Instructors - 2021/2022 Sessions
This page is currently under construction, check back soon for our updated roster for the Winter 1 and 2 sessions!
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Judy Bennett
Judy Bennett received a BS in Art Education from Lake Erie College and a MA in painting and drawing as well as a MFA in Sculpture in Kent State. She have shown work extensively statewide and nationally. Judy taught for 35+ years and received the Maria Sharpe Grant for artist as teacher. "I am not sure a person is born with 'talent'. I believe anyone can learn to see and express himself in art if they have the desire and the willingness to work hard and learn new skills of expression. Then with time, the art will pour out of themselves if the person is willing to let go."
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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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Bud Deihl
Bud Deihl holds graduate degrees in painting and drawing (1963) and sculpture (1965) from Michigan State University. For 14 years he pursued dual careers as a graphic designer and illustrator and as a college art professor. In 1974 he began a university administrative career first as Head of the Fine Arts Department at the University of Cincinnati, then as the Dean of Arts and Humanities at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. He became President of Kendall College of Art and Design in 1989 and concluded his career as President of Columbus College of Art and Design. Since 2004, Mr. Deihl has taught at the Valley Art Center, and has won multiple awards, including Best of Show and First Place in Painting at the Gates Mills Annual Exhibition.
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Tessa Dicker
Tessa Dicker has a B.A. in fine arts from Washington State University specializing in photography. Tessa has a family of her own consisting of a three children, a dog, bunny, goldfish and a very understanding husband with a graphic design background who works with her on sports photography. Tessa enjoys teaching digital photography and helping people understand how to use their cameras to their full potential.
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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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Jeremy Galante
A Chagrin Falls native, Jeremy Galante has directed and produced a variety of award winning independent and for-hire short films. Clients have included Sesame Workshop, They Might Be Giants, and American Greetings, among others. Since 2004, his work has appeared in over 100 film festivals worldwide, and has regularly been screened at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, the New York International Children's Film Festival, and the ASIFA-East awards. Specialties include traditional and digital 2D character animation, stop motion animation, motion graphics, and compositing. He is currently Associate Professor of Animation at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. |
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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, this artist 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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Yesi DeLeon-Mettee
Yesi De Leon-Mettee graduated from Ohio State with a bachelors in Psychology and Art and is currently studying for her masters in Art Therapy and Counseling at Ursuline College. She has taught art for 6 years with many different children in many different places. From Columbus, Ohio to Panama City, Panama to right here in Chagrin Falls she has discovered her love for art and being part of a person's art exploration. Yesi teaches children and adult classes with an eye for the wellness art can bring to life.
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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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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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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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