Week 34:
John Gill
Since retiring several years ago John has been able to pursue his passion for photography.
“My main interests include macro photography-seeing what is often overlooked-and things of beauty that evoke pleasant feelings-flowers, butterflies, animals and infrared photography. I try to experiment with something new each year.
I am an active member and past president of the Assabet Valley Camera Club in Hudson, MA. I have had numerous images accepted in the Greater Lynn Photographic Exhibition and the Ocean State International Exhibition. “
Week 33:
Danielle Ruggiero
Handcrafted. Artisan. Soap. Danielle Ruggiero of 62Soaps creates all bars by hand and in small batches. Working from scratch with Sodium Hydroxide and oils, and incorporating all types of milks, teas, aloe vera, local craft beers, wines and apple cider, these unique soaps are truly usable art! Danielle's soaping adventures began about a few years ago when clipping some lemon thyme in the garden. Knowing that the fragrant herb would make an incredible kitchen soap, she just couldn't get that idea out of her head. After many hours of research, and using that same thyme from the backyard, Danielle tried out her first very rustic batch of soap and has been hooked on soapmaking ever since.
Week 32:
Mary DeCaprio
Brick Pond Handworks is one of the Massachusetts potteries that continue the tradition of the original Dedham Pottery. Mary W. DeCaprio, a classically trained artist with degrees from Boston University (MFA) and the Kansas City Art Institute (BFA), founded Brick Pond Handworks in 1988. Nature, history, personal experience and pure imagination provide the inspiration for each design. Mary’s special interests in fine art, wildlife, gardening, and antiques provide additional sources of inspiration.
Each Brick Pond Handworks creation is made entirely by hand. Slight variations in design and color add character and reflect their unique handcrafted origin. Low-fired earthenware clay is first rolled into a slab from which each design is hand cut. Once cured, each piece is wiped by hand to smooth any rough edges and then hand-painted ensuring special attention to detail. The artist signs each piece guaranteeing its authenticity. The pottery is then bisque fired and glazed.
Week 31:
Muriel Prentice
Often inspired by nature, Muriel creates unique pieces that strive to be beautiful and functional. Owner of Merrybell Pottery, she creates beautifully hand-crafted pottery. Wheel thrown, slab built or hand shaped – from clay to kiln firings - every ceramic piece is handmade and unique and created in her Westford studio. Bowls, platters, plates, soap dishes, flower frogs, jewelry and ornaments are just some of the items she offers through Periwinkle.
In addition, Muriel also brings wood art to Periwinkle through Grapplewood, a precision wood carving business she operates along with her husband Tom. Their “Entering” town signs are popular and nostalgic pieces offered through Periwinkle, as well as other ornaments and hanging wall art.
All of Muriel's items are artisan crafted and finished locally in Westford, MA.
Week 30:
Jill Pottle
Jill Pottle is an artist from Worcester County who has exhibited her paintings and drawings locally and nationally. Her works have been included in shows at the Three Stones Gallery, W. Concord and the East End Gallery in Provincetown, MA. She is a member of the Fountain Street Gallery in Boston and the Trumpet Gallery of Fine Arts in Peterborough, NH. She was the artist in residency at the Fruitlands Museum. Her accomplishments include being in a variety of collections: Danforth Museum/Framingham State, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged in Roslindale, MA, Sterling Drug Inc., and Fidelity in Boston. She won two grants from the Somerville Artists lottery as well as from New Vue Fitchburg, MA and has published in the “Artists Magazine”.
Week 29:
Hsui Norcott
Hsui majored in classic Chinese painting, focusing on technique over a thousand years old. She graduated from Taiwan Normal University in 1982. At young age, her father taught her the beauty of Chinese calligraphy. Chinese painting involved a great deal of brush strokes which is based on calligraphy, that traditionally lacks colors. Her love of kimonos inspired her to blend their pallet into her paintings for a more vibrant, luxury look. The first year she stepped into the professional art field she won 3rd prize of NHAA at the Currier Museum. Since then, she has won many awards and has her paintings in major art galleries. She also designs beautiful and unique jewelry that are available for sale.
Week 28:
Marilene Sawaf
Marilene Sawaf is a Coso artist member of the Copley Society of Art in Boston and the New Hampshire Art Association among others. She has exhibits in many galleries including the Robert Lincoln Gallery in Portsmouth NH, the Red Raven Gallery in Lancaster PA, and the Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown MA. She just had a solo exhibit at the Lawrence Academy in April of 2022.
She has exhibited in countless exhibits, solo shows, museums and received awards from the Currier Museum for her pieces. She has been painting for more than 40 years.
Her paintings are inspired by European art, Middle Eastern and Japanese designs, and she uses her education as an interior architect as a basis for her designs and paintings.
Her work includes many series you can view in her website at www.marilenesawaf.com
Week 27:
Jacqui Hawk
Jacqui Hawk is a nationally collected, award winning artist living in Centerville, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her work has been featured in solo, invitational juried state and national exhibitions and represented in private and corporate collections in the US, Europe and Asia.
She works mainly in acrylic and mixed media, including wax, pearlescent powders, gesso of different consistencies, stained glass pieces, collage, gold/silver leaf, and unusual objects she finds washed up on the beach. Her recent compositions are organic and primitive in nature and reveal a range of emotions and narrative expression of joy, hope, peace, renewal, enlightenment and self-awareness.
Week 26:
Donna Spencer
Donna calls her work ‘serendipitous art’ because most pieces are unplanned and occur by happy chance. She likes to play with many different mediums including pen and ink, sea glass, wood, tin, alcohol ink, lichen from the forest, as well as watercolor and acrylic paints. She enjoys exploring the unique characteristics and possibilities of each art form and allowing the creations within to reveal themselves.
Week 25:
Patricia Caulfield
Patricia (O’Toole) Caulfield, born in Albany, NY discovered an interest in art from the time she could hold a crayon in her left hand. Throughout her life, she enjoyed working with a variety of fine art mediums and numerous crafts.
Patricia graduated high honors with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Bridgeport in Ct. Soon after, she and her husband moved to Maine where she began her teaching career. She wrote the High School Art Curriculum and became Director of their Art Department as well. Here she taught Art at both their Middle School and High School. She developed a student art club and organized many art shows during her teaching career. Outside of the classroom, Patricia also enjoyed working with pencil, charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, acrylics and oils.
Currently, Patricia enjoys Watercolor Painting and has developed a passion for the media. There is a meaningful connection to her in every subject she paints. With each of her watercolors, she learns something new, and enjoys the challenge of the media along with the feeling of how watercolors spontaneous quality can produce an almost magical effect in her work. Her recent paintings mainly portray landscapes and seascapes inspired by her personal journeys to places she discovered through travel and living in Europe and New England. Through the use of photography, she refers to subjects and ideas to paint and then recreates in a realistic style onto watercolor paper. Her meticulous watercolors reflect a quality of patience and detail in her work. Appreciation of nature and beauty incorporated with human activity play a significant role in her paintings. Many of Patricia’s watercolors show mood and emotion through her use of color and how it is affected by various light sources, reflections and shade. Her paintings often tell a story and she strives to convey to the viewer a sense of feeling that they are actually there. Patricia’s experiences and interest in daily life along with travel continue to inspire subjects for her to paint.
Patricia credits gaining knowledge of watercolors through studying with established artists Beth Patterson, of Chelmsford, Ma, Andrew Kusmin of Plymouth Ma, and Harding Mudge Bush of Ayer, Ma.
To purchase ORIGINALS, GICLEE REPRODUCTIONS, PRINTS or NOTE CARDS, or for any questions, Patricia can be contacted at patricia.caulfield@comcast.net or (978)302-8678 GICLEE REPRODUCTIONS and PRINTS are available or may be ordered in VARIOUS SIZES.
Week 24:
Keely Gilmartin
Keely Gilmartin is a local artist who works in glass, ceramics, the fiber arts, painting, and multimedia sculpture. She focuses on natural biological beauty and patterns found in flora and fauna and seeks to combine this visual influence with classical forms.
Keely studied at Pratt Art Institute, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design where she received her BFA with a concentration in glass. Her work strikes a balance between whimsical composition and utilitarian function, creating objects that can be worn or used, but can also stand alone as works of art.
Come by the art gallery to see her unique fused glass jewelry and one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces.
You can find her on Facebook and Instagram at:
Week 23:
Sonya Walters
I am a realist watercolor and oil painter living in Stow, Massachusetts. I started drawing in high school with a ball point pen. Making greeting cards for friends and family had always been a pastime. A friend of the family who was a painter who inspired me to try watercolor. As an adult I taught myself to paint in oil; and I have been sketching, looking and painting ever since.
Week 22:
Lucia Carrington
I started Punchneedle when I wanted a portable craft to take on vacation. I have hand quilted and machine quilted for many years starting in 1995. I still make a quilt once in awhile.
I have done and still do a bit of Needle-felting and silk ribbon flowers. But the craft I enjoy the most is Needle Punching. I love the results of this art. Sometimes I draw my own designs and many times use a pattern. It’s very rewarding (like with anything) to start with nothing and end up with a beautiful finished product.
