ANNAMARIA CASTELLUCCI holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dominican University, and Master of Arts, Interdisciplinary Art, Columbia College Chicago.  She is also a member of the Illinois Art Education Association, and Chicago Artists Coalition.  She received the Best Teacher Award, 2006-07 from the Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan.
http://littlecastleart.com/

TONY CRNKOVICH is a commercial artist whose love for drawing began at an early age. He began his formal art training with the Art Instruction Schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and later he attended The American Academy of Art in Chicago earning an Associate's Degree in Graphic Art. He specializes in portraiture and in depicting the human form, and has illustrated book covers as well as interiors for children's text books. Among Mr. Crnkovich's many commissions is "The Sound of Music" collectible plate series for Knowles China. His versatility in both subject matter and media has served him well in the field of art instruction.

PHYLLIS DeSIO, fine artist in acrylic, oil, pastel and colored pencil.  Works in corporate and private collections in the U.S. and abroad. Many time award winner in major art shows and exhibitions.  Studied at Ray Vogue School of Design and College of DuPage. Member Colored Pencil Society. Her paintings are currently published in 3 art books of note. Juror of selection and awards for various exhibitions and art fairs.

LAUREEN DUNNE, Laureen is primarily an oil painter, and pain ts mostly with palette knives, which allow the Vitality of the paint to remain undiminished. Her paintings are very textured and vibrantly colored. She has taught art classes for both children and adults. Her work hangs in private and corporate collections across the U.S. and can be viewed at www.laureendunne.com

ERIC NILS FORSBERG:  is a classic marine artist, an oil painter in the spirit of some of the great maritime artists of the 20th Century. A turning point in his life came when he enrolled in a 6 week painting course with Charles Vickery at the age of 18.  Later, Vickery would invite him to share a studio space, a mentorship that would last almost 10 years. Forsberg's formal art education began at the American Academy of Art. After years of studio and on the spot painting, and with the encouragement of Charles Vickery, Forsberg went to sea to work on fishing trawlers, lobster boats and tall ships. This experience has given Forsberg insight into the way that man and water interplay.  His work is displayed in fine galleries, museums, and invitational and juried exhibitions across the country. http://www.forsbergart.com/

GORDON FRANCE: began painting full time in 2000 after retiring from the advertising business in Chicago. He graduated from The School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, then began a forty year career in advertising from studio artist to ad agency creative director. France's favorite subjects are sports, cityscapes and urban life. France’s work is held in many public and private collections. www.gordonfrance.net

JACQUE FRANCE graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BA in advertising and fine art.  She has since taught oil painting in the classroom and privately. She has won several awards for her landscapes and her paintings hang in private collections.  Jacque regularly attends painting workshops in France and Italy with her husband. www.jacquefrance.com

LOIS HREJSA holds a BFA Degree from the American Academy of Art and has been an instructor there for 18 years. She has also taught at Morton College. Her works are in public and private collections. She has conducted workshops and seminars in the Midwest and in the Virgin Islands.

CJ HUNGERMAN is originally from Pittsburg. He attended West Liberty College and West Virginia University. Hungerman holds a BS in Graphic Design and a BFA in Painting. Hungerman completed his MFA from Northern Illinois University studying under Gordon Dorn, Josh Kind and Ben Mahmoud. http://www.bluecanvas.com/randomrobot

NANCY HULL graduated in art education from Ohio State University and is certified in Montessori Education— teaching art in public schools in the US and Japan. Her passion is to encourage others to enjoy art and to share the freedom, fun and joy in doodling.

ALLA JABLOKOW holds a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Chicago. She is a Life member of the IL. Watercolor Society & Transparent Watercolor Society of America (with a Master status). Alla has been a working artist since 1975, her preferred medium is transparent watercolor with a preferred subject of close-up scenes of nature, emphasizing on clean, vibrant colors and all over deign.

