Meet Our Instructors - Venice Art Center

Alysworth, Lynn Nelson

Lynn has been a member of the Hudson Valley Art Association since 1999 and has shown in many juried shows. She has won awards at the Salmagundi Club, American Artist’s Professional League National Show, Catherine Lorilland Wolf Show for Women Artists sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kent Art Association, the Ridgewood Art Insitute, the Florence Griswold Museum, and the Newark Museum. Her work was featured the American Artist Magazne twice. Her work is in many private and corporate collections.

Baxter, Julie

Julie is a lifetime and award winning potter. Her teaching career has been with the Arlington County, Virginia, Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Resources. She taught all levels of wheel-throwing classes and workshops on surface decoration. She also taught children’s handbuilding classes at Arlington County Elementary School. Julie was a member of Grey House Potters, Arlington, Virginia and the Kiln Club of Washington. Julie’s undergraduate degree is in ceramics.

Bersey, Mary

A brand new pottery instructor to the Venice Art Center, Mary has many years of experience creating pottery. Always learning and honing her skills, she is a continuing student at the VAC and now she shares her talent with the students who also wish to attend class.

Burgan, Beth

Beth Burgan brings experience of teaching art to gifted and talented (K-12) university students, and challenged adult populations. Her B.S. degree is in art education. She has an MFA, was a teaching assistant in sculpture at Kent State University. She worked in Human Resources for 15 years and owed a clinical massage therapy practice in Minneapolis for over 30 years. All the various career paths had one thing in common, to empower each individual to create and manifest positive self-awareness.

Cassidy, Marilyn

Marilyn has a B.A. in Sociology and an M.S. in Education. She taught in the Albany City Schools in New York State. She moved to Florida in 1990 and worked in Early Education in Sarasota. She has studied with several local and nationally known artists. Her goal is to share her collected knowledge with others who are honing their artistic skills; who want to have fun and discover a wonderful pastime.

Chencharick, Diane

Diane Chencharick has a long background in the arts as a graphic designer, art director, creative director and watercolor artist for more than 40 years. She is known for her strong use of color and keen sense of design. Her award-winning abstracts hang in many galleries, and exhibitions. She has mentored numerous artists, honing their skills and teaching effective use of contrast and color. Her specialty is helping artists overcome self-limiting behaviors that keep them stuck in old patterns. www.deepwatergallery.com

Cutting, Harry

Harry Cutting is a professional photographer and writer. Over his 35-year career his work has appeared in hundreds of magazines, books, government publications and advertising campaigns. His clients include: Johnson & Johnson, Oxford University, Nestle, Penthouse, US Govt, Woman’s World, McGraw-Hill and the Red Cross. He’s online at hcuttingphoto.com .

Dicker, Carole

I love taking photos. I have photographed many different subjects: travel and local scenes, wildlife, landscapes, cityscapes, family and friends, and ‘the moment’. After several careers and raising a family, I am living my retirement dream of working as a photographer. My photographs are intended to reflect what I see; sometimes part of a larger camera image, and never far from what is real. Born in New York City, I obtained a BA and MBA for my formal education. Since then, I have studied much about how to achieve the vision I want photographically. I come from a family heritage of art and music; creating is in my genes. Please visit my new website and online store at: caroledickerphotography.com for a selection of my photos.

DiNapoli, Renee

Renee C. DiNapoli, award-winning, professional artist/instructor and former faculty member of Ringling School of Art & Design is noted for her contemporary florals and interior beachfront realism. Renee’s striking oil paintings have received critical acclaim for their high contrast, unusually intense use of color and exquisite detail. Her ability to achieve both impact and delicacy in her paintings attests to her 36 years of training with Italian master and studying at The Louvre in Paris for many years. She has taught at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL as well as Tulane and Loyola Universities in New Orleans, LA. Her graduate study was conducted at The Red Mountain Institute of Art.Three of her paintings were purchased by the State of Florida and placed in their permanent collection. Renee just completed an oil painting commission for Stallion Boot Company, El Paso, TX. One of her paintings was accepted into the permanent collection Vieques Museum of Fine Art in Puerto Rico. Several of her paintings were juried in international exhibitions at The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art in Texas, a national exhibition at the Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Raymond James Financial Center, among many others.Renee recently was awarded a bronze award from Camelback Gallery for the 2021 International Pet Competition plus many other awards and accolades (please visit www.dinapolistudios.com).

