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Meet our Artists
Barbara Sartorius Bjelland is an artist currently living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In her artwork, Barbara strives for a sense of light, movement and imagination. She hopes to convey a divine world touching our own, a fourth dimension, that is always present but often unseen. She works in a variety of media to create fine art, illustration, greeting cards, and ministry resources for print and projection. Barbara also accepts commissions. Barbara has undergraduate degrees in art and history and graduate degrees in theology and spiritual formation. Barbara does presentations on arts and theology and has published a book for all ages entitled, “Supper with the Savior: Communion in the Bible and Today.” She delights in working as an ordained pastor and chaplain in a retirement community and with people of varied abilities. Barbara grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Barbara is married, has two adult children, and a golden retriever.
Sharon Cameron lives in Prior Lake, Minnesota. She received her first sketch pad as a young child and is grateful for excellent teachers who guided her talents. She has been fortunate to study with many artists and has continued to draw and paint for over 80 years, because she enjoys it! Much of her work has been for family. Last year, she was recognized by Global Music Awards for an album cover she drew for her son's band. She also loves the immersive experience of nature scenes, especially from Minnesota's North Shore. Her artwork on this card features Split Rock Lighthouse, where she fondly remembers summertime vacations with her family.
Born visually impaired, Dawn underwent corrective eye surgery at age seven, enduring years of treatments and eye patches. Despite challenges, her passion for art persisted. As a youth captivated by the world's beauty, Dawn drew and painted what she saw and imagined. She trained in fine art in college, and focused on traditional drawing, painting, and mastering rendering techniques. Her 25-year art career has included being a staff artist, graphic designer, illustrator, art teacher, and consultant in commercial art/education. Dawn’s visual language combines nostalgia and classical artistry with digital software's boundless possibilities. As a freelance artist, she participates in festivals, contributes to stock image companies, maintains an online presence, and undertakes custom commissions. Now retired in Alaska, her studio draws inspiration from Alaska’s landscapes, which fuel endless creativity as she translates vibrant snow scenes and wildlife into beautiful paintings.
Suzanne is a passionate (well, more like obsessive) New England photographer. She has lived in various places from the south to the northeast and has always had an interest in photography, but it wasn't until she moved to New England that she became more serious about it. Landscape and seascapes are her favorites although she enjoys taking pictures of just about anything. Photography is her passion and allows her to slow down, live in the moment and capture nature's beauty. It's her therapy! Suzanne is amazed and inspired at the photo opportunities that present themselves around her every day - in every direction. She would rather be out walking with her camera than anywhere else.
Lisa Fertig grew up in Duluth, where she learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and the changing of seasons. Lisa received formal training in the Fine Arts Program at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois with further study at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Atelier Lack in Minneapolis. She has belonged to many art groups and served as Workshop Chair of the Northstar Watercolor Society in the Twin Cities. Lisa works in watercolor, acrylics, and oils and has produced a substantial body of work in a number of categories including landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. Her art is shown in galleries throughout Minnesota, and has received awards in competitions, and is held by numerous private collections, businesses, and corporations. Commissions, teaching, participation in art fairs, and gallery representation keeps her enthusiastic about painting.
"Smitha George is a self-taught artist with a love for wildlife and nature. Smitha has had the privilege of living and growing up in different parts of India. Majority of her childhood was spent traveling which helped her understand different cultures. After majoring in finance and having worked in the field of finance for many years, she decided to take a break when she moved to the USA and this gave her an opportunity to dive deep into the world of art. For her, painting is a different language and an expression of ideas. All the artwork is inspired by the day-to-day things she sees around her be it the current political, social issues or simple things from nature. In her work, the subject matter determines the materials and the forms the art. In 2017, Smitha began painting professionally, since then there has been no looking back. Her first group show was in 2017 and from then on she has had many solo and group exhibitions in and around Kansas City. She also had the privilege to jury on many art shows. She also enjoys working on many commissioned works. Smitha now works from her home studio.
