I create mixed media landscapes that use meticulously collected paper collage pieces including maps, newspaper, photos, symbols, menus, and more.  These pieces are arranged and glued down in a thoughtful design to explore how I "see" and experience the nature around me and the God who made it.  Once sealed, I use thin layers of oil paint to create the landscape image which at times cloaks the collage and at others, accentuates it and gives it new meaning.  My painting process is a visual journal of my journey and how I relate to the world around me.   

The landscape images I choose to paint are always connected to me in either an experiential fashion and/or emotive.  They are quiet, contemplative sanctuaries where I find purpose, meaning and most of all, love.  

In space, no one can hear you (or your kids) scream.

I find space so calming, perhaps because there's no sound associated with it. But it's also exciting with endless possibilities.

Cats are the same - playful and prone to napping.

I'm Angi Beauheim, a watercolor and small-scale metal artist, located in Loveland, Colorado. My work uses traditional techniques and stylized images in a way that I hope will add a smile to your day. 

Enjoy the colors and calming mood, or imagine the untold adventures that await these cats. Be soothed or scintillated.

There's space for everyone.

I paint moments in nature that invite you so stop, take a deep breath, and savor the world around you. Vibrant color, and glowing light invite you into landscapes where you can pause and just let go.  I find that nature to be the best medicine for those of us who have trouble putting down the to do list.  When I am outside, I breathe the air, feel the sun and am replenished. 

Pastel is my medium and I have been working with it for over 30 years. I love its immediacy, and vibrant color. 

 Favorite places of inspiration include the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the New Jersey Shore, the Brandywine River Valley, Hudson, New York and Maine or anyplace that can be seen from my kayak or while hiking

I have raised three amazing humans, am nuts about two grandchildren and maintain good relationships with all my nine siblings. My husband of 40 years is still my best friend. Over the years I have worked in the counseling/social work and arts administration fields. Family has always been my priority. 

I paint at my studio, Aston Mills Arts, outside of Philadelphia and am open by appointment throughout the year.

I grew up in South Louisiana surrounded by animals, and as kids we spent our days riding horses and playing in fields. As I got older, and my interests diverged from that of my family’s, I began to find solace in the company of animals. Being with them was often the only place I felt accepted – a feeling that I find often still rings true today. I choose them as my subjects because they accept us exactly as we are. They are there for us no matter what and always give of themselves wholely.  I find our pets to be great teachers - they can teach us the value of teamwork, the comfort of just sitting with the one you love, and the joy of living life as it comes. I strive to convey these ideas in my work and through my connection with animals, find greater connection with humans.

From a technical standpoint, each of my works begin with gathering reference, visual and informational, to planning the layout with at times intricate patterns of my own design. All in an effort to weave together typography, modern aesthetic design and color usage, with the main subject. Is strive to reach the technical level of some of the old masters with my subjects while combining that with more contemporary backgrounds.

I am an observer and absorber of nature’s ever changing shape, colour and texture; filling my heart and mind with the earth’s stories to release into the layers of my paper collages.
Subtle textures, deeply saturated colour and sweeping lines evoke movement and change in my abstracted landscapes.  The composition is pared down to pull the viewer into the scene where layers of detail and natural texture allow for personal connection and remembrance of our shared natural world.  The story of our world is always evolving.
There are hidden stories and forces at work in every scene we gaze at.  Geology, climate and human history are moving and shaping the layers of our world at every moment.  Layer in your own story and celebrate this world along with me.

I am a chef in the Caribbean on a yacht for half of the year and I live in beautiful Lake Tahoe, CA the other half. I grew up in Philadelphia and Virginia and get back to see my family as much as possible but all of these places are a huge inspiration for my collages. Ocean scenes, bears, feature films and Ben Franklin are among my favorite subjects!

