MAGGIE CAPETTINI Nature inspires much of Capettini’s work, in both representational and abstract expressions. She paints en plein air and from life whenever possible, including in her own gardens where her motto is “plant what I like to paint.” Raised and currently residing in the Chicagoland area, Capettini holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She has studied at Palette and Chisel in Chicago. Capettini has won awards for her paintings, and her works are held in museum/gallery collections in Batavia, Warrenville, and West Chicago, Illinois, as well as private collections in the United States and internationally. Maggies work can be seen at www.maggiecapettini.com
KELLEY CLARK lives outside Chicago with her husband and three young sons. She teaches wildlife painting and introductory drawing classes at the La Grange Art League, where she exhibits regularly. She also works as a freelance graphic designer. Kelley was steeped in nature and design from a young age. Raised on the edge of a canyon outside San Diego CA, the walls of her childhood home were papered with drawings by her architect father, who taught her the power of the sketch and the importance of good design. Kelley went on to earn a BA in Cinema-Television from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She worked as a draftsman for an architectural firm before moving to Chicago and signing on with an animation studio, where she worked for six years before starting her own design and fine art business. www.kelleyclarkfineart.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.
RATINDRA DAS is a Dolphin Fellow and a signature member of the American Watercolor Society. He holds a Distinguished Master status in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America. A signature member of National Watercolor Society and six other watercolor societies, he is recipient of numerous awards including eight in the American Watercolor Society. He was invited to exhibit in the 1st “Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolor Biennial Exhibition” and in the exhibition of “ International Watermedia Masters in Nanjing, China”, “Taiwan World Watercolor Competition”, Republic of China. He has been appointed as Honorary Member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute. A popular workshop instructor and frequent juror of shows and competitions, he has served as a selection juror for the American Watercolor Society and many other national exhibitions.
ANN GRILL I was raised in New England and the Deep South and love landscapes, anywhere and everywhere. Most of my subject matter has been taken from a speeding car, {passenger side...mostly] I was trained as a fine artist at Spring Hill College in Mobile , Al. I have been painting throughout my very, very, long life in both watercolors and acrylics. Can't say which medium I like best, but I have been teaching watercolors for about 14 years. I enjoy being with fellow artists , new and advanced , being energized by their creativity and questions, and helping them develop their own styles.
MOSES HUDSON Comic illustration Through my artwork, I try to bring experiences to life. My goal is to inspire people to look more carefully at the world around them and discover the beauty in unfamiliar places. I want my viewer to question why I use certain colors, textures and imagery in my paintings hopefully challenging their reality. My formal training in graphic arts helped my art become expressive. By recognizing this and by stirring the same feeling in others, we can connect through art. Moses has particpated in over 30 art shows and fairs in the Midwest with his wife Rolanda. For 13 years, Moses work for DePaul University’s Continuing and Professional Education department. As a Program Manager, Moses researched, set-up and managed courses that enhanced adult performances in particular fields. He currently works for the Law Firm MBHB working with lawyers to keep them up to date on required classes.
ROLANDA HUDSON, Mixed Media Art, Acrylic Pour Techniques I use my art to enhance the ambiance of a space by challenging the viewers' minds by using 3D techniques and exotic materials. In my free time, I also use my experience to mentor younger artists by helping them venture into art entrepreneurship. I've been selected and featured in over 30 art shows and fairs in the Midwest and am a current displaying member of La Grange and Naperville Art Leagues. I co-designed the published book cover "A Smoother Transition...why teens make rational and irrational choices". Here's a fun fact about me, I.earned a Certificate from DePaul University's theater program. www.modestyplus.com
LAURA LEIN-SVENCNER is a signature member of the National Collage Society, co-founder of the Midwest Collage Society, which exhibits throughout the Midwest Chicagoland area. She has won many awards for her work which are represented at Woodwalk Gallery Egg Harbor WI, and The Paramount Gallery in Aurora IL. Her works have been published in Incite 1, 2, 3 and 4 of North Light Publishing, Somerset Studio Magazine, Cloth Paper Scissor Magazine, The Professional Artist Magazine, The Artists Magazine and The Watercolor Artist Magazine through the years. She continues her second love of teaching the fine art of collage in class settings, workshops and online for the past 19 years.
