Oliver Balf: Oliver Balf is a Founding Faculty and Professor Emeritus of Montserrat College of Art. He is a retired consulting designer; his clients included Parker Brothers and Educators Publishing Service. Ollie received his BFA at Temple University and has studied at the Art Students League and New School for Social Research in New York City and with Hans Hoffman. Awards include: Rockport Art Association, young Artist's Prize, Carl Butman Prize (Best Watercolor), Ann Fisk Award and an Honorary Doctorate, Montserrat College of Art. Ollie has shown extensively throughout the region including the Rockport Art Association, Botolph Gallery, Wenniger Gallery and Rotenberg Gallery. www.zhibit.org/oliverbalf

Joan Bediz: Joan is an award-winning artist on both the local and national levels. Her work is in many private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Canada. She is represented by Local Colors Gallery at 121 Main Street in Gloucester, MA.

John Caggiano: John Caggiano was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied pre-engineering at Brooklyn Technical High School. He received a BA degree from Brooklyn College and an MFA from Pratt Institute, both with honors. His education was supplemented by courses at The Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Studio and Forum of Stage Design in New York. He relocated to Rockport, Massachusetts in 1980, drawn to the physical beauty and unique quality of Cape Ann's light. He travels extensively, both here and abroad, painting on location. This plein aire approach enables him to capture the essence of the time and place that he interprets into his bright and colorful "Impressionistic-realism" style. The work is further enhanced by his daring use of a palette knife, enhancing the effects of his brushwork. "Painting for me is the bold and dynamic use of color that infuses life into the subject of the painting. Color is the lifeblood of the painting. Nothing stimulates more than its pleasing harmony, whether strongly applied or toned and tranquil." John loves the sea. He has always lived near it and feels withdrawl symptoms when away from it on his landlocked painting trips. Although he’s been on an occasional sailing trip, his most intimate experience with Neptune has been as a crew member on a commercial purse-seiner in his youth. He is now more than satisfied to have his feet on dry land, recording the activities of others with brushes and paint. An artist member of many organizations, Caggiano has served as President of the Rockport Art Association, and has been a member of its Board of Governors for sixteen years. Both he and his award-winning paintings have made appearances on nationwide television shows such as ABC’s Good Morning America, on It’s Al About The Arts, WBNN’s Boston channel and on international TV, Televisione Italiana –RAL.  His art has also been featured in and graced the covers of numerous books, magazines and newspapers such as Marine Art: A Gallery of Marine Art, Monhegan: The Artists’ Island, and The Best of Oil Painting among many others. He is represented worldwide in many private and corporate collections and galleries across the country. John is a regular exhibitor and elected member of Academic Artists Association, Rockport Art Association, Northshore Arts Association, etc. where he has received such awards as the Bernard Corey Memorial Award, the Guild of Boston Artists Award, The Beverly DeMont Memorial Award, the Roger W. Curtis Memorial Award, and the William Meyerwitz Memorail Award, among others. John Caggiano has maintained a gallery on Main Street and a studio on Bearskin Neck in Rockport since 1981. www.johncaggiano.com

Jan Charles: Jan Charles, a participating artist in Pathways’ Chairs for Children event Princess Chair, has received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Fine Art from Regis College, as specializing in Art Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Jan Charles has acquired additional expertise through coursework in textile design, graphic design and photography as well as  “plein aire” painting workshops at exotic and challenging locations.

Kathy Connolly: Kathy Connolly is a practicing painter and printmaker, specializing in monotype. Recently, Kathy has been allowing printing techniques to influence her painting. She enjoys painting pastels, and her inspiration comes from seemingly ordinary places including on her walks to work or from the intricate structure of a seashell. In 1999, Kathy co-founded Beach Street Studios in downtown Manchester. www.kathyconnolly.com; www.beachstreetstudios.com

Astrida Cutter: Astrida Cutter is a Gloucester artist inspired by the interplay of light, color, and texture afforded by New England’s coastline. Well known local artists David Curtis, Bernard Gerstner and Marilyn Swift figure prominently in her development as a painter. Her oil paintings have been featured in numerous shows from Gloucester to Portland Maine.