My mother is an artist so I was able to grow up playing with all of her art supplies and witness what was possible. I received a National art award in high school that lead to receiving Marion-Ebertt Wholle Scholarship to get my Fine Art Degree in college. I discovered collage after college and fell in love with cutting up paper..who knew. I've been showing my work, mainly in Philadelphia for over 15 years and moved out west after being accepted into the Artist Residency Program at the Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona where I wrote and illustrated a children's book (stay tuned!). My work is sold in Galleries in Lake Tahoe and the British Virgin Islands but join in on my mailing list to get first dibs on my latest collections. Thanks for stopping by and I am so excited to share these minis with you!

Family, traditions, and that sense of belonging are depicted throughout my work as I use bold brushstrokes in oils to create still-life paintings that inspire a universal feeling of nostalgia. In the personal beginnings of selected objects, there is something that resonates with the stories and memories they evoke... this connection binds us all, across time.

I am An Artist living in Wyoming... A mother of 5 incredible humans (and now a Gigi to one... SQUEAL! )... A Geek at heart... A caffeine-dependent life form.

A human... Being.

I am an oil painter. I paint what I see. My inspiration is having a clear picture of what I want to create, then mixing and manipulating oil paint, maintaining a state of flow and letting the forces of the universe come into play. It's exciting to create the form of an object, the atmosphere of a place or the essense of a person. I love contrast and color. Painting for me is in finding the solution and leaving out the unnecessary details. 

I was born and raised in New Rochelle, NY. My father was an artist and advertising executive who had a strong influence on me, and my art. 

There was a time in my life when I felt the burden and stress from trying to do too much. We put impossible demands on ourselves and then feel frustrated and less than when we fail to get it all done. I know now, we are all worthy and you simply don't have to do it all.  

My journey has been to simplify the complicated and be happy by leaving some things undone.

Cynthia is an artist deeply rooted in the abundant richness and grounding beauty of nature. Her work captures the balance and essence of the natural world, transforming it into pieces that speak to life's simple and profound moments. Alongside her art, Cynthia runs a boutique branding agency based in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where she passionately infuses nature's narratives into modern brand design. Whether through a canvas that tells a story or a brand identity that resonates, her creations echo a harmonious blend of art and intention. When she's not creating, you can find Cynthia cherishing moments with her family, enjoying a warm fire, or traversing the local landscape.

I see the world as being full of magic moments of intense color vibration and pulsating energy. By exploring, observing, examining, and experiencing everything around me, I have developed a true appreciation for the natural world. I take in my subjects and react to them with bold color and expressive marks. Those magic moments in life are fleeting, and I try to record that experience for the viewer.

It is my intention that when viewers encounter my work, they may see in new ways. Hopefully, they will stop rushing about their daily busyness, get outside, and take time to really LOOK and rediscover. They may come to see that there is more to life and the world than they presently know, and this can help them to live a fuller existence. 

My Rain and Shine oil painting series is based on photos combined as a play between reality and abstraction. Influenced by the Bokeh effect of the blur created by out of focus images, I've spent many a rainy day photographing the world through my windshield as an inspiration for my rain paintings.

Water and light combine to create a sense of peace and momentum.

As an oil painter of small vibrant palette knife paintings, I seek to create a sense of place, capturing the light, energy and soul of my subjects.

With my knife, I describe what I see in layers of paint -- sometimes loading it on in bold strokes, sometimes sgraffitoing by drawing or scratching into the wet paint, often almost sculpting the paint to tell my story. My goal is to create a joyful and sophisticated work of art that speaks of the beauty found all around us, painted with love and thoughtful abandon.

My artwork wants you to know that within it is a poetic story about a small piece of this planet, its atmosphere, light and color, its energy and soul. My artwork wants you to know that this story is alive and is waiting to be found by you.

Growing up in the city of Philadelphia, drawing chalk animals in the street, especially horses, I am drawn to gesture and movement in all living things.  You can recognize a person or an animal just from the tilt of their head or shift of their weight.  All living beings have this identifiable quality.  I love capturing this quality in my paintings.

I want to paint the uniqueness of any subject, figures, animals or still life. When I look at someone or something there is a certain moment that captures my imagination and inspires me to capture that in paint. There is something about shape and color that I love.  Mixing up paint and pushing it around on a surface is sooo satisfying.

