Artist Recognition

During the month of March, our 3D featured artist is jeweler Barbara Simmons.  Barbara comes from a creative family, and after retiring from a career as a high school library media teacher, she decided to explore the art world, and immediately became devoted to designing silver jewelry.  She is inspired by the unique stones and interesting shapes of the minerals she works with.  Barbara specializes in larimar, a rare, pale blue mineral found only in the Dominican Republic.  She also frequently uses sea glass, which she collected on the beaches while living in California.  Barbara's simple, elegant, and tasteful designs are often based on motifs found in nature such as leaves and undulating waves.Click here to see the artist's work.      

Our featured 2D artist for March is contemporary artist Jill Lindsay.  Jill works in alcohol inks, acrylics, mixed media, and resin to create colorful, exuberant artworks.  They are described as whimsical and wild, often with an added, unexpected twist to surprise and excite the viewer, such as a blue palm tree, a seagull wearing boots, or a hot pink sky.  Although her main inspiration is color, Jill enjoys trying new techniques and using materials not usually considered, such as tabletops, candles, and tiles.  Jill's square collages were inspired by a visit to the Dali museum in Tampa.  Jill believes that inspiration is everywhere; you just have to look.  In addition to creating her beautiful artwork, Jill teaches several workshops where she truly enjoys seeing her students' artistic abilities grow as they create their own artwork.Click here to see the artist's work.

Keith Johnson's painting, "Morning Skyline." was accepted into the Florida Watercolor Society's  2019 Online Exhibit. View the exhibit here.

Congratulations to Keith Johnson who won Third Place in the Visual Art Center's January, 2019 Plein Air Exhibit for his watercolor, "Warm Morning Light."

Beverly Yankwitt's piece, "Down the Rabbits' Hole," has been accepted into the Florida Watercolor Society's 2019 Online Exhibit.  View the exhibit here.

Joanne Stramara had two paintings, "Lilies and Pears" and "Pastabilities" accepted into the Suncoast Watercolor Society Show at Art Center Manatee in Bradenton, on view January 15th to February 22nd.

Loretta Evans won Third Place in the Visual Arts Center's March Primavera Show with her stained glass piece, "Grape Harvest." 

Joanne Stramara's painting "Before the Storm" won First Place in the Professional Category in North Port Art Center's January open theme Members' Art Show.