Charlesanna Detra: Chuck Detra studied at Regis College and has an Associate Degree in Interior Design. She has studied painting with Ture Bengtz, William Maynard, Gracia Dayton, Paul George, Frank Federico, PSA, NNS and at the North Shore Art Association. She has exhibited at Winchester Library, Sawyer Free Library, Depot Gallary, Lexington MA, Concord and North Shore Art Associations. She is also a member if the North Shore Art Association.

Loren Doucette: It all started with finger-paints, crayons and coloring books. At a young age, Loren found she could entertain and express herself through art - and with the love and support of those around her - she was alive with the beauty and free-form expression that only art can provide. It was during her education at Salem State College that Loren realized her passion for painting. Trained in watercolor, acrylic, and oil, she furthered her education at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston before working as a freelance artist. Her custom murals, portraits, and landscapes decorate homes and grace many private collections throughout the Greater Boston area and beyond. Loren (Widtfeldt) Doucette moved to Gloucester seven years ago with her young son Andrew. Drawn by the natural beauty and creative spirit of Cape Ann, Loren knew this was the place she wanted to raise her son and expand her artistic career. During this time, she met and married her husband Rick and has since blossomed into a successful artist, teacher, and community member. Loren began sharing her art with children in the late 1990's and has been leading classes for older adults in Danvers since 2002. Also in 2002, she started developing the Y ARTS cirriculum and program at the Cape Ann YMCA; teaching children, leading mural projects and hosting many community art exhibitions. Later that same year Loren owned and operated the Widtfeldt Gallery in Rockport; displaying her own paintings and the works of other local artists. Working primarily in watercolor from 2003-2007, Loren created several key pieces that gained her recognition and acclaim - receiving an honorable mention award at the Rockport Art Association Contributing Member Show. Loren is a member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony and seARTS. She enjoyed three successful solo exhibits in 2006,2007 and 2008. Since September of 2008, Loren has been studying at Montserrat College of Art with a focus in life painting, portraiture, and landscape painting under Timothy Harney and Judy Brown. Loren considers herself fortunate to be warmly welcomed as an active member of the Cape Ann art community. Loren has a working studio at #1 Center Street in Gloucester and visits to view her work are welcome by appointment by calling 978.879.8981.

Valerie Doyon: Valerie Doyon has a gallery and shop in Rockport that goes by the name of Soulstice. Painting for the past thirteen years, she has developed a style of her own that intertwines the art of Mendhi and traditional landscapes in some of her most recent pieces. Portraits of families, homes, motorcycles, and musicians are commonly commisioned. Valerie creates murals as well. She uses multiple mediums in her artwort such as charcoal, pastels, henna, glass, stone, and plaster but favors the use of Acrylic paints. Painting on a large scale or small, there will always be her heart and soul put into the piece she creates. www.naturesbodyart.com

Christopher Gurshin: To find out about Christopher Gurshin visit his website at www.christophergurshin.com.

Ken Knowles: A native of Rockport, Massachusetts, Ken Knowles is a veteran painter of traditional American impressionism in new England. His success has allowed him to stay in this beautiful seaside art colony where he lives with his wife and two children. Ken has been painting professionally for twenty five years. Ken’s works are part of countless private, and several corporate collections across the country and abroad. Mr. Knowles has shown in many national exhibitions and has an award winning reputation. Ken’s paintings can be found in galleries from Bar Harbor, Maine to Atlanta Georgia. Ken Knowles enjoys teaching workshops occasionally, and is an informative demonstrator. He says he credits much of his skills to his association with many of New England’s finest artists. Ken is a member of the Rockport Art Association, as well as the Academic Artists, and Hudson Valley Art Associations. He is a true American impressionist. www.kenknowles.com

