Naples Artcrafters JR

A-IArtist's Statements:Johnson, Annabelle: bio coming soon.Jones, Len: bio coming soon. Kirker, Charles & Nina: began sculpting their Florida Birds when they retired and came to Naples in 1991. They had increased their flock from a one-legged egret to many different sizes and species of the Florida Shore Birds. Their birds can be seen in the landscaping of many homes around Naples. Their native Floridian birds have long been a favorite souvenir to take back north. Lamorella, Vincent: is a retired architect whose parents came from Sicily. He was educated at Princeton University with a degree in Architecture and Fine Arts. Lamorella works in watercolors and his subject matter includes seascapes, scenes from Naples, Florida, scenes from Italy, landscapes, and architectural renderings. Vince has won many awards for his work and his paintings can be found at "Art in the Park" shows as well as Naples Artcrafters shows.Marconi, Debbie Hummel: I am a real live 'Hummel' of the Hummel figurine fame, born into the family August 24, 1950 in Columbus, Ohio. In 1995, I began my painting career, with the encouragement of my husband, Mario. It amazed me that people not only loved my work but they wanted to buy it. I've never had any formal art education and subsequently the style I have developed is totally mine. My style has been labeled whimsical, humoristic, narrative and even 'Rockwell-ian'. I prefer to call my style...mine, in vibrant and happy acrylic colors. Objectively, if my art has made you smile, my purpose has been accomplished.McCaffery, Bill & Shirley: Their jewelry is a combination of bronze, copper and sterling silver. Their larger sculptures are of copper, bronze and steel. Their work is comprised of equal parts of sculpture, alchemy and metallurgy. Using a fusion welding process, they seal in the unique color and character of the metal, leaving the tones and notes of the heat-tinged media to tell the story of their creations.McCurdy, Alexandra: Alexandra McCurdy, ceramist, printmaker, and independent curator, is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (BFA) and the Cardiff Institute of Higher Learning in Wales (Masters in 3D Design-Ceramics). She was an Associate Curator of Ceramics at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia for six years, and has shown her work both nationally and internationally. Her most notable solo exhibitions include The Ties That Bind at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Ontario, and two solo traveling exhibitions; Mothers/Daughters, which originated at Halifaxs Mary E. Black Gallery, and S.O.S: Sources of Support, originating at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which traveled to the Confederation Centre for the Arts, PEI and to the Burlington Arts Centre, Ontario. Alexandra s work is in the permanent collections of the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, Italy; the Burlington Art Centre; the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery; the Canadiana Fund and the Royal Ontario Museum; the Art Bank of Nova Scotia; the Nova Scotia Museum; the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council. As well, her work is in numerous private collections. Reviews of her work and articles about her career have been included in ceramic-focused periodicals including Australia's prestigious Ceramics:Art and Perception, American Ceramics, Ceramics Monthly from the US, and Canada's Contact, Fusion, Arts Atlantic, Ontario Craft, and Visual Arts Nova Scotia."My work has long been inspired by textile patterns and motifs drawn from the intricate quill and needlework of indigenous Mi'kmaq and women's textiles, by my research into Western textile history and the central role played in it by women, and by my mother's personal involvement in the British textile industry earlier this century."Megela, Jack: My work primarily involves Nature, Wildlife and Still Life Original color photography with a harmonious blending of Natural light, Composition and Subject to embrace visually and emotionally. Jacks career in photography evolved from his first career as an Ohio State Trooper and then a Detective Sergeant with the Canton Ohio Sheriffs Dept. Those jobs required him to photograph scenes we do not wish to see, from traffic fatalities to homicides. After retiring from police work, Jack returned to Kent State University where he had previously earned a B.A. in Law Enforcement Administration. This time he studied Art Appreciation, Art History, Psychology of the Arts, Black & White and Color Photography at the College of Fine Art- thus, the transition from photographing sordid scenes of human tragedy and violence in the world, to images of peace and tranquility found in the quiet magnificence of Nature. Jack has participated in hundreds of Fine Art shows around the country and has earned many awards including Best of Show, First Place Art, & First Place Photography. Nagele, Connie: Over the span of her twenty year career, her traditional floral still lifes have been overtaken by oversized flowers in the spirit of Georgia O'Keefe. Neagele chooses a pallet of intense, often monochromatic colors - violets, yellows, golds, reds and oranges. In a number of her works, the delicate, intricately crafted petals are almost carnal in their dramatic, sweeping depth. There is nothing subdued about her passion as she manages to keep the energy and intensity level of her focus at