Doty, Barbara

A self-taught professional watercolor pencil artist, teacher and author. I have dabbled in many different mediums over the years. Retirement has allowed me the opportunity to pursue my passion for art. The love that I have for the beautiful wildlife that we share on this planet, well it was only natural progression for me to paint animals as well as pet portraits. I have done shows as well as solo exhibitions and commission work in the Kansas City area. Being awarded “Best of Show” at the Buttonwood Art Space”, was an honor for me. Recently moving to Sarasota, Florida to be closer to my family I am looking forward to painting, teaching, and writing.

Espinosa, Josephina

Josephina studied at the Instituto de Bellas Artes in Colombia, South America. She went on to teach both children and adults a wide range of media including drawing, painting, glass fusion, and stained glass. Her work is known throughout the world.

Farrell, Emilia

Emilia Farrell is currently an Englewood, FL, based artist and art instructor. She studied with V. Sangarov (Ukraine), Monique Johannet, Babrara Baum, Sue Miller (Cambridge AEC) and David Small, Mass College of Art (Boston, MA). The subject matter of her works: portraits, landscapes and still-life in the traditional/impressionistic style. She is fascinated by ideas and concepts of various time periods of art history and cross relationships between arts, science, as well as relevant to these periods’ techniques and use of materials. She participated in New England’s art events, exhibits and is a member of the Oil Painters of America (OPA). She enjoyed teaching drawing and oil painting classes at the Newton Adult Education Center, Lexington, MA, as well as at the private students’ studios. Her works are shown in Cambridge Art Association, Belmont Art Gallery of Art, Newburyport, MA. Her landscapes and portraits were purchased by private collectors.

Golden, Sheila

Sheila Golden has worked in fine art for over 30 years, being included in a women’s art calendar and exhibiting in New York City, San Francisco and Santa Fe, NM. Her watercolors are in Sarasota’s Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy. She has a BA in Fine Art from Sonoma State University and has studied with noted artists Barbara Nechis, Robert Burridge and Wolf Kahn. With her art in private and corporate collections, she enjoys sharing the magic of watercolors.

Gordon, Beverly

Beverly Gordon is an artist, writer and teacher who has long been passionate about “deep seeing” and helping people appreciate both the material and inner, intuitive worlds. She is Professor Emeritus in the Design Studies department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she taught textiles, design history and material culture for 30 years. She continues to teach through her own southwest Florida studio, through ACE (Adult Community Enrichment) programs in Sarasota and through further-afield institutions such as Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Wisconsin. She is author of numerous books and articles, most of which address meanings in our designed environment (representative titles: Textiles: The Whole Story—Uses, Meanings, Significance; “Raised Beadwork in the Iroquois Tradition” in Piecework magazine). Gordon’s artwork has blossomed since her retirement from the university. She has developed a unique style and body of work, using fiber and mixed media techniques in assemblage and (usually) dimensional collage. She typically incorporates…

Groff, Erica

Erica Groff is a sculptural artist and teacher with a BFA in ceramics from California College of the Arts. While ceramics is her favorite medium, she also creates with metal, plastics, and other tactile materials, often incorporating them. During her 14 years in the area, Erica has enjoyed a Hermitage Residency, solo exhibitions, a public sculpture, co-judging several fine art festivals, working administrative positions for art institutions, and teaching artistic skills to people of all ages.

Heart, Nancy

Working in three dimensions has been Nancy’s passion since high school. Her love of creating clay sculptures and teaching combine to make her “one happy camper.” Her student’s success and very busy classes support her enthusiasm and willingness to share her knowledge of sculpture techniques. After a successful 25-year career as a clinical social worker, working with children and adults, Nancy has found her niche continuing her art full time and teaching in Venice. “Life is Good!”

