BAFFA Art Gallery's
2024 Members Show, "Reflections"

Artist Bio:

Attended VCU in Richmond VA from 1994-1996 for painting and printmaking-making art at leisure ever since while working full time and raising two children.

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Artist Statement:

I like to paint “things” be that people, animals, objects or places but recording the why of what attracts me to said “thing”. The paintings or drawings I make are just a recording of that, not a copy of a photo or picture, but trying to find the abstract nature of the subject.

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IG: fromthemailroom

Artist Bio:

Barbara Keenan started her photography journey with a Kodak Brownie #2 and graduated to a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye. She continues to have fun looking at the world through a lens....or an iPhone.

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Artist Statement:

It's a fascinating world out there and I'm always looking around for the next interesting image. It could be in a country far away or in my own garden.

Artist Bio:

Formally a self-employed mural artist, now enjoying canvas and paper and the camaraderie of belonging to BAFFA , Women Sharing Art, Wet Paints, and Islip Arts.

Artist Bio:

Carole J. Amodeo's has 22 years' experience as a self-taught photographer. She is acknowledged particularly for her very unique Reflections series. She began that series in 1997. Carole uses either her iPhone or her point-and-shoot camera on automatic and feels the simplicity of her process is a defining element of her work. There is no enhancing or photoshopping in this work. She has shown in various galleries throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties.

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Artist Statement:

In my photography, my goal is for the viewer to realize what attracted me to the subject matter to begin with. Vibrant colors and angles are very crucial in my work. Remember that this photography is organic, nothing to see but what I saw... nothing added or taken out. Sometimes you have to take time to figure out all there is in these pieces. You just might be surprised.

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www.carolezamodeo.com

IG: Pixcja2

FB: Carole J.Amodeo

Artist Statement:

I am a retired textile artist who has renewed her love of painting and drawing during the past ten years. In the early months of the Covid restrictions, I found myself doing pastel portraits of our grandchildren and then other family members. The next progression was to paint watercolor landscapes. I am inspired by the beauty of nature and I don’t seem to run out of sources of inspiration living on Long Island. I am in awe of the spectacular surroundings that are around me at all times and am passionate in my desire to convey these images to art. With every painting or project that I do, I discover new things about art, light, color, composition, and perspective. I love to challenge myself with different types of work and can’t wait to see what comes next. These days I commission portraits of your loved ones or capture and convert your favorite vacation photo to a custom artwork. Or you can find me continuing to pursue my creations, just for the love of it. I hope you enjoy them.

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IG: catherinelrezin

Artist Statement:

Recently retired, all of my energy can now be focused on art! I began painting on clothes, then canvas, then furniture. Any surface would do. Eventually my full attention shifted to watercolor. What an exciting medium! I have been working in watercolor for 25 years, but my time painting and creating was very limited due to… life! I recently started entering professional watercolor society shows, have been accepted into many, and have won awards in a few. I am a signature member in three watercolor societies. I love taking day trips out to the East End - Nassau County, the North Fork, South Fork, each is unique, to take photo references for my paintings. I love the farms, the farm stands, the antique stores, the beaches and the natural beauty of Long Island. It’s my home that I continue to explore.

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Fishing is a way of life and how some people make their living on Long Island. The surrounding waters are part of what makes living on Long Island such a beautiful experience. Northport is a beautiful harbor town. I photographed this image while taking a watercolor workshop in Northport. "Summer Blueberries" is a memory type of reflection. Growing up, we had a wild blueberry bush in our backyard. Now, every time I eat a blueberry, its taste brings me back to those younger, free-spirited days.

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IG: Dianaaristiawatercolors

FB: Diana Artistia Watercolors

Artist Bio:

EarthenWood Artisans is a creative collaboration of Bobbie and Bob Dalpiaz, a retired art teacher and full-time potter, and Bob, a full-time musician and woodworker. We combine our talents to create unique, handmade, functional artwork using exotic woods and high-fire pottery. We started our business career traveling to art shows in the tri-state area. We were awarded Best Pottery several times at the Gallery North Art Show and were included in the Winner’s Circle Gallery show. We also were awarded Best Pottery at the Sayville Summerfest on more than one occasion. We currently show our work at the William Ris Gallery in Jamesport, the Reboli Center in Stony Brook, and sell work at the Catbird Seat in Sayville as well as Earth Speaks in Brooklyn. We are also pleased and honored to have shown our work at the BAFFA Art Gallery on several occasions.

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About the Artwork:

Moon Jars, originating from the Korean Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), embody the elegance of curvaceous, plain white porcelain jars reminiscent of a full moon. Traditionally crafted to house flowers or wine, they also bear significance as ritual vessels. In my interpretation, Moon Jars transcend their functional origins, evolving into expressive art forms. The allure lies in the graceful contours and pristine surfaces, providing a canvas for reflection and tranquility.

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We named the White Jar "Full Moon" and the Black Jar "Lunar Eclipse", each carrying its own distinctive essence.

