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Instructors
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Rob Crombie
Robert Crombie received his formal art training from Cooper School of Art and Kent State University. His patterns of agitated brush marks are descriptive and in the same instance they give the paintings an abstract quality. He captures, psychologically, his subject, be it nature or the back porch on a building. Crombie began painting again in 2002 after more than 30 years without touching a brush. His work is on display in Cleveland, St Remy France, South Carolina as well as local galleries and Summer shows. He has always believed the true “success” in being an oil painter is being very satisfied with your work and the final outcome of each painting." We must all be real, be honest and put a piece of ourselves on the canvas for the world to see." http://rhcrombie.com/
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Laura Ferrando
Laura Ferrando first began studying ceramics as a child at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. Later, as a student at the Cleveland Institute of Art, she quickly rediscovered her love of clay. She earned her BFA in ceramics in 2000, and has been teaching ceramics, as well as other media, to children and adults throughout the greater Cleveland area ever since. In 2012, Laura earned a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. She is always looking for ways to combine her skill sets to help those with physical limitations to pursue their artistic interests. |
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Jessica Goggins
My name is Jessica, and I am a Registered Art Therapist. My experience focused on working in a school setting for individuals on the autism spectrum. There, I highlighted daily: creativity, structure, communication, and sensory integration. For the past 8 years I have been having fun being a mom to my 2 children. I really love to bring creativity and beauty into our every day lives! I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach art again! I have many fun ideas that I can’t wait to have the space to bring to life! I look forward to bringing a individualized, multi-sensory, positive, inclusive art experience to many children in the community! |
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Carla Guseilo
Carla Guseilo has a BFA with a double major in Painting and Printmaking from the Fine Arts School at Miami University. Carla's art was primarily restricted to the flat surface till a random summer class at Kent State introduced her to the wonders of the ceramic three-dimensional world. "The materials of clay and glaze and the element of fire pose endless opportunities for expression. My continuing journey into clay heightens my conventional vision of the world around me. Landscape, pattern, and texture of nature, inspires the form and imagery of my work. Mundane objects now represent a unique path to travel as I create an opportunity to transform the ordinary to a richer existence."
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Suzan Kraus
Born & raised in the Cleveland area, Suzan got a late start to her artistic career. It all started with a sudden move to Houston, Texas where she attended Glassell School of fine arts & Rice University to study various artistic techniques. She is most noted for her mixed media techniques which at times includes various papers (handmade or found), layers of paint, and markmaking techniques using assorted pencils & crayons. A mash-up of so many elements to create one beautiful, interesting piece. Her artwork has been exhibited and won awards in various galleries throughout N.E. Ohio & Houston, TX. |
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Jan Mettee
Jan Mettee is a watercolor artist who has lived in the Chagrin Falls area for over 20 years. Educated at Skidmore College and Kean College, she became a student of watercolor years later at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin and eventually one of its instructors. Her paintings most often reflect her love for this area and for the Finger Lakes region of New York, where her family has owned a summer cottage for nearly 60 years. As a painter and teacher, she celebrates close-up images of every day life, and explores the effects of watercolor on a variety of paper surfaces.
An award winning artist, Jan’s work has been selected for exhibition in local, state and national shows, and as a member of the Ohio Watercolor Society, she received their transparent watercolor society award in 2005. |
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Kim Mettee
Kim Mettee received her BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. As a teacher, Kim introduces the fundamentals to each student creating a springboard from which to begin their own individual artistic journey, and inspires her students by encouraging them to keep an open mind, use their imagination, exercise patience and non-judgement towards themselves and by all means ENJOY the process! As a jewelry designer, Kim’s art is a reflection of her knowledge and experience along with instinctive and emotional creative responses. Each of Kim’s one of a kind creations stand alone with her use of beads and components ranging from ancient to antique, vintage to contemporary in addition to the use of repurposed materials which reflect a passionate philosophy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
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Cara Myers
Cara Myers is a rising junior at Kent State University, studying art education. She is passionate about creating a classroom environment that fosters inclusivity, creativity, and play. Her mission is to create a space where experimentation and making mistakes are celebrated, believing wholeheartedly that everyone is an artist. Cara is a Chagrin Falls resident and is so grateful to be a part of a community that loves art as much as she does.
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Clare Murray Adams
Clare Murray Adams is a studio artist and workshop teacher living in rural Southington Ohio. With a background in contemporary quilting Clare’s work now centers around mixed media collage in its many forms, on both paper and fabric as well as using encaustic wax. Clare was awarded a residency at the Jentel Foundation in Wyoming in 2005. In 2012 she received a Stark County Artist Grant creating “The Handkerchief Memory Project”, working with Seniors in the community to record their memories visually on handkerchiefs.