Eileen Mueller: Eileen Mueller was born in New York. She graduated from Webster University with a B.A., degree. She attended the Boston Museum School, Monserrat College of Art and Decordova School.  Mueller has painted professionally for the past twenty years. She is an accomplished portrait painter and has done numerous commissions. Her figurative work has been featured on a musicians CD cover as well as on the cover of two magazines. Currently, she focuses on cityscapes, and genre scenes that focus on people at work and play. Her love of figurative work is expressed in her jazz club paintings, working harbor scenes, and interiors. She is a designated ‘CA’ Copley Society artist member. She has painted in the Copley Society Annual Fresh Paint Auction for the past 15 years, and has participated in invitational shows at the Copley and has been the recipient of awards, including a Gold Medal Award. She is also a member of the North Shore Art Association, Rocky Neck Art Colony, and Cambridge Art Association. Mueller has exhibited in many selected exhibitions, and has had many one person shows in various galleries. She participated in the Mayor’s Invitational in Boston, has work in the permanent collection of the Cape Ann Museum, and has exhibited in countless juried exhibitions, including the Salmagundi Club in New York, Arts Boston, the Bradford Museum and Friends of Copley Square Invitational and many others. Her work is included in private and corporate collections throughout the country. Currently, Mueller exhibits in galleries in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Naples, Florida. She also has her own studio gallery in Rockport, MA where her work can be viewed by appointment. She lives in Rockport with her family.

T.M. Nicholas: T. M. Nicholas was born on December 2, 1963. He has studied with John C. Terelak, Gloucester Academy of Art from 1978-1980, Thomas A. Nicholas, N.A., A.W.S. from 1980-1982 and at the Montserrat School of Visual Art in 1984. T.M. has received more than eighty prestigious awards ranging from the Best in Show, W.C., Contributing Members Show, Rockport Art Association in Massachusetts in 1982 to the Gold Medal of Honor, Oil, Hudson Valley Art Association in New York in 2008. T.M. is a member of the Rockport Art Association, Guild of Boston Artists, Whiskey Painters of America, Ohio, Hudson Valley Artists, NY, Allied Artists of America, NY, Academic Artists Association, MA, American Artists Professional League, NY, New England Watercolor Society, MA and the North Shore Arts Association, MA. T.M.’s paintings and articles have appeared in extensive publications, and his work is also featured in both private and museum collections throughout the country and abroad.

Tom Nicholas: Tom Nicholas was born in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1934. From 1953-1956 he was a scholarship student at the School of Visual Arts, New York City. In 1961 he received an invitational Greenshield Grant for two years independent painting abroad and in the U.S.A. Tom is an Academician of the National Academy of Design and a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society. Included among his more the 25 awards are 40 Medals of Honor. He has had 35 one-artist shows in New York City, Washington, Boston, California, Florida, and Texas. Since 1960, Tom has painted throughout Europe and the United States. Listings include: Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Art and Who's Who in the East. Tom's work is in many private and public collections including the Farnsworth Museum, Maine; the Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio; Springfield Art Museum, Missouri; Peabody Essex Museum, Massachusetts and the Hispanic Society of America, New York City. Nicholas's work can be found at the Tom Nicholas Gallery, 65 Main Street, Rockport, MA.

Kathleen Speranza: Kathleen holds a BFA from Boston University School for the Arts and an MFA from Yale University School of Art. Kathleen was an Associate Professor of Painting/Foundation at Monserrat College of Art from 1987 – 2002. Kathleen specializes in Fine Art Portraits. www.kathleensperanza.com

Gene Stewart: Gene Stewart was born in Louisville, Kentucky and began his art career as a cartoonist in his high school paper. In his senior year he transferred to Aaron's Trade School to study commercial art. In 1952 Gene went to Barcelona, Spain to further his education which included art. He also spent a short time in Rome, Italy where he was able to deepen his appreciation of the many masterpieces found in that city. Upon his return to the States in 1955 he continued his studies for two more years in Silver Springs, Maryland. While there he was charged with learning to hand set type and run a hand fed printing press. This he used to produce the various pieces of literature used by the college. In 1958 he returned to Louisville, KY and worked in the advertising department of the Courier Journal & Louisville Times while attending night courses in fine arts at the University of Louisville until his induction into the army. Gene served three years at Fort Banks in Winthrop, MA as a Map Draftsman and as the post Sign Painter. Upon discharge from the Service he began working as a scratchboard illustrator for some of the major retail stores in downtown Boston on a freelance basis. Gene continued for 5 years as a commercial artist while studying Technical Illustrating at night at MIT and Technical writing at Harvard. His career included art director for Sylvania and later art director of Haley and Aldrich Geotechnical Firm. Gene spent some time as an airbrush artist and mold maker at Parker Brothers and finished his commercial career as an industrial model maker with American Industrial Models. Since he retired he stays busy as a freelance model maker, art teacher, artist and craftsman. His hobby is lapidary, cutting and mounting one of a kind semiprecious stones.

