Where are you from, and what do you make?
I currently live in North Kingstown.  
I make art. Often. Paintings, mixed-media, & photography. Like consuming food and water...I create to stay alive.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
30+ years. It's time for a retrospective! SCAA? Larry Gagosian? The Whitney? Who's ready? I am.

What inspires you to create?
Good question. For a long time it was scuba diving and skydiving excursions. Now, my obsession with recycling/upcycling/re-presenting materials that many people purge-in a manner that unnecessarily overloads landfills. And nature. There's such beauty in this world. I am constantly amazed. Rainforests. Mountains. Caves. Landscapes. Our sky and beyond. C'mon. Clouds, Sunrises, sunsets, the moon & stars...

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
Oh, damn. Outside of my chosen medium? That eliminates so many great artists. Well, then: James Turrell. That dude is a magician of light. He transforms space with color-derived from non-painted surfaces. He thinks outside of the box. I like that.

Otherwise, the artists that most impact my art are Joseph Albers, Mark Rothko, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh & Salvador Dali. Ask me why during a studio visit...

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
I cannot that it has changed my life, but, Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is one of my all-time favorite works of art. I did a piece entitled "Starree Nite" -inspired by, but, looked nothing like Van Gogh's-and sold it to a VP at Goldman Sachs for (don't wanna be gauche) let's just say several month's studio rent (at the time).

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
The staff at SCAA are an amazing group of caring, considerate, talented, & intelligent individuals. I am honored to once again be a part of this organization. What do I like most about SCAA? I feel like a family member-not just a face in the crowd.

Tell us a joke.
What was Salvador Dali's favorite thing to eat for breakfast? 
A bowl of surreal.

Where are you from, and what do you make?
I was born and raised in Connecticut. Creativity has always been part of my life. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hartford Art School when my kids were in grade school earning a BFA in painting. I’ve always found a way to stay connected to my creative side. When my husband retired we built a home and studio along Rhode Island’s shoreline overlooking a coastal salt pond. We’ve lived here for twenty five years.

I create abstract mixed media work with lots of succulent color. Color has always been my way of expressing energy and emotion. My approach is intuitive. I’m often eager and impatient to try new things and explore different materials. This curiosity keeps me happy and engaged in my studio.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
I’ve always been a creative. Once settled in Rhode Island I came back to art with a renewed focus. With more life lived and more to say, my mixed media work is abstract, full of movement and energy.

What inspires you to create?
I simply have a need to create. Whether I’m working - painting, doodling, drawing or daydreaming, my studio is a haven where I’m at home and content. I lose myself in the process of discovery.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
I wouldn’t say there is a single artist who’s had a big impact, but music definitely moves me. Rhythms, tempo, and energy guide me as I paint. I believe each artist has a distinct color and line identity that is evident in everything we do. Music can change my mood, move me to dance or bring me to tears.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
I’m moved by lots of types of beauty on a daily basis. My immediate response to that question brings me back to Picasso’s 1980 retrospective at MoMA. I remember seeing Guernica.The power of that painting blew me away-a reminder to get out and view original works of art in person.

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
SCAA has lots of talented artists. I’m proud to be a member of this association. The staff is welcoming and supportive of their artist members. Ample opportunities for members to exhibit their work, along with creative fundraisers bring members and community together sweetening the experience of membership.​

Janet has been an exhibiting member at SCAA since 2021, and even juried an exhibition for us when she first moved to the area. In addition, she is a member of ACGOW in Westerly, and one of the featured artists in the current exhibit there.
She is a Juried Artist Member at Wickford Art Association, a Signature Member at the National Collage Society, and the winner of numerous awards. Janet's work truly stands out as being unique, utilizing a mixture of different materials and media. You will want to take a look at all the wonderful things she has been working on! To see more, view her website and two Instagram accounts, @circlegarden_Studio and @janetmaherart
​

Where are you from, and what do you make?
I am a born and raised Rhode Islander. I grew up in Warwick, RI and my parents had a summer house in Bonnet Shores. It was there that I developed my love of the ocean and nature. When I retired from my corporate job a few years ago, I relocated to South Kingstown. 

While I do enjoy drawing and sketching on my own, my primary focus is creating hand-thrown functional pottery pieces. I decorate many of my pieces using sgraffito, a technique where I draw/carve designs into the clay. My inspiration is taken from nature, botanicals, and the sea, and you’ll frequently see these images utilized in my pieces. It’s a way for me to bring my love for illustration into the medium of pottery, creating pieces that are both personal and practical. 

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
As a young girl, I was always drawn to art. I spent hours sketching fantasy scenes, sea creatures, and often copying the sketches my father made who was an engraver for Gorham. Those early experiences with drawing set a foundation for my creative journey. 

Later in life, I had the opportunity to illustrate a few children's books for a friend, but between working and traveling, I found it hard to dedicate time to art. It wasn’t until I retired during the pandemic that I had the chance to really reconnect with my creative side. That's when I discovered SCAA offered an array of art classes, and I decided to try pottery. 

When I first started pottery, I found it a challenge! But with the help of some amazing instructors at SCAA, I've come a long way and can now create pieces I'm happy with. 

Although I've been practicing pottery for several years now, I still consider myself relatively new to the craft. The experience has been both humbling and rewarding. By combining my background in illustration with pottery, I feel I have been able to bring a unique perspective to my work. It's been a wonderful journey, and I'm excited to continue growing and evolving.

