FEATTURED ARTIST

FEATURED ARTISTS

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Are you an artist looking for a way to share your creative vision with the world? If so, you might be interested in becoming an MAA Featured Artist of the Month. This is a unique opportunity to showcase your artwork in the Gallery's front window, where it will catch the eye of mall visitors. You can display up to 12 pieces of art, depending on their size, for a whole month. Your photo and bio can be displayed next to your work, so people can learn more about you and your artistic style. All you have to do is apply and, if selected, deliver your art to the Gallery on the scheduled date. If you want to sell your artwork, include a price list as well. The Exhibit Committee will handle the rest, including setting up your exhibit and promoting it on the MAA website, social media pages, and a local newspaper article. Please note that we reserve the right to reject any artwork that does not meet our quality standards. For more information, contact Julie Sexstone at [email protected].

MARILYNN WALKER

Marilynn began painting in the early 1970s, but her love for art started at a young age when she was often found doodling and sketching for fun. When she first began painting, she used oils but would soon switch to acrylics for practical reasons. Because she had young children at home, acrylics were easier to manage due to their quick drying time, allowing her to still find time for art.
In 1989, Marilynn moved to Fairmont, where she began taking watercolor lessons and quickly fell un love with the medium. She has continued taking lessons over the years and attended workshops with nationally known artists, such as; Sterling Edwards, JJ Jiang, Hen Hobson, Christopher Leeper and David Smith, to name a few.
After retirement in 2014, she joined the Morgantown Art Association, which has significantly enriched her life. The association provided her with the supportive community of fellow artists and opportunities to exhibit her work. While she enjoys painting scenes inspired by her observations and seeing them come to life, her true joy comes from the emotional connection she has with her art, and experience of getting lost in the process of painting.

CHIP WINTERS

Born 1965, my life has been full of artistic explorations and self-expression. Growing up in Buckhannon, WV, I was immersed in a world of creativity, thanks to my mother’s passion for the arts.
My journey as an artist has been diverse and fulfilling. While I have made a living as a cosmetologist for many years, helping people look and feel their best, my true passion lies in the visual arts. From painting to photography, I’ve found solace and joy in capturing the beauty of the world around me and expressing my innermost thoughts and emotions on canvas.
As a proud member of the LBGTQ+ community, I’ve used my art as a form of advocacy and self-expression. While my creative pursuits have taken many forms, including painting and photography and even foam wig making, one of the most fulfilling aspects of my journey has been creating art that celebrates love, acceptance and diversity.
My husband, Chad, and our two daughters have been steadfast supporters throughout my artistic journey. Their love and encouragement inspire me to continue pushing the boundaries of my creativity and exploring new avenues of self-expression.
Being selected as June’s Featured Artist of the Month is a tremendous honor. It’s a validation of the time and effort I’ve dedicated to my craft, and its opportunity to share my art with a wider audience. I hope my work resonates with others and inspires them to embrace their own creative passions.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue my artistic exploration, fueled by love of my family and endless possibilities of self-expression. Whether I’m painting in my home or capturing fleeting moments with my camera, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my love of art with the world.

EARL STRAIGHT

Cyfarchion! (Greetings)
Two of my great loves or passions are traveling, especially internationally, and photojournalism. I enjoy visually capturing a moment and telling a story that I can share with others. Some friends and family tell me that they get the chance to travel through my pictures; an awesome responsibility.
As a youngster growing up in North Central West Virginia, I dreamed of someday traveling this amazing planet. Through the print media and television, I was visually able to explore and dream beyond the hills of West Virginia. A major goal during high school and college was to someday experience some of my visions first hand and to explore and experience other cultures and to meet people. It was now my turn to create those visual images for others to experience.
While in high school, the photography “bug” started when my parents gifted me a Kodak Brownie Starflash Outfit (which I still have) and while working on my Boy Scout merit badge in photography. That interest continued to grow while majoring in English and journalism in undergraduate school. The importance of composition and storytelling began with my first photojournalism class. Telling stories visually!
In graduate school, the late Bill Seymour, WVU journalism professor and photojournalist, really began pushing and challenging me as a photographer/photojournalist. Truly, my first mentor and later, good friend. He also loved working with my high school students in the classroom and the darkroom.
It was now my turn to push and challenge. Vividly, I remember telling my journalism students not to lock themselves into a set, narrow life. They had a vast world to explore. The major yearning for me to explore was still there. So, I began practicing what I had preached by taking trips during spring breaks and over summers, mostly to Eastern and Western Europe. Some of these trips included my students. After 36 years of teaching mostly journalism, English, and advising student publications at Morgantown High School, I retired to devote more time to exploring my storytelling (visions) and to continue to push and challenge my comfort zones.
I am blessed to have been able to visit and explore 30 countries with my camera in hand and to take 20 Road Scholar trips, some involving photography. For the first time, it gave me an amazing adventure to explore my father’s very early ancestral home of Wales. Give me trains, water, AND mountains to explore and I am very happy! Just a note, some family came to Bristol, England to America as captains to fight in King William’s War (1689-1697) and stayed. Back to my adventures, six of those were in various regions of England, Wales, Spain and Italy with Italian photojournalist, Alfio Garozzo and English/Welsh photographer Jan Chipps. I owe so much to them for pushing me further especially in the area of digital landscape photography. I have grown so much because of their encouragement and guidance.
Yes, even though some of that feeling to explore has been filled, I know my camera and I still have more exploring to do and some new friendships to make.
Mmynhau! (Enjoy)

BRENDA TRADER ZIEHM
Brenda Trader Ziehm was born and raised in Morgantown, WV. Her father, R. Frank Trader, was a coal miner employed at the Pursglove 15 mine in the early 1950s. Her mother, Betty Layman Trader, was a stay-at-home mom until she accepted a position with Mylan Pharmaceuticals. Brenda had an idyllic childhood attending local schools. She is a graduate of University High School. Go Hilltoppers!
As a young adult, Brenda attended college in the Washington, D.C. area where she met a young navy man, Jay Ziehm, who became and still is the love of her life. Jay and Brenda will celebrate 54 years of marriage on 2024. Brenda, when she wasn’t watching The Rifleman with her trusty Winchester 92 carbine, enjoyed drawing and many other forms of artistic expression.
Brenda has explored ceramics, chalk art, calligraphy, flower arrangements, and other crafts. However, her three favorite forms that take up much of her time are photography, quilting and watercolor painting. The watercolor landscapes created by Brenda will transport you to the beach, an African safari, or a forest glen. Her still-life paintings make you believe that you can pluck a beautiful flower from the page or reach down and pet a silky, rambunctious puppy. Brenda delights in sharing her artwork with friends and family. Each piece is gladly received and proudly shown to everyone that enters the house.
Brenda invites you to view and enjoy her artwork at the Morgantown Art Association Gallery in Morgantown, WV during the month of February.

SUSAN KELLY MARCH
Susan is a Morgantown native. She attended West Virginia University earning a BFA in Graphic Design in 1977 and a MA in Counseling in 1997. She worked as graphic designer at WVU for 30 years and retired in 2014. Susan began watercolor painting and became a member of Morgantown Art Association in 2016.