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www.earthenwoodartisans.com

Artist Bio:

Holly Hunt is a New York-based photographer whose work consists primarily of self-portraits where she uses darkness and light in unconventional attire and surroundings to represent her personal journey. Her images are inspired by her childhood or forgotten memories that have been triggered through her exploration and discovery. Holly’s first photograph was captured with a Polaroid and her love for photography started on film. Eventually, she moved to digital format, self-improving and perfecting her craft through research, trial and error, and practice. In 2016, she started her photography business focusing on capturing beauty in abandoned and historical places. Her images of abandonment are widely known and have been awarded by Heckscher Museum of Art and Gallery North. In late 2023, she earned a nomination for "Best of Long Island" in the photography category. Before photography, Holly was a choreographer, actress, and playwright. Her play “The Parking Lot” received high accolades in NYC, was published, and is still performed nationwide. With experience spanning over three decades in all facets of the arts, Holly is no stranger to the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to create a piece of artwork or to leave your entire soul out there for the world to see. Holly’s artwork has been exhibited in over thirty galleries. She is a photography instructor and 2023 Cultural Partner for the PAC PEACE Project. In 2020, she self-published her autobiographical, photography book, “Exploring Home”, which is exclusively available on her website.

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Artist Statement:

I find refuge in places most would fear.

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My artwork is an extension of my insecurities, my struggles, my trauma, and my journey toward healing. Often focusing on my battles with confidence, my pain, grief and loss, I capture self-portraits or intricate details in unorthodox objects to depict pieces of my story. As part of my artistic process, I intentionally utilize atypical and unconventional surroundings, props, and lighting. Through my photography, I find solace, inspiration, and comfort here and I am able to unleash deep-rooted feelings and emotions that have plagued me. Integrating both symbolism and realism, I challenge the viewer to see past the unpleasant, unbury the beauty and discover their own story within my work.

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www.hollyhuntphotography.com

IG: abandoned_beauites_by_HHP

FB: abandoned beauties by HHP

Artist Bio:

Coming from a background in fashion, Jeanette Leonard is a graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology; she fell in love with the beauty of beads during her time in the industry. A lifelong Long Islander, Leonard has found the ocean treasures as a natural medium for her visions of elegant jewelry and home decor which she dubbed "Jewelry For Your Walls."

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www.etsy.com/shop/BlueHarborJewelryInc

IG: blue.harbor.jewelry

Artist Bio:

Joan M. Genchi was mentored by Artist Paul Margin and regularly created art in his studio located in Westbury, New York. Her master’s thesis show entitled “Writings” was presented at LIU, C.W.Post Center during her first year of law school. She is a retired attorney and Family Court Judge. Her mixed media piece, Valentine Tree won 3 rd prize at the February 2023 Celebrate St. James show. Her mixed media piece entitled “Watching on Safe Ground” was selected for the 2022 juried show, “Mother Nature” held at the Islip Arts Council Gallery. Her work, “Windy Dunes” was selected to hang in the Olmstead Symposium 2022 exhibit at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. A recent acrylic on canvas piece “Nineteenth Amendment” was selected to be used as the poster for the 2022 Sachem Library Women’s History exhibit and the banner and poster for the Islip Museum’s 2019 show celebrating the 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote amendment. Her work entitled “Emerging Markets” was selected to be included in the 2019 annual juried member exhibit at PAC MOCA. Her work “My Computer Crashed” was selected to be included in the South Hampton Cultural Center juried show. She has received Best in Show and other awards from juried shows sponsored by the South Bay Art League and Brookhaven Arts and Humanities. She is an active member of Women Sharing Art, Islip Arts Council and North Shore Art Guild. She is a former member of Gallery 4222 in Port Jefferson, N.Y., and Gallery “E” in Greenport, N.Y. She has exhibited her work at the BAFFA Gallery, Islip, N.Y., Islip Museum, Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Suffolk County Historical Society, Art League of Long Island, Patchogue Arts Gallery, Phoenix Gallery, Bellport, N.Y., Brookhaven Town Hall, The Jewish Center of the Hamptons, East Hampton, N.Y., Briarcliff College, Gallery North, Port Jefferson Community Center, Expressions Gallery, local libraries, and restaurants.

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Artist Statement:

This particular piece, "SWAN" is a statement of beauty, tranquility and love. I believe we need more of this.

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www.womensharingart.org

Artist Bio:

