Our Artists

The Grayslake Arts Alliance welcomes artists who create in a wide spectrum of media. From photography, mixed media, oil paint, pastels, fiber arts, stained glass, graphite, colored pencil, even digital design work. We'd love to add other genres of fine arts including musicians, authors, dancers, poets, actors, sculptors and more.

Interested in becoming a member? 
Join today to participate in the Grayslake Arts Alliance member exhibitions, Grayslake Farmers Market, seminars and tutorials, fun social activities, members-only web information, artist promotion, and inclusion in our Artist's Gallery.  We're looking for artists who are not only interested in their own art and growing as an artist, but are also dedicated to growing the community through education, participation and development.

​Stefanie Anastasia

​Ms. Anastasia is a colored pencil artist who enjoys drawing and the appreciation of art.

​Paula Casey

​Mrs. Casey loves giving life to a flat piece of paper. Making something jump out and grab the viewer is her ultimate goal. Whether it be an old broken building, a beautiful bird or a bug on a tree, everything has a story that can be told with art.

​Leslie A. Armsrong
​www.leslieaphoto.com / www.leslieamediagroup.com
​FB: Leslie A Photography  / Leslie A Media Group
​TW: @leslieamedia

Ms. Armstrong is a web/graphic designer and media relations professional for the local school district in Grayslake. She is also an accomplished photographer who specializes in naturescapes, landscapes, and seascapes. She is also known to dabble in street photography as well. 

​Bill Chapin

www.billchapinjazz.com
FB: BillChapinJazz
​IN: billchapinjazz

Mr. Chapin, jazz pianist and teacher, plays and teaches jazz piano and bass, leads his own jazz combos, and coordinates the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop from his creative space, Chapin Jazz Studio. Mr. Chapin embraces creative growth through improvisation.

​Michelle Cox

​www.michellecoxauthor.com
FB: michellecoxauthor
TW: michellecox33
IN: michellecoxwrites

Ms. Cox is the author of several of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as "Novel Notes of Local Lore," a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago's forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn't have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade.

Tish De La Mora

www.lilacandwillow.com
​IN: tel_inkonpaper​
FB: tel.inkonpaper

​Ms. De La Mora has been writing poetry for over 30 years as well as photography works. She has two collections of poetry published, Ink On Paper and When Willow Weeps. Currently she is working on a third collection and her first novel.

Jenny Dasta

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Former Veterinary Technician turned Mom; small hobbies ignited a drive to create and make and try new medias. Currently using acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood, cross stitch needlework, mandala crochet, and living art through succulent plant cultivation, propagation, and planter design.

Jordan Debbink

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Mr. Debbink is a very talented artist working in the performing arts sector. In addition to his art career, Jordan is very experienced in non-profit operations and volunteering with various organizations.
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Linda Doyle

www.lindadoyleart.com​

My work is a living infusion of energy created through paint and embroidery. My wish is to communicate the beauty and love that surrounds us on a daily basis. Even in the darkness there is an awesome intimacy to be found. Dissolving the barriers of judgment to immerse yourself in goodness and grace.​ Becoming one with nature to enjoy the blessing.

Jennifer Evans

​www.periwinkleartstudio.com
​FB: periwinkleartstudio
IN: jennevansmixedmedia

Ms. Evans is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in Journalism/Advertising. She also studied visual communications and sociology. Throughout her career she has worked as a graphic designer, magazine publisher, art director, and marketing/PR professional.

After years of designing on the computer, Jennifer picked up a paintbrush after a long hiatus to create holiday gifts for friends. She found that this process of making art had been missing from her life, and she launched on a tour of mixed media exploration. She uses pen and ink, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media collage. She offers art classes for all ages at her studio, and at libraries and community centers in Lake County, IL.

Sherri Jolie Fowler

​www.paintingsbysjolie.com
​sherrijolie@gmail.com 

Mrs. Fowler lives in the upper Midwest of the United States. She has been painting for many years and finds so much pleasure in losing herself in her painting projects. Mrs. Fowler enjoys recreating photos into oil and pastel paintings, and loves to pleine aire paint at locations around the area.