I am a lifelong student studying this art passion that possesses me.  There is so much to see and discover and share.  Painting at the easel is such a joy and time goes by quickly.

This year is a mashup of my creative tropes. How I made one series combined with materials or moves of another. Some figural and some abstractions.  Always representing the unobserved. 

You will find five paintings within each category of creation. 

Several healing, genuine stone, watercolor paints were used on top of the noted ground stone paint throughout the paintings:  Purpurite, Rhodonite, Jadeite, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Green Apatite, Serpentine, Piemontite, Amazonite, and Sodalite.

I am a life-long 'maker', working professionally as an architect, and dreaming of becoming an artist.  I have been a creative within the natural world in the forms of fine arts, design, and architecture for as long as I can remember.  Taking inspiration from nature and my own sense of adventure, I am passionate about ecological conservation, design and construction, finding the beauty in difficult circumstances, and celebrating the light that inevitably shines after the storm passes.  I am also a wife, mom to two little ones,  a USCG boat captain, and bit of a wild card.

In working with the encaustic medium, I am able to create paintings that suggest depth, dimension, and luminosity. The wax is malleable and somewhat unpredictable in the way it lays down on my board, is reheated, scraped back, and then built upon.... revealing layers that you didn't see at first glance.

The architect in me loves 'building' the painting, creating a three dimensional piece that tells a story. The artist in me loves the freedom that working with this medium provides. It forces me to let go of control and be open to possibility.

To go on an adventure with each painting.

I discovered how much I loved drawing animals with charcoal in 2020 and have been drawing them ever since! Sweet, swift, naughty, pesky, cheeky, noisy, sleepy…the animal kingdom provides endless possibilities for my vine charcoal drawings.

Animals unapologetically do their thing. Uninhibited and unselfconscious in every way, they are my absolutely favorite subject matter. Whether it is a hungry little fledgling demanding food from Mama bird or a pesky chipmunk waiting for a perfect moment to nibble on someones garden, their expressions are 100%  authentic - I love to explore their antics and their expressions and charcoal lends a lovely expressive warmth to each drawing.

I hope my art and my story encourages others to find their "thing" and pursue it enthusiastically. I feel so fortunate to be on this artistic journey where I  get to share a little beauty and joy with my animal drawings 

I am originally from Dublin, Ireland and live on Boston’s North Shore with family and, of course, several pets.

I have been making paintings of domestic spaces for over a decade - they present the opportunity to paint geometric and organic shapes, as well as patterns. 

After completing my MFA, I taught at a collegiate level and received several national grants for my work with a community driven art installation which I launched in 2013.

Now I focus exclusively on my personal studio practice.  Although it is a full time endeavor, I continue to keep a part time job with a local independent bookstore.  Connecting people with books is one of the most important contributions I can make as a citizen of the world.

These days, I live and work in Pennsylvania with my husband and young son.

Landscape painting enables me to combine my love of the outdoors with my need to make art. My work is representational, illustrative; but I choose not to capture a precise likeness or rendering. Instead, I respond to an idea inspired by what I see and how it appears to me. I compose the elements of the picture into the shape of the canvas, moving or adjusting them to what feels right. I use color, light, and texture to support the central idea that expresses what I am thinking and feeling. I strive to capture the whole of my experience on the canvas and share it with you.

Six years ago, my daughter introduced me to Natural Lands’ Stroud Preserve. Stroud boasts 570 acres of open fields, woods, and rolling hills a few miles from my studio in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is a beautiful place to wander and enjoy the out-of-doors. It is also convenient, quickly accessible when weather conditions or a promising sunrise or sunset seems likely to occur. Over time and with each successive visit, I began to see Stroud in motion, as it moved through the seasons in our journey round the sun.

I became captivated with the constantly changing light and color of the landscape. The soft light of morning, the brilliance of a sunny afternoon, and the warm, orange glow of sunset change with the temperature of the air. The hilly terrain and the contrast between open fields and woods all reflect the changing light differently.  And then there is the Brandywine creek that meanders through the landscape with clusters of trees and thick undergrowth along its banks. I saw paintings everywhere I looked.