John Bell is an artist who reclaims salvaged metal to create sculptures. Using braised and welded steel and copper etched with acid to produce textural qualities, his first series of fourteen sculptures depicted the human head. Since then John’s art has evolved and expanded to include more abstract themes. His most current work includes pieces created with steel from demolished buildings and industrial scrap materials. By allowing the metal to react to the environment as well as to chemical applications, John creates surface textures of deterioration which add mood and meaning to the sculptural shapes. Selected pieces of John’s work can be viewed currently at the b.j. spoke gallery in Huntington, New York, where he is a member. His work was shown in the Creative Mischief Pop-up Art Exhibition at the National Academy Museum and School in Manhattan as well as in the class exhibition there. John’s sculpture has been selected four times for juried art exhibits at the Southampton Cultural Center, most recently at the September 2015 show and in 2014, several of his pieces were exhibited on the grounds of the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association in Huntington, New York, where they currently remain. He has had two month long showings of his sculpture at the West Islip Public Library, where some of his pieces are permanent installations. His work has also been exhibited at the Babylon Public Library. During the month of October 2015, his sculpture was on display at the Patchogue Arts Council festival. John was also an invited artist at the 2016 Winter Light exhibition in Southampton. As a teenager, John purchased gas welding equipment to use in his hobby pursuits. He became an adept welder and applied his skills in the family horticultural business as well as in his career as an industrial arts teacher and as a plant engineer. Upon retiring, he began designing and fabricating decorative metal pieces for friends which led to a more serious pursuit of sculpting in this medium. He has degrees in ornamental horticulture from SUNY Farmingdale and the Ohio State University and has taken industrial arts classes at NYU. Most recently he has studied at both the National Academy School and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. John is a lifelong resident of West Islip, New York.

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Artist Statement:

Steel is a beautiful material that can be twisted, bent and hammered into shape when heated red hot. It does not give up easily, but requires work to make it into what you wish. When one learns how to defeat steel’s resistance and to form it as one pleases, the results are gratifying. Iron ore from the earth has become a material for art. Once In the hands of man, steel is found everywhere in daily life. After it is put to use, steel reacts with its environment, and its surface can go from a lustrous gray to a deep rust brown, eventually acquiring a deeply pitted moon-like surface. The beauty of demolition or found steel is the endless variation in its color, shape, texture or origin. Surface textures of deterioration add mood and meaning to a sculpture. Newborn steel has no history, but used steel has provenance. There is vital warmth and genuineness in used steel. Its surface tells a story about where it has been over the years. Now a new story begins in the hands of a sculptor. Steel sculptures using raw, untreated, reclaimed material may appear primitive. Lines are created from misshapen pieces of steel whose surface texture and color force the eye to follow each line from beginning to end. The emphasis is to be informal, creating a piece that is not polished nor has a look of perfection. The elements of construction are left to stand naturally, and the steel will speak however it chooses. When taking a piece of rusted and multi colored steel I ask, where will you take me? Are you the beginning or the end? What must I do to make you a complete thought?

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IG: jabellsculpt

Artist Bio:

Long Island based underwater photographer, John Pfisterer, has been a scuba diving instructor for over 20 years, logging over 5,000 hours in diverse underwater locations such as the Caribbean, South Pacific, Central America, and of course, Long Island. His current goal is to create visually compelling images by merging landscape and fashion photography. John’s profound technical understanding of lighting, drawn from his experience as an electrical engineer, enables him to use studio methods underwater. He draws inspiration from pioneering underwater photographer, Toni Frissel whose work appeared in Vogue in the 1930s, as well as painter Edgar Degas and his depictions of dancers which uses the impressionists’ style, with studio or artificial light.

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Artist Statement:

As both a lifelong scuba diver and underwater photographer, my aim is to blend the rugged beauty of nature with the sophistication of fashion. Through the lens of my camera, I seek to transport viewers to a realm that transcends the constraints of gravity and convention where the interplay of light, liquid, and movement creates a visual symphony. In each photograph, the weightless dance of fabrics mirrors the fluidity of the aqueous sanctuary. This immersive experience invites audiences to reimagine style and beauty and every image is a testament to the boundless beauty that lies beneath the surface. It is my hope the viewer joins me in this subaquatic soiree, where the currents of creativity merge with the elegance of haute couture. 

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IG: uwphotoli

Artist Bio:

John Rocha is a self-taught Sayville artist. Rocha is inspired by nature and enjoy observing his surroundings. He often captures moments from his past and his present, mixed with his imagination, into his paintings. Rocha explores various media, but his areas of focus are acrylic painting, oil painting, and wood burning.

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Artist Statement:

Art is my passion and it has played a prominent role in my life since I was a young child. The discoveries I have made with my art have all been through my own self-taught trial and error. I am inspired by the masters of the past such as the Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Ashcan artists, Hudson River School painters, Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo, and many more. At times, I may struggle as I work through the highs and lows of the artistic process and overthinking about my art, but in the end I simply like to pick up a brush and paint as I strive for natural immediacy. Like Bob Ross, "happy accidents". My interest in nature and hiking serve as inspiration for the subject matter in my paintings.

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IG: johnrocha.art

Artist Bio:

Judith Caseley is an author/illustrator of over forty books for children. Her latest book, "Z is for Zebra: a Mosaic Menagerie", features mosaics that were displayed at the Toledo Zoo in 2022 for over a year. Her paintings have been commissioned internationally and she has been featured by the University of Findlay's Mazza Museum. She lives and works in New York, and her latest passion is mosaics and mixed media.

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Artist Statement:

The beauty of color and nature, and the simple things in life...an animal, a vase, a cup of coffee, continues to intrigue me when I'm creating art. Making art is staying in the moment for me, like a form of active meditation. I want people to experience joy when they see my work.