a steady pitch by means of her beckoning colors and the richness of her paint surface." I would like for my paintings to encourage viewers to slow down and appreciate nature's brilliant, mysterious plan." www.nageleart.comNappo, Gabrielle: I was born and raised in northern New Jersey and graduated from Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth, N.J. One of my avocations in high school was fashion design and I have always had a proclivity for the arts. Shortly after high school, I married and spent time as a homemaker taking care of my two children. I hold a Bachelor's and Master's degree in art education. My last position was Vice President of Computer Operations for the international firm of World Duty Free Americas. My IT experience spanned 21 years. In 2001, I had the opportunity to retire and my husband and I relocated to Naples, where I began my next career as a potter and weaver. In the last five years, I have focused mainly on pottery and have participated in approximately 20 to 25 shows a year. I am a member of the Naples Art Association, Naples Artcrafters, Marco Island Art League and the Southwest Florida Craft Guild.Nero, Lorrie: Lorrie Nero began her interest in art as a teenager. Lorrie got involved in computer graphics as a graduate student at National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. She taught programming graphics to gifted elementary and high school students through National. She also taught graphics to graduate students and teachers. For the past ten years she has been totally immersed in her art. She has taken countless intensive workshops with world famous artists! She loves color and loves to experiment with watercolors, acrylics, ink, collage, watercolor pencil, and aqua oils! Lorrie won the "Best of Show" award in 2008 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She also won an "Award of Merit in Watercolor" in 2009, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She has won several other "Awards of Excellence". Powers, Priscilla: began her art education at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois. She used her creative talents as an interior designer in her own business for 25 years. Finally, realizing life was speeding by, Priscilla returned to her first love - painting in watercolor. Priscilla enjoys the freedom and beauty of working in watercolor as the flow and movement of the medium inspire her to create loose and vibrant florals, landscapes and water scenes. Priscilla exhibits her work in outdoor shows in the Chicago area and in Naples, Florida. p: 239.304.3284Pransky, Phyllis: I am an American painter educated in the principles of fine art. My primary painting is in oils on canvas. I prefer painting Alla Prima, simple and direct. When light falls upon something and causes it to be beautiful, I can't resist taking the challenge to paint it. Therefore my subject matter is varied: Still life, portraiture, florals, landscape, seascape, interiors, beach scenes, cityscapes. Plain-air painting takes me to various locations across the globe. I trust that you will recognize the meditative quality of each painting and perhaps it will seduce you into its scene. www.phyllispranskyartist.comRauschenberger, Carol: creates colorful mixed media presentations, with acrylic painted canvas collage designs. Often her colorful paintings are carried through into the frames with a unique design to match. The mother of five children, many of her scenes involve children; if not, they certainly a childlike exuberance. This innocence, coupled with bold striking color, has become her trademark. People often say "your work makes me smile; it makes me happy." Carol states "when that happens, I feel I have achieved my goal." Carol received formal training at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was after moving to Florida and being influenced by the tropical settings and the joy of the tourists that her work took its present form. Commissioned pieces hang in private and corporate collections in the United States and throughout the world.Richards, Dick: Dick is a senior citizen living in Naples in the winters and Liberty Corner, New Jersey in the summers. He took up watercolor painting after retirement as Manager of Hydraulic Engineering with an international consulting firm. Dick has won many awards in both juried and non-juried shows.Roop, Brenda: has been designing and creating decorative pillows for over 10 years. The handmade pillows are a combination of a collage and a shadowbox of memorabilia. The photographs are hand colored to match the color used on each pillow. Brenda has created custom pillows for individuals that have included their family pictures and family heirlooms such as poems, jewelry, recipes, buttons and postcards.Ryan, Rinny:touched clay for the first time in college in 1962. She received her B.A. from the University of Miami in ceramics. She continued her studies and completed an apprenticeship with Mary Nybury Studios. Rinny is currently teaching pottery at Florida Gulf Coast University. Rinny has participated in 12 solo exhibitions, 25 selected group exhibitions and has numerous awards and honors. She creates all kinds of slip decorated folk art stoneware and earthenware. Rinny feels "its not a hobby- you have to be in love with making pots; not just like the idea of doing it."Johnson, Annabelleannabelle_clayland.com

J-R Artists

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