Chaska, MN. Jean has been creating art since she could pick up a crayon, and has been pursuing art-making full time for most of her adult life. She received her B.S. in art from Iowa State University, and has taught art for the secondary level, adult education, art center and private lesson. Jean works in a variety of media including: mixed-media painting and collage, assemblage, watercolors, and found-object jewelry. Jean says, "My favorite part of being an artist is that it allows me to escape easily to a magical place. Being a bit eccentric is readily accepted. I do not have to set aside my inner child…every day is a surprise!" Texture and color are her favorite elements, and most days you can find Jean in her home studio working on her art from early morning to late afternoon—following her passion.
LouAnn is an accomplished artist who can get lost for hours in a variety of mediums. Watercolors, acrylics, photography and fabric arts are her current passions often capturing nature in the beautiful state of Minnesota as well as other destinations. Water, rocks, trees, flowers and birds are consistent subjects. She has had displays in art galleries and shows and has artwork in private and public collections. LouAnn Hoppe is past-president of NorthStar Water media Society, and is a member of Minnesota Watercolor Society. She has twice been chair of an art show/sale involving 100 artists and is currently chair of an extensive exhibition in Minneapolis. She has been married to husband, Del, for 50 years, is mother of two and grandmother of two. Creating weighted blankets for people with autism has become a recent mission. Traveling, gardening, reading, golf and water sports keep her active.
Cari Raynae is a retired Interior designer who now has time to make creative ideas come to life in paintings. She works in watercolor and acrylic paints and often includes bits and pieces of textiles, and handmade papers in her pieces of art. Cari has been supplying several local gift shops with greeting cards for over 10 years. Sometimes the cards are small reproductions of her paintings and sometimes the cards are created from scratch, along with a quirky idea she’s thought of. Cari’s artwork has been featured in Stampington and Company’s magazines: A Stampers Sampler, Take Ten, Altered Couture, and Somerset Studio. She was Rubber Stamp Madness magazine’s best new stamper in Spring 2020.
The elusive and unpredictable nature of watercolor makes it both a challenge and a delight for me. With watercolor, I am able to capture the essence of my subject. I seek out both lost and found edges, intentionally balancing controlled definition to help you see with blurred edges to let you enter. In this way, I invite the viewer to join me... to bring something of yourself to the work, to touch the paper with your experience, your memories, your story. I'm a painter, but I begin each piece by drawing. Using pencil or ink, I learn to "see" each subject before painting. Once I have an understanding of the subject, I am set free to paint with spontaneity and joy!
I have always been inspired by the beauty and wonders of nature. Beginning with pencil drawings as a child, my love for nature expressed as art unfolded. I took my first watercolor class in 1986, and continue to enjoy the versatility of this medium. The way light strikes an object, the pattern of cast shadows, and reflected light make a subject intriguing. The transparency of watercolor allows me to express these subtleties in a painting.
I earned a BS and an MS in biology at Emporia State University, and taught biology for fourteen years. Working as a park ranger naturalist in Yellowstone for many summers gave me the opportunity to study nature intimately firsthand. I have exhibited in national shows and received many awards. In 2013 I was an Artist in Residence in Rocky Mountain National Park where I studied the work of early landscape painters of the park. My love for the natural world has led me to make conservation the focus of my artwork."
Lavona's interest in art began as a young child with encouragement from her mother and later evolved into her profession. As an award winning cake decorator, Lavona is best known for her portraits and scenes on cakes using airbrush painting and elaborate frosting techniques. Her many artistic interests also include figure sculpture, watercolor and oil painting.
Pat King was born and grew up in Northern Illinois. Living in the Midwest has drawn her towards painting the beauty of forests, flowers and atmospheric skies. Her watercolors reflect the rural environment that was so much a part of her life. The spontaneous, fluid nature of watercolor has allowed her to express her sensitive interpretations of all that she sees. Pat brings a sense of warmth and beauty to her paintings. Her love of nature is strongly represented by using light, textures and shapes to create her dramatic and unique landscapes. She has studied with other well-known artists and received many awards for her paintings. Pat believes in creating a painting that will give the viewer as much pleasure as she had when she painted it. Her paintings can be found in many corporate and non-profit collections throughout the United States, and abroad.