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www.judithcaseley.com

IG: judith_caseley_art

FB Judith Caseley

Artist Bio:

Julianna Kirk is a practicing artist living in Brookhaven, New York. She has an undergrad degree in Art Education and beyond her Masters she supplemented her professional education with glass and multimedia courses around the country and in Europe. She has devoted most of her practice to fused glass work for the last 35 years although she is proficient in other medias. She applies varying materials in her pieces that best communicate her point. She has successfully exhibited her work locally and the tri state area. The awards she garnered have been a highlight for her and her work is owned in many private collections. Julianna is an active member of Women Sharing Art, the Long Island Craft Guild and Gallery North. Her work is represented at Gallery North, bj Spoke and Reboli Art Center, all on Long Island. She has shown her artwork in The Society of Illustrators, Salmagundi Club, Nat. Assoc.of Women Artists, Taipei Institute, Williamsburg Art Center and Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition all in New York. She has also enjoyed 6 solo exhibits. She currently is part of a national glass exhibit in Virginia. She remains the Glass media chair in the Long Island Craft Guild and is on the board of the Bay Area Friends of Fine Arts

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Artist Statement:

In my piece, FAMILY TABERNACLE, I explored the relationship of mother and daughters when I created this piece. I looked back and revisited it to review each of my children’s attributes. They are depicted on the side alters of this tryptic artwork. I hold my place as matriarch in the center alter. It seems timely to place it for viewing again in Reflections.

In my piece, HOMAGE TO VAN GOGH, I challenged my comfort zone as I have little experience in mosaic art. I picked a favorite artist’s work, van Gogh’s sunflowers as my subject. I attempted to reproduce his swirling stroke effects in glass. In this I felt successful but mosaics, I leave it to the viewer.

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IG: juleskirkglass

FB: Julianna Kirk, Glass Artist

Artist Bio:

Kathleen Gerlach, is a retired High School Art and Photo teacher. She enjoyed teaching her students the love of art for 32 years. Now, with time to explore her own artistic endeavors, she is enjoying her love of photography and fused glass art. Besides taking new workshops, Kathie enjoys photographing landscapes, “up close and personal” nature subjects, and at times, bringing those compositions to her scenic glass designs. “It is fun to be the student now, and to explore and learn new mediums!” Kathie is honored to be a member of “Woman Sharing Art”, the Long Island Craft Guild, and BAFFA. She has displayed her work at many Long Island libraries, Art League of Long Island Gallery, Mill Pond Gallery, BAFFA, Huntington Arts Council, Huntington Arts Center, Bayard Cutting Arboretum Gallery, and at The Salmagundi Club Gallery in Manhattan, New York.

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Artist Statement:

My photo “Crab Meadow Reflection” was taken during the late lazy summer days in the afternoon. Everything is calm and peaceful, hardly a ripple in the water on the Long Island Sound beach. Take a breath and smell the salty air and breathe easy.

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IG: Kathleen.Gerlach.3

Artist Bio:

Kathleen has always enjoyed creating and has explored many art forms from an early age. Mainly inspired by nature, her work is influenced by the shapes, saturation of color, and motion of the natural world.

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Artist Statement:

I was inspired on a walk one day passing a puddle of leaves gathered together and the reflection of water in the middle. The mirror image in my ceramic piece is to be interpreted by the viewer, whether it be a reflection of self or seeing other objects observed.

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IG: Kathy.larocca

Artist Bio:

Kathleen's first pursuit of art began at age five. Santa brought her a box of doll-sized straw hats while her grand-aunt, a professional dressmaker, gifted her a box of ribbons, buttons, fabric, scissors, pins and needles. Her Dad, an accomplished draftsman, taught her how to draw. By high school, Kathleen was always called upon when creative minds and hands were needed. On weekends in her Junior and Senior years, she attended classes at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia in every artistic discipline they offered, all the while assuming she would move to Paris and become a dress designer... famous of course. Wish not fulfilled! Instead, after college, Kathleen found herself in the corporate world of marketing/ PR and advertising. A chance professional opportunity moved Kathleen to NYC in her mid-20's where her career and skills in writing coincided beautifully with her eclectic artistic abilities.

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Artist Statement:

My art-forms are visual: subject matter is eclectic. I create from sensory perception, attempting to visually mimic the the aroma of culinary creations, the whiff of springtime florals, the patter of rain, the chill of winter or the mystery of nature. My camera travels with me everywhere. I paint in water and acrylic, collage with textiles and carve in wood. More recently I began studying fused and stained glass, the intricacies of each challenge my creative soul.

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FB: Kathleen Frank Young

Artist Bio:

Kathy Brown is an artist living and working in Holbrook, NY. Her fascination with art and color became evident when, at the tender age of three, she painted one leg yellow and the other green with some house paint that her father had left open in their garage. That event is probably what prompted her parents to ensure that she had more appropriate art supplies available to her at all times. At the age of 60, Kathy went back to school to obtain her Visual Arts degree and graduated summa cum laude in 2021. She is an active member of Women Sharing Art, the Art League of Long Island, LIMarts and BAFFA. Her current works in oil and cold wax and acrylics focus mainly on the wonders of nature and are her intuitive expressions and interpretations of landscapes, seascapes, sunsets and the like. Kathy’s work has been exhibited at various galleries and venues on Long Island and her art is included in several local and national private collections.