My experience has inspired a larger project; “A Year at Stroud.” I’ve begun the creation of a body of work that tells the story of how I see this place and why it has become so meaningful to me. I also realized that this experience is a gift from Natural Lands. It made me feel grateful to them for providing this beautiful place for all of us to experience and enjoy the beauty of our home.

It is in that spirit, I have pledged to donate 10% of the proceeds from my paintings and prints to support their important work in preserving open space for the benefit of future generations. 

"A little Broken and Uniquely Beautiful." My hope is to help people see the beauty that is within them: that being a little broken does not have to be anything less than beautiful!

I often thought that I was too broken, that I was too damaged and unworthy; unable to do the hard things, but through love, through family, through friends and very importantly, through my art, I have come to realize that I am a heck of a lot stronger than I thought! I can do hard things!

"Kintsugi" is the centuries old Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold - it is built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even more stronger, more beautiful piece of art. Every break is unique and instead of repairing an item like new, this technique actually highlights the "scars" as part of the design. Using this as a metaphor for healing ourselves teaches us an important lesson: Sometimes in the process of repairing things that have broken, we actually create something more unique, beautiful and resilient. 

We all may be a bit broken in our own right, but that is what makes us all uniquely beautiful! 

I am a mixed media artist who just loves texture in my work! I use mark making and my own personal forms of symbolism, and lots of gold, to share my stories through my art.

xo, Holly Lee

I am a mixed media artist with background in biological sciences. My work synthesizes elements from  natural and urban environments. It's a joyful reflection of the forms and colors found in the world around us. There is energy in things such as plants, animals, oceans, and human habitats.

I often combine acrylics, inks, pencils, newspapers and photo transfers, exploring interesting light and composition in all sorts of subject matter. I want to capture the fleeting exuberance of flowers, beauty of ornate textiles, decadent urban decay, and people being in their environment.

I create a world that is an intimate expression of my thoughts and feelings. At age 50 I disrupted the status quo of my day-to-day and stepped into my creative life. My figurative sculptures are a record of that process. I hand sculpt each one in kiln fired clay. Each face is hand painted in layered underglazes to create a worn and weathered feeling, as a reminder to me of the impermanence of things.

First off let's just get it out there...I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

A little bit about my art - I create textural art pieces which incorporate representational form with the printed word. In essence, the visual and written symbols merge to create a unique aesthetic language that is both provocative and whimsical. My multiple-image pieces, range from polka dots to popular culture, evoke emotions and memories in the viewer. The combination of images tells a story and provokes a personal exchange between the art and the audience. 

Somebody once said about my paintings. "I could've done that." I replied, "But you didn't and I did. Now you can't because I did and that would be copying.

 I am an oil painter from Chester County, PA. I have combined my background in biological science with my need to express myself creatively through oil painting for the past 15 years. I have a passion for nature, natural environments and the creatures that inhabit them, including polar bears, arctic wolves, arctic foxes, and birds. Knowing the challenges these species are facing with global warming has inspired me to portray them in paint.

I live near Valley Forge National Historical Park and combine my hiking for exercise with my interest in birding photography. I love the challenge of finding different bird species in various environments, identifying them, and capturing their character in a photograph, especially when it’s a particularly quirky pose. I also get a thrill when I lock eyes with a bird and interact in a special intimate moment. I sometimes find birds that seem just as curious about me, as I am about them. I do this field work to collect reference photos for my bird paintings. 

Striving to paint emotion, to create the awe, the wonder, and the experiences we feel in nature, in music, and in special life moments--that feeling that gives us pause...

Hey there! I'm Juanita Bellavance, a former music educator and now a professional acrylic painter of fine art. In both music and art, my goal has been for my work to be genuine, coming from the heart.

When looking at my art, I hope you feel a connection—whether it’s through the colors, the textures, or the stories each piece tells. My work is a reflection of moments, emotions, and nature, brought to life with the hope that it resonates with your own experiences and imagination.

Explore my collection, and let's share the gift of beauty and joy this holiday season!

My paintings celebrate things we have in common, like an obsession with a film character, or a universal experience captured in a vintage photograph. My hope is that we stop seeing each other as Us vs. Them. As much as modern technology connects us, it can also widen the divides between us. When I was a kid we had three channels, plus VHS. We all watched the same shows like “All In the Family”, and “Mary Tyler Moore”.  Now, with a bajillion channels and streaming services, our "tribes" have shrunk, and correspondingly, our respect for differing opinions. Our political discourse has devolved into name-calling, and even physical violence. 

Seems to me, it’s never not a good time to be reminded of all that we have in common, and that we're all in this together. Ultimately, we all want the same things:  to love and be loved, to be accepted for who we are, and to feel a sense of belonging. We all have our own ambitions and worries and we're all fans of Betty White.  (And if you're not a fan of Betty White, are you even human?)

When viewing my oil paintings my collectors experience nostalgia, travel memories or a profound emotional connection to a loved one. My vivid colors, textures and compositions of timeless subject matter provide my viewers with a sense of calm & beauty. I strive to capture the pure essence of my subject using light and active brushstrokes.I'm inspired by the beauty of nature,the spirit of animals, the written word and the melodies of music. You'll often find song lyrics or poetry scattered through my paintings. every picture tells a story. Just ask me!  

I create painted diaries infused with music & memories.

These paintings are love letters to myself.  They have helped me work through both the glory & greif in my life.

Each painting is named after a song, and its story is a memory of my life, with some of the lyrics sprinkled in.

When I choose an image to paint, a magical thing happens.

A song starts playing in my head and the story starts to write itself.

It feels electric!

I believe that you are perfect just the way you are.

It's never too late...ANYTHING is possible!

I love poppies, the beach, and making art! My paintings feature bold colors and expressive brushstrokes because life is too short to hold back. When I look at flowers or a seascape, I see a miraculous display of color and movement unfolding before my eyes. To capture that feeling of wonder, I exaggerate color, contrast and shape. Layers of acrylic wash and splashing paint create the sense spontaneous joy I feel when observing nature. Every brushstroke reflects the freedom to express what is moving me.

Poppies are featured in many of my paintings, symbolizing resilience and rebirth. They are my favorite flower, and when they bloom each summer, they are so stunning! I am amazed by how something so beautiful and fragile can be so resilient. It is this combination of fragility and strength that inspires me to paint them again and again.

My latest collection celebrates the joy of nature through vibrant floral oil paintings.

My loose, impressionistic style captures the dance of light on petals and leaves. I use bold brushstrokes and vivid colors to bring the garden's beauty to your walls.  Each painting is a burst of joy, inviting you to pause and savor life's colorful moments.

I believe art has the power to brighten lives and spaces. That's why I pour my heart into every canvas, hoping to share a bit of the wonder I see in the world.

When I'm not at my easel, you might find me gardening, testing and trying new recipes, or working on my rainbow pom-pom sofa for my studio.

I'm committed to giving back through art. A significant portion of my sales supports art therapy for children, helping young hearts heal through creativity.

I absolutely love welcoming art enthusiasts to my Chester County, Pennsylvania studio! It's a colorful haven in a charming 1896 renovated knitting mill. If you'd like to see where the magic happens, please come for a visit. I'd be thrilled to share my passion for florals with you over a cup of coffee or tea.

Let's brighten the world together, one painting at a time!

I tend to put my blood, sweat and tears into everything I do…

My OCD tendencies often make me create, change, and create again until my artwork has been infused with my heart and soul. Every piece of art that gets shown to my collectors has been looked at from a million angles, and finally….after obsessive amounts of introspection….approved, by me, to go out into the world.

I strive to saturate my artwork with a vibrancy that can be seen from anywhere in the room. I create artwork that is bright, and bold, and fragile - just like me, and maybe just like you.

