylic on silk. Her silk painting, Chapter 11: Spellcheck, was published in 2015 by Connecticut Humanities/Connecticut Center for the Book. Gloria is also exploring Monoprinting using a gelatin plate and she creates her own unique artisan crafted jewelry designs, fine art note cards and hand-painted silk scarfs.

Gloria has won several awards over the years including Manhattan Arts International, Healing Power of Art.  Nilsson’s artworks have been exhibited in solo and group shows, and her works have been accepted into juried shows at Lyme Art Association, New Haven Paint and Clay, and both Clinton and Madison Art Societies where she holds elected artist status. Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Roost, watercolor on paper

James Giaccio is a contemporary representational painter, with watercolor his primary medium and still life and figurative work his primary subject matter. His painting method  –  attention to detail, charged areas of saturated color, layers of glazing, the use of dry brush at times, all supported by heavyweight Arches paper – lends a certain uniqueness to his work.

Born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, James displayed an interest in fine art and a talent for drawing and painting from an early age. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, he attended Parsons School of Design to study commercial art. He enjoyed early success as an illustrator, with his portraiture and editorial illustrations appearing in various publications. His portraits were often purchased by their subjects after publication.

Coming to find commercial art unfulfilling, James chose to end his career as an illustrator and join a family business outside the arts, attendant to the needs of raising a family of his own. However, his interest in fine art and his desire to paint never subsided. Fortunately, he was able to return to the easel in earnest several years ago.

James lives with his wife Carolyn in Summit, New Jersey, and dedicates most days to painting in the comfort of his home studio. Giaccio’s watercolor paintings are currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

The Cardinal, 14in h x 12in w

Jeanette Wimmer is known for her colorful watercolors of birds, animals, flowers and still lifes. Jeanette also does portraits in watercolor and charcoal/graphite. She received her BFA in Art Ed from the Hartford Art School of the University of Hartford. She taught for 20 years in Guilford, CT School System and did her Graduate studies at Southern CT State University. She is professionally affiliated with many art groups, including but not limited to Connecticut Watercolor Society, Madison Art Society, Guilford Art League, and Hamden Art League. Recently received Best Watercolor Award for her portrait of a young girl in the Hamden Art League Winter Show 2024-2025. Jeanette Exhibits throughout Connecticut. Her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Yin & Yang, acrylic on canvas, 25in h x 31in w

Kiki Michalek is a seasoned visual artist with over four decades of professional experience. Artist, writer, photographer and gardener. Her passion and commitment to connecting to nature through sight, sound, touch and translation as an artist is multilayered.

As manager of an art store in the early 80s, she was exposed to unlimited resources and the airbrush caught her eye. For the next 40 years, she mastered the art of airbrush and taught herself to paint without formal training or the luxury of modern technology. Working with acrylics, watercolor, and mixed media, her distinctive style harmonizes realism with a whimsical touch, bringing to life the beauty of nature and the animal kingdom.

Kiki Michalek began her professional career at fairs throughout New England, creating custom work on clothing, pet and automotive portraits, automobiles, motorcycle helmets murals, furniture, home goods and any surface requested by her clients.

Recognized with numerous awards, Kiki’s two pieces, “Wolf” and Midnight Rose” garnered Best of Show, First Place, and Second Place awards at the Carousel Museum of New England art show in 2017. She completed the master naturalist course with the CT Audubon Society in 2018. Her passion for wildlife conservation shines through her current series, which explores the importance of preserving wildlife habitats and protecting biodiversity. Michalek’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Dudley Goodboy, acrylic on canvas, 24×24

Kim Kordonowy was an “Air Force Brat”, who grew up in many locations including Tokyo, Japan.  Her grandmother, an artist, was an early inspiration, as was her mother, a seamstress and crafter. Kim received a B.S at the University of Missouri in Interior Design and worked as a professional designer and member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for 10 years. She and her husband, Paul, continued to move to several locations including Europe, while they raised three children.

After moving back to Missouri, she began taking classes in fine art at St. Louis Community College in 1997.  She had several solo shows, received juried awards, and conducted workshops and demos.  For the last 15 years, she painted with a dedicated group of artists who exhibit their work throughout the St. Louis, Wildwood area.

Kim is an experimental artist.   She has developed a multimedia process embedding her sister’s quilt scraps into her acrylic washes, finished with oils, becoming her signature style.

Kim and Paul recently retired in Connecticut to be closer to their kids. Her work is exhibited at the Spectrum Gallery, Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Teardrop on Roses, oil, 24×24

Linda McCarthy uses the power of color as an important aspect of the way her work portrays the dreams and reality of life through images both real and imagined.  Her work often uses nature to portray the darkest and brightest moments in life… the forcefulness and tranquility of water and wind, the everchanging light and motion of all living things.  Her large acrylic and oil paintings explore our feelings about what we see, sometimes giving you just a hint of reality and letting your eye or your imagination fill in the rest. She is a member of many local Art Associations including Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance, Madison Art Society, Clinton Art Association, Guilford Art League, Shoreline Arts Trail and Lyme Art Association.  Her work has been shown in many local juried shows and galleries throughout Connecticut. Linda’s paintings are currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Energy in Bloom, acrylic and fabric on canvas, 31in h x 41in w

Lisa Fatone now works from her home studio; concentrating on freelance graphic design, original watercolors and greeting cards as well as jewelry design. A 1982 Graduate of Paier College of Art and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT.; Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. Fatone, along with a partner owned and operated a graphic design business which flourished for two decades. Continuing to work in the field of Graphics, Fatone kept her graphic design client list. She eventually accepted a position as gallery curator at the Left Bank Gallery in Essex and moved on to open her own Gallery of Fine Art at Venetucci Home in Westbrook.