Her exhibits include two acceptances to Quilt National, exhibits in Canada and Tokyo, Japan, as well as several one person shows in Ohio, South Carolina, Michigan and California. She was also invited to exhibit in the Third Encaustic Invitational Exhibit held in Tucson Arizona. Her quilts and collages are in many private collections. Publications include Masters: Collage, Fiber Arts Now, Studio Visit vol.five, Signatures, the Art Journal Collection, and Anderson Creative Annual Catalog. |
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Cathy Paetz
Catherine Davies Paetz loves to create wearable art that brings people joy. Her original jewelry designs, made from silver metal clay and/or silver wire, explore playful line work or surface texture and may be accented with gold, enamel, beads, or pearls. Catherine has been creating jewelry for more than 35 years and has a BFA in Metals. As a Certified PMC Artisan, she regularly teaches classes and workshops in jewelry making. She has presented seminars at International PMC Guild Conferences, written several magazine articles, an instructional book, and her jewelry has been included in numerous books and other publications.
http://www.cdpdesigns.com/ |
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Anneke Payne
Anneke Payne is a passionate watercolor artist who enjoys capturing the world around her, from flowers and cats to architecture and the human figure. Having learned watercolor as an adult, she understands the challenges beginners face and focuses on making the process approachable and enjoyable. Her teaching style embraces exploration, creative problem-solving, and the beauty of trial and error. Anneke believes that art is not just about the final piece but about the joy of learning, experimenting, and turning happy accidents into expressive works. |
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Linda Merchant Pearce
Linda Merchant Pearce has been painting for as long as she can remember. As a child, she was inspired by the detailed wildlife artwork of Robert Bateman, Carl Brenders, and others. Primarily self-taught, she pursues a realistic approach to drawing and painting, creating detail in meticulous layers. Each painting can take months to complete, as she must wait for each layer to dry before adding the next. Linda holds a BA in Archaeology from Youngstown State University and a MS Degree in Special Education from National University, as well as teaching credentials in K-12 and Pre-K special education.
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John Plymak
John Plymak grew up in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood, and first became interested in art and graphics by collecting comic books and drawing superhero characters. He graduated with a BFA in art from Ohio Northern University, and works as a package design art director, with accounts such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. John’s drawings have been shown in Northeast Ohio fine art shows and galleries, and he is extremely excited to have written/illustrated a children’s book. |
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Susan Porges
Susan Porges works in a variety of mediums, including pastels, oils, watercolors, and charcoal, covering subjects from portraits to landscapes to still lifes. She owns and operates Susan Porges Studio in Solon, Ohio, where she teaches weekly classes. Susan also leads classes at local art schools and organizations, as well as overseas plein air workshops. In addition to her studio classes, she offers a Mentorship Program started in 2020 and produces monthly instructional videos available on Patreon and YouTube. A juried member of numerous national art organizations, she received her Master Pastelist designation from the International Association of Pastel Societies in 2022. Her work has earned many national awards and has been published by Northlight Books, Richeson Art Books, Pastel Magazine, and Artist’s Magazine. Susan is represented by Heights Arts in Cleveland Heights, Stella’s Art Gallery in Mentor, Ohio, and ketubah.com in Toronto.
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Kailey Stec
My name is Kailey Stec and I am a freshman Art Education Major with a Co-Major in Art Therapy at Miami University. Since I was young, I have always had a desire to create, whether it was ceramics, painting, scrapbooking, drawing, jewelry making, sewing, or crafting, I love it all! I am so excited to turn my favorite hobby into a career in the future! I have always enjoyed working with kids, especially as a camp counselor, so I cannot wait to begin instructing classes at the VAC!
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Meghan Sweeney
Meghan Sweeney graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018 with a BFA in Jewelery & Metals. She has assisted in teaching CIA’s continuing education & pre-college classes, as well as working with students as an evening open studio technical assistant to the Jewlery & Metals Department. Meghan is a practicing artist & experienced bench jeweler working for various jewelers in the Cleveland area. She creates one-of-a-kind custom designs & sells her work in local galleries.
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Mary Urbas
Mary Urbas was the Gallery Coordinator/Exhibition Curator/Installation Designer for The Gallery at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland from 2005 - 2024. She initiated a highly successful “May Show at Lakeland Juried Art Exhibition” fifteen years ago, which features local and regional artists; and curates “from WOMAN. Created by women, of women & about women” every March to Celebrate Women’s History Month, now in its 17th year. Mary teaches a class at The Cleveland Institute of Art, Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, Lakeland Community College, Notre Dame College and The Valley Art Center: Professional Practices/The Business of Art for Artists: Presenting and Promoting Your Art”; that is designed as a first step towards helping the developing, as well as established artist make a successful transition from creating art to presenting and promoting it. |
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Victoria Wagner
Victoria Wagner is a graduate of Cooper School of Art, Cleveland, Ohio and the Cleveland Institute of Art. She is the owner and resident artist of Serenity Studio in Aurora, Ohio. Victoria creates portraits and original paintings in oil, watercolor and pastels and also sells her liturgical prints that raise money for many charities and churches. Victoria has been an award recipient in local, regional and national art exhibitions over the past 40 years. "I have a fondness of rural America and its people because I grew up on a 600 acre farm in Ohio. My earliest memory as a child was drawing faces, human or animal, which led to landscapes and still-lives. I love sharing this enthusiasm for nature with students in my classes and inspire each person to express in their own way their view of the world around them."
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Delainey Wyville
Delainey is a rising senior at College for Creative Studies in Detroit. She is an art practice major and jewelry minor. She is also earning her art education certification. Her body of work is largely oil paints, sculpture and jewelry. She is excited to return to the Chagrin Valley Art Center after taking classes there for many years. Delainey is passionate about creating a joyful, welcoming and constructive environment when she teaches. As a Chagrin Falls High School graduate, she loves meeting, teaching, and learning from the next generation of local artists! delaineywyville.com
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