Beginnings

Cher Pruys, ASAA SCA, IGOR, AAPL, CSAA, AMS, LMS, OSA, MAA, CFA, NOAPS, PSOA, AWA., AAOA.
“To take my inner visions with my hands and create a work of art for you the viewer… That is the ultimate in self-expression.”

Cher Pruys was born in Regina. Over the years she lived in many places including Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Fort Frances, settling into her present home in Devlin, on the banks of the Rainy River with her husband Mark, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.

By age three, Cher was seldom found without a drawing tool in hand. She worked in pencil, charcoal, and ink over the years, until, she picked up a paintbrush at the age of 35. Beginning with oil paints, she found her chosen mediums in acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.

Although self-taught, her dedication and talent have seen her work juried into 521 International exhibits, as well as exhibits in numerous non-juried shows. She has won 800 awards for her work in the International Juried Exhibits.

Her work has graced the covers of 3 books, and 37 magazines, including The Best Of Acrylic Fall 2021, the cover of the May 2022 Arabella Magazine, #20 Hyperrealism Magazine with “Girls Girls Girls”, & #21 with “The Young Cowboy”, & the latest, Artists & Illustrators March 2024. She has been featured in over 368 International publications. Cher’s works have found a permanent home in private and public collections worldwide.

Belliel

Kellie Thomas-Walker does not confine herself to one school of thought. Each piece has either symbolism or a story embedded within its layers. Her work can range from geometric detailed illustrations to soft modern figurative paintings; as well as the abstraction of nature and life. Thomas-Walker’s work embodies the severe depth and engaging textures. She utilizes brushwork as well as pallet knives with acrylic paints and various glazes. Her illustrations are formed through charcoal, graphite, and paint pens. Although art is Thomas Walker’s primary career, writing is her first love.

Belonging

Susan Kaufer Carey is a Los Angeles and New York-based visual artist and writer who uses photography and mixed media to tell stories of identity and reclamation. Her work explores the reclamation of authenticity, vulnerability, creativity, and humanity through photography, encaustic, mixed media, poetry, and prose. Despite our vast differences, her work reveals the common threads that unite us all.

Susan got her BA in theater at Bennington College, then worked in New York City for fashion photographer Joel Brodsky where she honed her darkroom skills printing for the book Brodsky shot of Jim Morrison and the Doors. While living and working in Rome, Italy refining her work as a street photographer she earned her Italian Press Pass, moved back to her hometown of Los Angeles, and opened a portrait studio specializing in fine art nudes, album covers, pregnancy, and newborn portraits.

Susan’s fine artwork has been exhibited at The dnj Gallery, The Neutra Museum, Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles Photographers Association Gallery 825, LA Artcore, Art Share LA, Sparrow Gallery, A Smith’s Gallery, Black Box Gallery, A Photo Place Gallery, and Hilliard Gallery. Her work has been featured in the book “California Love”, F-stop magazine, and Aint-Bad Contemporary Art Magazine. Her photography and poetry have been featured in Art and Cake Magazine. Her work is in private collections in the US and Rome, Italy.

Bench Of Solace And Solitude

Nicole Martinelli is an artist, and a breakthrough Photographer originally from the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois who recently relocated to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. She finds inspiration in the surrounding mountains and rural areas for her latest creations. Nicole was originally a painter who would use photography strictly for reference material. She found comfort in Nature and expressed herself artistically through her photography. After a break from the art world, Upon submitting her photography on a whim to juried art shows and having her photography accepted into multiple juried exhibitions, she quickly realized her photography is also a talent and gift that must be shared with the world. She now pursues both artistic mediums as an artist. The cascades of colors and vivid images she features in both her paintings and photographs are a direct representation of the bold, immutable, beautiful feelings she experiences while initially viewing the subject matter for her artwork. Nicole as an artist feels that it is her obligation to capture the beauty, healing power, and comfort nature provides us by presenting these feelings and images through her artwork to the world.

During these ever-changing times, One factor that never falters or changes in our world is The solitude and comfort that nature provides us all. “There is always a stream to catch our tears and a sunset to brighten our lives.” It is her main focal point in both her photography and paintings. The artist has always been captivated by nature and the natural beauty and comfort it can offer all of us. “If she can inspire, awaken, and bring, solace, peace, and happiness to others as she has found herself while creating, then she has achieved her artistic goal.”

Bent Around The Edges

At 65 after decades of not creating art Lisa Joy Newcomb reinvented herself as an artist.