Keck, Alan

Fifty years experience on potters wheel. Made a living for 10 years as production potter, Masters degree in Art Education. Taught all levels of ceramics and glassblowing at Emporia High School in Emporia, Kansas. Last ten years as Department Chair.

Kelly, Patricia

Pat has worked as a studio potter for over 35 years. She is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology in Graphic Arts with post-graduate study at the School for American Craftsmen, where she studied with potters Franz Wildenhaim and Jim Seacreast. Her work has sold in specialty shops, Dean and Delucca and Tiffany’s of New York City. She has been featured in House and Garden, Home Beautiful and Country Living. Her work is in private collections in the U.S. and Japan.

Larisch, Linda

Linda is the fourth generation of artists from a multicultural background. She has been painting for the past 40 years, had over 30 one-woman shows, and has been represented by various galleries in the US and Mexico. Her medium is acrylic paint on canvas. Her style ranges from realistic to abstract. She was an educator for pre-school children with delays and taught middle school herein Florida as well as art classes at several venues in the area.

Maria, Gary

Gary received his BFA from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania in 1976, then studied at the Art Students League of New York, SVA, and NYU. He first worked as a graphic designer in NYC at several book publishing houses. He then freelanced illustration for Dell Puzzle Magazines, Silhouette Romance, and Barbour Publishing, and also worked as a fine art print colorist at Mill Pond Press in Venice, Florida. His work aspires to the traditions of nineteenth century academic realism.

McCullough, Heather

Heather is a watercolor, oil and acrylic artist from Venice FL who spends time each summer in the western United States. She is a retired physician who began her study of art at the Venice Art Center in the 1990’s, and then continued for many years with Herbie Rose at his studio in Bradenton, FL, augmented with additional workshops, classes, and self study. She is an enthusiastic plein-air painter of landscapes and figures. Her work has been exhibited at the Venice Art Center, Venice Theater, and in Florida Watercolor Society shows, Drigg’s Plein Air and in Wyoming, Her work can also be viewed on her website, HeatherMcCulloughArtworks.com. She is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society and the Venice Art Center.

McElhinney, Laura

Laura received her Masters degree from California Institute of the Arts in 2002. She has worked as a Theatrical Lighting Designer, Scenic Designer, and Painter for the past 20 years. Laura has worked many amazing places around the globe, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MOMA in New York, and international arts festivals in Singapore, United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, France, Denmark, Belgium, and Korea. She loves to paint and create new art with her 3 girls.

Meyer, Katrina

Katrina, from Toledo, Ohio, became fascinated with minerals, gemstones and jewelry after a career in Ohio and Maryland as a secondary and adult education teacher and administrator. Beginning in 1996, she studied wire-craft jewelry making at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Georgia and in private sessions with internationally known master wire artists. She sells her award-winning designs at area art shows and has taught wire jewelry making since 2001.

Miller, Baila

Baila Miller completed Bachelor’s, Master’s degree, and post graduate work at The University of Memphis. Through her company, Baila Miller Programs, she has been presenting college level courses that explore the role of literature, paintings, architecture, sculpture, cinema, photography, as well as, orchestral and operatic influences in the development of European and modern American culture. Ms. Miller has taught or is currently teaching at The University of Memphis, Road Scholar International, ACE Adult & Community Enrichment, Longboat Key Education Center, Historic Spanish Point, The Venice Art Center, and The Ringling College of Art & Design.

Nishihira, Robert

Robert was a full-time commercial photographer for 18 years in California and had clients such as Callaway Golf, IBM, and Qualcomm. He won a number of honors including CA Magazine’s Award of Excellence and ASMP’s Gold Award. Robert’s work has been published in magazines such as Vogue and Town & Country. After retiring from commercial photography, Robert taught photography at the City College of San Francisco for 20 years

Outlaw, Dione

I am an award winning jewelry and glass bead artist. I have been making jewelry for 34 years and teaching for over 30 years. Most of my teaching has been at William Holland Lapidary School of Art where I taught for 22 summers. I have also taught in several art centers. Most of my experience is in wire, silver, glass bead making and cold connections. In the classes I mostly teach, I show the students how they can combine wire, sheet metals and bead to make unique pieces of jewelry.