Lily Gaines

​www.lilygainesart.com
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In the mundane and the spectacular, artist and writer, Ms. Gaines delights. Known for her large oil paintings of nature, she also brings this vision to watercolor. She seeks her subject matter with an eye for the light cast on a building, the reflection on a body of water, the unusual in color or the surprise of the time of day. She applies her writer's curiosity to the observation of the action within the environment. Everyone, everything conveys a story. Ms. Gaines is self-taught and has professional experience in arts management and the human potential movement.

Marie Hines

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Mrs. Hines is a mixed media artist who uses words, themes, and quotes to inspire her to create visual stories. Using found objects, rescued trinkets, and rubbish gives her joy as she finds herself connecting links of the past to insight of the world.

Christina Hladnik

www.etsy.com/shop/EyeAmCreationsArt​
FB: eyeamcreations
IN: eyeamcreations
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Ms. Hladnik is a multidisciplinary artist working with acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, illustration and printmaking.

Debbie Kalinowski

​FB: ArtByDebbieK
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Ms. Kalinowski started oil painting after she retired and fell in love with pastels after taking a workshop. Painting with pastels is intimate and special. She loves painting animals in pastel and capturing their personalities. She wants her paintings to be like a good book - one that you can put yourself into.

Greg Kee

www.gregkee.com
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Mr. Kee is a seasoned artist living in the Karcher Artspace Artist Lofts for five years. He shows work at local art shows in northeastern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.

Karen Gilmour-Keefe

IN: @gilmour.keefe
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My art focus is learning and increasing my skills.  My work has a certain fun playful style that I'm happy to convey in watercolor, acrylic, graphite and computer art. 

Lauren Keegan

​www.lkillustrations.weebly.com
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Ms. Keegan works in graphite and colored pencil. Through this medium, she is able to become one with pencil and paper. Her ultimate goal when using pencils is to create something that does not look as if it were created with that medium. 

Doris Kucik

​FB: DorisKucikPaintings
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Ms. Kucik has been a representational artist for twenty-five years. She works with soft pastels because, unlike the name implies, they produce vibrant, eye-catching colors. Pastels consist of sticks of almost pure pigment which provide a greater richness than any other media. Her objective is to utilize the medium to create lasting images that convey an emotional response to the beauty present in our world.

John Lacson

​www.johnlacson.com
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Mr. Lacson started out as a graphic artist and videographer. He got into photography about 10 years ago when he started a tech blog. Since then he has done mostly food, product, and travel photography for various hotels, companies, and publications. He currently lives in Grayslake and runs his own audio company: Doppler Audio.

Zee Lacson

​​www.zshots.photography
​FB: zshotsphotography
IN: zshots
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Always more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, Ms. Lacson took up photography before digital was an option. The hobby turned into a profession in 2001. She prefers shooting in natural light and capturing real laughter. She lives in Grayslake with her husband, twin sons, and a really fluffy dog.

Beth Lepper

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Mrs. Lepper's passion in painting watercolor is to select subjects that stir a memory or emotion evoked from nature or engagement with the environment. She strives to paint loosely which allows the pigment, water and paper to interact and create unique interpretation in the ordinary of life's moments. ​

Roni Malic

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Mrs. Malic has the ability to find something useful and beautiful about everyday ordinary stuff. She has no formal art training, but has the gift of vision. She can see potential. She has created ceramic mosaics, handmade paper beads, painted glass, hand-crafted stationary, jewelry, even refinishing furniture. She enjoys getting lost in hours of enjoyment with color and the eventual appearance of an image.

Oliver Merriam

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Mr. Merriam is an oil and watercolor artist who, like Albert Einstein, took a public service job to put bread on the table, whilst he dabbled and doodled in his limited spare time. Now in retirement from the demands of public service organizations, his new career as an artist has blossomed and he has finally had time to observe other artists at work, tour galleries, museums, and art fairs, as well as read art literature voraciously in order to practice, refine, and advance his technique.

Mr. Merriam paints a lot of landscapes, mostly in oil, but will also do an occasional plein air water color. He is not afraid of vibrant color, and is more painterly than a photo realist.