“My mother, Doris Kelly, was a founding member of the Morgantown Art Association (MAA) and an active artist until she passed in 2013. My plan was to have her teach me to paint when I retired. The timing wasn’t to be. But I inherited all of her art materials, including a palette full of watercolor paint. With MAA Instructor Susan Witt’s guidance, I have discovered the magic of watercolor. It gives me great joy to use my Mother’s paints with a few new “quacky” colors added to the palette.”

ALAN SEXSTONE
Text – 304-692-1603
Email – [email protected]

I was born in 1951 in London, England then emigrated to the USA in 1957. There my family became naturalized citizens in 1967. I grew up and attended college in Louisville, Kentucky attaining a MS degree in Biology from the University of Louisville. In 1978 I married Julie Stearns before we moved to Lansing, Michigan, where I received a PhD in Microbiology in 1983. We then moved to Morgantown, WV where I worked as an environmental microbiologist at West Virginia University, retiring as a professor in 2015. Julie and I have two adult sons who now have thriving families of their own.
I have always loved three dimensional forms and was fascinated by wood grain and texture. Upon retirement I decided to take up wood turning to explore this fascination. I bought an old lathe off Craig’s List and tried to teach myself, which didn’t work out that well!! So, I sought out classes from professionals to master correct techniques and learned what I know from the following people: bowl and spindle turning from Ashley Harwood, segmented bowl turning from Jeremy Bartholow, box turning from Jason Breach, power carving from Kristen LaVier, and multi-axis turning from Derek Weidman. In a future class I hope to learn how to turn hollow forms. I am a member of the American Association of Woodturners, whose members are friendly, inspirational, and generous with their advice.
Wood turning is my primary artistic hobby. I have progressed to the point where I am finally comfortable to offer my work for sale to others. I do not yet have a web presence, but many of my past works can be viewed on my Instagram account (alansexstone). Some of my pieces are for sale at the Morgantown Art Association Gallery. If interested, you may contact me by email or text, as listed above.

DAN FRIEND

[email protected]

Although my love for photography started many years ago when I saw that B&W print come to life in the developer tray under an amber safe-light, digital photography and Photoshop renewed an old love affair for me. I have retired from working as a full time photographer for a University and today I have a small photo company that I license images for all manner of commercial and editorial use and sell fine art prints.

Work background: Operated my own Photographic Studio 15 years doing portraits and wedding. Then worked as Photographer at West Virginia University for 30 years retiring as manager of WVU Photographic Services. Since retiring I operate DLF Photo, licensing images for all manner of commercial and editorial use and sell fine art prints.

ALISA IRISOVA

Art is the personal expression of the artist's life experiences, and Alisa Irisova's life is rich with experience. Alisa and her husband fled Moscow in late March 2022, right after the beginning of Putin's War on Ukraine.

Alisa was a journalist, book writer and editor for TASS, the official media of the Russian Federation. Her husband was a military journalist for TASS, and had been an officer in the Russian Army as a translator. But they spoke out against the war and their lives were in danger.

Two months and five countries later, on planes, trains and on foot, carrying only their worldly possessions and their child, they entered the US, where they applied for political asylum.

Good fortune and a series of events brought them to West Virginia to begin their new lives.

Alisa continues to express her emotional journey, her memories and her concern for the children of Ukraine on canvas.

"Bomb Shelter," "Journey to Hope," and "No more War'' are the beginning of a series depicting war through the eyes of innocent children.

All proceeds from the sales of her art will be donated to the support of the Children of Ukraine through local organizations.

TONY KLEB

I grew up in New Jersey spending a lot of my time in the woods, on the lakes, and at the ocean. I

had taken art classes in high school and enjoyed them, but quickly lost interest once I got my

first car. I have been fishing since I was five, and that interest has carried through even

through today. I started fly fishing and tying flies after graduating from college. I moved to

West Virginia in 1978 following a sales career as a SALESPERSON selling paper and packaging

supplies, retiring from International Paper in 2018. My wife and I now spend our time with the

grandchildren, gardening, and when we can, camping across the U.S. with our dog, Buster, fly

fishing, hiking and more fly fishing. Post Covid I joined Morgantown Art Association and rekindled

my enjoyment of creating art both with water colors and colored pencil. One of the

highlights of my week is attending Monday class with Susan Witt along with many friends I’ve

made in class.

LISA RYAN

Lisa Faye (Rockwell) Ryan, the Featured Artist for January 2023, started drawing and painting

while growing up in Staunton, Virginia. She was mentored in oil painting by her grandmother,

Dorothy Hughes, when she visited her Farmington, West Virginia home during the summers. She

took drawing and oil painting classes while attending the University of Virginia, where she

majored in English Language and Literature. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Writing and

Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, where she honed her fiction writing and

screenwriting skills. After earning a Master of Science in Library Science degree from the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she worked as an Information Specialist and

Index/Abstracter. She founded and developed the business, Stellar Searches LLC, for which she

conducts searching and indexing. After moving with her husband, Stephen, to Mount Sterling,

Kentucky in 2006, she took watercolor classes at the Gateway Regional Arts Center there. For

Woman’s History Month in March 2020, she exhibited oil paintings done by herself and her

grandmother of the same landscape subject at the Gateway Regional Arts Center. In the

summer of 2021, she and her husband moved to her Dad’s childhood home in Enterprise, West

Virginia to be closer to family. She soon joined the Morgantown Art Association, where she has

been taking watercolor classes and workshops and exhibiting her work.

NANCY MAUNZ

Nancy Manuz is a native of West Virginia. Her parents were born and raised high in the mountains.

She spent many hours in the Swiss village of Helvetia, roaming the hills, meadows and creek on

her grandparents’ farm, which later became her father’s hobby farm. There is where she began

her love affair with nature.

Nancy attended Fairmont State University, where she was awarded a scholarship to study art

and earned the title Art Student of the Year. She also earned graduate hours in art from

West Virginia University. Nancy taught art in West Virginia public and private schools for over

30 years. The longest stint was at University High School in Morgantown.

She has attended numerous lectures, classes and workshops, where she studied with regional

and nationally known artists. She has exhibited in cafes and galleries throughout her career.

Presently, she is active in The Thread art group, Morgantown Art Association, the Artists of

Waldomore, and the Arts Center in Elkins, WV. She is president-elect of the West Virginia

Watercolor Society.

Nancy primarily works in watercolor, but can be found on a bench in the park drawing. Her

preferred subject matter is nature.

She says, “To this day, after a walk, my pockets bulge with pinecones, seed pods, flower heads

and sometimes a feather or two. I love to lay them out and draw or paint these fragments

from nature.”

JUDY HURST AND SUE HATFIELD

OLGA ALEXANDRIA GAUJOT

I grew up thousands of miles away from the nearest large body of water, in Donetsk, Ukraine,

but I have always been drawn to the sea, salt, sand, and sun. In the1980s Ukraine was a part of

the Soviet Union and for vacations my parents (Lybov and Valeri) would often take my brother

(Mikhail) and I on to the Azov Sea and Black Sea, Ukraine. On these brief summer trips my

passion for seascapes first washed ashore. The images of the sky meeting the water, and then

water meeting the land made me feel more connected to the world beyond my home. It was

when I moved to the United Stated in 1996 and visited the ocean for the first time that I

witnessed the magnificence of the ocean scapes.