All the work I do today started with learning how to sew in Jr High. I got the bug. I use to make clothes for myself and my two daughters. I have a need to always be making something from nothing! Enjoy and keep on creating!
Week 21:
Sue Underwood
I have dabbled in many different forms of art in my lifetime, but when I was introduced to lampworking and it was love at first sight! Glass is an expression of my thoughts and ideas- I love the colors, shapes, textures and patterns that can be formed. My love for nature and Southwest has inspired me to create these little “glass treasures”.
I was introduced to lampworking at a class taught by Lillana Cristea Glenn, and Sally Prasch. I have since studied with Kate Fowle, Jim Smircich, Nancy Tobey, and Andrea Guarino-Slemmons. I am currently a member of Wet Canvas, Bead Designers International, Lampwork ETC, and the Boston Chapter of International Society of Glass Beadmakers.
My artwork can be seen and purchased on Etsy (shop: Mystic Moon Beads), Handwork’s Gallery, Acton,Ma, Kitchen Sink Candle Company, Bolton Ma, and Periwinkle Studios, Groton, Ma.
Week 20:
Rachel Benson
Rachel Benson is a fiber artist working primarily with needle felting and other media to create whimsical images of nature, both realistic and abstract. Rachel studied Fine Arts and Technical Theater in college and is currently a freelance artist and art teacher. She has been teaching art classes for the last 7 years in her own business, The Fiber Web along with the following venues: Wild Salamander, Good Pickin Farm, Periwinkle Glasswork and workshops at many public libraries. She sells her art at craft fairs and galleries such as Fruitlands Museum Store, Periwinkle Glassworks and The Wild Little Art Shop. She is also available for commissioned pieces that include custom felted pet and animal sculptures, pet portraits and one of a kind wall art. She is passionate about sharing her art and encouraging students to experiment, play, invent, and focus on the journey of creating rather than enjoying the process.
To check out some of her art you can visit her Instagram or portfolio at:
www.instagram.com/thefiberweb/
Week 19:
Nancy Szostak Wright
The beauty of the natural world is what inspires Nancy Szostak Wright, photographer, artist, and owner of wrightpix photo gifts.
Winner of the National Wildlife 2021 photo contest for her bee portfolio, Nancy helps you bring the outdoors inside with nature-inspired fine art photography prints and products. Nancy and her daughter, Kaleigh, make images that often connect you to an experience, a memory, a story, a feeling, or even a dream. They deliver statement pieces for your walls, your home, your office, and your gift giving. If you're tired of buying the same gifts for the same people, wrightpix gives you artful options for nature lovers, bird lovers, cityscape lovers, and art lovers.
wrightpix wall art brings the wonders of the outside world right into your home or office. Don't have wall space? Check out their coasters, ornaments, note cards, and smaller prints. All feature original photos and bottom line, promise to give you that happy, euphoric feeling you get when you connect with nature. You can find wrightpix at www.wrightpixphotogifts.com, https://www.facebook.com/nswright1, https://www.facebook.com/wrightpixphotogifts, https://www.instagram.com/wrightpixphotos
Week 18:
Roberta Bizier
RB Designs features local artist Roberta Bizier from Acton. Her whimsical one-of-a-kind fused glass art is inspired by nature and includes jewelry, suncatchers and display pieces. Some items are created using recycled glass and found objects. Roberta enjoys teaching children and adult glass classes at Periwinkle Glassworks in Groton.
Week 17:
Nancy Sherburne
“I’ve always been captivated by the interplay of light, color and organic form in art as in nature. I’m particularly drawn to glass as a medium because of its unique ability to reflect and transmit light and color in unusual and fascinating ways.”
Nancy Sherburne’s work is inspired by the beauty of the natural world – from dramatic mountain peaks and serene lakes to painterly skies and vibrant garden blooms. Her playful designs juxtapose geometric shapes with free-flowing organic forms. She also likes exploring texture and dimensionality in her work.
Her fused glass pieces are created by cutting interesting shapes from sheets of opal and translucent glass and layering them in unique ways. These layers of glass are embellished by crushed glass pieces, paint, colorful dots and fluid gold pen work to create texture and add visual interest. Her work ranges from garden art and ornaments to functional serving pieces, menorahs and decorative art panels.
Following a career as a professional writer Nancy Sherburne decided to pursue her lifelong love of art. After her first foray into fused glass she knew she’d found her home. She’s taken classes at a number of Boston area studios as well as the Corning Museum of Glass. In 2016 she established Arc Light Glass in Acton, Massachusetts. Her website is www.ArcLightGlass.etsy.com.