Lindsey Miska

​​​www.lindseyleemiska.com
​FB: Lindsey Lee Miska
IN: @lindseyleemiska

Ms. Miska's favorite medium is watercolor. The visual spontaneousness and transparency of the watercolor medium plays an important role to the aesthetics of each of her paintings. With watercolor, there is a level of risk and unpredictability that makes working with this medium exciting. Ms. Miska's watercolors are rich with personal stories and fantasies. Many paintings use organic forms, human/animal related imagery and objects of beauty to convey those expressions. Through vivid colors, blends and textures she captures a sense of intimacy, movement and playfulness within each subject matter.

Leslie Nauta

FB: leslie.nauta​

Ms. Nauta loves bright colors, abstracts, as well as an eclectic line of paintings. She has studied under Roger Shule, Patty Rodgers, and Sunny Parenteau. She is an acrylic, pastel, oil, and watercolor artist.

Lou Nettelhorst

https://nettelhorstimages.com
FB: @nettelhorstimages
​​​​IG: @toddnet / @lounettelhorst

Through photography, Mr. Nettelhorst and Nettelhorst Images help people discover and explore the artist within. Their learning model involves learning, practicing, and providing feedback. Over the years, Lou has won many awards and his company hosts a variety of workshops all over the country.

Elysa Noon

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Dr. Elysa Noon is a scientist by training and a self taught artist. She loves creating art inspired by nature and experimenting with different techniques.

Clarese Ornstein

Ms. Ornstein is a retired Lake County educator who has always enjoyed art with her students. Now she has time to play with acrylics, oils, alcohol ink, and iPhone photography. Nature subjects are her favorite.

Tom Perkowitz

​​​www.perkowitzartstudio.com
​FB: Perkowitz Art Studio

Mr. Perkowitz is an oil painter who feels that painting with oils is like painting with light. The colors blend and flow in unexpected ways. Painting with oil is like magic. Mr. Perkowitz is a full-time artist and also operated the Perkowitz Art Studio in Grayslake, IL.

Wendy Petera

www.etsy.com/shop/TheTravelingSquirrel
​​​www.thetravelingsquirrel.net
FB: thetravelingsquirrel
IN: @thetravelingsquirrelgirl
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I picked up my first camera, a brownie, and a whole world opened up for me.   Communicating what we see with what is really there is a constant struggle I deal with every time I take a photograph.  How often do we stop to smell the roses, look up at the pine trees or see across a lake and inhale the beauty?  I love nature in all of its seasons and the animals that flow within it.   From my backyard to places far away, my goal is to inspire those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover beauty in unusual places, and to bring a smile to your face.

Ena Potter

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Mrs. Potter primarily works in paper and is inspired by the variability and diversity in nature. She enjoys the unpredictability of the process of Eco-printing.
In the past Ena has worked with beads and metal creating chainmail, using a dapping block to work the metal. Ena enjoys trying new crafts if she becomes curious or interested.

Paul Price

​IN: @paulpriceart

Mr. Price is an abstract artist that specializes in creating bright and beautiful paintings by using a variety of techniques. His work primarily focuses shapes, patterns, and textures. Mr. Price is self taught and hopes to inspire others to think about ideas substantially larger than themselves.

Charlene Riffer

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Ms. Riffer always loved drawing plants. She started drawing plants in high school and never stopped. Ms. Riffer continued drawings from nature by attending the Chicago Botanic Garden’s certification program. She generally works in colored pencil and graphite pencil, but also works in watercolor and pen and ink. Her drawings can be abstract and whimsical. She has drawn 12 composite botanical people, better known as friendly botanical monsters.

Maureen Fisher Rivkin

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Ms. Rivkin is a mixed media artist residing in Grayslake, IL.

Sue Masaracchia-Roberts

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Ms. Roberts began studying when she was 12 years old. After a 30 year hiatus, she has been doing contract and freelance projects of varying sizes. Ms. Roberts likes to work in oils and replicate the world around her. She specializes in still life settings, nature, people, and animals.

Holly Rogalski

​FB: @hollyrogalskiart
IN: @hollybirthart

Ms. Rogalski is an artist who enjoys working mostly with acrylic paints and aspects of mixed media.