West Virginia became my home in 2003. I fell in love with the people, rivers and the mountains.

There are similarities between the Donetsk Province and West Virginia, both located on the 38th

Parallel, both regions are known for coal, and both have been in the middle of a Civil War.

When incorporate images of West Virginia into my art I feel more connected to home in Ukraine. I

have two amazing daughters Katya (18) and Maya (14) who was born and raised in WV. They are

always inspire my creativity and push me to do better in my life.

My passion for art and teaching grew drastically in 2020 during my dramatic battle with

breast cancer. Art became my therapy. I truly feel beauty is all around us, in the faces of

strangers, architecture, and even the ordinary nature. My observational drawings, sketches

and still lives are rooted in the Traditional Russian techniques that I learned at the Donetsk

Arts College. My teaching methods are based on the similar classes I attended in my home

country. I work with young students because their potential is limitless. Every day I strive to

grow as an artist, by engaging in drawing, painting and sketching. Every day I strive to grow as a

human, by connecting with others to build a community. I believe that Art and Music will save

the world. My partner Aristotle Jones and I started the Sounds Good Foundation which

DEdicated to art and music and serving underprivileged communities in West Virginia. I became

a member of Morgantown Art Association in 2021 and board member of Monongalia Art Center in

2022.

Serving the community became my lifelong interest and priority.

BARBARA BEER

STEVE HEAP

I’m Steve Heap, and I live to create images that will bring back memories of a happy

vacation or remind you of a place you used to call home!

My aim is to capture each location I visit in the best light and create a photograph,

that you would be truly proud to display in your home or office.

As a professional photographer, I have been very active in the stock photography

world with images printed in leading magazines, travel guides and international

publications. More recently, though, I have been more focused on the elusive task of

getting the perfect image of places I visit – ones that really speak to the viewer, and

I have been writing stories about the background to my photos on my website:

BackyardImage.com

My portfolio can be seen at: SteveHeap.com, and it is organized by location, so that

you quickly find the print you are looking for.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PHOTOGRAPHER STEVE HEAP'S WEBSITE

RICH LEWIS

I am 66 years old and retired from the U.S. Air Force and moved to Morgantown

in 1997, after spending 20 years as a missile systems analyst.

My wife, Sandy, and I opened Country Lane Photography in January of 1998,

offering family, children and high school senior portraits. Sandy is an autism

specialist for the county school system, and we have two children, Kelly and

Matt, and six grandchildren. Kelly is a behavior counselor for the Hanover, PA

school district, and Matt is serving in the Air Force and currently stationed in

Alaska.

I have too many hobbies, including photography (obviously) woodworking, metal

detecting, fishing and kayaking, and I hope to do more landscape and wildlife

photography in the future.

JOSEPH BORYTSKY

I studied with the University of Edinburgh art professor while stationed at Kirknewton

RAF Station, Scotland. After serving with the United States Air Force, I designed and

executed visual merchandising with Kaufman’s Department Store in Uniontown,

Pennsylvania, Steubenville, Caton, and Mansfield, Ohio. I returned to Kaufman’s became

merchandising buyer.

My art background over the years consists of oils, watercolors, pastels, and

calligraphy. For the past fifteen or so years I have concentrated on my ethnic

background and found new interest in traditional and colorful Polish art. Many

immigrants brought many of their Polish customs and artistic talents with them to

America. Over the years many of these treasured pieces of Szopki (shop0key),

Wycinang (vee-chee-non-kee), paper cuts and wax drop and pull Pysanki (pee-son0kee)

decorated eggs have disappeared or have been discarded by family members

unfamiliar with these traditional arts. My goal as an artist is to create, revitalize,

and preserve these almost forgotten art forms.

My work has been exhibited in the following areas where Polish art still thrives:

The Cathedral of Learning - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Cloister of the Frick Fine Arts Building - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Andy Warhol Museum - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
National Czech and Slovak Museum - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center - Washington, D.C.
Student Union Building, University of Pittsburgh - Oakland Campus

GREG KULLMAN

GRACE WIGAL

Grace Wigal has spent most of her life teaching, first as a reading specialist in

an elementary school, next as a language arts teacher and reading specialist at

the high school level, and last as a teaching professor at the West Virginia

College of Law, where she directed the Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing

Program and the Academic Excellence Program. She retired in 2015 to focus on

her family beef farm on Cobun Creek Road and to spend more time with her

grandchildren.

Recently, the farming operation expanded to include a high tunnel greenhouse

that supplies vegetables to family, friends, and a community feeding program.

Grace also sings with the West Virginia University Community Choir and enjoys

participation in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s classes where she has

discovered a new hobby – painting with watercolors.

Although Grace has spent most of her life close to the earth with her farming

and gardening activities, she says that her watercolors class has taught her to

see the world through a new lens of proportion and color that has enriched her

life with new meaning.

CHARLOTTE SWISHER

FRED STANSBERRY

P.J. Bell

I have lived my life in WV. My family came to Morgantown in 1962. I went to

public school here and attended WVU for a B.S. degree in Elementary Education.

I began teaching in Arthurdale in Preston County and then in Flatts-Chestnut

Ridge, North Elementary, and finally at Suncrest Middle in Monongalia County. I

earned my M.A. degree in education. I taught grades 4, 5 and 6 for a period of 41

years.

I have always been interested in art. I have taken classes in tole-oil painting and

sketching. Through OLLI, I started taking watercolor classes from Susan Witt

and have enjoyed it; though it is a challenge! This started my involvement with

the Morgantown Art Association. I currently chair publicity and the website for

MAA.

The friendly atmosphere in The Gallery contributes to learning not only from our

instructors, but also from each other. For me painting is a stress reliever. When I

have a brush in my hand, I seem to go into a “zone”. Time stands still, and I am

often oblivious to what’s going on around me.

THE SCHUBERTS

Dr. Karel R. Schubert: Karel Schubert grew up in West Virginia. He has always

been interested in art, architecture and anthropology. He has lived in exciting

places around the world. He attended West Virginia University majoring in

chemistry and biochemistry with minors in plant science and agriculture. After

graduation from WVU, he completed his Master’s and Doctorate in Biochemistry

and Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Plant Science at the University of Illinois

at Urbana-Champaign. He followed his post graduate work in Botany and Plant

Pathology at Oregon State University and later in Nematology at The University

of California at Davis. He was an assistant and associate professor of

biochemistry at Michigan State University, an adjunct professor in Biology at

Washington University in St. Louis and an Endowed Professor in Botany and

Microbiology at the University of Oklahoma. Prior to returning to Morgantown,

Dr. Schubert was Vice President and Member at the Danforth Plant Science

Center. After returning to West Virginia, he served as the Director of the WV Bio

Association. He has always been involved in photography with additional

interests in painting, stained glass, woodworking and design. He is a Guest

Artisan at Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville, MD and is a member of

the Morgantown Art Association serving in past years as the chair of publicity

and website. His photography has won awards in Exhibit 60, the All-Member

Show and the Photography Show, among others.

Mrs. Mary C. Schubert: Mary was born and grew up in Morgantown. After

graduating from WVU with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Master’s in

Early Childhood Education, she taught at Madison Elementary in Parkersburg for

36 years. She retired in 2007. When she connected with her childhood and

college classmate, Karel, she became interested in art and joined the

Morgantown Art Association. She has served as Recording Secretary for the

Board of the MAA and for Alpha Delta Kappa, a Teacher’s Honorary, and she

currently serves as secretary for the Board for the Spruce Forest Artisan Village.

Her artistic interests include photography, quilling, stained glass and more

recently watercolor and acrylic painting. She also enjoys knitting, traveling and

camping. Among her awards, she has won Best of Show at the Taylor County

Photography Show.

EDDIE “SPAGHETTI” MAIER

www.eddiespaghettiart.com

Eddie Spaghetti Maier uses his creative talents to share Mother Nature’s

bountiful gifts of beauty. While he predominately works as a printmaker, he is

also adept in other mediums including pottery, batik, mural painting, and just

about anything art related. Eddie also loves to share his talents by teaching and

holding workshops.

He has a reverence for nature and love of the outdoors. His activities include

canoeing, camping, hiking and travel, primarily the Appalachian Mountains of

West Virginia where he calls Morgantown, WV his home.

Eddie feels blessed and grateful for his artistic talents, but his success has come

from years of hard work and dedication. He grew up feeling most connected with

clay and making pottery on the wheel. After learning woodcut printmaking while

on a study abroad in Australia, he found his calling. Even after 20 years of

making woodcuts, he still says, “I can’t stop carving. I’ve become obsessed with

the process. I love printmaking.” …and his passion shows in his work.

His decision to make art becoming his livelihood is worth mentioning. After the

death of his brother, Erich, he realized the sacred meaning of life is to live it. He

felt it was time to pursue his passion. Kathy Martinez, an artist friend from

Johnstown, PA, turned Eddie onto selling his art at music festivals and arts and

crafts fairs. He can often be found traveling with his family to places all over the

U.S.A. His wife, Talia, and children, Zealon and Zuri, also make art to be shared

and sold, while they are on the road together. He boasts, “I love seeing places

across our country. We’ve got brothers and sisters all over. That’s what makes

an artist’s life so special.”

ALLYSON MCKEE

Allyson McKee is a Pasadena, Maryland girl who attended West Virginia

University where she majored in zoology. She met and married a West Virginia

young man, Clark, who was from Triadelphia, WV. After several years in

Virginia, while Clark served in the military, they returned to Morgantown

intending to stay 2 years and now 50 years later, they are still here. Along

the way they raised two children, Lisa and Sean. There are also two

grandsons and a granddaughter to round out the McKee clan.

Allyson worked for West Virginia University Libraries after receiving her

Master’s in Library Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She served as

the Department Head of Electronic Resources, Licensing and Acquisitions for

the Libraries. Upon retirement from WVU Libraries after 43 years, she

needed a project and a new challenge. She started attending Susan Witt’s

watercolor classes.

TOM HARMAN

Tom Harman MD is a retired OB/Gyn who creates beautiful useful ceramic objects.

For over thirty years he delivered babies and helped women with reproductive health

problems in Morgantown WV, but he’s not the typical surgeon.

Tom grew up in northern Ohio in a small manufacturing town. He excelled in school,

but was a mischievous youngster, frequently in trouble with teachers and parents.

The youngest of three boys,

he loved fishing, music and playing cards. As a tuba major at OSU, he was the first in

his extended family to attend college, but that didn’t last long. Deeply religious and

patriotic, he was shocked into political activism by the Vietnam War and took to the

streets to protest his country’s aggression. To his conservative family’s horror, he

dropped out of college and began working with the American Friends Service

Committee as an anti-war draft counselor. Prepared to go to prison for his beliefs

he even destroyed his own draft card, but he didn’t burn it. He ate it!

It was during this time that he became part of an organization called Peacemakers

and it was through this group that he met his wife of 45 years, nurse-midwife and

author, Patricia Harman. In 1974, Tom and Patsy, as part of a community of

peacemakers, helped established a rural commune in Spencer WV. There, they

attempted to live a simple, self-sufficient non-violent life, devoted to the principals

of Mahatma Gandhi. As the War in Vietnam wound down, most of the members of the

commune returned to college and moved away. Tom and Patsy, now parents of three

of their own boys, still felt called to do something to make the world better. They

had already had two babies at home with midwives and eventually decided to devote

their lives to the medical field, helping families have gentle respectful births in the

hospital. It was during medical school at Ohio State University, that Tom discovered he

had a gift for surgery and developed an interest in women’s pelvic pain. This later

became his specialty and he worked with Patsy at WVU medical center and later in his

own private practice, Partners in Women’s Healthcare at Mon General Hospital.

During this time, he began to take classes in ceramics and developed his own home

studio. In 2018, when he retired, he began to sell and show his own work. In addition to

making beautiful useful, cups, platters, bowls and vases, he enjoys growing micro-

greens under grow lights in his basement and tending his large vegetable garden. He

swims daily in the lake near his home and travels to the Dominican Republic to do

surgical service missions.

HOLLY NICHOLSON

I worked as a school counselor for 27 years, and I loved working with

children and their imaginations. I think this was where I used my creativity the

most in teaching and creating games to help students share their feelings.

After I retired, I worked as a realtor for a few years until I felt I could

“really retire” and create a life full of art and nature.

I started mosaic classes with Debbie Palmer at the Senior Citizens Center in

Wiles Hill. She taught me a great deal, and I started working on projects at

home. I was also experimenting with alcohol inks at the time and found them

fun to play with.

I began Susan Witt’s watercolor classes about three years ago and loved

every class! She teaches from her many years of experience and gives you

loads of tips to make it seem easy. She is a positive encouraging teacher. I

was only able to go to summer classes, as I go away in the winter, but each

class taught me so much!

I always thought watercolor was the hardest medium to master, but if you “go

with the flow”, it can be a wonderful way to create beauty.

SUSAN DOTSON

Having been born and raised in Murrysville, PA, I left the Keystone State to attend

West Virginia Wesleyan College, coming to realize that you are either born a

Mountaineer, or you get here as soon as you can. After graduation, my husband, Lyn,

and I spent a year living in Washington, DC, before returning to West Virginia and

Morgantown where he attended law school and I pursued a master’s degree in

journalism. Although we had planned to leave Morgantown when we graduated, we

found jobs here and stayed. Eventually we realized it was home and we’ve lived here

ever since.

Our children, Meredith and Ben, were born in Morgantown and both attended WVU. Now

Meredith lives in Avon, OH, outside Cleveland, with her husband Cole; Ben and his wife,

Kelly, live in Houston, TX. I spent my career in human resources, working for several

large corporations including Consol and Northrup Grumman. In 2015 I retired from

Mylan where I has managed employee leave.

I taught myself to knit when I was about 12 and have dabbled in lots of crafts since

then. I’ve done tole painting with acrylics, knitting, counted cross stitch, and

scrapbooking. After my retirement, I began to work in watercolors, which I have

found to be very challenging, but also rewarding. I joined the Morgantown Art

Association and have enjoyed the friends I have made through the group. Besides Susan

Witt’s watercolor classes, I’ve participated in workshops with Sterling Edwards, Lynn

Lysick and with various instructors at the WV Botanic Garden.

Besides painting, I enjoy gardening and reading. I’m involved with my church, Suncrest

UMC, and currently serve as president of the Service League of Morgantown.

AVA GAA-OJEDA KESSLER

Ava Gaa-Ojeda Kessler attended the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, where she earned

a B.S. (1978) and M.S. (1983) in biology on the reproductive biology, ecology, behavior, and feeding

habits of Sphaerodactylus townsendi and S. macrolepis lizards. Afterward, she did further studies in

biology at the City University of New York and Museum of Natural History. She previously worked

for the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Terrestrial Ecology

Section, as a Field Biologist and studied the status of the endangered Culebra Island Giant Anole lizard

(Anolis roosevelti). Later, she was cross-trained in human in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer at

the infertility laboratories of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She subsequently returned

to Puerto Rico where she worked as a human embryologist and andrologist, helping to produce the

first set of IVF/ET twins in Puerto Rico. Ava last worked for the Albemarle County Public School

system as a substitute teacher and also periodically delivered outreach educational programs on

herpetofauna and other areas of science to school children. After rearing two sons with her

husband, Matt, a veterinarian, she discovered a passion for watercolor painting while attending an art

class through West Virginia University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and the Morgantown Art

League with Susan Witt.

KATHLEEN KRIZNER

I grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, but I’ve spent my adult life in North

Central West Virginia. I hold a nursing degree from Presbyterian University

Hospital and a Masters in Technical Education from Marshal University. After

a long career in nursing and teaching, I retired to find myself wondering what

to do with all my free time. My answer came from a sign advertising drawing

lessons. That was the beginning of my painting adventure.

Drawing lessons lead to watercolor classes and a whole world of exciting

discoveries. My primary focus is watercolor, but I’ve dabbled in other media

such as acrylics and alcohol inks. I’ve even tried my hand at jewelry making.

For the past several years I’ve attended classes and workshops at the

Morgantown Art Association with a group of likeminded artists and friends.

My art work has merited me recognition in the art community and several

awards, for which I am very proud. Painting is the creative outlet I can enjoy

well into the future.

SANDY CROSS SMITH

I am a native West Virginian and have lived most of my life in Morgantown.

However, I was born in Weston and lived in several small towns while growing

up. I graduated from Parkersburg High School. My college education was

obtained at West Virginia University where I majored in Art and English

Education. My teaching career spanned a period of 32 years in the

elementary schools of Preston County and Monongalia County. I was a

traveling Art teacher in several Preston County schools, but most of my

teaching career was devoted to the regular elementary classrooms. I was

able to use art across the curriculum to teach and enrich student learning

with a variety of hands on projects such as Paper Mache world globes,

erupting volcanoes, and wildlife murals. Art has been an important part of my

personal life, as I have experimented and devoted a lot of time to several

mediums such as oil and acrylic painting, fabric arts, quilting and sewing as well

as knitting. It has been a new adventure for me to delve into the world of

watercolor. Currently I am attending watercolor classes taught by Susan Witt

which are offered through the Morgantown Art Association. I am a fairly new

member of the Morgantown Art Association but was able to attend a Lynn

Ferris workshop last fall. Hopefully I can attend more workshops in the

future.

I believe I am a very fortunate person to be blessed with a husband who

encourages me to paint and practice my artistic efforts. My two sons and

their wives, as well as my five grandchildren, appreciate and support my

efforts as well. I am lucky to live in the beautiful state of WV which is a

constant inspiration for artistic expression.

NANCY BIGGS
[email protected]

My current work reflects my enjoyment in exploring and discovering what

color does as it joins another color, side by side or entwining, on paper, fiber

or other materials, controlled or spontaneous.

Each of my works, other than greeting cards, is one of a kind. The themes

arise in my own mind, the interpretation evolves, as I explore or develop a way

to see where it leads me. All is searching. All exists only once.

Ever since childhood, interpreting my view of things has come as naturally as

breathing. Over the years it has been expressed in many ways – through

designing and making clothing and accessories in batik, through experiments in

clay, through designing and knitting hand-spun sweaters, through interest in

antique sewing machines and quilting in both traditional and modern art quilt

styles.

I base my philosophy on a little card given to me years ago at an arts festival…

In the entire history of the universe

Past…Present…Future

You are the only You

There will ever be.

No other living being can share

What you have been given to share.

JOHN MOON

My name is John Moon. I live in Masontown, West Virginia with my wife, Virginia.

I have three adult children. For thirty-five years I worked in coal mines as a

mechanic.

My interest in art began in high school where I took auto body repair training

and learned airbrush painting techniques. I began to custom paint motorcycle

gas tanks as a lifelong hobby. I also learned about woodworking and have built

custom cabinets for my own kitchen, and bunk beds for my grandsons.

Currently, I specialize in making hardwood trim molding for homes.

After retiring from my work in the mines about three years ago, I began

watercolor classes with Susan Witt at the Morgantown Art Association

Gallery. I enjoy painting flowers and foliage.

ISABEL HERNANDEZ

Isabel Hernandez was born in Tenerife, Islas Canarias and raised in Venezuela

where she lived and worked as an English teacher for many years. In 2002

Isabel arrived in Morgantown with her two sons to get a M.A. in Technology

Education at WVU. Here she started working as a Spanish teacher in Preston

and Monongalia Counties until she retired in 2016. Then she could finally devote

more time to what she wanted to do all her life: to paint with watercolors.

Isabel is a self-taught artist. In 2016 she joined Morgantown Art Association

where she has been taking classes with Susan Witt. She has attended a

workshop with Robin Poteet and some online classes. Isabel has also viewed

many videos, so she can learn from popular watercolorists like Karlyn Holman,

Rick Surowicz, and many others.

The artist loves nature and the outdoors: therefore, her work focuses on

florals, animals, and landscapes. From a very early age, Isabel showed a big

interest in drawing, painting, and creating things, but life took her on a

different direction until now, when she can express her art through color and

creativity.

BECKY TURTON

Born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Moved to West Virginia at age seven. Grew up in Keyser, West Virginia.

Graduated from Potomac State College in 1971 and moved to Morgantown where I began working for Stone and Stone.

Partially retired five years ago as a Paralegal working at Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC.

I was introduced to art in eighth grade and have always loved creating things.

My mother was very artistic. She was always painting, sewing, knitting, making

doll houses and furniture. I have been sewing and making clothing since I was

eight years old. I love knitting such things as sweaters, shawls, scarves, socks,

etc.

I began doing rubber stamping and making cards about fifteen years ago. I

love working with alcohol inks and many, many other products for

backgrounds for my cards. Attend Stampaway convention in Cincinnati every

August with my “bestie”, Carolyn, and take classes and shop at the many

vendors who participate!

I began taking watercolor classes from Susan Witt about five years ago and

joined Morgantown Art Association at that time. I have taken several

workshops at MAA to improve my skills and have presented at a couple of

the Kappa Tau sessions at the Gallery.

We love to travel and have done quite a bit of international traveling especially

to the UK as my husband, Richard, grew up in London, and we have spent a lot

of time visiting family in England and Wales. Gallery browsing is one of my

favorite things to do in London.