Palmer, Jeanne

Jeanne has been a full-time potter for over 25 years; having owned and operated a pottery school and gallery near Buffalo, NY for 12 years. Her education includes: Bachelor of Arts/Ceramics from S.U.N.Y. at Fredonia, Post graduate Glaze Chemistry at S.U.N.Y. Alfred, Art & Education Graduate studies at University of Colorado at Boulder, and Studio Concentration at Penland School of Crafts, NC. Jeanne has shared enthusiasm for her craft having taught classes at many art centers and retreats. Palmer Pottery is well recognized in the area as she exhibits at fine art shows and local galleries.

Pica, Linda

Linda began painting in oils at the age of 15 under private and group instruction. She earned her Master’s Degree (MBA) at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and currently offers over 15 years of experience teaching adult students in a variety of business, arts and sciences courses. She maintains active memberships with the Bethel Art League, Venice Art Center, North Port Art Center and Englewood Art Center, winning awards for her work in local shows and competitions and selling her work at galleries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Venice and surrounding communities in Florida, and has completed a variety of commissions nationally.

Platte, Roxcy

Roxcy Platte is an award-winning artist who has been sketching and painting all her life. Especially known for lively portraits and charming street scenes, she captures subjects quickly and brings that spontaneity to her classes. Her students learn how to see the world around them through the magic of light and shadow, color, shape and the use of negative space. Her classes are not to be missed.

Pommier, Laura

Laura Pommier resides in Rotonda West, Florida. Her formal art education comprises a Master of Arts from Indiana State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Murray State University. Previously living in Jasper, Indiana, she worked as a graphic artist. At the same time, she produced studio art and exhibited in juried, group and solo shows nationwide. Now in Florida, Laura continues to work in her studio and teaches painting, drawing and pastel. She has been featured in The Herald Tribune, The Sun, Harbor Style, Sarasota Magazine, Healthy Living Magazine, Venice Lifestyle Magazine and Wellen Park Living. Additionally, she has painted numerous local murals. You can find Laura at www.laurapommier.com; FaceBook, and Instagram.

Ponder, Haley

Haley Ponder is a 22 year old self taught artist born and raised right here in Venice,FL. Haley specializes in abstract acrylic painting but does not just stop there, she has also done custom paintings for homes nationwide. For reference you can check out her Etsy page. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaintingsbyPonder

Rosall, Judith

Judi Rosall is the founder/creative director at Wild Cherry Studio in Venice/Port Charlotte, FL. She is also a 20+ years, professional studio, and fine-art/mobile photographer and mixed-media artist and instructor. Her work ranges from figurative, to conceptual abstract, fine art photography; vintage/botanical composites; and seascape/landscape/wildlife photography. Judi has a B.S. degree in Journalism/Photojournalism, including advanced, fine art photography studies with leading CO, CA and NM, fine art photographers

Rose, Nancy

Art training since age eleven, Nancy is a professional award-winning artist, listed in “Who’s Who for American Art.” Rose has exhibited at New Britain Museum of American Art and is a juried member of Connecticut Watercolor Society and Women Contemporary Artists. As an Individualized learning specialist who taught teens with disabilities, Nancy began taking this approach to the art classroom. A nurturing teacher with enthusiasm and optimism that is contagious, she encourages students to paint as unique individuals.

Schwab, Rita

Born and raised in Heidelberg Germany Immigrated to the US in 1973 BFA Fine Arts University of South Florida, Tampa MFA Florida State University Rita has been a studio artist since the early 80’s. She has taught art as an adjunct at FSU, traveled to many Art Centers in the US to hold weekend workshops and offers classes out of her private studio. Rita has resided in Englewood, FL since 2010 and has taught Abstract Painting at The Open Studio, the Northport Art Center, Englewood Art Center and the Arts Alliance of Lemon Bay This season she is excited to offer her painting techniques at the Venice Art Center. Rita shows and sells her art locally, nationally and internationally. She attends juried art shows and shows in a variety of galleries. Please https://www.facebook.com/artforthesoal, https://www.instagram.com/earthelements01/ and https://www.ritaschwabfineart.com to view her work.