Art has always been my lifeline. I come from a long line of artists and musicians and I've been painting from the moment I could hold something in my hand. But it's more than that for me. I was born in India, raised in the Netherlands, and ended up in America eventually. Art isn't just an exploration of my cultural heritage or my erstwhile nomadic life. It's a way for me to heal my soul, find beauty in the world, and show the world that everyone can find healing in art. 

When creating art, I take inspiration from my Indian heritage's love for rich colors and patterns. I explore people, places and other subject matters by trying to tell the story. My sincerest hope when creating art, is that anyone who views it can relate to the feeling of finding strength, beauty, and light during good and bad times. I want to offer hope and love and happiness through a visual experience.

Stay in the Moment - Control What You Can

My art is a reflection of the healing power of nature. Being alone in nature allows me to be truly present in the moment; a place to unplug, unwind and exhale.

So often in life we feel the need to be in control. Daily responsibilities and sometimes unforeseen circumstances can make us feel as if we are in a constant state of over drive. I know. I have been there. Solitary time in nature even for a brief time allows me to process my emotions and recalibrate. The sounds, smells and sheer beauty of nature have an immediate calming effect on me.

When I paint I try to recreate these moments in a realistic and tangible way using both oil and watercolor as my mediums.

As you view my work I hope that you will experience those moments with me.

I am a fluid artist from Chester County, Pennsylvania. I became obsessed, yes obsessed, with this medium after a trauma lead me to seek therapy. It was suggested I practice using the right side of my brain and try something creative.

I saw many YouTube videos of fluid art, which lead me to giving it a try. Pouring vibrant colors on a canvas and watching them swirl around, was hypnotic to me. There were so many styles and looks that could be achieved. I tried a few different mediums for a while but kept going back to fluid art.

Practicing this medium has quieted my mind. I get a temporary reprieve from stress, anxiety, and my trauma. This is my art therapy, my medicine. I am so grateful to have found my passion! Today, I even teach others this form of art. I have many students say that they don't have an artistic bone in their body but you don't know if you don't try! I would have said the same thing three years ago about myself! Anything is possible and it's never too late to try something new.

My inspirations are color, geodes, and the elements of nature. They are all reflected in my work. Thank you for reading!

Shyfoxstudio.com

I create realistic oil paintings, often with a touch of whimsy. My paintings make me smile and remind me daily that life is good and I am ok. 9 years ago I started my art journey as a form of vision therapy following an accident. I was not artistic beyond doodling at meetings and creating ugly 80's country crafts. As life sometimes goes, I stumbled upon a hidden skill that I didn't know I had. I started painting simple everyday objects and as I created, my vision improved. My paintings are colorful, often humorous, evoke feelings and memories, and allow me to share my positive vibe with others. 

Be Inspired - See Your Strength - Be Bold

My art is abstract, with a little something familiar in each piece. My colors and figures draw you in to the artwork. What you discover the longer you look at my art are the colors, textures, patterns and shapes that emerge through the many layers of a clay monoprint.  My abstract figures allow you to see yourself in the art and discover something new about yourself when viewing my work. 

The colors, patterns, and texture in my work tell a story of what is underneath. When you look at my work you might be drawn in by the surface colors, the images or the design. But when you look more closely, layers emerge revealing surprises and hidden gems.

As a clinical psychologist, I help people gently peel away the layers that prevent them from accessing all of their strengths.
I help couples feel the love and connection that comes with vulnerability.
And I have had to dig deep at times to find my strength and courage. 

Let my art be a gentle reminder of your inner strength, resilience and beauty. 

I love sharing my art with others because I am sharing myself and my story.
I am telling you what matters to me.
When I see you connecting emotionally to a piece of mine, it touches me to know that I have added something of meaning to your life and a reminder of how strong you really are at the core.

My experience with the natural beauty around me flows through me onto the canvas. Because I paint from memory, my work is about the feeling of a place rather than a specific location. Collectors engage with my art as it sparks their own experience with and recollection of a watery landscape.

 "WHAT IS IT YOU PLAN TO DO WITH YOUR  ONE WILD & PRECIOUS LIFE?"