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Artist Statement:

Over the past decade, my paintings have evolved from representational to abstract and non-objective explorations using various layering and mark-marking techniques that create a history of surface. These layers and surfaces embody the essence of captured memories and my visual response to those memories or, at times, my impressionistic interpretation of a particular image such as a beautiful landscape or sunset. I try to approach the work with the same free, unabashed spirit of a child who has received her first box of sixty-four Crayola crayons! By doing so, I hope to produce paintings that evoke a sense of joy and exuberance through the exciting interplay of pattern, texture and luminous, vibrant color.

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https://kathybrownstudio.squarespace.com

IG: kathy.brown.art

FB: kathleen.g.brown.3

Artist Statement:

Whether it’s finding peace in photographing a beautiful landscape, seeking an interesting perspective when photographing something abstract or routine, or documenting my travel over 45 states and 29 countries, I enjoy observing my surroundings through a lens and experiencing what life has to offer. I surround myself with my favorite photos as each makes me feel something: happiness, peacefulness, excitement, interest, curiosity. I hope to provide others with some of those same feelings when they look at my photos.

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IG: kaj_photo_roll

Artist Bio:

Kristin and fabric began a long and lasting friendship when she discovered her creative nature while working after school at a local fabric store. Aside from her career as a Home & Creative Arts teacher, Kristin designs memorial blankets and memory pillows. She and her iPhone are best friends as she chronicles her love of travel, near and far, through digital photography as seen in this recent photo on a trip to the UAE.

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Artist Statement:

With the advent of the iPhone, I like so many others, found a whole new world of creativity. The iCamera offers better than decent camera quality while allowing me to store away my larger and more cumbersome equipment. Capturing moments, people and events at a moment's notice moves worldly experiences into the realm of perpetuity. The ease of capturing and recording a nanosecond of time continues to amaze me. With editing features to expand/subtract my subject, enhance the hue of sky and water or cropping out irrelevant backgrounds is what makes an amateur grow into a skilled and creative photographer.

Artist Bio:

Linda Hartman is a life long artist from Long Island who taught art for 30 years in Brentwood. Always an acrylic painter, in recent years she has incorporated fiber into her paintings for a textured feel and to add depth to her landscapes.

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Artist Statement:

I paint and work in fiber to create artwork that portrays nature. My acrylic paintings are of varies landscapes that I have experienced. I have enhanced them with fiber to bring the feel of nature and the depth of the land with color and texture.

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www.Hartmanstudio44.com

IG: linda.hartman.1042

FB: hartman studio 44

Artist Bio:

Lisa Marie has always been inspired by the natural world, and her photography has taken her to many locations both within and outside of the United States. Her images convey meaning and evoke emotion. While walking on the beach, for example, she captures the changing patterns of clouds and light in the sky before the approaching storm, as they create ribbons of colors on the water and sand. Whether the subject be landscape or wildlife, Lisa Marie's use of imagery and thoughtful story telling inspires others to witness the natural world, and preserve it for generations to come. She begins the adventure, reminding herself to enjoy the journey by listening to the sounds of the environment, observing the changing patterns of light, perhaps detecting movement, all the while remaining a silent visitor in that natural world. While observing a Great Blue Heron standing on a platform by a lake, time stood still as she waited and observed its behavior. It would take time, but in the silence the magnificent bird prepared itself for flight. As it stretched its broad wings, and without a sound, it flew parallel to the grassy shoreline leaving a ripple below in the water and reflections of the colors of Autumn as well. Over the years Lisa Marie has broadened her knowledge and creative process through travel, meeting and working with other photographers, and by joining local and national photography organizations. Becoming a long standing member of Women Sharing Art has afforded Lisa Marie the opportunity to meet other artistic women, gain inspiration, and share ideas. She has shown her photographs in galleries, where some have been purchased and are part of private collections in the United States and abroad. Photography is the medium that allows Lisa Marie to create images that evoke emotion, thus telling stories and capturing special moments in time. Her hope is that those images will convey special meaning to others of the stories spoken to her. The image tells a story. The story conveys meaning, and emotion, of a moment in time.

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Artist Statement:

Capturing the beauty of the natural world in photographs brings me joy all throughout the year. Nature and wildlife photography provides the opportunity to create images of wildlife in their environment. When taking photographs of the Great Blue Heron in Flight, for instance, I research locations, study light as well as explore behavioral patterns to create a story that represents a special moment in time. The viewer thus can contemplate the visual story as told by the subject’s expression and behavior, while the photographer uses light and composition to create the image.