Shelby, Nancy

Throughout her life, Shelby has been a working artist with her main focus on studio and gallery shows, plus teaching. She has taught her art in Florida, California, Mexico and Greece. In the past few years, dot painting has entered into the mix, and she has been sharing this technique with her students. Her current dotting work has been creating Mandalas, Masks and nature designs.

Smith, Frances

Frances Smith has been a freelance artist in Venice for over 40 years. She attended Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and Ringling College of Art, specializing in acrylic, watercolor and pastel – with extensive work in stained glass, calligraphy, and Public Art and wall murals – both indoors and out. Frances has taught both children and adult art classes and exhibited locally and nationally, winning numerous awards for her work.

Stramara, Joanne

Joanne’s love for art has always been a part of her life while growing up in Pennsylvania. She studied art at Kutztown University, Wyomissing Institute and with many local and national art teachers. Art workshops to California, Arizona, France, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Florida, etc. “fueled the fire”. Her favorite medium is watercolor and her love of experimentation has been rewarding.

Stuart, Drew

For many years during Drew’s 43 year teaching career, he shared
his love of puppetry with his students. They would perform student scripted plays for other classes. He developed an inexpensive design for marionettes and hand puppets and helped each child make one. Drew was a self taught puppet maker until 2006, when I took a two week wood marionette carving class. Afterwards he joined the
Puppeteers of America and attended numerous regional and national puppetry conventions where he took many workshops on puppet building- from kid sized puppets up to twelve foot tall festival puppets.

Tamsett, Janessa

Janessa has passionately dedicated the past 25 years to creating and teaching art within the local community. Her instructional program embraces a variety of art mediums, integrating classical techniques, art history, and art appreciation concepts. Additionally, Janessa has developed instructor-led workshops for schools and community programs. She relocated to Venice, FL, to continue her commitment to community art in Southwest Florida and to focus on her personal works of oceanic paintings.

Tilson, Linda

Beginning with a BS in Textiles plus Education from Texas Tech, Linda has been a teacher, a commercial textiles and clothing designer and entrepreneur. For the past 20 years she has been a textile artist, creating one-of-a-kind garments and accessories which she sells at fine craft/ fine art shows, including ACC, Lincoln Center, NYC, and some juried Florida shows. Venice is her home and Linda enjoys sharing her passion for working with colors and designs on fabric.

Valladares, Rosa

Rosa Valladares was born in Lima Peru; where her passion for printmaking started. She studied at Tamarind Institute in New Mexico. And later on, was granted with a full scholarship to earn a Master degree in Fine Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has received others Art grants from various institutions. Rosa also participated in collective exhibitions all over the world. Her experience on teaching, reflects the enthusiasm she has to create and appreciate art.

Wilcox, Susan

Painting is one of the greatest joys of my life. I consistently use the gift that I have been given while striving to improve my technique and bring joy to others with my work. Susan studied in Buffalo, NY and earned a BS and MS in Art Education.

Willoughby, Aaron

Aaron is a Southern California native born in San Diego. The beginning of his art and design career was as a freelance graphic designer. Which gave him a great foundation for his jewelry and
metal art ambitions. He was mentored by Steven Smith MFA and several master metal artists and instructed by Deb Jemmott MFA.
In 2005, he began to explore the lapidary arts, starting with cutting cabochons which segued into faceting where he found the perfect complement to his metal art and jewelry. He has taught jewelry
making and metal art at the San Diego Community College District. You can buy his wearable art at the Venice Farmer’s Market on
Saturdays and learn more about him at www.aaronwilloughby.com.

Winnie, Michelle

Michelle moved to Nokomis, FL in 2021 where she continues to pursue her art career in both 2-D painting and 3-D clay work. Her work has been on display at the Venice Art Center, the Art Center
of Sarasota and the Kahwa Coffee House. She has participated in numerous art organizations and has juried shows both local and nationally. The Venice Art Center is proud to add Michelle to its
talented list of teachers.