Gathering Place Painters
Reception - Friday, October 13th - 4pm-6pm
Filomena Lange
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, I attended the Dayton Art Institute and graduated from the University of Dayton. I lived for many years in Midland, Michigan before moving to Milton, Wisconsin.
I dabbled in many mediums, including oils and printmaking, before concentrating on batik, which was my principal medium for decades. I exhibited my batik work in a number of group and solo shows and sold them at galleries and juried art fairs in the Midwest.
I’ve retired from the art fair circuit and now do acrylic painting. In addition to being safer health-wise, acrylics provide a spontaneity that is a pleasant change of pace from the exactitude and precision required for batik.
Ideas for my paintings come from places I’ve visited, familiar surroundings, my imagination, and sometimes a combination of all.
Gretchen Manthei
Creativity has always been a part of my life as a hobby, mostly photography and creative crafts. When I retired somewhere in my 60s, and having been a longtime patron of Raven’s Wish Gallery, I found myself participating in a drawing class which led to acrylic painting classes held at the gallery. Having hailed from a career in a business environment I found the language of art fascinating and fell in love immediately. Surrounded by talented artists sharing thoughts, techniques and critique became a truly fantastic journey. I also discovered an online artist (Jane Font) who provided weekly tutorials and chat sessions where again I was introduced to many artists throughout the country as well as abroad. It was a fantastic experience discovering so many methodologies involved in creating a painting, and developing friendships that I will always hold close.
My art is simple, spontaneous and abstract. I paint because I enjoy coming together with fellow artists, and I like the ‘language of art’ and how it allows me to see the forest for the –color.
Tom Lieder
I am a retired teacher and coach from Milton School District. After retiring from teaching in 2007, I know I needed a hobby to keep myself busy. Art was the answer.
I have always had an interest in nature and many of my paintings depict landscapes, flowers, animals, fish, trees, and farm life in a variety of mediums including watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil and pen & ink.
My grandmother was and still is my inspiration. My wife Terri and I have paintings in our home which she did as a young woman nearly a century ago! I aspire to be just like her. I’m not there yet!
Three other area artists have also inspired me including Barb Mathews, Pat Tobin, and Jack Zellner. Through their classes, I have learned so much about design, color, value, and shape, but most of all to have fun with what you create.
I hope you enjoy my paintings.
Terry Koehler
How do I define the word art or artist? For me it started by picking up a pencil and beginning to draw portraits and cartoon caricatures. Today, it has turned into much more.
I meet with what I will call my “art family” every week. We draw, paint, and socialize—exchanging ideas and dissecting current and past events. Being an artist is not just applying paint to a blank canvas, or a poet putting words on paper. It can be stress-relieving,, usisng your creativity, and/or bringing your personality to life using bright colors. There is some form of artistic ability in everyone—you just have to find it.
Cheryl Thornton
I have always been drawn to art, specifically the beauty in color and light. I enjoy using color in my work to show the effect light has in every day subjects. I typically use watercolor because I am fascinated by the way color moves and interacts on paper to create depth and interest.
My goal as an artist is to invite the viewer to discover the vast amount of color in everyday life and invoke a sense of beauty in what may sometimes seem ordinary.
Pam Veitenheimer
Growing up in the 1970s was so fun for me. Sometimes when painting this part of my brain will take over and in my mind I go back to those days and my thoughts are conveyed onto canvas. It was a colorful, experimental, learning time in my life. When I get into the “mode” I lose myself to the wild colors and canvas. I feel as though it is like a Zen experience and I escape to another world.