Linden Kirby started painting for family and friends at a young age, but not until a few years ago was he able to take up a brush on a regular basis. And strictly speaking, it's not always a brush that he paints with. He enjoys painting and mark-making with credit cards and putty knives, string, plastic wrap, manipulative tools and other inventive ways of expression on paper and canvas.
Kairong was born in China and came to the United States when he was twenty-three years old. He received his M.F.A. degree from the University of South Dakota. Since then, his art has been in many shows and collections throughout the Midwest. Kairong says beauty can be found in the most unexpected places and he tries to reveal that in his work. "My paintings are my feelings and appreciation of what I see. I like to paint things that are very ordinary but beautiful in an artistic way."
Robyn is a licensed artist and visual art teacher in North Carolina. Her love for all things creative started before Kindergarten and continues today. Always happier with art in her life, it was a natural fit to share the joy of art making as an elementary art teacher. Exploring all art making methods led Robyn to become a mixed media artist. Robyn's Christian faith inspires her art as she honors creation and all the promises of God. Her art style can be described as cheerful and full of love. Today Robyn enjoys life as a wife and mother with her daughter's art being her daily surprise.
Katharine Robinson has been painting with watercolors for about ten years. She loves living in Minnesota because of the natural beauty that the state offers. She has always been drawn to watercolors because of the translucency of that medium.
Deborah is a professional artist working in watercolor, acrylics and mixed media. She received her B.A. in Fine Art and Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and has worked from her home studio for over 30 years. She paints in several styles, from realism to abstraction. "I love the luminosity of watercolor" says Deborah. Nature is her constant source of inspiration as reflected in her subjects of flowers, lake scenes, landscapes, golf holes and children at play. "I especially enjoy collaborating on custom paintings with my clients to create Fine Art Memories of their travels, lake homes and one of a kind pieces. I believe art is the bridge that connects us all." She is a longstanding member of Minnesota Watercolor Society and Artists of Minnesota and has won numerous awards. Her work can be found in many private and public collections.
Since childhood art has been a constant in my life. Subjects are any and many but favorites are florals, animals and snow scenes. I use a direct watercolor painting style. A registered nurse by profession, studios are maintained in both Texas and New Mexico. Daily sketching keeps me focused and energized. Signature status has been achieved in 9 art societies and my work has been published and licensed by numerous entities. It is up to me to offer the viewer a new way of seeing by showing something never before seen. kaysmith.artspan.com
Susan Solomon is a freelance paintress currently living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She paints the natural world and its creatures. The Midwest landscape is an endless source of inspiration, with its changing light and openness. Susan is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Her paintings are in the permanent University collections of Metropolitan State and Purdue.
My name is Marla Storey and I am a Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Fine Artists. I have always loved to draw and paint since I can remember. I took some college classes in Painting but mostly taught myself. Right now I am really interested in mixing Acrylic Pours with Oils and experimenting with Resin. Currently I own a flower shop and I have several pieces of art in the Northland Artists Gallery in Weston, Missouri. I hope you enjoy my art.
A "Glad heart with a good theme" is how Gail likes to describe her watercolor paintings. At five years old she made the bold statement, "I'm going to be an artist!" And while growing up in Golden Valley, Minnesota, she began carrying out her love of art by drawing and making her own greeting cards for family and friends. At every occasion, sharing her heart with love, fun and a bit of humor on a personal note, she continues designing cards to this day! After college, she spent many years working in advertising and since began fine art painting using watercolor. "It is a flowing medium that is 'alive' with water, "she says. "Its qualities bring out movement and life in the birds, animals and flowers in my gardens as well as the country landscapes around my home with a soft atmospheric effect." She joined the Minnesota Watercolor Society in 2011 and won Best of Show in the juried spring exhibition for her painting. She quickly became a signature member the following year and has won other top awards, sold numerous originals and prints nationally and internationally for private and commercial venues. She does not like to glory in herself, but to the One above who gave her the gifts to use. She hopes everyone who views her work will be uplifted with a glad heart while unlocking the hidden message behind them.
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