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Sharon Rollings

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Mrs. Rollings paints solely in watercolor and leans toward texture, animals, and unusual lighting effects. She feels watercolor is special. With the unpredictable flow of water on paper, the results can be rewarding, frustrating, and often surprising.

George Rowe

​My wife and I have always had a desire to create something that's beautiful. Our first real opportunity to actually do glasswork was during a visit to Hands on Art in Door County. After making 3 glass projects at the shop, we bought our first kiln and began creating our own jewelry and art work. It is our goal to continue to learn and try new techniques.

Aruna Sarode

​​​www.arunanitin.blogspot.com
​FB: arunanitn9
​IN: arunanitinart

Ms. Sarode is an award-winning artist whose paintings have been displayed at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. All things beautiful fascinate her, be it nature or the human spirit. She likes the play of paint and brush on canvas and aspires to capture the beauty convincingly in paint and share her efforts with the viewer. Always observing, always learning, Sarode is a self-taught artist working with oil, acrylic and watercolor mediums. She enjoys taking advantage of the unique qualities of each medium and chooses the medium that best compliments the subject.

Philip Schorn

​​​www.pschornstudio.com
​FB: pschornstudio
​TW: @pschornstudio

Mr. Schorn is a color pencil artists that paints with a pencil. His botanical renderings are what is seen through the eye of an artist. He can look at the ground and see the shapes, light and shadows. He focuses on a small portion of a scene and what makes that interesting. He focuses on achieving realism and tries to put in as much detail as possible.

Ernest J. Schweit

​​​www.ernestjschweitphotography.com
​FB: Ernest J Schweit Photography
TW: @ernestschweit 
​IN: @ernestschweit

Mr. Schweit’s photography is all about vision and getting that vision from the eye in my brain to a reality. That reality can be a digital image or a print; it can appear in a frame, on a computer screen, a newspaper page, or a website, it doesn’t matter. What counts is the process that makes it happen.

Bonniediva Shorr

http://iuoma-network.ning.com/profile/BonnieShorr

Mrs. Bonniediva Shorr (know as simply "Bonniediva") is primarily a multi-media collage artist, specializing in small pieces and Mail Art. She has been featured in Mail Art shows and collaborations all over the world. Her work, mostly using vintage and antique materials, is colorful and whimsical, as well as humorous and satirical.

Katie Shorr

IN: @katie.art.ig​

​Ms. Shorr has been an artist all of her life, and art is her life. Katie has worked in most all media, but right now focuses on portraiture, using pencil and/or ink.

Rebecca Stahr

​​​www.rebeccastahr.com
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Mrs. Stahr, a visual artist, lives in a conservation community surrounded by the beautiful native prairie of northern Illinois. After spending years working in the commercial art industry, she is now a full-time artist who has work displayed in many private collections and public gallery spaces in the greater Chicago and Milwaukee areas.

Heather June Toser

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Ms. Toser has been creating art for many, many moons. From an early age she was taught the value of handmade, and learned to hand sew from her mother. She likes working with circles and other basic shapes in her designs and mobiles. She has a love affair with bright colors and nearly all types of textures.

Floyd John Trexler

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Mr. Trexler considers himself a learner. He has attended classes in art history, sketching, and drawing. He prefers to work in graphite pencil and belongs to the Botanic Artists group.

Ronald Weiss

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Mr. Weiss is a watercolor and mixed-media artist. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and has worked for numerous advertising agencies in the area as well as his own Illustration and Design studio in Lake Zurich.

Edie Wendricks

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Mrs. Wendricks is a stained glass artist who uses the Tiffany method and selects color combinations and textures that complement or contrast. The art and craftsmanship of stained glass is different than other art forms. It requires an understanding of the techniques to create a structurally sound piece of art that will last a lifetime.

Judith Williams

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Ms. Williams enjoys working in varied media, mainly watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, scratch art and oil, and she likes to experiment with painting techniques, especially pourings. Her body of work includes landscapes, portraits and abstracts. Ms. Williams has also published two cozy mysteries and is currently working on illustrations for a children's book.