I’m married to Richard Turton, who is Chair of Chemical and Biomedical

Engineering at WVU, and who always encourages me to have fun and enjoy my

many “hobbies”. We live in Lakeside Village where our two cats, Bella and Lola,

allow us to share their abode.

SARA JANE GAINOR

Sara Jane started painting in her 50’s and has been painting ever since. Her

first media was acrylics, but she has been painting in oils for several years.

Recently she has started using watercolors.

She has exhibited her work at MAA and recently placed third in a juried show.

Her paintings have also been displayed at the Monongalia County Courthouse

and Slight Indulgence.

Sara Jane retired from the Cancer Institute at West Virginia University where

she served for the last ten years as Director of Bonnie’s Bus. She lives in

Morgantown and enjoys time with her family including two daughters and three

grandchildren.

D. BYRON WITT

I am a Morgantown resident, born and raised in Calhoun Co., WV. I came to

Morgantown to go to school and have lived here since graduating from WVU.

I am retired from Mylan Pharmaceutical, after thirty-eight years, where I was

a Global VP of Quality.

I have always been interested in photography, but since my retirement, I have

really become involved in the artistic end of it. Before that, I was more

interested in taking family pictures. I have been involved with MAA for several

years and have come to appreciate that photography is truly an art form.

My main interests are taking landscapes, waterfalls, and flowers. I also really

enjoy taking action sports shots of my grandsons, Logan and Brady. I also

belong to the Morgantown Photography Club.

Artist statement – “I enjoy capturing the beauty of nature.”

SANDY CROSS SMITH

I am a native West Virginian and have lived most of my life in Morgantown.

However, I was born in Weston and lived in several small towns while growing

up. I graduated from Parkersburg High School. My college education was

obtained at West Virginia University where I majored in Art and English

Education. My teaching career spanned a period of 32 years in the

elementary schools of Preston County and Monongalia County. I was a

traveling Art teacher in several Preston County schools, but most of my

teaching career was devoted to the regular elementary classrooms. I was

able to use art across the curriculum to teach and enrich student learning

with a variety of hands on projects such as paper mache world globes,

erupting volcanoes, and wildlife murals.

Art has been an important part of my personal life, as I have experimented

and devoted a lot of time to several mediums such as oil and acrylic painting,

fabric arts, quilting and sewing as well as knitting. It has been a new

adventure for me to delve into the world of watercolor. Currently I am

attending watercolor classes taught by Susan Witt which are offered through

the Morgantown Art Association. I am a fairly new member of the

Morgantown Art Association but was able to attend a Lynn Ferris workshop

last fall. Hopefully I can attend more workshops in the future.

I believe I am a very fortunate person to be blessed with a husband who

encourages me to paint and practice my artistic efforts. My two sons and

their wives, as well as my five grandchildren, appreciate and support my

efforts as well. I am lucky to live in the beautiful state of WV which is a

constant inspiration for artistic expression.

SUE CRIST

* Morgantown, WV, native

* West Virginia University— BFA (Graphic Design, 1977) and MA (Counseling, 1997)

* Graphic designer at WVU for 30 years; retired in 2014

* Began watercolor painting and became a Morgantown Art Association

member in 2016.

My mother Doris Kelly was a founding member of the Morgantown Art

Association (MAA) and an active artist until she passed in 2013. My plan was to

have her teach me to paint when I retired. The timing wasn’t to be, but I

inherited all of her art materials, including a palette full of watercolor paint.

With MAA Instructor Susan Witt’s guidance, I have discovered the magic of

watercolor. It gives me great joy to use my Mother’s paints with a few new

“quacky” colors added to the palette.

TIA HUNT
Reedsville, WV

Horses…drawing…dislike of “Paint by Number” kits. Originally from Kelso,

Washington I loved drawing, had my own horse by age 7, well, I shared a horse

with my younger sister and having received my “Paint-by-Number” paint kit (of

a horse), decided that was not for me. The paints came out, and I painted my

own pictures. My father gave me my first Grumbacher oil paint set for

Christmas when I was seventeen, and my husband gave me my first paint box

and easel.

In Huntington Junior High School my art teacher entered my pen and ink

drawing of horses in a school art show. During 4-H my various projects

include horses, photography, cooking (where I learned cake decorating),

sewing and Junior Leadership. I had the privilege to attend various workshops

in Temecula, California instructed by William F. Powell, author of many Foster

art books and originally from Huntington. WV. Prior to moving to West Virginia,

I attended San Jacinto Community College and studied painting under John

Dingler learning techniques of masters, one of whom was Caravaggio. I had the

privilege of viewing works by Caravaggio in Vienna, Austria. Drawing and design

classes were instructed by Ms. Rodriquez, who included one of my design

projects, “Prague” in the Spring Student Art Show. I also learned the art of

painting porcelain dolls from Kay (a former artist with Franklin Mint, in Lake

Elsinore, CA), basket weaving in Temecula, CA, as well as at Prickett’s Fort,

WV.

After moving to West Virginia with my husband and daughter, I attended

watercolor and oil painting classes at MTEC. After joining the Morgantown Art

Association, my art education has changed from oil painting to watercolor

under the tutelage of Susan Witt, a workshop with Robin Poteet, a Plein Air oil

painting workshop with T.M. Nichols, a basket weaving workshop and various

interesting Kappa Tau education events.

The mountains and scenery in West Virginia are as awe inspiring as the

mountains of Washington state, lending themselves to hours of drawing and

painting pleasure. I enjoy traveling with my husband, watching my grandsons

with their school, sports (hockey and baseball) and now horseback riding

endeavors. I enjoy my two wonderful daughters with their life journeys. Visits

to museums afford the pleasure of viewing inspiring works of art by well-

known artists and discovering the unknown.

SALLY H. DIGMAN

Sally grew up in Silver Spring, MD, near Washington, D.C. As a young child, she

enjoyed coloring and making designs, but became discouraged at an early age

by an elementary teacher, who took her exquisite drawing of the Maryland

state tree, the mighty oak, and using a red pen, circled her creatively included

squirrel hole and wrote, “What’s That?” This didn’t keep Sally from competing

in neighborhood coloring contests, judged by various available mothers.

Sally did take advantage of the opportunities that D.C. offered to a young

person interested in art. While skipping school, she occasionally left her truant

friends behind and road her bike down Rock Creek Parkway to the National

Art Gallery. In addition, she had plenty of time to make many designs and

drawings, due to being regularly grounded and restricted to her room during

most of her junior high and early high school years. Her walls were full.

In a last-ditch attempt to find some activity to keep her out of trouble, Sally’s

parents asked if she might want to take some painting lessons. Skeptical, but

somewhat interested, Sally decided to give that a try. Mrs. Glen Hill, a truly

exceptional portrait artist in the D.C. area, decided (Sally suspects bribery, or

pity for her parents) to let Sally join her Saturday group of young woman

artists, and put a paintbrush in her hand. Sally came to enjoy the intensity and

camaraderie of the other painters, and soon began learning the secrets of

turning canvas into color. She never skipped painting class.