For my second photograph, Beach Sky, the subject is the changing light patterns I observed as I walked in the sand along the water's edge while a rain storm was approaching. Where the clouds met the ocean and where the ocean met the shore, the changing light patterns painted layers of subtle colors, as if the clouds, ocean and shore were one. I am inspired by the wonder of nature as well as wildlife at its best, and share my stories through the lens. I also support efforts to protect and preserve our natural environment for our future generations, and hope that these images will provide inspiration for others as well. I hope you will enjoy these photographs as much as I do.

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IG: Lisa Marie Scrima-Castelli

FB: Lisa Marie Scrima-Castelli

Artist Bio:

Lorelei is a landscape artist and works as a design consultant. She earned a bachelor's degree in studio art in upstate New York and has a deep appreciation for nature and conservation. Her paintings focus on natural themes and document her interpretations of the places she visits. This passion has led her to pursue a new degree in environmental science, which she is currently working toward.

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Artist Statement:

While I primarily work in landscapes, caricatures and portraiture have always piqued my appreciation - the evidence of our endless fascination with human faces and expression. The organic forms of tree bark, rock features, or even shadows in a field can reveal hidden faces as well (hello, Man in the Moon). The search for these make a hike even more interesting than usual. After working on a landscape painting I'll inevitably have extra paint on the palette. These leftover colors get scraped, pressed, or dripped onto scrap paper. On another day I'll go hunting for a face or two, and a happenstance knob or hollow in the scrap paint will become a nose or an eye socket. It is a joy and an imaginative workout to 'discover' these characters and make them come to life.

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IG: lorelei.olk

Artist Bio:

Lori, a native of Long Island, has wanted to be an artist since she was three years old. She has a BFA in Painting from Pratt Institute, and a PhD in Computer Science from Stony Brook University. She is currently an associate professor at Stony Brook, where she teaches classes on Design (of games, technology, and interactions) and Color (in technology and art). Her artwork has been selected for juried shows around Long Island, at Las Laguna Gallery in California, and by the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club (CLWAC) in New York City.

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Artist Statement:

Every painting has a story to tell. For me, the challenge is to convey that story through color and form. For many years I have focused on landscapes and the powerful beauty they represent. But my current passion is drawing and painting portraits of people and animals. Unlike a photograph, which captures every detail whether it is significant or not, I believe that a good portrait painting brings out a person’s true essence. I love the challenge of discovering who they are and how best to portray them.

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www.loriscarlatosart.wordpress.com/

IG: LoriScarlatos

FB: LoriScarlatos

Artist Bio:

Meagan J. Meehan is a published author, poet, cartoonist, and produced playwright and screenwriter. As a freelance journalist, she covers Arts & Entertainment and Lifestyle & Leisure. She is also a stop-motion animator and an award-winning abstract artist. Meagan holds a Bachelors in English Literature from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), a Masters in Communication from Marist College, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction and the Science of Learning at University at Buffalo (SUNY). Meagan works full-time teaching and designing college-level courses in the fields of English and Communication. She is an animal advocate and a fledgling toy, game, and shoe designer. A curator and art teacher as well as an artist, she is the founder of the “Conscious Perceptionalism” art movement.

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Artist Statement:

I am an abstract artist whose work is bright and colorful. My work aims to combat the darkness and negativity in the world by showcasing cheerfulness, playfulness, creativity, and imagination. If someone looks at my art and smiles, then it has fulfilled its purpose. My work is three-dimensional, formed of many found objects, and celebrates the beauty of recycling. Moreover, I am the founder of the “Conscious Perceptionalism” art practice which prompts viewers to look at my art from 360-degree angles. There is no left, right, up, or down–every individual can choose the direction from which they find my work most pleasing to look upon.

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www.meaganjmeehan.com

IG: artsycr8tor

Artist Bio:

Local artist, Art Teacher, Creative.

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Artist Statement:

This particular work is a revived piece from my undergrad at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It has been a fashion illustration done purely in watercolor. Now ten years later, I have added bold color pencil outline to solidify the work.

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IG: meganmaryillustration

Artist Bio:

Melisse Pinto is an Artist and Photographer from the East End of Long Island, NY. Her painting style is Expressive Impressionism with loose, colorful and emotive elements focusing on capturing the color and light in nature. Her photography collections are based on interesting people living real life and relatable moments that are unposed and evoke thought and emotion from the viewer.

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Artist Statement:

Over the past 50 years, my artistic journey began with commissioned watercolor portraits and pen & ink drawings. I have explored many mediums of painting and photography. My acrylic paintings have evolved into a freer expressive impressionist style that celebrates the energetic and colorful whimsy of nature. Long Island’s seasonal vibrancy and beauty, from the bluffs, rolling farmlands and vineyards of the North Fork to the majestic Atlantic and ocean dunes filled with seagrasses and beach plums, is my inspiration. My photography focuses on capturing interesting people, unposed, in joyful and thoughtful moments. Light, joyful emotion, random moments and unexpected scenes are explored throughout my various collections.

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IG: melissepinto

Artist Statement:

I am a retired physician and a mixed media artist who feels the health and well-being of individuals is enhanced when they decide to participate in the arts.