Loretta Stride: Loretta has lived and worked on Cape Ann for the past twenty years. She currently works out of her Rockport home studio painting murals and furniture for clients throughout the North Shore. Her abstract paintings, collages and drawings all draw their inspiration from the people and landscapes of Cape Ann.

Marilyn Swift: Watercolor painter Marilyn Swift is an exhibiting artist member of The New England Watercolor Society, The Copley Society of Boston, Academic Artists Association of Springfield, American Artists Professional League, Hudson Valley Arts Association, Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Rockport Art Association, and the North Shore Arts Association. Her work has won many awards and is found in private and corporate collections in the United States as well as in Europe. www.marilynswift.com

Paul Swigart: Paul was born 1956 in Illinois, and educated at Mass College of Art. Paul has been a studio artist all his life. Early in his career he concentrated on sculptural ceramics. He spent many years as a fine woodworker and now concentrates on making paintings. Paul has maintained a studio in Gloucester since 1981, and has worked out of his current East Gloucester studio since 1987. For ten years Paul was a principal in the art collaborative called Charba, creating installations, custom pieces and a constant stream of paintings and sculptures. Charba morphed into Charbanova, and Paul is the sole remaining full time maestro. He still collaborates from time to time with former partners.

Kathryn Tuck & Pamela Strattan: Kathryn Tuck grew up surrounded by the art and artists of Cape Ann. She is largely self taught but was influenced by some of the great artists that worked and taught in Rockport. Her work is most strongly influenced by study with Ted Goerschner. Kathryn received degrees from Tufts University and Regis College. After a 31-year career in teaching, she now paints full time. Kathryn is a member of the Rockport Art Association, the Copley Society and Oil Painters of America. Her award-winning work can be found in private and corporate collections here and abroad.

Pam Stratton: Pam Stratton has had a fascination with stonework and mosaics since learning of Pompeii in ancient history class. Her transition from just admiring mosaics to creating them was triggered by building a brick patio of intersecting concentric circles in her backyard. The design was inspired by the beautiful stonework she saw in the piazzas and churches of Italian cities and towns. The first simple fish made from leftover brick evolved into intricate mosaic designs in stone and glass. Pam was hooked! Pam is mostly self taught – weekends at Mass Art, workshops with Lynn Moor, Mateo Randi and Ilana Sharif; and continuous experimentation. She is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists and has shown at the Somerville Museum. This spring her work will be exhibited at the Chicago Mosaic School and as part of the International SAMA Exhibit at the Museum of Man in San Diego, CA. Pam has worked as an acupuncturist on Cape Ann for the past 14 years and is the owner of the Acupuncture Center of Cape Ann.

Bruce Backman Turner: Bruce Backman Turner has been  a professional plein aire painter since 1972. His work is included in public and private collections throughout the United States and abroad. He is represented at the Fine Arts of Rockport gallery, 43 Main Street, Rockport. He has been the recipient of numerous national and regional awards and is listed in Who’s Who in American Art.