MARIE MURRELL, a figure and portrait painter in watercolor, my work has been influenced by Peggy Taylor, Andrew Wyeth, Charles Reid, Dean Mitchell, Ted Nuttall, and Lenox Wallace. I work almost exclusively in watercolor, attempting to catch the inner person, emphasizing line, form and color. There is nothing more magical and mysterious than putting pigment and water onto paper and watching it combine into a glowing, translucent being of its own. My work was exhibited at The Transparent Watercolor Society of America’s 2011 Juried Exhibition, The Illinois Watercolor Society’s 2013 and 2014 exhibitions, The LaGrange Art League, and is on display at Hammer Boutique in La Grange, IL and in private collections throughout the United States. mariemurrell.com
ROBERT PENNOR: After graduating from the Art Institute of Boston with a major in illustration Robert moved to Connecticut and opened Pennor Associates specializing in technical and architectural illustration. He obtained assignments from Advertising Agencies and Architectural Firms in Connecticut and NYC. Many years later he moved to Chicago land and has been a professional landscape painter and teacher for the past twelve years. http://www.robertpennorgallery.com/
HEIDI PETERS was originally trained as a photojournalist and holds an MA in Image & Communication from Goldsmiths College. She lived in London for 13 years, returning to Illinois in 2006. She works as a freelance commercial photographer but her artistic passion is printmaking, especially linoleum block printing. You can follow her printmaking adventures on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/heidisprints
JAN REAGAN is a mixed media artist who teaches Youth Art Lab and Youth Workshops. She loves teaching the Tween/Teen age group because they create uninhibited and are naturally curious! Their imaginations amaze her. Growing up, Jan was constantly drawing, designing paper doll fashions, cutting catalogs or modeling on the kitchen table for her mother who painted portraits in oils. Jan continued to explore art by taking art classes in several galleries and academies including The Studio (Westerville, OH), Minnetonka Center For The Arts (Minneapolis), McCord (Palos Park), La Grange Art League (La Grange). She is a current member of La Grange Art League and Fulton Street Collective. She exhibits there and at galleries across Chicago and the Midwest. www.janreaganart.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, and FUSEDChicago. Her work has shown at galleries around Chicago, from East Rogers Park to Bridgeport, and in Georgia, New Mexico, Massachusetts and Italy. In 2012 Rehmer was awarded an Illinois Arts Council Professional Development Grant. Her work is held in institutional and corporate collections in Illinois and New York as well as privately around the country. Her work can be seen at www.rehmer-studio.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 a signature member of the Chicago Pastel Painters and an associate member of the Pastel Society of America. Her work is in private collections nationally and available at the La Grange Art League. To see more of her work go to www.julieskoda.com
DONNA SKONNING is a multimedia artist practicing in La Grange, Illinois. She enjoys working in acrylic and oils using traditional yet unrelated subject matter, figure, portraits, landscapes, and nature. Donna is the Executive Director at The La Grange Art League and Studios where she is also the Gallery Manager and Art Teacher. You can see her artwork exhibited monthly at the La Grange Art League Studio.
Donna has a Fine Art Degree from Columbia College Chicago with an emphasis in painting.
MARK TOBIN been teaching art for over ten years to ages 5 to 95. He owned a gallery in Western Springs, Old Town Art Studio, where he taught youth and adult classes. Currently Mark teaches at retirement homes, Bottle and Bottega in La Grange, as well as private instructions at his home studio.
CAROLE WILSON has worked with Cancer patients and Survivors as an Integrative Therapy Artist at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park for 18 years. She feels privileged to share her passion and joy with the wonderful women in her classes. A watercolor artist, Carole paints in a photo realistic style. She attempts to immerse herself in the attitude and history of her subject matter hoping to capture the beauty that exists in the old, rusted and weathered doors, windows, door knobs and mailboxes... each with a unique story to tell.