My life has been guided by this question posited by Mary Oliver. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I dreamed of being an artist as a kid. As I grew into young adulthood, I decided to build a career in technology and management consulting, which spanned decades. I loved it. I channeled my creativity into my job—building businesses, inventing new products, creating growth strategies, building great teams. 

After my retirement, I decided to refocus on my passion for art. I completed the Certificate Program at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2019. I loved going back to school with students decades younger—I learned so much from them. 

Today, I enjoy a full-time studio practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia. My paintings are abstracted landscapes that recreate the playful wonder and energy of simpler times for today’s world. I am inspired by the outdoors, childlike play, and exploration. Each painting holds the power to connect you with your own experience of freedom and uninhibited self-expression.

Figurative elements have always found their way into my work. Maybe because for so long I struggled with body image - I was too tall, too skinny, too fat.

I finally figured out that I don't have to play by the rules, that I don't have to listen to what is whispered in the ears of women everywhere.

I discoverd that I am amazing.  That I like myself.  Who knew?

My collectors experience a sense of acceptance and freedom when engaging with my work. I offer a new idea of beautiful.

I have always been on a quest to better understand my place in the world and how to best communitcate my thoughts and feelings to the greater world. Nature has been the constant methaphor for growth and understanding of self and world. In turn she has helped me to express myself through my work, using nature as a way to start this conversation with the viewer.

Sarah Bourne Rafferty earned a degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography and Book Arts at Warren Wilson College, outside of Asheville, NC. Her love and appreciation of Alternative Process Photography was born during that time. Sarah taught at Westtown School before completing an MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. During her time in the city, Sarah started to play with the cyanotype process and develop perspectives that would later become integral to the design of her own small business. A few years later Atwater Designs was born. Sarah taught darkroom and digital photography for many years at The Agnes Irwin School before taking Atwater Designs full time in 2020. Sarah lives in West Chester, PA in an 1800’s home with her husband John, dog Tallie, and cat Tigger. Her studio is on the property and where she hosts workshops and creative retreats in the sunny months of the year.

Hi there! Shaney here.

I have always felt foreign…born into the wrong family, moved to a foreign land, the Netherlands, to grow up, then returned to the US for my senior year of high school…definitely a stranger in a strange land.

I set making art aside to pursue a sensible career as a psychotherapist. Ultimately realizing that a huge part of me was missing and nothing made sense. Recognizing that loss, I made my way back to painting and haven’t again put my brushes down. Creating allows me to reflect on, express feelings about, and ultimately find delight in all the messy beauty I experience in life all around and within me.

Influenced by nature, I delight in creating abstract-realism animal portraits. Within the layers of my paintings one can spy pencil, acrylics, gold leaf, and oil paint. 

Through personification, I aim to capture raw and honest human emotions, generally my own. Hopeful to then connect with a viewer about their own emotions and experiences on a deeper level with an air of playful curiosity.

After working as an Interior Designer for the past 35+ years, I found a passion for working with clay.  The tactile and 3 dimensional nature of clay as a medium are qualities that I have been trained in and worked with for years in the design industry.  

I began my journey in clay in 2012 at the same time that we were dealing with our beloved four year old dog that had developed a brain disease.  After his passing, I began to move from functional pieces to creating animals that would bring joy to the viewer and collector.  At the time I didn't realize the theraputic journey and ultimate healing that would be found in this new direction.  All my work is made in his memory.

The creative process allows me to draw from imagined childhood characters, a body of work that I have been exploring for the past year or so.  I am always working at creating more movement and storytelling into my pieces.  

All works are made of mid range stoneware, and have mulitple layers of slips and underglazes applied to them.  Most pieces are finished with a coat of molten beeswax.  

May my work bring you joy and a sense of playfulness.

Growing up in the Adirondack Park and Thousand Island regions of New York state, gave me many opportunities to enjoy and learn about not only the natural beauty of the area, but also the animals living there.  I'm sure it was this fascination with wildlife and my lifelong interest in drawing and painting that encouraged me to focus on wildlife art and begin my career as a professional almost 30 years ago.