Week 16:
Karen Troy:
I retired from a career in software engineering and quality management nearly 10 years ago.
Besides my jewelry, I quilt - I made my first quilt in 1974 - ,sew, draw, work with glass, both fused and stained, and dabble in knitting. What drives these creative endeavors is that I love looking at, touching, and creating beauty. I can spend hours in a fabric store, bead shop, yarn store, and places like Periwinkle, where the colors, designs, and possibilities draw me in and inspire me.
I generally work with genuine stones. I use some treated stones - my mermaid jewelry is made from coated quartz - and sometimes glass crystals. But genuine stones have a luster, weight, and appearance that I prefer.
Week 15:
Sue Ann Kearns
About 45 years ago, long before recycling became popular, I was given a box of old silverware that was going to be discarded. I was a K-1 teacher at the time and never could throw useable materials away, so I ended up transforming these spoons, forks and knives into wind chimes for family and friends. I had no idea how much joy this recycled flatware would bring to others or the demand for wind chimes it created.
There were many pieces of flatware with unusual and beautiful patterns which inspired me to create angels. Thus my business ‘New England Angels’ was born. The different flatware patterns, wings and halos make each angel unique. The angels can be worn as pins and necklaces or displayed as ornaments.
From there I have moved into making nautical wind chimes, hearts, bud vases, key chains, all made from flatware. Lately I have enjoyed making whimsical people with wild hair and bling to make everyone smile!
A good friend, Cindy Visniewski, enjoys creating and has joined me in this hobby. Together we hope to continue for many years to keep unloved flatware out of the landfill.
Week 14:
Betsy Platt
I love creating. I took an art class in 6th grade and spent many years creating watercolors and gifting them to friends as wedding gifts. I also illustrated the cover of my high school yearbook and illustrated technical diagrams in a Hematology textbook. I then took up photography enjoying taking pictures of all the places I traveled to. In Junior High I learned how to sew and knit. Have been doing so ever since. COVID restarted my foray in sewing by making masks, crossbody purses and cell phone bags to carry just the essentials as well as tote bags and beach bags for larger items. As for knitting, making hats, scarves and fingerless gloves keeps my hands busy while isolation binging on TV at night.
Come in and check out Betsy’s photos on canvas and matted prints, her knitted and sewn items as well as other artwork by local artists that are available at Periwinkle's retail shop and gallery!
Week 13:
Debra Cooper-Solomon
Retired in 2018 from teaching elementary art after a 30 year career. Now she enjoys having the time to do her own artwork. The inspiration for her work comes from the colors, shapes, and textures found in the beauty of nature. She loves to combine many different materials in her work. Including tissue papers, hand-made stamps, watercolors, and hand-painted papers. She hopes you enjoy looking at her work as much as she has enjoyed creating it!
Week 12:
Joan Rubin-Deutsch
As a mixed-media artist, I begin with rich, vibrant colors that stimulate and heighten my senses and wait to see what will emerge. Whether abstract or figurative, it is always an interesting surprise. My work includes paintings, book arts and paper weaving.
Week 11:
Beth Smith
“Ever since I was little, I loved to draw and color. That love blossomed later in life to my love of watercolor. My paintings are inspired by the play of nature against architectural elements, the shape of boats against the water, the lines of houses and barns against the sky and trees. It’s not about painting what I see, it’s about how my subject makes me feel. I hope you find something in my paintings that you can connect to.”
Week 10:
Susan Lyall Haley
WATERCOLORS
"I maintain a realistic style and am drawn to the challenge of watercolor for its ability to recapture life’s moments through color and reflection.”
With a focus on drawing and a love of watercolor, Sue’s attention to detail is captured in her paintings, many from photographs she has taken from her travels throughout New England, France and Italy. An award-winning artist, her color palette of soft, muted hues are exemplary of much of her work.
RESIN OCEAN ART
In addition, Sue has captured the beauty of the ocean with her Resin Ocean Art Charcuterie Boards and accessories.
Each board is a one-of-a-kind design of ocean art captured on Italian Olive Wood or Bamboo.
Week 9:
Colleen Sgroi bio:
Colleen owned her own Gallery & Art Center in Billerica where she had classes for adults and children year-round. She closed after 18 years in August 2020. She now teaches online painting classes.
Colleen has been painting since she was in her teens but began selling her art in 1990 and has since sold her work all over the world through a New York Publisher. Her work is on puzzles, in films with Mt. Vernon Museum, Disney and Lions Gate Films.
Colleen won a Moonbeam Bronze Medal Award “Best Illustrator” 2019 for her and Author Ann Biese’s childrens book ‘Mindful Moon’.