In a further attempt to keep Sally out of delinquency and in school, Sally was

placed into three art classes during her senior year by her beloved guidance

counselor, Mr. Rowsie. They were close friends by this time, as you might

imagine. She got to paint and paint and paint. One art teacher, Mrs. Davila, let

Sally go outside and draw; quite a risk on her part, but Sally usually came

back. Another art teacher, Ms. Briskman, eventually laid out a challenge to

Sally to paint something that was completely abstract, but Sally could never do

it without it turning into something realistic. (Still working on that.)

Astonishingly, Sally won some nice prizes for her work.

After high school there was no time for art. College, marriage, teaching,

children, graduate school, and work as a faculty member and administrator at

several area colleges and universities (Alderson-Broaddus College, West Virginia

University, Salem International University, Fairmont State University), left little

time and energy for painting…

…until she met Jane Cardi, 35 years after high school, who got Sally into her

painting class with instructor, Jeanette Campbell. The fabulous ladies of

Wednesday evening art class, still paint together and learn together at the

Morgantown Art Association Gallery. Come join us!

MYUNG RYOU

Myung Ryou lives in Morgantown, West Virginia and has been painting

watercolors and oils since 2013 at the Morgantown Art Gallery. She takes

classes and workshops with Susan Witt, Sharon Hildebrand, nationally renowned

artists such as Karlyn Holman, Frank Webb, Daniel David, Lynn Ferris, Laurie

Goldstein-Warren, William Vrscak and others. She is also a Tamarack Artist

and a Juried member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society.

Loving art is quite an accident for her. She has been making pottery for

many years and wanting to paint on her potteries. She found the right place,

which is the Morgantown Art Association. Now she loves both painting and

making pottery. She believes that life is a learning process and enjoys

expressing God-given talent.

She has two sons who are graduate students and wants to focus on her

studying and painting.

FRANCOISE DEBEIR STAUBER

I was born and grew up in Africa in what was then called the Belgium Congo

but lived most of my life in Ruanda Burundi. In 1958, I moved to Belgium. In 1969,

I met my future husband in Belgium and came to the United States in 1970. We

lived in New Jersey for a couple of years, then Iowa for a few more,

before coming to Morgantown in 1979. West Virginia has been my home ever

since.

I obtained a law degree at the University of Iowa, worked for a law firm

there until we moved to Morgantown. In West Virginia, I became a solo

practitioner before being hired by West Virginia University Health Sciences

Center (HSC) as a risk manager. I worked as a risk manager for HSC for

several years and moved to the Cancer Center to oversee the education

program for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening program. The latter

job, which I loved, gave me the opportunity to travel extensively throughout

West Virginia and to work with varied organizations statewide.

I am a self-taught artist. I have always loved to draw but never pursued my

interest in art until I came to West Virginia. Over the years, I took classes

locally and workshops with several renowned artists, such as Jeanne Dobie,

Peter Spataro, Fred Graff, Marilyn Phillys, Bill Vrsack, Pat Dews and others.

My local mentor and friend was Peggy Issac, who joined me on many artistic

adventures including a painting trip to France. She enthusiastically guided my

watercolor training.

Today, I use a variety of media (watercolor, charcoal, pen and ink, collages,

prints, clay, acrylics). Sometimes I mix different media because I like to

experiment. Today, I work almost exclusively in acrylics. My works vary from

realism (landscapes, portraits) to abstract and other imaginary works.

POLLY JOHNSON

Polly Johnson is a retired elementary school teacher of Monongalia County.

She grew up overseas in North Africa as a “missionary kid”. Her schooling, up

until 9th grade, was entirely in French. Polly is a mother of three terrific

adults and is excitedly expecting being a grandma for the first time this

summer.

As a child, she loved drawing and working with various art mediums. In school.

Art class was her favorite subject. In college she painted with oils and

considered majoring in art but ended up getting an elementary teaching degree

followed by a Master’s in Special Education. After graduating and throughout

her teaching career she sporadically continued to paint mostly in oils. Her

grandmother, a self-taught oil painter, inspired Polly. Her mother, Lila Rae, a

potter, also had many artistic inclinations that rubbed off on her.

Enjoyable times as a teacher were doing art projects with her students. She

joined Etsy; where she sells jewelry, boxes, cards and paintings under

“Pollyware”. (Etsy.com is the website where you can browse for all sorts of

arts and crafts.) After retiring several years ago, she joined MAA and

took watercolor classes from a gifted teacher, Susan Witt. It has been lots

of fun! Polly also participated in several enjoyable workshops led by artists

such as Karlyn Holman and Robin Poteet; where she learned so much. Lately

Polly’s artwork has been influenced by the chickens she acquired and now

raises since retiring. She is also interested in natural health & wellness and

became a certified Essential Oils coach making soaps, creams and EO blends

for various ailments.

Constantly amazed by the beauty of God’s creation, she finds her ambition to

replicate it in artwork. Polly finds much enjoyment in painting, creating and

living as close to the way God intended as possible

JULIE SEXTONE

I have lived in Morgantown, West Virginia for 35 years. During this time, I

raised two boys, had a career in mental health as a Licensed Professional

Counselor and a Board-Certified Art Therapist, and enjoyed the many outdoor

opportunities that West Virginia offers.

My husband and I retired three years ago. We often travel to visit our seven

grandchildren, five in Charlotte, North Carolina and two in Denver, Colorado.

During our trips we like to add on travel adventures for ourselves in an

attempt to see more of the country. Travel is something we both enjoy, and

we plan to visit some of the many foreign countries on our bucket list.

Even as a child I always had a strong interest in art. Over the years my focus

became centered on watercolor painting and photography. To improve my

skills, I have relied on workshops and classes from painters and

photographers who have inspired me. Some of these painters are Zoltan

Szabo, Tom Lynch, Linda Kemp, Annalise Beauchamp, Margaret Lowry,

Christopher Leeper, Karlyn Holman, Lynn Ferris, Andrea Schmitt, Lynn Lysick,

and Susan Witt. I have learned many techniques from these painters who all

have their individual styles. I credit Lansing Community College’s photography

staff with helping me learn technical skills in photography.

I can be contacted at j[email protected]

SUSAN HALL WITT

[email protected]

I am a Morgantown resident who was raised in Preston

County. I have lived in this area all my life and really enjoy

WV and all its beauty. I have only been doing watercolors

for a few years and enjoy doing them and taking classes to

improve my skills. I took weekly classes with Peggy Isaack

and Monica Wilkins. I started taking my first classes with

Andrea Schmidt. I also enjoy taking many workshops.

In addition to watercolors, I do stained glass and teach with

the community school program and in my studio. I enjoy

knitting and teaching people to knit, thus my license plate

"KNITWIT". I am an ex-nurse and had a home based clothing

design and alteration business for years. I enjoy doing

carpentry and building furniture. My husband, Byron, and I

have two daughters, Carrie and Christina. Carrie is a social

worker with Hospice Care Corp. and Christina is a teacher.

The joys of our lives are our two grandsons, Logan and

Brady. It is my job to spoil them, and I have finally found

something that I am truly good at.

Artists Statement:

"I feel that life should be a learning experience, and I am

trying to grasp as much as I can. I have never understood

people who say that have nothing to do. Go out and learn a

new skill. Find something that you enjoy and have fun in life.