LAURA LEIN-SVENCNER is an award winning international collage artist. Her work is exhibited in Chicago, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, Mexico, France, New Zealand, and Germany.  Her background studies include: sculpture, lithography, life drawing, photography, collage, bookmaking, papermaking and Native American Myths and Visions. www.lauralein-svencner.com

SARAH E. REHMER holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Photography from Dominican University in River Forest, IL. She is also a member of LGAL, FUSEDChicago and an Artist Member of The Chicago Artist Coalition. Her work is shown at galleries around Chicago, from East Rogers Park to Bridgeport, and in Georgia, New Mexico and Italy. In 2012 Rehmer was awarded an Illinois Arts Council Professional Development Grant. Her work can be seen at www. anthemsofempty.com
www.midwest-encaustic.com

CARMELO SCHIFANO  has a MS Degree in Education and many additional collage credit hours in various studies including school administration. He has taught painting, drawing, drafting design, art and wood working for over thirty years. He has attended many painting workshops by well known artists such as Frank Webb, Tony Couch, Don Andrews, Terry Madden, Tom Lynch and Jean Grastorf. He is a certified Terry Madden instructor.

Julie Skoda holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Baylor University. She is also a member of LGAL, Chicago Pastel Painters, an associate member of the Pastel Society of America, and The Chicago Artist Coalition. Her work is in private collections internationally and available locally at Hammer Boutique in LaGrange and the Old Town Art Studio in Western Springs. Her work can be seen at www.julieskoda.com.

ROB SMITH: is an award winning playwright and screenwriter. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Catawba College and a Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. Some of his full-length plays are Underneath, Protection, Focal Point, An Average Day in an Average Place or The Collection, Tightrope, Double Lub Dub, and The Servant of Two Master (co-adaptation). His short plays include Dust, The Family Photographer, Night and Day (as part of A Crowded House), Do Us Part, HAVETO-DONTWANNA, The Packer, Disappearing, Trash, and many others. For the screen his work includes a number of short films, sketches, screenplays and a mocumentary, The Closed Theatre, about the world’s greatest avant-garde theatre company. Twice he was the recipient of the Shubert Fellowship for Dramatic Writing at Carnegie Mellon University.  He is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. and TCG.  He lives in Chicago with his wife, Kelly and their cats, Molly and Bowie.  Read a sample of Rob’s work here

KAREN SNOW has studied various techniques of silk painting and fabric embellishment for many years, from the ancient art of arashi shibori to modern techniques of laser design transfer. Demonstrates silk painting for the Illinois Artisans Program throughout the state.

COLLEEN VANDENBERG:her studio practice employs photography, video, and text. My passion for the Arts led to a B.A. in Professional Photography from Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, and an M.F.A in Interdisciplinary Arts & Media from Columbia College Chicago. In 2009, my husband and I co-founded Work Studio Chicago, a gallery/work space for emerging artists. I believe in Art’s ability to create awareness and growth within an individual, a community, and a culture. Art is therapeutic, necessary, and revealing. www.colleenvandenberg.com

TIM VITEK: is a Chicago native and working artist who is continually investigating color, specifically its interactions and movement within a grid system. Vitek received his BA from Columbia College Chicago in 1999 and his MA in painting and drawing from Governors State University in 2011. The variations of color develop into patterns themselves and perform a visual rhythm within a grid system. The grid system represents the mathematical process which creates life, rhythm and movement. The movements of color work in sync to create synergy. Vitek is currently exhibiting his work throughout the Chicago land area and will continue to exhibit his work nationally.  www.timvitek.com

GARY WICK is a self taught award-winning fine art pastel painter who “Paints what he sees” and will teach that technique. He exhibits in Midwest art fairs & is represented by the George Burr Gallery in Ephraim, Door County, WI. and Mullaly’s 128 Gallery in Elk Rapids, MI. His work hangs in the Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago and his paintings hang in private and corporate collections both here and in Canada, Europe and Australia. www.wickartwork.com