Colleen is well respected in her community and in 2012 was voted “Woman of the Year” by the Boys & Girls club. Her involvement in the community includes: Billerica Alliance Board, Chair of Billerica Cultural Council, Voice of the Artist Columnist for local newspapers and now sits on the board of the Lowell Chamber Commerce.
Colleen currently resides in Lowell.
Week 8:
Nancy Macone Arbeene Artist BIO
A love for photography began my childhood taking snapshots of nearly everything I saw with a Brownie camera. After career paths in laboratory medicine, I returned to Northeastern University to pursue a degree in technical communications. Coursework included photography and by taking that particular class, I remembered how much I loved it. During my tenure at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, the primary focus was in clinical research and event related photography. Many of my snapshots are in publications.
Now retired, I take time each day to see what lies beyond my back door finding photography as my way of expressing art. I am constantly in awe of the ever-changing palettes of color, light, form and texture. For me, there is nothing like photography to capture a moment in place or time others may not see... Although my focus has been wildflower and nature photography, Historical New England also captured my heart. During the COVD epidemic, I discovered another side of photography by creating colorful digital abstractions from my snapshots. I love finding unique sights and scenes, anything that captures imagination. Which these days are everything.
Week 7:
Janet Reed in her own words:
I am a New Englander, and have resided in Massachusetts my entire life. I feel fortunate to live on a farm. Most of my adult life has been spent around horses and other farm animals. I love and appreciate nature, the outdoors, and all the goodness that surrounds us.
My life-long passion for art and nature in all forms has come to fruition through my paintings. Over the past few decades I have been able to devote the time needed to seriously approach painting. My studies of the visual arts at Mt. Wachusett Community College, the Sharon Art School, River Gallery, and others, have helped to further develop and strengthen my talents.
The vibrant alcohol inks, oils, and, encaustics are my favorite mediums. I enjoy working with a broad range of subjects; including still life, landscapes, seascapes, birds, animals, figures and portraits, silks, and candles.
Over the years I have been associated with several Artists groups, including, GGAA, GALA, Leominster Art Assoc., and, Sharon Art Assoc.
Week 6:
My name is Suzan Cormier-Liu. My great aunt taught me to sew when I was 7. I made my first quilt when I was 16. Designing and making quilted clothing is a passion of mine. Stained glass for me is quilting with glass. Since 1987 I’ve made lamps, windows, side lights, kitchen cabinet inserts, window hangings, etc. the list is almost endless. I get inspiration from everywhere, insuring that my next project is just around the corner.
Week 5:
Bonnie Rankin - Chelmsford, MA
From a young age, I have found comfort in creating. Creating is my meditation in motion. My current crafting comforts are creating crystal & gemstone jewelry and pottery ornaments.
Week 4:
Robert Bicknell - in his own words:
I have had a love of photography since I was a teenager, and my interest in the outdoors, especially the landscape of New England, began at an even earlier age. These two passions progressed in tandem, and my affinity for the natural world remains paramount in my photography today.
Without the benefit of formal art education—I am a graduate of Bentley University and have pursued studies towards an MBA—my path in photography has been a circuitous one. I am self-taught and have derived inspiration from American Realist painters like Andrew Wyeth and Edward Hopper, French Impressionists such as Claude Monet, and contemporary photographers like Ernst Haas and Jay Maisel.
My photography has also been influenced by childhood memories of the New Hampshire coast, the Great Marsh approaching Newburyport, Old Route 1 between Boston and Mount Desert Island, the White Mountains, and the mill towns of the Merrimack River Valley.
My goal as an artist is to photograph subjects in a way that conveys a strong sense of place and beauty. In doing so, I operate under the two tenets “light is everything” and “you have to be there.”
Week 3:
Ann Brady
A Watermedia Artist, with a portfolio of Transparent Watercolor as well as Acrylic skin Collages and paintings. Her start was as a Sculptor using lost wax casting which informs her use of texture and form in her paintings. She considers herself to be a layerist regardless of medium as well as a value painter.
Her overarching goal in painting is for the viewer to have a felt experience, not related to conventional familiarity. She believes that Abstraction circumvents the viewer's intellectualizing, the allowing for an unnamed connection to a state of being.
Week 2:
Madeline Stewart:
Sun Song Glassworks is excited to bring handmade ornaments, cups, soap dispensers, oil lamps, jewelry, sculpture and more to this year's Winter Festival and Art Fair in Groton!
Madeline and Ori, Acton-Boxborough High School Alumni, started Sun Song Glassworks to share their glass creations with their local communities, and offer custom design. Check out more of our glasswork on instagram @sun.song.studio
Week 1:
