Nikki Coulombe

Ultimately as a traditional artist most comfortable painting or drawing, my approach toward art emphasizes value in the work process, where means to expression are diverse, and despite the outcome, effort is always worthwhile. I grew up in Alberta, Canada, where three years of formal education led to a home-based business in eastern Ontario, working freelance while my children were young. Along with a variety of on-site work for Interior Designers, commissions included fabric design, illustrations, people and pet portraits, and customized wall murals for homes and restaurants. Until moving to the U.S. in 2002, volunteer work at schools involved developing educational projects around themes of Art History, multiculturalism, and environmental issues.

Modifying styles is characteristic of my work, mostly dictated by subject matter and the unique challenges presented by each individual piece as it unfolds. I work intuitively and don't really have pre-set, predictable methods, except there is constant concern for negative spaces being as important as the main objects. I'll remove material to create marks, imply structures, backgrounds and spatial movement, using damp cloth and dry brushes on acrylics paintings or watercolors, pottery tool and fingernails with oil pastels, and different sizes of erasers for work in graphite and soft pastels. Photography is an ongoing interest, where I'm guided by the experiences and observations, influential in my artwork as inspiration and reference. Recently (2020-24) I've been doing large format soft pastels on paper, trying a broad range of subjects representing some of the amazing places I've traveled to.

nikkiartwork.com

Kathleen Cecilia Nesbitt

I began as a writer and photographer. For over forty years I have rarely been without my camera and I enjoy photographing from many points of view. Having studied with Peter Thompson, Myron Davis, Ray Metzker, and Ruth Thorne-Thomsen my image fascination and subject matter span through documentary photography, play of light and shadow, textures, people on the street, portraiture and self-portraiture, and the beauty of imperfection. With each photograph I seek to connect with the inner emotions and the personal journey of the observer. I aim to tell a story, a story of before, during, and after the image was captured. I am also a self-taught collage artist who began cutting and pasting in 2021. In my collages I re-configure found images with my own photography to create strong representational political narratives that approach preserving our planet, women’s issues past and present, and the themes of loss, loneliness, and isolation. Although my collage work is largely intuitive, my background in poetry and fiction writing inform the metaphorical and narrative aspects of each piece. My work with traumatized and underserved populations influences many of my collages.

www.kathleencecilianesbitt.com/

Mark Weller

Mark Weller is a contemporary American visual artist celebrated for his inventive and vibrant lens-based art. He has exhibited in over 180 art museums and galleries across America and internationally, Weller's work has also graced the pages of magazines and books, earning him numerous accolades. His limited-edition prints grace private, corporate, and government clients as he reinterprets, and reexamines the intricate complexities of the ever-changing natural world. Weller was born and educated in Wisconsin, worked as a television producer for Public Television and as a telecommunications executive. Retiring from the executive suite in 2019, Weller redirected his focus entirely to the realm of lens-based art, embracing a full-time dedication to exploring innovative avenues of artistic expression and creativity. Today, his work stands as a testament to the intersection of artistic vision, technological innovation, and a lifelong commitment to creative exploration.

time-stacking.com/

Lori Brubaker

Nature can be an intriguing, delicate, and complex being. It can be easy to take all the alluring qualities and aspects that nature holds for granted. My work aims to extract those elements that tend to go unnoticed. I find beauty within the positive and negative spaces that are formed with nature’s natural being. Color, abstraction, and earth’s natural appearances are used to present the natural elements in an alternate way to allow the viewer to form their own thoughts and experiences with the work and their connection to nature. Inspiration is drawn from my own photographs. My work has taken those images and used their original, but slightly manipulated state that can be found within my photographs and screen prints. I further use my photography in the simple manner of inspiration from forms as seen within my wooden sculptures.

www.loribrubakerart.com

Vasu Tolia

Dr. Vasu Tolia is a Michigan-based visual artist who creates evocative acrylic and mixed media works. With a unique background as an academic physician, Vasu transitioned to the world of art, bringing with her a wealth of life experiences that influence her creative process. Her artwork often explores themes of nature, human experiences, and abstract concepts, reflecting her diverse interests and keen observational skills. Her pieces have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions.

Throughout her artistic career,  Vasu has garnered multiple awards and recognitions from esteemed galleries and art competitions. Her work has been acquired by public institutions, including Baker College and Henry Ford Medical Center, and featured in various art publications such as Art Ascent. Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Destig Magazine. Vasu’s commitment to her craft is evident in her continuous exploration of new techniques and themes. She is an active member of several art societies. Through her art, she aims to provoke thought, evoke emotions, and create connections with the viewers, drawing from her unique perspective as both a physician and an artist.

www.vasutolia.art/