Over the years, Lisa has shown her watercolors and jewelry at small galleries throughout New England and currently shows at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Guilford’s Bird Nest Gallery and the Guilford Art Center.

Dedicating most of her time to honing her artistic gift by constantly experimenting with new mediums and collaborating with like-minded creatives.

Peeking Through, acrylic on panel, 7in h x 5in w

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.

Working on the Baby Crib, Osprey of the CT River, watercolor, 12in h x 16in w

Maxine Klein is a retired Ob/Gyn physician., who moved with her husband to Essex, CT in 2019.  During the pandemic, Maxine decided to learn watercolors from online teachers and classes.  Mainly using her husband’s photographs as references, she started her portfolio.   After painting more than 100 traditional watercolors, Maxine had a revelation while visiting a David Hockney exhibit in Honolulu in 2024, where she saw that most of his recent work was done on the IPad and printed.  As an avid traveler, she realized that this was a much more portable way of pursuing her art. Her most recent work demonstrates this technique. As Maxine and her husband spend over a month every year in Hawaii most of her work is depicting Hawaiian subjects as well as her home, Essex and its surroundings.

Maxine’s work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Hello Beautiful, acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20

Ned Farrell is a Connecticut-based painter and calligrapher, as well as a beekeeper and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Ned’s extensive travels play a large part in inspiring his subject matter.

Ned started painting in a summer class following his sixth grade year, when the school art teacher noticed his love of and skill in art, especially his depictions of nature. During his high school years Ned started developing his own unique style, and won awards in various competitions, including one from the New Britain Museum of American Art. This garnered the attention of the media, and Ned became the subject of articles in local newspapers.

In college Ned studied with J. Cole Young, the Director of Fine Arts at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY, among the beautiful Allegheny Mountains.  It was at this time when Ned developed his wanderlust to experience different places and cultures throughout the world. To this end, after graduation Ned joined up with the Peace Corps. Here he was trained as a beekeeper and based in Paraguay, South America. His extensive travels through the forests, rivers, and cities of the South American countries demonstrated a more expansive understanding of color and scale, which he translates into his paintings.

Since then, Ned has always continued to paint, yet has also been an entrepreneur for the past 25 years. He owns The Bee Happy Co. with his wife, and together they have built a brand of luxurious skin care using products from the beehives. He has now moved on to also become a professional artist, focusing mostly on oil and acrylic paintings, and last studying under the tutelage of Eileen Eder.

Ned always has something a little different up his sleeve. Mostly a traditional landscape painter, his paintings portray the subjects as he feels them, and every so often they will cross over to the whimsical and fun, translating the natural world into nearly a storybook fashion.

Namesake, acrylic in canvas, 18×18

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.

Zen Garden, 24 x 24, oil on canvas

Rose Mary Gates graduated from SCSU with a BS in Art Education and an MS in Art Education as well as an MS in TESOL. As a student, she had work selected for the Three College Art Exhibit representing Yale, Quinnipiac and SCSU.  During her early years she worked with pencil and charcoals and did several hundred commissioned portraits and historical homes.   Rose Mary worked as an Art Teacher for the Middletown School district and worked as a Teacher in a HOT School which incorporated the arts into the curriculum.

The last several years have given her the opportunity to focus on doing art on a more consistent level after retiring from teaching. She’s had her work exhibited at Mystic Museum of Art, CT Academy of Fine Art, The Artist’s Cooperative of Westerly, SUNY and at Lyme Art Association. Rose Mary’s paintings are currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.

Mushroom, oil, 18×18

Through her colorful paintings Vickie Williams hopes to bring a quiet serenity, joy, and optimism. Often gardens and water-related environments inspire Vickie’s work. She loves color and is always experimenting. Vickie works in her Connecticut studio and en plein air in oils, acrylics, and watercolor.

Williams received a BA Fine Arts (Art and Art History) from Colgate University and a MA Student Personnel Administration, from Teachers College Columbia University.  Williams has taught art to children for over 20 years, including spending 15 years as a preschool teacher and as the kindergarten art teacher at Holy Trinity School in Mountainside, NJ.  Vickie is a member of the ArtSpace Community in Morristown, NJ, where she currently studies under Julie Friedman.  Williams is a member of the Madison (CT) Art Society, The Guilford (CT) Art League, and an Elected Artist with the Clinton (CT) Art Society.  Vickie is also a member of the Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster (NJ), the Westfield (NJ) Art Association, and NJ PleinAir Painters.  Her work is in private collections in the US, Canada, and France. Vickie’s paintings and collages have been exhibited at Colgate University and her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut.