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Artist Registry

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Aida Wojcik In reality, I began to paint after my last child went off to college and I was left with an "emptiness" for the first time in my life. One day my son, Wojtek, came home, took the television remote control from my hand and replaced it with a few brushes, paints and canvas. I attended Suffolk Community College for three years, where I took formal art lessons with Roni Carson. Before too long, my lifelong dream became my new life. I love to play with paints and now every blank canvas invites me to express my feelings. When I paint women, they are sexually inviting...somewhat aloof...alone; but far from hopeless. I joyfully depict nature in bold compositions, infused with vivid colors and texture. Currently I am passionately exploring working on indoor murals and mosaics and I have also begun to experiment with making glass counter tops. My own kitchen is my testing ground for this new artistic direction. My children - Wojtek, David and Sara are my inspiration, as well as my toughest critics, motivators and advisors. In the years since I began to paint I have filled my home with canvases, paints and brushes … and these days I own just a few articles of clothing that have not been stained with paints. Though I still have much to learn I am not done dreaming. Art is my life now, and I invite you to view a few of my pieces on the Women Sharing Art site. As a member of Women Sharing Art I was recently part of a group show in the BAFFA Art Gallery in Sayville. My work has also been exhibited at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook and in Brooklyn at the Europa Art Gallery and Kurier Plus Gallery. If you have a dream you would like to see painted, I am available for commission and welcome the opportunity to paint your dream.
Aija Meisters I am deeply concerned with the expressionistic quality in art. I want the color and paint, itself, to convey strength, vitality and emotion. I seek inspiration from personal experience, imagination and the vivid wonderland of dreams, which translate into personal vision, through which I hope to draw spectators into my world. My art transcends reality by exploring the world of fantasy, dreams, visions and the shared human emotions dealing with fear, loneliness and isolation in an uncertain world.  I have clouded childhood memories of a war that gave birth to Expressionism and has shaped my personal vision as an artist.
Alain K. Khadem Vanitas still life painters of the 16th and 17th century had a remarkable ability to capture the impermanence of life on canvas. They employed a host of iconic objects ranging from pensive skulls and flickering candles to rotting fruit and fading flowers in order to compose vivid pictorial messages of remarkable complexity, eloquence and beauty that spoke of the profound futility of earthly existence. In my latest collection of still life imagery, I follow in the footsteps of great masters of the baroque period, harnessing the ambiguous meaning of objects and exploiting their semiotic value in order to compose elaborate visual riddles that not only evoke the fleeting qualities of time and the transience of life in general, but place the accent on the futility of modern life in particular.
Allan Simpson Allan Simpson is a Queens-based artist who works in oil, water color and printmaking mediums. He studied at the Art Student's League and the Printmaking Workshop in New York City. Much of his work reflects the skyline, bridges, harbors and rooftop views of the city, but he enjoys the ocean and shore views of Long Island as well. His work is in any collections and the one political statement he made as an edition of prints "Portrait of JFK" is in the Library of Congress, the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts.
Andrew S. Masino I am currently pursuing the "Abstract" because it lends itself to a philosophical encounter. I've painted successfully in every genre one can but slowly over the many, many years. Slowly interest wained, Lost were the energy and the excitement of a challenge. A self-challenge that would re-light the creative fires to continue down the chosen road. These canvasses are spontaneous but contemplative. They are targeting the fullness of color, structure and balance, shapes and size relationships, non-relating design to solve the puzzle of an empty canvas. The result is a personal means of self-expression, joy, satisfaction, spirituality and knowing I finally have found what I wanted to say as an artist. It is hard for me to explain a lifelong non-verbal pursuit in a verbal manner. To put in its simplest scenario, when I put these paintings next to each other in the studio, to me, they seem to sing and I am so proud to be their conductor. It can be summed up very simply… "To thine own self be true"
Arntian Kotsa Impressionist painter Arntian Kotsa works in transparent watercolor (Aquarelle), oil and mixed media texture painting. Born in Korcha, Albania Arntian is of Greek and Albanian descent but he now lives in Hauppauge, New York. Like other artists in the world of Impressionism Art, he has gone from the studio to the natural surroundings, bringing our landscape to life with live colors. A number of his works can be found in personal collections throughout many countries such as Germany, Canada, USA, Australia, Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Albania. “I am very impressed with the natural American landscapes and I continue to do my life’s work as an artist.
Barbara Bilotta I consider myself an abstract impressionist, and that is the genre I would apply to my work. My goal is to transform the natural order into a suggestive interpretation to stimulate the imagination, both through my own experience as I create it and in the mind of the viewer when they are in front of a piece. My hope is that what a person sees and enjoys in my work will always be a highly personal experience, drawing on their memories, personality and awareness. This is an important aspect of understanding my work. I work with both acrylic and an epoxy/resin on canvas. Barbara was born in New York and attended the Stony Brook University Arts Program. She has won numerous awards for her work and is currently represented by galleries nationally. She also shows at numerous group and solo exhibitions.
Bob Retnauer Born and raised on Long Island, NY, I have always been drawn to the island's varied landscapes and relationship to the sea. The south shore and Atlantic Ocean offer primeval sand dunes and raucous surf, while the north shore and the Long Island Sound offer a rockier shoreline and quieter waters…so naturally, the sea and coast permeates much of my work. I feel a photograph creates a fingerprint of light and time and in my landscape images, I try to convey a sense of space while channeling the “genius loci” of a place. I consider photography an additional creative outlet to my professional Landscape Architecture career. I live and work in St. James and can often be found in the fields at sunrise or at the beach at sunset, trying to capture that elusive golden light. You can view  the artist's Long Island Landscape images http://www.longislandscenes.com/
Bobbi Mastrangelo Bobbi Mastrangelo is internationally known for her “Grate Works.” She transforms manhole covers, sewers, and grates into artistic streetscapes. Her sculpture relief works appear so real that viewers wonder how she could even lift them to hang on a wall. Exquisite works on her handmade paper vary from little jewel-like mandalas to imaginative constructions incorporating bamboo, textural fibers and special effects.
Burton A. Woods A native Long Islander, Burton Woods’ realistic paintings are inspired by places that are slowly changing or disappearing: quiet, flower-bordered lanes, brick walks, weathered wooden buildings and boats, sandy beaches and wind-swept marshes, all touched and bathed with gentle luminosity. Mr. Woods, who lives not far from the harbor town of Port Jefferson where he grew up, captures the essence of Long Island and the New England shore in his pastels and oils, sketching on site and completing his work in his home studio. Burton studied under some of Long Island’s best artists including photo realist Dan Gilhooley and Illustrator Bob Barron. In the early 1970’s, he was commissioned to do an oil painting for the Supreme Court Building in Riverhead. Other commissions followed and today his work can be found in many private collections. He began exhibiting in the early 1990’s at the Clayton-Liberatore Gallery in Bridgehampton. Since then he has been showing regularly from Nantucket to Maryland. Burton Woods’ works have appeared in numerous galleries and museums including the Paul Mellon Art Center, Cliveden Carriage House Museum and the National Gallery in New York, among many others. An award-winning artist, Mr. Woods has been listed in the Who’s Who in American Art since 1995.
Carolyn Sheehan Born in Queens, New York. Painter and printmaker, living and working in New York and France. My work is a diary of my existence, a way to deal with the psychological matrix of my surroundings and the people who inhabit them. Commencing with existing forms, my images are transformed through the interplay of materials, such as wood, copper, canvas, paper, wax and the process of manipulation, which are painting, stitching, carving, constructing and molding, as well as with the emotional traces that arise from those efforts, into a visual imprint of my inner voice.
Catherine D. Connor I am a Native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island since 1963. My interest in Photography started in high school when I decided to take Photography instead of an Art Class. In 1999 I published a photo in Reflections from the Past (International Library of Photography). Over the years my Photographs have been taken across the United States and the Caribbean.
Chris Ann Ambery I often wonder if the rest of the world sees thing the same way I do. My heart does a dance when I look up into the sky and see the crazy array of blues interwoven behind the delicate webs formed by tree branches, or when I see the heavy purple masses lumbering across the sky accented with wisps of yellow, and pink that others might simply dismiss as clouds. To me, a spring meadow is more than just green grass; it is a synthesis of shapes, planes and textures – all playing off one another in dizzying harmony. Drawing is my passion; shape, line and color are my world. For as long as I can remember I have been drawing, doodling and painting on everything and anything that I could get my hands on. To most people art is just a hobby, but for me it is much, much more. I strongly believe that we never stop growing, and that each of us has something that we can give to the world. Through my artwork, I can share my passion and my vision with others. In 1987, I graduated from Parsons School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and I am currently working on my Masters of Fine Arts degree. I’ve had the pleasure of both working artistically and teaching art. My creativity has taken me on many exciting Paths I was part of the restoration project for the antique Denzel carousel located in Forest Park, Queens. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching art at the High School level and now I teach both water color and drawing classes privately as well as at the Smithtown ACE program. I continue to learn and grow as an artist each day.
Claire White Claire Nicolas White is a poet, novelist, playwright,, biographer, translator, art critic and librettist. Her work has appeared in such publications as The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Harper's Bazaar and The Paris Review. She was born in the Netherlands and came to America when World War II began. In 1947 she married Robert White, the sculptor and painter, and moved to Saint James where she has lived with her family ever since.
Dave Gearino Oscar Wilde said “The secret of life is in art”. I believe the secret of art is in life. I want my images to inspire the viewer’s imagination, to have them wonder what led up to this point and what happens next. I work in traditional and modern techniques producing silver gelatin prints and palladium Ziatypes.
David J. Jaycox, Jr. A lifetime passion; I immersed myself in the world of art as a student, an art director, and a professional artist. For 38 years I enjoyed the rewards of an advertising art director in New York City and was fortunate to work with many creative people. I was continually amazed and enlightened by the talent of so many artists and writers in our field. I also came to know that solid conceptual thinking is a necessary component of successful motivational art, whether focused on advertising solutions or fine art itself. I work primarily in watercolor and occasionally pastel. Watercolor has been seen as a difficult medium to master; however, I achieved my style through long experimentation and ultimate control of multiple color glazes.   Results have been exciting. Subject matter, depth, and three-dimensional qualities are enhanced by the natural translucence of watercolor. Realism is my goal since I believe the truth of that which we see can be shown powerfully and without bending its appearance. Each moment becomes its own allegory. The contribution of the artist is his/her ability to capture that moment on a 2-dimensional surface.  Only then, when honestly done, can the artist touch the heart and mind of the viewer. I’m driven by the eloquence of form, color, and nature’s beauty, which provide enough impression, expression and abstraction to inspire this artist for a lifetime.
Debra Urso When artists are born they immerge with a sense of wonderment. I was born an artist, always gazing, imagining thoughts on surfaces, stimulating inspiration from deep within. My passion for the art world promulgated me to center my life around my calling. I achieved my bachelors degree from the State University of New York College at Cortland majoring in Fine Art and minoring in Art History. I then pursued a successful career as a Textile Designer in Manhattan.I spent the beginning of my career focused on the commercial end of the arts. To fuel my constant need for learning I continued my education and went on to receive a Masters of Art Education from Long Island University at C.W.Post.Presently I teach Fine Art for the Sayville School District.Students' work continually inspires me.I immerse myself in the creative process of self-expression everyday.I welcome opportunities to display my work for others to become enveloped in my realm of artistic expression, which is blended with my life experiences.
Diann Haist I am primarily an impressionistic oil painter with occasional forays into pastel and watercolour, but always my interests have been the human element – people with perhaps an unconventional beauty, displaying the beauty of competence and character.  Since beginning my full-time art career in 1969, I have done much plein air painting, as landscape is also an interest, and living in Alaska, both its people and landscape keep me on my artistic toes. I am not afraid of colour and my brushwork has been described as bold and confident - this is what I want viewers of my work to see, that there is some passion there, no apologies, nothing timid. What I strive for is portraying the life force and character of my subjects as well as the work being aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Dwayne Kerr His masterful mix of sounds and grooves is the memorable variable that makes flutist Dwayne Kerr, of the Erykah Badu Band (Neda Stela), a rising figure in contemporary music today. Playing an instrument that traditionally has been heard more often than seen, Kerr has put the flute up front on display with his unique playing style in his debut CD, “Flutation,” which was released on DManns Records in January 2003. While touring and recording with Erykah Badu for the last five years, Dwayne added his sound to recordings including Ms. Badu's version of the Chaka Khan hit, "Hollywood", which is on the soundtrack/CD to the Spike Lee movie "Bamboozled" on Motown Records and Erykah's song, "Today" which is on the Red Star Sounds compilation CD on Epic Records. Kerr played on Erykah's latest CD, Worldwide Underground and her previous CD, Mama's Gun, on Motown Records.
E. Craig Marcin I didn’t begin my venture into the art world as an artist/painter, rather the researcher of a single piece of art from my parent’s home. In 2009, I wrote: “My travels with a single piece of art have taken me to places I never dreamed of. It has been time consuming but never tiresome, a journey I hope to take again and again.” As a “layman”, with no knowledge of the subject art, direction in which to go or method to use, I initially stumbled through the art world like a drunken sailor. With responses and help from experts in the field throughout the world, I was encouraged to continue my journey.  As a result of researching this one piece of art, I have added Provenance to significant paintings at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen - Rotterdam, Netherlands, Carnegie Museum of Art -Pittsburg, The Detroit Institute of Art - Detroit, MI, The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis – The Hague, Netherlands, The Harvard Art Museum – Cambridge, MA, Boston Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, MA. Paintings by incredible artists such as Anthony Van Dyck, Sir Peter Lely, Jerome Bosch, Jan Steen, Angelo Gronzino and Scipio Pulzone. The research and joy and satisfaction this work brought to me were incredible. It has propelled my yearning to understand and create.   My initial work began by carving images on wood panels, then staining or painting them with acrylics and watercolors.  I soon realized that the character and properties of the wood were limiting what I could do to with the images I was creating. I knew that I could do so much more in a different medium – so I started this new journey learning from artist, and classmates and viewing with a better educated eye, the work of my “influences”. I don't set out to produce art about one subject or another although my tendencies are towards landscapes and objects within them. I travel with my camera, which became my notebook and sketchpad. My “studies” are done in Photoshop, cropping, changing orientation, colorimetry and contrast. A bright beautiful photo can take on more emotion when the color is removed or replaced. Details seen only in high contract become visible. All these tools add to what I want to convey in my art. My influences are some familiar names, Eric Sloane, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, and John-Singer Sargent  and some not-so familiar Weaver and Erlagen and Fratrich. All artists working in watercolors for some of their most important pieces.
Eileen Dawn Skretch I am a landscape painter who paints on wood. As I paint, the wood’s grain becomes another layer of the mist or a ripple in the water. Most paintings begin en plein air. In my studio, I rely on those studies & photos to create the largest paintings. I love the peaceful spirit and unique beauty of the vanishing open spaces of the East End, where I was born & raised. As Jane Wilson told me, when you’re a farmer’s daughter, you’re drawn to the landscape
Elizabeth Macchio I am an artist presently working on Long Island. My current focus is portraiture, landscape and stilllife in both pastel and oil. I attended the School of Visual Arts where the focus was on studying realism of the great artists. The influence of Vermeer can be seen in my portraits and Monet has inspired me in my approach to landscape. The challenge I pose for myself is to not only realistically present an image, but also to convey feeling and emotion in the image. If a person gazes upon one of my landscapes I want them to feel they would like to be there.
Eric Young Over the past ten years Eric has had the chance to produce, stage manage, act, and work on crew. It has given him excellent perspective on the work that goes into putting on a theatrical production, He enjoys the creative process of putting together a show and seeing the final product. However, the things he enjoys most are acting and singing. Of course, it is easy to figure out that musicals are his favorite, although comedy and drama are not far behind. He considers himself a character actor and loves to find fun supporting roles that allow him to make the character stand out. He like parts with accents and parts that are quirky. This does not mean he will not take a leading role as he did in Oliver as Fagin and as Hysterium in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum. He enjoys a challenge and would be up for unique and unusual productions such as Murder Mysteries and Cabarets . He wants to learn even more skills such as lighting and sound.   Please keep in mind for all these things, but especially acting challenges.
Evelyn Ramos As a Puerto Rican-American, the act of painting is both cathartic and a spiritual offering. In the past my work exemplified my personal, internalized wish-fulfillment for motherhood. The painstakingly pained hearts, with their "private voices" express anguish, wounds and psychological pain. Other dualities can be found in my work. On one hand, there is primal art-making, prompted by the subconscious. The unconscious speaks through archetypal symbols, and their use is a way of improvisation and the integral to the process of risk-taking. On the other hand, my works are anchored in technological processes through the use of photos that specify the material and life's realities. The use of text is an integral part of "visual language" that is means of staying committed to certain issues, such as the dangers and bondage of addiction, that are common to many people. Another important issue is the voicelessness of the Puerto Rican people. I use text in my imagery to articulate the unheard. Furthermore, be among the voices of the devastation of Aids has had on our communities- and it's not over yet. Puerto Rico is the back door to the Americans and how drugs have endangered our people.
Francine Corso Francine, a graduate of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (NYU), worked for the Grumman corporation testing software on the Lunar Module(LM), and worked with embedded software in avionics for various military aircrafts, has overcome so much to become the accomplished artist she is today. One afternoon she was found unconcious on her kitchen floor due to a massive brain hemorrage. Not expected to live, she not only fought for her life, but went on to gaining the ability to even drive. Her daughter bought her a box of pastels and paper one Christmas. even though Francine had no background in art, Francine enrolled in an art class and thus changed her life. Francine now studies with various artists, enters her work in exhibitions and has won many awards. "I try to make my art uplifting and inspiring, adding a little more beauty to my surroundings. I am a nature lover, animal rights activist, and tree hugger. I attempt to take simple images in nature and life, depicting them as a thing of beauty. I use color for not only decorative purposes, but an emotional effect.
Franco Jona I am a physicist now retired from the Department of Materials Science at SUNY Stony Brook. I have done some painting more or less all my life, but more intensely in the past several years. So far, I am doing exclusively watercolor and oil pastels.
Gloria Golden Although a painter for many years, it was not until 1994 that Gloria Golden began her study of photography with Jules Allen at Queensborough Community College. Her studies continued at the International Center for Photography in Manhattan and at the Maine, Woodstock, and Santa Fe workshops. Gloria’s photography focuses on portraiture as well as images taken during her travels. Since her teenage years, she has always had a great desire to travel. Using her camera, Gloria was able to accomplish her goal and have some of the greatest adventures of her life. She is the author of Desaturated Soul (Published by Xlibris, 12/2009), in which she shares some of the magical and unique faces and places that she has captured with her lens.  Loneliness is the theme that recurs throughout the images of Desaturated Soul, pictures that were taken during a period of great change in the author’s life. It was a time when Gloria Golden’s children were on their own and as she found herself with free time, loneliness crept into her world. However, she found solace in photography as it filled that void and brought her great joy. As she bares her soul through the camera’s lens, Gloria also reveals a small portion of the beauty that the world has to offer.  Gloria’s photos have been widely exhibited in exhibitions and galleries.
Gunter Stern Gunter Stern has been involved in art and music throughout his life both as a painter, lyricist and vocalist. He studied art at Pratt Institute, Mexico City College and enjoyed an art scholarship to the Brooklyn Museum Art School. His paintings have appeared extensively on Long Island in many galleries including Mills Pond, Omni, Gallery North, and Elaine Benson. His works have been shown in museums such as The Heckscher, Parrish Art Museum, Islip Museum and the Nassau County Museum of Fine Arts. He has also been shown at the Adam Baumgold Gallery in New York. He is listed in the Catalog of American Portraits at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Gustavo J. Lucin Although art is considered a personal expression of the artist, I believe that a piece of art also conveys messages that are universal. This is the result of our human condition...we all experience sorrow , loss, loneliness, happiness, hope, and other emotions that in the end unify us to be the people of the world. In this series of paintings I expressed some of the strongest emotions I had to confront in my life. When we confront strong emotions we refuge into what is familiar and comforting for our souls. I grew up in a coastal zone by the Atlantic Ocean, and the ocean gives me peace and comfort. Across history the ocean, rivers and water in general play a role and are represented in many religious or spiritual rituals of rebirth and cleansing.
ILham Badreddine Mahfouz ILham Badreddine Mahfouz was born in Damascus Syria. She received her education at Eastern Michigan University (B.F.A.) She teaches ceramic & painting and exhibits her art nationally and internationally. ILham has won numerous awards, had 9 solo exhibits and participated in over 60 group art exhibits. "Care about humanity and world peace. Life is a circle... has a beginning and an end that mirrors our experiences in life through art as an artist. Choose the best end while you can." Images Below L to R: Flight of Freedom, Inspiration, Journey Inside Whale, In Memory of Syria
J Lefsky My paintings, I believe, are powerful expressions of the beauty of the natural world, close-up and boldly colorful.They are filled with a strength and passion.My strength and passion.I also try fill them with the tremendous joy I feel of being able to witness this splendor in the gardens and fields of Long Island. My goal is to draw from this beauty, capture the uniqueness of each plant, enlarge upon these features, and present it in such a way that when they are viewed – they take your breath away. It is up to you to see - if I am successful.
James Jahrsdoerfer Born in Astoria, NY, James has always lived in the NY Metro area. He first attended Villanova University as a Biology Major, but his love of drawing and painting soon became his overpowering desire. “My way of looking at the world through creative eyes took over.” James taught himself drawing and painting at first, then realized the need to be trained and received a degree of fine arts. From there his adventures have taken him from technical illustration to costume design to the commercial arts. All the while drawing, painting, exploring and playing. His work has been widely exhibited in Saratoga Springs, Southampton, Brooklyn, New York City, Washington DC, Portland Oregon and Russia and is held in numerous private collections. "My creative path is not a single path. It is a multilane highway, encompassing a wide variety of creative endeavors that when totaled together explain why I am the artist I am. I work from the real as much as possible, working outdoors, no matter what the weather conditions, or in the studio. My creative approaches are as varied as a life…at times working plein air, other times photo-real or impressionistically or expressionistically and surrealistically. Sometimes mixing the styles to challenge and interest both visually and intellectually. Always searching for the soul and truth of the subjects."
Janice Brandt-Sheinbaum I've been an artist for over 30 yrs, but have just recently begun to show and sell my work. I've worked in all media, but have recently (the last 3 yrs) fallen in love with mixed media collage. My style is very eclectic, as I love to try new techniques and depicit different subjects. My hope is that my art brings you as much joy as I get while creating it.
Janice Milusich I grew up on Long Island, NY, in a family of readers, so books were very important part of my life from early on. Some of my favorite books were Bedtime for Francis, A Bargain for Francis, Frog and Toad are Friends, and Charlotte’s Web. Although I’d always loved to read, I didn’t start to write my own stories until after I was a teacher and a mom, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. I write every day, rain or shine, weekday or holiday.For me, ideas for stories often start with a question. The idea for my picture book, Off Go Their Engines, Off Go Their Lights came from two questions I asked my son. He was only three at the time, and the questions I asked were, what do cars and trucks do, and where do they go when it’s time for them to go to sleep?
Jeanette Martone Awareness of the common linkage found in our humanity, the fragility of our cultures, and the vulnerability of those living the barest existence, teetering on the edge of life, inspires the foundation of my work. Since 1994 I have traveled to the Dominican Republic to participate in volunteer projects assisting the poor. Experiences there have contributed to the evolution of my art. As I depict my subjects, they are captured in a moment of time, revealing their inner grace and the beauty that can be found in the infinite details of their environment; the sun cracked earth, the drape of tired fabric, and the detritus of struggle. By limiting color, and emphasizing texture in my graphite drawings, attention is focused on the essential elements of the subject. Complex images are formed that are reminiscent of the protoplasmic origins of life we share. The simplicity and purity of pencil and paper lend an immediacy and intimacy to the work, creating an interconnectedness between the subject and viewer
Jennifer Berotti My work is often influenced by my love of natural shapes and my desire to manipulate them. My goal is to always make beautiful images that are slightly "off" in order to draw the viewer in for a closer look. Never take something for face value, there should be something more. While making Three Trees in the Ivy I tried to evoke the feeling of calm clarity, which is possible on a quiet walk through the woods. Possibly alone, with few distractions, we start to see, hear and feel more than we first noticed. Nooks and crevasses start to look different, branches creek behind us at the very moment we pass them, and the wind moves something...but it's gone. In this moment observation makes a leap to imagination and the image that I wish to make is no longer a realistic representation of a landscape but a shadowy grove of scarred trees who guard a path to somewhere else. I guess I started out to be an Illustrator but I stopped halfway. There is always some story in my work but I can never bring myself to finish it. I prefer to let the viewers come to their own conclusions. I think that’s the test of my work. A piece is successful when people see beyond the apparent aesthetic quality. To think about art, for me, is as great a joy as looking at it.
John Killelea John Killelea studied painting and sculpture at Pratt Institute and has an MFA from NYU Film School. He works in graphite, watercolor, video and photography, and is both a screenwriter and filmmaker.n the past he has taught art, photography and filmmaking in public schools and college.
Jones, Al Al Jones was half of the international Acro/Balancing Act “THE TWO EARLS”. For many years, they performed in clubs and theatres all over the world, often sharing the bill with legendary Jazz singers and musicians. In 1980, he and his wife Sherrill left Paris and settled in Stony Brook to raise their four sons. Locally, he developed a second career in acting and has appeared in plays all over the Island from Far Rockaway to the Hamptons. He's continued to paint and has spent the past few years developing his collector’s series, “The Heart of Jazz”.
Joy Goldkind Saint James artist Joy Goldkind's interest in art is focused in the traditional and classical painters and photographers. As she studied photography it soon became clear to her that the early processes of technique and hands on crafts is what she loves to do. Her attention was turned to early pictorial images that led her to learn alternate processes. Goldkind prefers to work with Bromoil prints, as this method allows her the control over the image she desires.
Joyce Bressler Joyce Bressler graduated from the high school of Music and Art, received her BA in Art from Queens College and her MA in Art from UCLA. Joyce has been a resident of Commack for the past 40 years , having taught art full time on the secondary level, continuing (currently) education and privately in her studio. her work has appeared in several group shows throughout Long Island and Manhattan, as well as some one-woman shows. Joyce works with watercolor in the Alla Prima technique, painting directly on paper with out the use of pencil. This technique insures a spontaneous and fluid approach to her subject. Her main concern within her art is color and light, and their resulting interaction to form a kind of Lyrical Impression. Newsday has described her work as "A free search of line and spontaneous interpretation that holds the viewer".
Judith Contrino Born in Brooklyn to Italian-American parents, I like to say that I come from a family of “performers”. We are a large, noisy, crazy, happy, loving family. We are singers, dancers, musicians, artists, authors, poets, lawyers, teachers, photographers, make-up artists, beauticians, chefs, bakers and small business owners…all with big ideas. I have taught after school activities in crafts, clay and puppet making and belong to St. Joseph’s Folk Group in Kings Park. Although I am not a schooled artist, I have been drawing and crafting all my life. I love to paint the beauty of God’s creation and express loving moments that others can relate to. I don’t paint to impress people with how educated I am. I just paint. I enjoy using vibrant colors and contrast in both acrylic and watercolor but I also love calm and tranquility. I have done portraits in pencil and charcoal, and do commissioned work. I hope my paintings move people and make them smile. That is truly what makes me happy. Some of my works have been donated to St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, while others have been displayed at the Mills Pond House, Gallery on the Hill, also Smithtown, Kings Park, Northport-E/Northport, Nesconset and Emma S. Clark Libraries. At Our Lady of the Island Art Show in 2009 my painting, Deep Autumn Dreams, was awarded 3rd Place. I was a winner in the Mills Pond House Gallery-Members Art Forum in 2012 and I am currently leader of the Smithtown Library Art Group
Julia Adams Julia Adams is an artist, working in her studio on Long Island. She is a surrealist, combining reality and fantasy, as her vibrant imagination dictates. Color is a very important part of her work. Recently, she has created a cycle of paintings in blue, a color which she regards as universal and beautiful, and a color which provides a special, subtle intensity. Julia is inspired by nature, with her greatest inspiration being trees, a subject which frequently appears in her paintings
Katherine Hiscox Katherine Hiscox taught art for many years in a special school for adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. She brought a background of art education, special education and art therapy together to formulate a program that benefited many students. Eight years ago, she left teaching to focus on her work as an artist. She can be seen locally painting the harbors, marshlands and gardens of Long Island. Katherine also enjoys drawing and painting the figure and looks to capture gestures and body language. Her work can often be seen in local exhibitions. Katherine has received awards for her watercolors and is pleased to have her artwork in several collections and beautiful homes on Long Island.
Kathleen McArdle As an artist living on Long Island's North Shore, I draw inspiration from every aspect of life here. The play of light and the relationship of colors and shapes in the fields and beaches are the resource for my landscapes. The abundance and variety of produce and flowers to be found at the farm stands and in gardens are the elements of my still life paintings. And old family photographs of bygone times are the framework for a series on which I am presently working. My preferred medium is acrylic on canvas. I find acrylic paint to be very versatile; bright colors that can be subdued with glazes, swift drying which allows for immediate changes and responsive to many textural approaches. I also enjoy exploring with watercolor on paper. Experimentation with watercolors has led to results that are sometimes satisfying, sometimes dismal, but always exciting and fruitful.
Katja Oljuscha Grunther I suppose every creative process should probably begin with some kind of overflowing feeling that longs to be able to transmit what it is one sees and cares about, into some sort of permanent form. For me, that transmitter has been my camera, and the final form a fine art digital print I would love to be able to learn some of the old master's techniques: platinum and palladium, gum bichromate, bromoil or cyanotype; some of Edward Steichen's images fairly glow with a deep, luminous tone that can never be duplicated (in my view) through this digital world. And so, as best as I am able, I will continue to strive toward whatever are the best of my capacities within the limitations and opportunities that are mine to live.
Kyle Blumenthal My series "Hope" is inspired by spiritual visions I see before I open my eyes in the morning and at times in meditations. Birds in flight with outstretched wings, wild flower fields, sunflowers, gardens, Theatrical Installations, costumes and fantasy figures, all appear in the large paintings that comprise the "hope" series. I often portray unity in separation in my subject matter through the use of divided canvases. Regardless of what I am painting I use my entire body as I move across the canvases. I paint with oils on canvas and scrim and at times incorporate fabrics and light. The combinations of transparencies, translucent and opaque materials in my work reflect the ethereal and material.
Lance Corey Being Irish, Iroquois, and French Canadian: My values, my life-long love of history and learning; my politics, and my willingness to speak truth to power… these inform my art. A child of Merrick, LI; A graduate of Mepham High School; Running track and body surfing, playing baseball, ice hockey, rugby and boxing; Having been a Lifeguard and a broiler-man; artists’ model, bouncer, housecleaner/painter; gas station attendant and real estate agent; chauffer, butler and sewer man; Earning degrees in Communication Arts from Notre Dame ’71, Philosophy and Theology from Truman State ’76, and History and International Relations from Long Island University ’94; Winning Fulbright Scholarships to study in Egypt in ’88 and China in ’93; teaching World History and Geography in NYC for 22 years; taking 3 NYC students to live with the Maasai in Kenya for 2 weeks in 1990; returning to Kenya to record their folk music and songs a month later…these all play a part. When I am asked in what style I paint, I say “It is mine!" It is my vocabulary, giving form to my life experiences. I’m not interested in refining techniques; I paint from my gut, my heart, and my mind. Primitive, raw, unschooled, self-taught with purpose: To challenge and provoke; To use my art as a weapon; To bring ideas up for examination; To touch the common nerve that binds us all; To expose all for all to see and ponder. In looking into my art others will see them-selves and they’ll see me: My demons, passions and missions in life are apparent in my art. I sold my first abstract painting of a New York City skyline for $10 when I was ten. By age 11 I was copying Rouault and Modigliani from photos cut out of magazines like Better Homes & Gardens. My mother was my muse.  I’ve been influenced by the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, the Fauvists, Matisse, Picasso, Jackson Pollock and the many other Abstract Expressionists. They opened the door for my Neo-Primitivism.  Future performances are being planned.I started exhibiting my paintings and drawings again in 2009.
Linda Cole Whether I am inspired by a landscape or seascape, figure or still life, my love of color is what moves me to paint. And through color I try to express my surrounding environment; its mood, its season, its light or its time of day.I work in three mediums – oil, pastel and watercolor, each helping the other to grow. My paintings are a collection of learning experiences and are not limited to a particular subject or style; rather, I am constantly seeking new challenges and ever hopeful that I'll be a lifelong student.
Mac Titmus Photography has always been an important element in my life. To me, there is nothing like capturing a moment and turning it into a personal statement. It is not enough to simply reproduce reality. My preference is to emphasis it, augment it and highlight those aspects I find intriguing. Recently I've been experimenting with the abstract, exploring fragments of life as abstract form, turning them into visual expressions emphasizing color, shape, emotion and energy. My goal is to have the viewer stop and think about the moment . . the setting, the feeling, the impulse. What is seen and how it is interpreted is their personal experience. My hope is simply to evoke a moment of thoughtful contemplation. If so the image has been successful. Mac is a graduate of Adelphi University with a BA in English and an MA in Education. He taught Science and Math for 25 years in the public schools of Long Island. From an early age he was intrigued with the visual arts experimenting with several forms of media over the years. Photography has always been his preferred form of expression spending hours as a child in his mother's make-shift darkroom developing 120 film from his Brownie camera. During the 70s he began experimenting with various techniques involving multiple exposure and transparency sandwiching to create abstract images. Recently he has been experimenting with abstract digital imagery, exploring fragments of life as abstract form, turning them into visual expressions emphasizing color, shape, emotion and energy. He feels strongly that what you take from his images is a personal experience emphasizing that his interpretation or intent is not important. He offers no analysis or explanation of his work preferring not to impose those boundaries. It is not his goal to convert or convince but to evoke a moment of awareness and allow you to take from that what is relavant.