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IG: chait.michael

Artist Bio:

Born in Belgium, Mireille went to art school in Antwerp and graduated as a goldsmith. Her love for nature shows in her watercolors and acrylics. She has a beautiful line of greeting cards available at local stores.

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Artist Statement:

Solitude, time to reflect. Alone, but not lonely. When we are in nature and everything is quiet, there is a peace inside that connects us all.

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IG: mireille_belajonas

FB: Made with Love, by Mireille Belajonas

Artist Bio:

nancyruth works in many different mediums. Pen and ink, acrylics, pencils, multi-layers of paper, fabric, wood, and found objects to name a few. This makes for very interesting works. She is a member of BAFFA and has shown her work in the BAFFA Art Gallery with the Bell Street Artists many times. She also paints interiors in private homes and churches and is the artist who painted the domed ceiling in the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts.

Artist Bio:

Patchogue based artist, Nora Franzese, prefers working in acrylic but enjoys working in watercolor and pen and ink and is not afraid to try new materials, especially in her art room with her students. Nora illustrates children’s books for various authors and publishers and is in the process of completing a picture book she both illustrated and wrote. She has not only worked both as an illustrator for comic book and traditional publishers she has worked as a graphic designer for various international companies. You can find Nora’s work on Instagram @noralee.illustrationson and on Youtube as Franzese Art sharing art lessons for children.   Nora holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art & Design from New York Institute of Technology and a Masters in Art Education from Dowling College and teaches art in the Patchogue-Medford School District since 1999 marrying both her skills and art education with her love for creating art with or for children

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Artist Statement:

Each year I tell my artist students and my own creative children, that creativity is never a waste of time. This statement started out as a quick comment in a student's year book to becoming my personal mantra. Some days it feels as though something inside me is going to burst until I take a pause and find my release through creating something new. Creativity comes in many forms but for me it can be the start of a fresh painting, the armature of a sculpture or can be the process of experimenting with new materials. I have come to realize that our souls have a voice and we need to find the time to allow them to speak.

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www.ntappfranzese.com

IG: noralee.illustrations

FB: Nora Tapp Franzese

Artist Bio:

Renee Brown, a New York Based emerging artist delved into photorealism while earning her
BFA at the Hartford Art School. While in attendance she became the first recipient of the Helen
Charleton Scholarship for her work in portraiture and was granted the Jerry A. Shoham/Jerrys
Artarama Connecticut prize for painting. After graduating in 2017, she attended the Summer
Undergraduate Residency at the New York Academy of Art and has since exhibited her work
across the east coast. Her work has received numerous awards including East End Arts Galleries
Juried Exhibition “50 Reasons Why”, International Art Magazines art prize challenge no.128
“Favorite Subjects” and the Light Space and Time online Gallery painting exhibition. Browns
continued to exhibit her work across the east coast.

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Artist Statement:

As a lifelong resident on Long Island, I’m often inspired by the beautiful landscape and wildlife
around me. I Love the rich woods, serene marshlands, and vast fields. One foot into some of
these places feels like entering a new world. I’ve also studied birds since I was a child. That
connection inspires me and seeps into my paintings. They often represent my emotions, my
mental state at the time. The peaceful landscapes and powerful wildlife soaring around me
allows me to disconnect and melt away. I hope to capture those moments where I can find
tranquility and invite others to feel the same way.

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www.reneebrown.net

IG: reneem.brown

FB: ReneeBrownArts

Artist Bio:

After 33 successful years of working as an art teacher and Central Office Administrator in the Brentwood School District, Scott Hartman returned to creating, exhibiting and selling his original artworks. A self-taught watercolorist who has painted realistic landscapes and still-life images for over 40 years, Scott decided to explore another media: woodworking. In September of 2014, Scott was accepted into the Thos. Moser Furniture Company’s Customer-in-Residency Program in Maine. From that experience, Scott used this knowledge to design and create one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture, ranging from accent tables, bookshelf units, and live-edge coffee and dining room tables. Using hardwoods from a lumber mill in Pennsylvania, near where he grew up, Scott hand picks and crafts the wood to effective complement each unique metal base.

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Artist Statement:

My goal is to create works of art that are pleasing to the eye, well designed, and uniquely handcrafted so the viewer has a enjoyable experience.

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www.Hartmanstudio44.com

IG: Hartman Studio 44

Artist Bio:

During my childhood, I was drawn to photography influenced by my father, who saw the world through his camera. Like my dad, I began capturing life’s moments through my own lens, but there was always something missing. Although I have explored the arts throughout my life my work career consumed my time. Fortunately, early retirement allowed me to start this incredible journey of what was missing, and I started drawing and painting the world around me. I tried different mediums, but was drawn to watercolor, and started taking classes with wonderful masters, who become my mentors. To further enhance my artistry and curiosity, I sort out workshops abroad and participated in virtual and in person classes, with many renowned art instructors. There I learned technique, and various ways to sharpen my skill. My style is realism using contrasting colors and bold composition, rich with extensive detail. I am also inspired by the loose style watercolor that suggests a subject while using less detail, yet still tells the story. My study of picturesque landscapes, seascapes, beautiful architecture, tropical scenery and portraits, are brought to life in my paintings.

