Studio Artists:
Studio 11
Pastel Artist; Ann loves the immediacy, the vibrant colors and the versatility of pastels; but it is the convenience of pastels that has kept her working with this medium for the past fifteen years. In the spring, summer and fall months you can find her with her box of pastels in the fields along the Brandywine River painting "en plein air." For her, “there is nothing like the feeling you get when you work on a painting of a field through which you have just hiked. The experience of the sun on your face, the mud on your shoes and the breezes rustling the grasses all become a part of the painting”. During the winter months Ann paints from her own photographs at the Heron Crest Studios in Aston, Pennsylvania. Her more recent work explores nature through simplified shapes of bold color on textured board with acrylic under painting. When she is not painting she is a docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she gives tours of the galleries to the general public, school children and touch-tours to people with visual disabilities. www.annguideramatey.com
Daniel Beirne
Studio 8
Studio 7
A native of Delaware County, Elizabeth Breakell trained as a scientific and technical illustrator and worked as a freelance graphic artist for many years. In 1990, Ms Breakell was employed by Delaware County Courthouse and has recently retired from her position as Deputy Clerk. Ms. Breakell, however, considers herself a lifelong student of painting. Focusing on how to best to describe the light in a particular image, whether it be landscape, still life, figure or interior, has been the primary challenge and enjoyment for Elizabeth as a painter. www.ebreakell.com
Studio 1
The primary influence in her life are her Greek roots, both in her approach to painting as well as her love of the outdoors. Margo travels and stays in locations long enough to acquaint herself with the people and to witness the effect that the landscape and seascape have on them. These images inform her individual style. Annual trips to Greece renew her spirit, as she has the opportunity to reconnect with the people, and more importantly, with the Aegean sea, for which she has a special place in her soul. Margo is a native of Wilmington, DE and has taught art in the public schools for 36 years. In retirement, she is able to pursue her true interest, painting.
Studio 4, Studio 5 "Pat Scarano will hold her classes in Studio 5 starting in October, please check her website for details"
Pat’s earliest childhood memories contain evidence of her deep love of Art and its creative processes. It is no surprise that Art was the only career path that she ever considered. A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Pat graduated from Kutztown University with a BS in Art Education. In 1973 she relocated to Wilmington, Delaware, where she began a 34 year career teaching Art in the public schools. Upon retiring, she realized that she still loved the teaching process, and has been teaching part-time ever since. In 2003 she accompanied a group of artists to Ireland for a two week painting trip. It was then that she grew eager to get back to her own work. Her work consists primarily of watercolors. She fell in love with the medium in college and has continued to work with it throughout her adult life. She often incorporates her love of drawing into her work by choosing subjects containing architectural elements. Most recently she has been exploring a wider variety of subject matter. Nature still provides her with her primary inspiration. Teaching and raising three wonderful children consumed most of her time during the 80’s and 90’s but now with more time, Pat is excited to return to her core passion…..painting. www.patscarano.com
TJ Walsh
Studio 2
Lisa Leibman and Steve Sav
Studio 13
Ellen Cooper
Studio 6
Fine Art Portraits in Oil
Barbara Tollen
Studio 12
Co-Founders:
Claire Brill
Studio 10
Claire is a mosaic artist who does both community and individual commissions. Her public projects often incorporate inventive ways to communicate environmental responsibility such as using recycled glass to represent flowers native to Pennsylvania. Her work is site-specific and is designed with as much or as little collaboration as is appropriate to the situation. Brill is a mosaic artist whose work can be seen on the Plum Street Mall, at the Community Art Center, and in a number of elementary schools in the area. Contact: clairebrill@yahoo.com
Studio 9
Heidi Hammel is Reclaimed Creations. Heidi started her love affair with textiles in 1966 in Home Ec class. She has sewn her own clothes, embroidered clothing and table linens, reupholstered furniture, card-woven belts and made innumerable costumes. She became an official ‘fiber artist’ when she registered Reclaimed Creations as a company in 2000. She is a member of the PA Guild of Craftsmen, a juried member of the Chester County Guild of Craftsmen, The Hometown Collective and The Trashy Women.
Earlier in her career, she earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in Chinese Studios and an M.A. from Lesley College in Training and Supervision of Outdoor Leaders. She taught at The School in Rose Valley, Harbin University of Science and Technology in The People's Republic of China, Voyageur Outward Bound School, Germantown Academy and Delaware Valley Friends School.
Claire Brill and Heidi opened Heron Crest Studios, Inc. in 2007 and are the co-managers. The two artists had outgrown their home-studios. They wanted to work in the company of other artists for the camaraderie, inspiration, creative buzz, and greater space. When they found out about the second floor of 739 Mount Rd, right above another artist group, they took a deep breath and started an artists’ community of their own. Contact: www.reclaimed-creations.com