Primarily working with acrylic paint, I make every effort to observe and understand each of my subject matters, with the intent to honor the animal in a painting or drawing.  The challenge is to render each animal accurately with regards to anatomy and color, and still create a piece of art that is interesting and distinctively as mine.  Generally, my art is characterized by strong compositions and meticulous accuracy of details, with the ultimate goal to accurately portray animals in their natural habitat.  Sometimes, the research to learn and understand each animal takes as much time as the actual painting itself.  Observation is key to any of my paintings. 

Inspiration comes from my lifelong curiosity and fascination of all living things and my many personal experiences while traveling to places all over North America and Africa.

 "Painting grants me the ability to express my fascination and appreciation for the natural world without saying a word.  This allows me to connect with some really nice people who enjoy those same amazing things.  I think when people look at my art, it might help them recall a magical moment in their own lives or perhaps allows them to enjoy a special moment in mine.  Either way, some great connections are made."

In addition to receiving numerous awards and much recognition for my animal art, I have taken part in many regional, national and international wildlife art shows.  I am also a member of the Worldwide organization, The Society of Animal Artists.  

I paint run down, worn-in urban environments as a way to study gritty places and people.

​Every painting begins with a layer of newspaper permanently adhered to the surface. The purpose of the newspaper is to simulate the chaos and noise found in urban environments. Layers of transparent and opaque paint are then built up over the surface. Through this process, subtle areas of the background are revealed ...windows fill with people, headlines bleed through the sky, graffiti-like graphics appear on walls.

How do I choose my subject matter?

I paint from the gut. Most of the time my subjects find me..and by choosing to remain mindful of those connections, I am able to collect ideas for future exploration. I do this with photographs, quick sketches, and journaling. Over time, I began noticing commonalities in the work that I was creating, most notably the desire to capture grittier subjects. As I became more and more curious about what grit was, I discovered that it was the central theme in my work.

​Grit is courage, passion, perseverance, determination, and resilience. The subjects found in my work either set a stage for grit to be present (forgotten corners of cities) or explore what grit looks like in action (the business owner surrounded by their hard work and dreams).

​Every single painting is a way for me to open up about who I am and connect with people who have thrived despite challenging circumstances in their lives.

My art explores the challenges we feel when we are going through difficult times... as well as the hopefulness and inner strength we possess to keep us going. My art has been a vehicle to help me navigate through the challenges of living with Lyme disease.

I use fish imagery, usually contained in bowls and bags to represent the loneliness and limitations sometimes felt when dealing with a chronic situation, using oil and cold wax to explore texture and layers creating a sense of time and memory. 

'Waterimagineer' is how I like to describe my painting. A mostly self-taught artist, I play with water and pigment to bring movement in nature to life. Nature, particularly moving water, gives us positive energy. Oceans, forests, lakes, mountains, have always been there for me as energizing and healing elements and I love bringing their energy forward in my art.

Favorite places to hang out and absorb nature's vibes include Trail 6 at San Onofre State Beach in southern California, Chautauqua Lake, Mt. Crested Butte, BVIs, and pretty much any hiking trail, especially if there are water features.

My approach to painting - my technique, is to brush clear water onto the paper, so it's "moving", and quickly place watercolor pigment onto key areas of the water I just put down. The color flows with the movement of the water, creating a feeling that is fluid instead of static.

My artwork is bright, vibrant, sweet and salty. Using spray paint, hand painted acrylic imagery, vinyl lettering, and found objects on wood panel (including copious amounts of glitter) layered within crystal clear resin, I create unique art that playfully tells my collected stories and observations over the last 40 years. A hopeful cynic, my work often tackles taboo and societal issues in an unassuming, cutesy and palatable way. 

Originally from New England and now living in sunny St Petersburg, FL I spent a lifetime trying to figure out where I fit in and how NOT to have a job I loathed (selling pipe markers was not my calling). Through a series of events and many plot twists I eventually found myself right where I always belonged... creating unique painted artwork. 

Through my work I hope to inspire others to chase their own dreams and to live their lives unapologetically on their own terms.