We only go through once so make the most of it. I hope

that you enjoy my paintings as much as I enjoy painting

them."

You can view my work on Facebook at "knitwitart"

CINDY O'BRIAN

I am not a native West Virginian, but I like to tell folks I got

here as soon as I could. After the ’85 flood, I traveled up-

river against the flow from a temporary residence in

Point Marion to settle here in Morgantown where I lived

happily ever after. My three children are Morgantown High

graduates and I taught at Mountainview Elementary after

working for years in the Head Start/Pre-K program, so I

hope that establishes a legitimate connection to the

community!

While I have no formal art training, throughout my life I have

found joy in creating. I believe my work with young children

has allowed me to retain an ability to see things in

imaginative ways. A resident of South Park, I enjoy walking

into town regularly. I became aware of the cracks and

patterns on the sidewalks and started taking photos of the

more attractive ones. As I looked at them more closely I

began to construct images that the crack lines suggested. I

printed the photos onto paper and got out my markers,

paints and pencils and brought the images to life.

I became an illustrator of children’s books out of necessity.

After writing a book for children in my Pre-K class, I

wondered how to find someone to illustrate it. In trying to

demonstrate the ideas I had for the illustrations, I played

around with buttons, clay and scraps of materials and

composed my own collage illustrations. I hope the children

who enjoy my books are inspired to make their own “art

work”.

There is beauty in everyday things and I celebrate that with

found-object art made with oxidized copper wire, circuit

boards, or wood fragments found at Cooper’s Rock.

To give back to our community that has provided so much

to me, I donate art to organizations for fundraisers.

Contact me for more information: [email protected]

DON STEVENS

Artist of the month, Don Stevens, was born and raised in

Fairmont, WV. Don grew up on the east side of Fairmont

and graduated from East Fairmont High School. He earned

his A.B. degree in Art Education, with a specialization in

grades K-12, from Fairmont State College (University).

Following graduation from college, Don taught in Beverly,

Ohio for two years before returning to Marion County. As

a Marion County teacher he taught at Fairmont Senior High

School, East Fairmont Junior High, East Fairmont High

School and finally at Miller Junior High School.

Following retirement he taught young people’s classes at

Mandy’s Artworks, in Fairmont, three evenings a week. Don

taught a total of 42 years with a total of nearly 9,000

students (and friends). Don tells people that he never had to

work a day in his life; teaching was a true joy in so many

ways.

Don was recognized by the city of Fairmont’s Arts and

Humanities Commission as the Outstanding Art Educator in

2006.

Don is a member of the Baptist Temple where he has

served on many boards and committees. He especially

enjoyed his time as an assistant with the Senior High Youth

group for several years.

Don creates works of art in Cross-Stitch, Acrylic and

Watercolor.

JANE CARDI

[email protected]

I am a native Ohioan, but I have lived in West Virginia for

many years. West Virginia has been a marvelous home for

my husband and me and our three sons.

I completed my undergraduate degree at Ohio State

University and my master’s and doctoral degrees at West

Virginia University. My areas of study and work were

French, history, and education. I taught French, social

studies, and various education classes at all levels and

served as Assistant Dean and Director of the Advising

Center in the College of Education and Human Resources at

West Virginia University from 2001 to 2015.

Now retired, I am able to dedicate myself to my painting.

While I am not a formally trained painter, I continue to

develop my painting skills by attending workshops and

painting, painting, painting. I work mainly in oils and

watercolors, but I constantly try new techniques, subjects,

and mediums. I love to try to capture the beauty of natural

landscapes, especially the magnificent skyscapes and

mountains in West Virginia. I love a challenge.

I show my paintings in galleries in Oakland, MD, and in

Wheeling, Parkersburg, and Morgantown, WV, and I have had

numerous solo exhibits. I am a member of the West Virginia

Watercolor Society and president of the Morgantown Art

Association.

JAN RUNNER

Jan grew up in Fairmont, WV and is a graduate of WVU.

During her time at WVU, she represented West Virginia in

the Miss America contest. While attending events across the

state she met her future husband, Sam Runner. After

crowning a new Miss West Virginia, she and Sam were

married in Miami, FL. While Sam attended the University of

Miami, Jan was a professional model and also taught poise

and modeling.


They returned to West Virginia and started their family.

They remained in Fairmont for five years and after sons

Tim and Todd were born, they moved to Los Angeles, CA

and were in that area for six years.


At that time they were transferred to Miami, FL, and

that’s where Jan started her love of oil painting, taking

classes during her pregnancy for her daughter, Jodie. She

painted for four years, but upon moving to Westport, CT

she gave up painting as she stayed busy with children, job

and personal activities.


The family returned to Charleston, WV and ten years

later moved to the Morgantown area. Jan worked for over

twenty-five years for the Athletic Department as Athletic

Coordinator. Upon retiring to Morgantown she was able to

take up her oil paintings again. Now, being retired from WVU

she continues to enjoy art classes and painting with her

friends. Life is good.

MIMMIE HEDGES BYRNE

Mimmie Hedges Byrne lives in Hilton Head Island, South

Carolina and Morgantown, West Virginia. She grew up in

rural Spencer, West Virginia. One of nine children, she grew

up surrounded by nature and observing it as a direct

everyday experience. She has lived in WV, except for

college years in New York, and her current part time

residence in South Carolina.


Her husband, Bill, was her most significant enthusiast

about entering the art world and continues to be the most

important critic, supporter and framer of her work. She

has two adult children, Leah and Anne, who are now grown

with their own families in Morgantown and Roanoke.


She is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of

Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry at West Virginia

University when she taught, conducted research, and had a

clinical practice as a psychotherapist for over 30 years.

Her career as a teacher and therapist taught her that

observing through listening and watching is a most important

form of research. She continues to use those skills as an

artist and believes that her career taught her that reality

can be seen and experienced in many ways. She enjoys

painting familiar scenes with new ways of expressing them.


Mimmie is grateful for much that has influenced her

artwork including the beauty of the low country and rural

WV, the wonderful instructors in the Art League of Hilton

Head, and friends who paint with her weekly and who share

her love of art and learning.

Most of her works are landscapes with occasional paintings

of grandchildren. Travel provides opportunity to paint many

different things, but she never tires of looking for another

South Carolina marsh to paint.

BOB MEROW

Bob Merow is an acrylicpainter living in Morgantown, WV.

Most of Bob’s painting subjects are landscapes and

seascapes.

Bob jokes that his specialties are dead trees and rocks.

“Put a rock in the wrong place and nobody will notice. Put a

nose in the wrong place and everybody will notice.”

Bob has a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape

Architecture from West Virginia University. The curriculum

at WVU provided the opportunity to study art history,

drawing, perspective, color, composition and other subjects

related to painting.

After college Bob spent several years working for

architecture and engineering companies and eventually joined

WVU where he was a Campus Planner until he retired in

2015. He has worked on hundreds of architectural, planning

and graphic design projects and designed and constructed

residential housing over the past 15 years.

Bob paints on wood panels that he cuts out of 4’ X 8’

sheets of Masonite. Most of his paintings include custom

wood framing that make each piece ready to hang. Bob

says, “My goal as a painter is to make something from

nothing that will make you smile.”