Maria Fairchild Maria Fairchild excels in the traditional Appalachian style of banjo playing known as clawhammer or frailing. She plays 19th century dance tunes, sings ballads and work songs from America’s past, and speaks of the people and times that produced this unforgettable music. Maria is one of those rare performers who really inhabits the stage. She is a splendid instrumentalist, in particular she is a virtuoso clawhammer banjo player and a great singer. Authentic Quebecois songs and Old Time banjo music are tied together by Maria's sly and engaging wit. Her unique ability to make traditional material feel contemporary and accessible along with her sparkling stage presence makes Maria's performances a compelling and memorable experience. She has performed in major folk venues on both coasts as well as in Canada and England. She has previously performed at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, the Portland Folklore Society in Oregon, the Vancouver Folk Song Society in Canada, the Cecil Sharp House in London, England and locally at LITMA and the UU Fellowship of Huntington. In addition to performing as a featured solo artist, Maria is currently working with Larry Moser and Mary Nagin in the contradance band Dance All Night.
Maria Loreta Celitan Maria Loreta Celitan, founder and Artistic Director of Sol y Sombra, has studied Spanish dance both here and in Spain with some of it's foremost artists including La Tati, Paco Fernandez, Ciro, Azorin, Paco Romero, Carmen Cortes, Guito Tomas de Madrid. Besides her work as principal artist with Sol y Sombra, Maria Loreta has performed with numerous Spanish dance companies including Estrella Morena's Ballet de Madrid, the American Spanish Dance Theatre and Jose Molina's Bailes Espanoles with which she toured for many years throughout the U.S. and abroad. Her credits include appearances at the U.N., Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors, Town Hall, the Chateaux Madrid, Constitution Hall and the Kravis Center, Jacob's Pillow as well as innumerable colleges and cultural centers throughout the U.S. Besides Spanish dance of which she is an accomplished professional, Maria Loreta holds degrees in Art, Art History, a M.A. in Comparative Religions and an advanced Certificate in Gerontology. In dance and dance related fields, Maria has studied extensively Classical Ballet, Modern Dance, Near Eastern Dance and Bharatanatyam (Classical Indian Dance). She is a RYT and holds certification in: advanced Hatha Yoga and Cardiac Yoga from the Integral Yoga Institutes; Creative Movement for Children from Jack Weiner's School of Creative Movement and Dance Therapy from the Turtle Bay Music School. When not performing, Maria Loreta has taught Spanish Dance for numerous schools and institutions throughout the New York Metropolitan area including the Seiskaya School of Ballet, the Connecticut Ballet & the Ballet of Puerto Rico, as well as master classes for the Suffolk Community College, Bridgeport University’s Regional Center for the Arts and University of Georgia Arts and Humanities Center. Currently, she is on the dance faculty of SUNY Stony Brook where she teaches Spanish & Latin dance forms. An avid arts-in-education exponent, Maria has worked for such well known arts-in-education programs as The National Theater, Young Audiences, and Arts Connection. With Sol y Sombra , she has given programs for the BOCES Arts in Humanities Programs in numerous upstate New York, Suffolk & Nassau Counties. She has become a teaching artist for the Tilles Center Institute for Arts & Culture, a satellite of Lincoln Center’s Institute for Aesthetic Education.
Mary Ann Vetter St. James artist Mary Ann Vetter works in oils, pastels, and watercolor using local landscape, flowers, and portraits as her subjects.  “I love flowers. I cannot wait until spring to see the garden bloom. Eight years ago, I made my front lawn into a garden. Iris, daffodils, grasses, heather, day lilies, hydrangeas and many other perennials are a delight to see
Maryellen Cox Maryellen Cox has been involved in both the doing of art and the teaching of art for most of her life. She is a graduate of Herron School of Art and has studied with architectural artist, Harry Davis and portrait painter, Edmund Brucker. Her paintings are part of many private collections and have been included in exhibitions throughout Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Washington, New York, Connecticut, California, Montana, Alaska, Belize, Nova Scotia, and Puerto Rico. She is fascinated by the human face and her paintings often include the faces of family members.
Michael Parisi Michael Parisi of Port Jefferson specializes in commission work for people and pets. A member of the Portrait Society of America, he has had extensive education in art, and graduated from the Manhattan Institute of Drafting and Design, and the American Art School.  He has had various exhibits across Long Island and is regularly invited to do demo shows at private parties, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and art groups. He teaches adult and children’s portrait classes in charcoal, oil or pastels. Michael has loved art all his life; in fact, he calls art his passion. In his career, he has completed over 5,000 portraits and has a special love for Long Island landscape.
Michael S. Heitler, MD Dr. Michael S. Heitler works in gouache, pastel, oil pastel, acrylic and mixed media at his studio in Melville, New York. He has studied at the Brooklyn Museum School of Art, Colgate University and the New School. Dr. Heitler has exhibited at many galleries and venues across Long Island. When not painting, Dr. Michael S. Heitler works as the pediatrician at the Child Neurology Service at Winthrop University Hospital. He is also an attending pediatrician at North Shore University Hospital and The Schneider Children's Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Weathered old houses, old doorways and stonewalls, craggy tree trunks, riverways, bumpy roads, ancient alleyways... When I draw or paint I feel that I "get into" the images. My paintings are records, snapshots and revisits of my travels and point of view. I experience them again and again through painting and sharing my work with others. Working with pastels, oil pastels, gouache and acrylic paints afford me the opportunity to experiment and combine elements.  Each medium and combination offers a wide range of feelings in color, texture and personality.
Nancy Wernersbach Happy is the word admirers and collectors often use to describe Nancy Wernersbach's artwork. Her nature-inspired oil and watercolor paintings are windows to the outdoors and create quiet spaces and beautiful places for viewers to enjoy wherever they are displayed.
Ned Butterfield Painting with watercolors is my freedom, my frustration, my joy. I am intense in what I am doing but also having fun with it. The process pleases me as much as the result. Responding to the subject, immersing myself in it, is the first step. Using light helps me create texture and color while emphasizing the drama. The result hopefully brings interest and beauty to a local scene that might be otherwise overlooked by the casual viewer.
Nicholas J.Valentino Attending Parsons School of Design gave me the skills and confidence to pursue my craft. Self-taught, I have been using my own techniques to create more contemporary pieces. I like to work with mixed media and “throw-away” items. My passion is creating a new spin on automotive parts. They now have a new life and purpose.
Nicole Sena Evans I have been writing however, for my whole life. I come from a musical and creative family. When I was ten, I asked my father who was a jazz percussionist, to teach me to play the drums. My grandmother suggested that I should play something more lady-like... My parents bought my first piano, and I studied for about a year until they divorced. That is probably when I really started to pour myself into my writing. It wasn't until about 1998 that I taught myself to play chords by ear. Once I did that my music grew at a phenomenal pace.  I began to figure out my songs one by one. Since then, I have almost filled what was a brand new book with what has become a journal of not only my own life, but my views on the world as well... Listen to my CD's at: www.CDbaby.com/NicoleSenaEvans then, write a review!!! listen to three live tracks at: www.myspace.com/NicoleSenaEvansMusic thank you!!! -Nicole
Nora Chapa Mendoza The urge to create has always been a part of my life – and now the painting of women has become my primary objective. I paint women of the earth, free, strong, passionate women who themselves embody the spirit of mother earth; thus the entity is complete. In order that my art reflect my life, it is inevitable that the artist free the spirit and spontaneously embrace the soul. Each day I look eagerly to yet another opportunity to observe and express the pain and dignity of human endeavor. In 1953 Ms. Mendoza moved to Michigan where she has lived ever since. She took art classes at the center for creative studies in Detroit for a number of years. Over the past 35 years, her paintings have taken on a fierce spirit of individualism and have become known for the hidden forms within the abstract. Landscapes, Hispanic, Indian and Chicano people figure predominately in her abstract and impressionist-realist paintings. Ms. Mendoza exhibits extensively nationally and internationally in invitational, one person and group exhibitions. She served ten years on the Michigan Council for the Arts and as a mentor of several emerging artists, Hispanic arts organizations and Hispanic community cultural events. Nora Chapa Mendoza was the recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award as the Michigan Artist of the year in 1999. She was honored for her artistic contributions to Michigan's cultural milieu and for her service to the community. She was appointed to serve as a member of the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs from 1991 – 2001. in the past forty years Nora's own experiences and accumulated knowledge are the more valuable assets that she brings to the media of art and teaching. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, and her work is represented among many important collections around the world.
Pamela Topham I have lived most of my life in an uncommonly beautiful place of wetlands, farmland, endless sea and sky. I also travel to find other places of similar and contrasting aesthetic inspiration, in the tradition of Thomas Moran. My tapestries reflect my longtime devotion to preserving and interpreting these visual impressions. Detailed colored pencil drawings, photographs and multiple site visits are sources for the tapestry designs. I weave on a high warp tapestry loom using wool silk and linen in varied textures and hues to form the foreground, while fine gradations of wool and silk capture the interplay of the ever-changing relationships of Earth, Sea and sky in the distance. While my artistic vision is landscape based, abstraction that has its roots in tapestry evolve as I expand the possibilities of my medium.
Patty Schwarz My subject matter represents my inner being. I want to express emotion through color and light through my own artistic interpretation and I am passionate about all the wondrous and beautifully vibrant colors that surround me in everyday life and in my travels.I want the viewer to see that emotion."To see my art is to know me."
Pokey Park Pokey Park is a sculptor and artist whose early and endearing love of both nature and art are the foundation for her whimsical, magical creations. From her childhood in coastal Georgia to her current homes in Arizona and Colorado, the creatures and beauty of nature have inspired and moved her.Her kinship and communion with nature and its inhabitants results in uniquely stylized bronzes of animals of every size, shape and species.Each has human characteristics that bring them to life in an arresting, playful manner. "I create with the hope that my work will bring a smile to the viewer. My animal sculptures are expressive, almost invariably happy. Positive energy flows through me into my work and I feel this is why they connect so well with people. While her animal subjects are the mainstay of her body of work, Pokey explores mythology, ethnography and traditional culture in many of her works. Her "Tortoise" series displays these fantastical creatures in a positive and beneficial light while "The Shaman" and her exquisite totems- for example- draw on native tradition and motifs. My inspiration stems from mythical and cultural symbols spanning both time and peoples. The curtural diversity found across the globe together with my passion for historical traditions dictates my creative output." Pokey's style reflects her belief that life is to be celebrated with attitude and flair. Movement and balance juxtapose in harmony while her joy of life is readily apparent for all who have the pleasure to view or purchase her pieces.Pokey's work has been publicly displayed across the United States and internationally. Her sculptures reside in many private collections and new pieces are always eagerly anticipated.Always enthralled by the richness and beauty of nature, Pokey continues to meld culture and tradition in sculptures that are celebratory of life and the things she loves.
Rain Skye Haunted by the Holocaust, the work reflects my sadness.
Rasma Kupers Dos Born in Latvia, Rasma Kupers Dos came to United States in 1949. She was educated at University of Minnesota, B.F.A. Studied printmaking with Malcolm Meyers, painting with Cameron Booth, Walter Quirt, Louis Schanker; and photography with Allen Downs. After a year abroad (1960) and post-grad studies in Paris (1963 & 1964) at Atelier 17 with S.W.Hayter in printmaking, painting with Henri Goetz and life drawing at Academie de la Grande Chaumiere. Rasma participated with Methode Bedard, a collective experimental group, culminating in an exhibition, “Towards a New Golden Rule” at the Musee d’Art Moderne, September 1964. She is presently active with two watercolor groups, Night Heron Artists, New Village Watercolor Group, and life drawing group at SUNY-Stony Brook. In 50’s & 60’s exhibited prints, oil paintings, and theatre design with University of Minnesota, Midwest Students in Iowa and experimental group of artists in Paris, France. Recently participated in group exhibits with watercolor paintings, juried photography shows at STAC – Mills Pond House, w/c paintings at Cultural & Educational Center, Stony Brook, PJAC- art show at Jefferson Ferry, PJ Country Club and local libraries.
Ross Barbera My recent work focuses on the natural sunlit world of the northeast landscape. Paintings range from extreme close ups of pond surfaces, trees, forest floors, leaves and flowers to more encompassing views. Created in acrylic on canvas, they explore the visual interaction that occurs between streams, ponds and bodies of water with their surrounding landscape environments. Inspired by the interplay and rich diversity of textural surfaces, form and color elements within these natural places, especially on water surfaces, my paintings capture close-up views of intimate forest settings. Sometimes tiny worlds of subtle harmonies and rhythms are revealed, where the recognizable becomes abstract. My watercolor jewelry pendants, bracelets and hairpieces are hand made constructions inspired by the shapes I see in nature's presentation of water and ice. Individual jewelry pieces are created by gluing layers of Arches watercolor paper to build a very strong organic shape. On the outermost layer I paint either an abstract or representational watercolor image, and I compose the image to harmonize with the shape of the abstract jewelry piece. My creations are completed by applying a clear acrylic varnish, and baking in an oven to achieve a hard, impervious surface. I like to think of my jewelry pieces as miniature, wearable paintings. Please visit www.watercolorjewelry.com/
Sean Pollock My paintings are derived using a spatial sense-of-mind. In them, I bring astonishment for the viewer – to participate in many possibilities. The neck of its beauty stems from simplicity.
Shain Bard People often point to my paintings and say they know that place.That is the nicest thing they could say to me, because then I know I have struck a chord in them, and yet, while they are somehow familiar with the territory, they are also "seeing" it for the first time.It is, of course, as much of an internal place as well as external. Nature and art are within and without us, something close to what I would call "home". It is those moments when we most fully connect to our surroundings, those held-breath moments, that I am interested in. I also see the idiosyncratic forms of nature as instruments in an orchestra, and light as the conductor. I am a conduit of that light as I create my compositions.
Shirley Weiner Ms. Weiner has lived in Port Jefferson since 1975. After raising four children she earned a Master of Social Work degree at Stony Brook University and then worked for fifteen years at Stony Brook Hospital. Upon retiring she returned to a life-long interest in drawing and painting. Her favorite medium is watercolor. Her favorite subjects are still life, people, floral and landscapes. She has studied at the Brooklyn Museum, De Cordova Museum in Massachusetts, National Academy of Design in New York and at the Huntington Art League. She has also studied with Adelaide Silkworth, who gave instruction in watercolors for many years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries across Long Island and several pieces are held in private collections.
Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz Photography has given me the medium to express my perception of a subject at a moment in time, whether in vivid colors or in black and white. I enjoy the challenge of photographing moving subjects, especially dancers, children, birds,, and wildlife. I started shooting black and white film in the early 1970’s, and enjoyed photographing my young children, family, friends, and the NYC neighborhood, where I lived back then. I took a couple of courses at the School of Visual Arts and learned to develop and print in my own darkroom. In recent years, I have been strictly a digital photographer. I’ve taken workshops with such well-known photographers as Harvey Stein, Rick Sammon, Darrell Gulin, Roy Volkmann, David Turner and Bobbi Lane.
Terry Moore I have always loved to draw and sketch, and since grade school I have drawn wherever I could find a blank spot. Over the years I did many pencil and pen & ink drawings. I did many drawings for my friends and family of their pets and homes.I also did all the advertising layouts, drawings and marketing materials for my business. I never studied art, but several years ago I took an Adult Ed course in drawing and painting and learned to do so much more with color. I took the course for several years, using it as a workshop to learn more about painting, pastels and colors.I continue to learn about drawing and painting by taking workshops, live or online, going to demos, reading, and of course, drawing. I find it fascinating to be able to take a blank paper or canvas and make it come alive with animals, peoples, places or things. I enjoy drawing animals and capturing their spirit and uniqueness. I especially love drawing people’s pets, as I know how much it can mean to someone to have a drawing or painting of their pet. I also enjoy doing landscapes, and making it a picture of someplace that people look at and say, "I want to be there" . I hope to continue to grow as an artist and to continuously experiment with different mediums and types of drawings.
Toni Raiten-D'Antonio "I had never intended to show my ‘stuff’ to anyone. And I certainly never thought of it as ‘art.’ I was using painting and drawing as a therapeutic tool to help me work through some challenging issues related to my abusive and neglectful family history. Like a visual poet, I was using line, shape, color and texture to distill complex issues down to their essence. Working on each piece gave me as much time as I needed to think about and transform the stories into manageable bits. Some of the stories were pretty ugly, but as time went on, they became abstracted into images that I’ve come to integrate and enjoy. The stories are only part of my story now, rather than defining who I am, or what I am capable of. This exhibition, titled Memory and Metamorphosis, describes this process. Some of the work is about the past, some about the transition to my adult freer self, and some a reflection of the present. Who knows what the future might bring…once we make peace with the past.”
Victoria Beckert I love watercolor and am always trying out new techniques and compositions. Sometimes my art is realistic and serene. Then I get inspired to do something fanciful and whimsical using lots of vibrant color. Art has always been a passion for me since I can remember. I continued my college education in fine arts. Life and reality takes hold along with family and career so I had to put off my creative side for a few years. Now I am at point in life where I can pursue my passion again and loving every minute. I am blessed with a talent that I can share. I have formed alliances with several art groups such as Wet Paint Studios, East End Art Council and Women Sharing Art. My work can be seen on a regular basis at Art and Soul Gallery in Eastport, where I also teach classes in watercolor. I have also donated my artist talents to a non profit organization called Splashes of Hope and recently I have been one of four artists chosen for the 2008 LI2DayWalk for Breast Cancer Poster project announcing this year’s event. You can see more of my work at www.designsbyvictoriabeckert.com. Stop in some time!
Virginia Mallon As a painter, I have always been attracted to projects with an environmental bend; images of horseshoe crabs and sea horses have been with me for years, as is the balance between man and his environment. Living in a town named “Crab Meadow” has inspired me to take up this favorite theme, this time I am using photography as well as painting. Creatures on this planet tend to use different mechanisms to cope with day-to-day survival. Humans are very good at mentally compartmentalizing life as it assaults their senses and sensibilities. Straddling both the natural world and the city world on a daily basis, this trick of boxing things in has served me well. I too tend to squirrel away every day discoveries for future reference. At the end of the day, patterns do seem to gravitate together on their own in art. Colors, themes, emotions and topics collide in a symphony of meanings and significance. Art itself establishes a greater scale of order – one that is larger than any individual image. My work is not about exotic travel photography collected in the Far East or the West or at the Poles, but about what you can find right here, at the crossroads of the world, if you open your eyes to look. 
Vivien Pollack When I paint, my canvas can range from silk to walls to paper. Color is an integral part of my work, so the strong intensity of silk dyes is a great asset when combining fantasy with intense color to recreate my subject. When I start a silk painting with a preconceived idea many times the painting takes a life of its own and at times I have unexpected results. After deciding on a subject for my work, my hope is to capture the beauty whether it is from my imagination or from nature (trees, meadows, flowers, etc.) in order to inspire others to protect and conserve our land. I frequently travel with my camera and use many of the photos I have taken for inspiration. Since my art background began as a textile designer I find I look for patterns such as in water flowing and leaves on trees. I believe that beauty can be found in the most mundane settings. The key is how you interpret your observations to bring forth that beauty into art. As Edgar Degas once said "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."
Walter E. Harris III (MANKH) Walter E. Harris III (known to fellow poets and friends as "Mankh" started writing in elementary school, and over the years and miles and times spent not writing...the poetry (especially) has taken hold and shaped his creative urges and thus much of his life. My writings are mostly inspired by Nature, various world mythologies and spiritual pathways, historical and current world situations,listening to music, and my personal path which is a combination of Kaballah, Tantra, and Alchemy, as well as the Chinese wisdom-teachings of the Tao Te Ching (Thou Dei Jinn)and I Ching (Ye Jinn). Some of my strongest poetic influences (and enjoyable reads) are Rumi, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Walt Whitman, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Frost, e.e. cummings, William Stafford, Gary Snyder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Hafiz and Kabir, as well as the "beat" poets, Japanese haiku, plus a somewhat inexplicable connection with the Muse which includes the nine traditional muses of ancient Greece. My writings aim to reflect truth, uplift or calm the reader, and present information that may help the reader (in some way) with his or her life-journey.
William A. Dodge Bill Dodge is a classically trained artist in the tradition of the old masters, having studied at the Academy of Traditional Painting of Harold Ransom Stevenson, a personal student of Norman Rockwell.   He is accomplished in oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics and digital media. In a career spanning thirty years, Bill has created artwork for all the major publishers in New York, as well as a wide variety of private commissions ranging from murals to portraits. As a faculty member in the Visual Communications Department at Farmingdale State College, he is dedicated to passing on the time honored traditional methods of drawing and painting to a new generation. Bill grew up, and continues to live, on Long Island where he’s found a wealth of beautiful subjects.  His interest in still life and landscapes has developed and the paintings he has chosen to do were efforts to capture moments in time. "They are visual stories told with color and composition, light and shadow." Currently his work can be viewed at the Terrence Joyce Gallery in Greenport, New York on Long Island’s North Fork.