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Artist Statement:

My belief is, you can create anything you see in your mind, painting is just another way of keeping a diary.

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www.stephsartwork.com

FB: stephanie.ivolella

Artist Bio:

Sue Miller is a founding member of Women Sharing Art and a former Board member of BAFFA and who now sits in an advisory position for the BAFFA Art Gallery. She is a photographer who enjoys creating unique pieces of work whether it be locally or in her travels.

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Artist Statement:

Celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary we took a hot air balloon ride over the mountains, fields and lakes of NE Pennsylvania. The pilot dipped down to this lake where I was able to hang over the side of the basket and got this shot of our reflection in the water below. (I made sure he was holding onto my belt!

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www.womensharingart.org

FB: sue.miller.714049

Artist Bio:

Tove started her art "career" with crayons at the age of three. She still uses crayons (and "hot encaustics") and has worked with many types of art media through the years.

About twelve years ago, she decided to learn how to use oil paints, which she had never tackled before. Thanks to the Islip Arts Council and its classes at Brookwood Hall, Tove started to paint and thoroughly enjoyed the results. She took classes at the Art League of Long Island and became a member there. Since then, she has continued as an art member of the Islip Arts Council and has been accepted in many exhibitions with both her oil paintings and photography. She has also loved photography since shooting with a Brownie Hawkeye since the age of nine. Now Tove photographs the natural world with her digital Canon camera-and Galaxy cell phone. (For over 30 years she has been a videographer, with a business specializing in event and performance videography and in transferring old media into new www.VideoMatters.us.com). She studied nature photography at Cornell and is a member of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association), and Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts. She was accepted into Women Sharing Art in 2017, and has exhibited along with her very talented member friends in many Long Island venues.

There is a long history of artists in Tove's family, and she tries to hold up this tradition!

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Artist Statement:

Reflections in mirrors, glass, shadows: all have attracted me since my first attempt at capturing (indirectly!) a solar eclipse fifty years ago. My photo, "Mirrored Sunset" is a reflection off of my white Toyota Rav 4 of a Great South Bay sunset from a dock in West Sayville. My other photo, "Kusama Self Portrait #2" is my riff on Yayoi Kusama's universe, taken inside her "Infinity Mirrored Room- Let's Survive Forever."

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www.videomatters.us.com

FB: Video Matters

Artist Bio:

Win DeWitt officially began her career in Northeastern Pennsylvania at the age of eighteen when she painted a larger than life portrait of Muhammed Ali. Subsequently, Ali was shown the painting, loved it and arranged for her to present it to him in the boxing ring prior to an exhibition fight he was having in Scranton. Since that time, Win has gone on to do more paintings, bronze sculptures and currently is devoting the majority of her time to porcelain ceramic ware. She has resided on Long Island since 1981 and finds much inspiration from the surrounding waters and beautiful landscapes.

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Artist Statement:

Very simple, I am intrigued by our Long Island waters and all they reflect whether it's Peconic Bay, the Long Island Sound or the Ocean. I find the changing reflections mesmerizing.

Artist Bio:

Victoria Beckert has studied many different art mediums but has a passion for watercolors. She is mostly self-taught and enjoys experimenting with various techniques and painting styles. For the past five years she has been giving watercolor workshops at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum called “Palettes in the Park” as seen in Newsday, 2015. Since then, she has become curator of the arboretum galleries responsible for bringing the “Arts to the Arboretum” showcasing various local artist exhibits throughout the year in the newly renovated Annex Galleries and introducing several more art workshops in different mediums.

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Artist Statement:

As an artist, I find that working with watercolors, combining the paint and water, very freeing as it is loosely applied to paper producing wonderful surprises and various textures that add interest to my paintings. I feel that my best paintings are when I exert the least amount of control over the paint and water. I also use a variety of techniques such as salt, candle wax, wax paper, and inks that make her paintings stand out and define my style.

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www.womensharingart.org/victoriabeckert

FB: Designs by Victoria and Victoria Beckert watercolors

Artist Bio:

Whitney Bell is a photographer whose images are deeply personal and guided by her intuition. Following a successful career as an interior designer encompassing over 20 years designing high-end residential and commercial spaces for a boutique design firm in New York City, Whitney devoted her attention toward photography and resumed her studies at the International Center of Photography where she completed the Photography Foundations Intensive Part-Time Certificate Program in 2022 and the Personal Vision and Portfolio Intensive Part-Time Certificate Program in 2023. Whitney’s work has been recognized in curated group exhibitions across Long Island, NY, Connecticut, Massachusetts and online exhibitions. In the Spring of 2023, Whitney was invited to participate in a weekly Salon where she continues to be mentored and supported by her peers in her artistic endeavors.

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Artist Statement:

I believe in the restorative power of being in nature and its ability to transform one's state of mind. Photography is a form of meditation for me where I find peace and stillness. I think that experience is reflected in the images I make.

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www.photographybywhitneybell.com

IG: photography_by_whitney_bell