Christine Doherty

 Christine Doherty, a native of Stony Brook, currently attends Boston University's College of Fine Arts.  She will graduate with a BFA in Painting and a minor in art history as well as earning her Masters in Art Education. In the fall of 2011, Christine will be studying abroad in Venice, Italy, where she will further her artistic career.  Aside from teaching art classes at Smithtown Arts Council, Christine works at a pre-school in Boston, and volunteers in Boston Public Schools to bring after school art programs to students who have had art cut from their school budget.  Christine is so excited to work at STAC and continue to share her passion and enthusiasm for art with the students in her classes.  She enjoys exploring different mediums and surfaces for her artwork, especially recyclable materials, an interest that will come across in her teaching.  She has had a profound love for art-making ever since she was a little girl, and hopes that her students will share that same passion and joy that art has brought to her life.
The Mills Pond House welcomes Courtney Surmanek to our teaching staff! Courtney is a current bachelor of Fine Arts candidate at New York University, completing her final year. Her myriad of experiences expanse both a professional practice as a working artist, and an always increasing knowledge of art education. Professional development includes an internship at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, NY, art teaching for children ages 2-6 at the YMCA of Patchogue, NY, and an experiential child development intensive held at Centereach High School. Courtney has held long term positions as a Team Leader and member of the Children’s Activities Planning Committee of the American Cancer Society, President of the Art Club of Suffolk Community College, and Liaison between the Graduate and Undergraduate Art Programs at New York University; aiding in her experience as a mentor to up and coming artists, students, and young people alike. Courtney looks at art as a means toward community development and social change, expanding her art practice out into the world through service oriented efforts. She is excited to help young people develop the skills necessary to expand their scope of what art can do for the world, and the amazing benefits this creative practice can have on every aspect of life at the Mills Pond House this summer!

Courtney Meranda Surmanek
 

Irene Paquette Tetrault

 

Irene is a former Smithtown resident and a 1987 graduate of Smithtown High School East. She went to The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she majored in Fashion Design and Fashion Illlustration. Graduating in 1991 with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Irene worked at Pluzynski Associates Advertising Agency in the city as a Layout Artist after graduation, then moved to Los Angeles and worked as a Production Assistant for Lakeshore Learning Materials toy catalog. Family additions brought her home where Irene started a career as a Senior Artist for a wholesale art production company. In 1999 she decided teaching was her calling and graduated in 2001 from the C.W. Post Art Eduction program with a Masters of Arts and Sciences. An artist for business as well as pleasure, Irene has shown and sold work on the East and West coasts alike, as well as donating several of her water colors for auction to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness (including her bio photo). She's been giving private art lessons to children and adults since 1999. Irene is thrilled to be back teaching at the Smithtown Township Arts Council, returning to teach more Fashion and Watercolor after a six year hiatus to concentrate on raising her children.

Amanda Signorelli

 Amanda Signorelli obtained her master's degree from Adelphi University in May of 2009. During that time, she implemented after school art programs in several local Long Island school districts concentrating on working with English language learners and creating projects that explored cultural issues. She is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education and has worked hard to fight for the arts in education locally. Amanda believes that creativity and imagination are quintessential to success in learning, and that children should be free to explore and wonder throughout the art process and beyond. She exhibits her work locally throughout different galleries and exhibitions on Long Island and is heavily involved with the art community. An artist since birth, Amanda loves to create and explore with anything she can get her hands on. Acrylic, watercolor, markers, making collages and more - always leaving the art room covered in paint just like the smaller Picasso's she teaches! Amanda currently teaches at a group home setting in Nassau county, and loves teaching at STAC with a ton of exciting classes sure to inspire!
Joseph attended SUNY Stony Brook majoring in Art History and Studio Art with a concentration in Photography/Printmaking and minoring in Digital Art.  He received his MAT from the School of Visual Arts, and has been teaching art to grades K-12 in the Baldwin School District since 2010.

 

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.
 
A professional illustrator and fine artist, Amal Karzai has provided numerous illustrations to children's book publishers and editorial publications. Her clients include Tuntun, Barons, My Magic World, The EPublic Co., and she does extensive work for self-publishers. She has taught illustration and basic drawing at the Tamer Institute and given workshops at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She is currently completing her Master of Fine Art in Illustration through the Academy of Art University where she has studied under Stephen Player and Cathy Locke. She has participated in several group exhibits and her work resides in several private and one museum collection. Artwork can be viewed at www.amalillustration.com
  

Amal Karzai