B.J. Wayne: B.J. Wayne was an abstract artist in the late 70s and 80s. She lived in Tribeca, in Manhattan, showing her art in Soho. A series of drawings she made inspired her to begin writing music for a multi-media show. This led to an eventual departure from abstract art and more immersion in performance and music. In the recent past, B.J. has returned to art as a figurative, animal and landscape painter. She has studied with Boston School of Art artists Robert Cormier and David Curtis in Gloucester, with Cape Ann artist Jeff Weaver and world-famous N.Y. artist Burton Silverman. She currently works as a full-time painter in her Gloucester, MA studio and is represented in the North Shore area by The Walsingham Gallery in Newburyport. While exploring the contemporary and historic worlds of representational art, she discovered her affinity for painting animals. This came as no surprise; she drew horses and dogs throughout her childhood. Several years ago she was sitting in her Gloucester art studio wondering what she should choose to paint next. As B.J. glanced up at a photo of her old dog Katie, it seemed as if Katie spoke, saying, “Paint me!” So B.J. painted Katie and other dogs, and now specializes in painting animals. B.J.’s artistic inspirations are largely the master painters of the past: the great 19th century animal painters such as Rosa Bonheure, Maude Earl and Sir Edwin Landseer. These artists were masters of land, water, sky, still life and interiors, as well as animals. Surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Cape Ann, B.J. often places her subjects in these surroundings. Her goal is to bring an old tradition of animal painting into the contemporary world. Today, people long for simpler times. The soothing affect of animals is increasingly appreciated and utilized in healthcare. People respond to B.J.’s work because of their need to connect with nature in this technological age, as well as their appreciation of beautiful art.
Known also for her sympathetic depiction of people, this summer, B.J. Wayne won an award of excellence at the North Shore Art Association, for a portrait of her teacher, the well-known maritime artist Jeff Weaver. You may view her work on line at http://www.bjwayne.com and at the Walsingham Gallery, 47 Merrimac St., Newburyport (978-499-4411). B.J. welcomes visitors to her Gloucester studio by appointment. She is available to create custom commissioned work. www.bjwayne.com

Jeff Weaver: Jeff Weaver has painted in and around Gloucester since his first year as a student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. For over 30 years he has studied the way light defines the unique landscape, architecture, and life of Cape Ann, and has sought to render it in various mediums. Whether in oil, watercolor, or printmaking, Jeff understands that good draftsmanship is the foundation of his artistic expression. He has painted also many large wall murals, which has helped develop his sense of graphic design. He is a member of the North Shore Arts Association, and his work has been shown in numerous galleries. www.jeffweaverfineart.com

Charlie Crowley & Claire Sanford: Charles Crowley and Claire Sanford live and work together in a former nun's retreat in West Gloucester. Both work in metal and are partners in Top Dog Studio. Charlie's work ranges from architectural ironwork to sterling teapots to carefully rendered 18k gold and steel jewelry. He has recently been exploring the use of Cape Ann granite with steel. Claire's work ranges from jewelry in various materials to patinated copper sculpture. Her recent work involves a production line of jewelry designed by their children, Zander and Maddie, titled Aminal Bug. Both attended Boston University's Program in Artisanry, have received numerous awards, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant and several grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. They both teach part time and exhibit their work nationally. Locally their work can be found at Side Street Jewelry in Rocky Neck. www.TopDogStudio.com

Mary Hughes & Caro-Gray Bosca: We use the finest quality of unusual stones and metals, handcrafting each piece. With insights gained through blacksmithing and classic training in jewelry-making, we produce bold and energetic pieces. Our passionate interests in gardening, architecture, color and texture emerge naturally, infusing each piece with character and intimacy. Ancient yet contemporary, our jewelry embodies an aesthetic of timeless appeal. www.hughes-bosca.com

Gloucester High School: Jacqueline Underwood, teacher, is leading the following group of Gloucester High School artists:

Jeremiah Burke, 9th Grade

Meghan Ciaramitao, 12th Grade

Tyler Devlin, 10th Grade

Alyssa Grozier, 12th Grade

Jon Herbst, 10th Grade

Caitlin Hugel, 12th Grade

Kathyrn LaCroix, 12th Grade

Joshua Ortiz, 12th Grade

Lyla Roth, 11th Grade

Hayden Wilson, 11th Grade

Rockport High School: Kathy Hilliard has been teaching art at Rockport High School for 27 years. She enjoys working with all mediums, but color pencil drawing in one of her favorites. She feels the importance of connecting students with their community through the arts – and that Pathways Unleashed! will achieve that perfectly. The Rockport High School Artists are:

        Akiyo Nishimiya

        Erin Martin

        Lucretia Seabrook

        Monica Wemyss

        Becky Endicott