Ms Newcomb has been honored with one best of show, four first-place awards in photography, as well as a second-place in abstract photography awards. She has had two one-woman shows. One through Artel Gallery, and one through the University of Delaware. Her work has been seen from coast to coast, including several times through the HMVC Gallery in New York and the Las LaGuna Gallery in California. Pictorem, based out of Montreal, Canada, has Lisa as a featured artist. Two books have also been presented Ms Newcomb. They are: “Nobis II, 2023,” and ”Emerald Coast Review, 2023.”

The photographs she creates are abstractions in fluidity, rich in joy and filled with color, pattern, curiosity, and a gentle message. The dance of light that for most of her life she sought in the ocean, she is now looking for in the melding of glass and fabric, with occasional surprise elements. Lisa’s work is usually printed on aluminum.

Ms Newcomb’s highest degree is a master’s in social work. Professionally, she worked as a social worker and as a realtor. She was raised in the Mid-Atlantic, experienced her young adulthood in New England and the Midwest, and for the last 28 years, the Deep South has been home with her husband. It was in the Deep South that she raised an interesting, kind-hearted daughter. Lisa was a docent sequentially at the Pensacola Museum of Art and the Montgomery Museum of Art for over 17 years. She is currently a national member of Pen Women.

Besame Mucho

Faith is from Brooklyn, New York, and has been involved in many different types of art her whole life. She’s taught modern dance, worked with ceramics, and produced poetry which has been published in both the US and Canada. She also spent a number of years living outside of the United States where she worked in a mosaic factory, making mosaic dining room walls and plaques for the tourists. When she returned to the US, Faith went back to school and received her Bachelor’s Degree in creative writing. Upon returning to New York a number of years later, she began working for a New York City governmental agency as a writer and editor.

At that time, a graphics design friend of hers recommended she look into Photoshop as it would make some of the work projects she was producing easier to complete. Faith found the program astounding and asked her boss to purchase it for work. Photoshop opened up a whole new world to her. As Faith’s boss knew she also had a digital camera, he then asked her to produce photos of famous.

Best Buddies

Wendy Liz is a versatile artist who loves to paint. She was inspired by her sister, who was an artist and had her own gallery in Nashville, TN. Wendy resides in Sarasota, FL. She enjoys painting realism, abstracts, and other types of art; however, she is especially fond of painting fun and expressive animals, which she calls Krazy Kolorful Kreatures.

Wendy studied art at the Ringling College of Art and Design. She also studied painting with Lois Carson at Suncoast Technical College (formerly Sarasota County Technical Institute), and later with Sarasota artist and teacher, Bill Jerdon. She began working in acrylic but soon developed a love for oil, which became her favorite medium.

Wendy has painted various commissioned works that are exhibited in homes around the country. She welcomes commissions, which have included realistic portraits as well as large abstracts that cover entire walls. Her original art is available; however, giclees and prints are also available as a more affordable option. Giclees are fine art prints on canvas, and prints are fine art prints on high-quality paper—both using the latest technology printing techniques.

Wendy’s creative ideas for art are based on her experiences with the people and places she encounters throughout her life including children, grandchildren, family, and friends, as well as destinations and new adventures.

Best Friends

I am a primarily self-taught photographer and began creating digital collages as a new means of expression. In creating images, my goal is to create images that evoke a story of some kind that often moves far beyond the relatively literal boundaries of traditional photography. I have exhibited widely and have earned recognition in local, regional, and national exhibitions. My works are also included in several corporate and private collections.

Best Of Friends

Even at an early age, Marissa has shown an enthusiasm for illustration. She can recall spending hours creating and illustrating stories inspired by the many books her parents shared with her. That inspiration has led her to some of her greatest artistic passions, including children’s book illustration and portraiture.

Marissa earned her BFA in Illustration at the Hartford Art School in Connecticut, where she found new inspiration in her professors. While there, she received many distinctions for her work, including best portfolio in each of her departmental portfolio reviews. She has also had the honor of having her work featured in numerous exhibitions, including the Society of Illustrators Annual Student Scholarship Competition in New York City.

Since graduating from Hartford Art School, Marissa has continued to follow her passion as a freelance illustrator and portrait artist. After completing her first children’s book illustration project, she went on to be featured in numerous publications and television appearances. Her projects have included collaborations with ESPN, as well as creating illustrations for Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s yearly concert production “Tales of Halloween”.