What inspires you to create?
A big influence comes from other artists and nature. The pottery world is filled with so much talent, and it’s easy to get lost in the rabbit hole of creativity when exploring online or seeing the pieces SCAA members create. Seeing other artists’ work sparks my own imagination and  encourages me to keep learning and improving. 

In my sgraffito work, nature plays a central role. I’m inspired by botanicals, sea life, and the calming beauty of the sea itself. These natural elements allow me to express movement and texture, and they remind me of the connection between our surroundings and the objects we create.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
From my childhood I was  influenced by my father’s work as an engraver where he would create intricate designs and  transfer them to silver plates or chalices. I have always loved the storytelling and images of Norman Rockwell as well as the intricate black and white designs by M.C. Escher which has a direct impact on my sgraffito work.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?
While I wouldn’t say it’s changed how I view the world, experiencing certain works of art in person has been incredibly inspiring and energizing.  

Seeing Botticelli’s, The Birth of Venus in Italy was one of those pivotal moments for me. The  sheer beauty and grace of the piece left a lasting impression. 

Also having the opportunity to visit Monet’s Garden in Giverny, with its vibrant colors, was another significant moment. It makes me appreciate nature as an endless source of inspiration  especially for my sgraffito work.

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?
What I like most about being part of the art association is the incredible opportunity to continually learn. The diverse range of classes and workshops available has really expanded my skills, allowing me to explore different aspects of pottery. I enjoy the SCAA events such as the Great Art Heist, Bowl-athon, Evening under the Trees, and the Holiday Sale. Equally rewarding is the chance to volunteer, which not only helps others but also gives me further  insight into the many components of the skill. This ongoing learning environment is invaluable, and I’m grateful to be part of this community.

Tell us a joke.
Why do potters always have great parties?
Because they really know how to throw a good time!

Sarah has been exhibiting with SCAA since 2021, and has also taught classes in our printshop. Outside of her involvement here, she has created an online class for artists interested in learning abstract composition. In the class, students study the work of abstract artists and apply what they notice to their own work using a limited amount of materials. She is an award winning artist whose honors include winning the 2024 Contemporary Collage Magazine Awards. Sarah's first solo exhibition, Stories Told - Fragments of Paper and Prose, is at AiR Studio Gallery in Westerly and will be on display until October 27.​

Be sure to follow her Instagram and visit her website to see more of her work, sign up for her engaging newsletter, and discover exciting opportunities to learn more about art.

Where are you from, and what do you make?

​I grew up in Charlestown and live in Richmond. I’m a printmaker and collage artist.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

​​My mother is a fiber and fabric artist, so I saw her creativity my whole life. As a child, I was more interested in reading than creating and only occasionally attempted to learn a craft. As an adult, I tried everything: quilting, weaving, dyeing fabric and fiber, spinning…the list is endless. I was a middle and high school English teacher and often added art projects into my lessons. At some point, I began getting into paper arts. I’m sure that came from my interest in books and writing. I took continuing education classes at the Rhode Island School of Design on papermaking, collage, letterpress printing, and bookbinding. I spent years bouncing around between all of these arts and crafts. Curriculum restrictions began to impact how much creativity I could bring to my teaching so I started doing more and more art outside of school. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I started gelli plate printing and found my way back to collage.

Tell us a joke.
​
​What do you call two colors who always praise each other?
Complimentary colors!

Marc first started exhibiting in 2006, and received his first award in 2008 at the Bristol Art Museum. His involvement with SCAA began in 2008, when he entered his first show here...and wasn't accepted into the exhibit. However, he continued to submit his work to shows every year thereafter, and in 2009 he received the Best Photography award in one of our exhibits. Since then, he and his wife, Bonnie, have won a number of awards throughout Rhode island and Southeastern Massachusetts at such venues as the Providence Art Club, Wickford Art Association, Attleboro Art Museum, Pawtucket Arts Collaborative, Warwick Center for the Arts, Newport Art Museum, Bristol Art Museum, as well as SCAA.
Follow him on facebook and instagram to see more of his work.

Where are you from, and what do you make? How long have you been seriously pursuing art?
​I was born in Rhode Island, left at an early age and found my way back in 1981 to do my residency in OB/GYN at Women & Infants Hospital. I have loved photography since about 8 years old when I picked up the family camera and began shooting my family and street. Along the way I used a Kodak Instamatic, Polaroid Swinger and got my first SLR by saving up my babysitting money at age 15. I used to take my camera to school and besides candids, I took pictures for my high school yearbook and newspaper. Even then I liked taking pictures of people, which led to my love for street photography today, and I developed my sense of composition and light. For a number of years life and career kept me from pursuing photography as an art form, but I was always the one with a camera when we went to events or on vacation. Later, I met my wife, Bonnie, who shared my interest in photography, and we began to take things to a new level, truly developing a passion for the art.

What inspires you to create?
​I truly get a dopamine rush just from the act of pressing the shutter. Now, with the advancement of the iphone cameras, I am never without my camera, and I find it impossible not to be shooting constantly. I shoot when I'm on the street, waiting for food at a restaurant, at a funeral, in a museum--everywhere. And if I get something good, it's that much sweeter. I find that my observational skills keep improving with time--for me it's all about seeing the world around me and capturing whatever I find interesting at the moment.

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?
​Outside of photography, perhaps I have been most influenced by Norman Rockwell--his ability to capture those special moments has always appealed to me.

​As you will see from her interview, Linda King has been a long-time member of SCAA. She is also a member of many other arts organizations and regularly submits to exhibitions. Over the years, Linda has had her fair share of awards, most recently at Plymouth Center for the Arts including Best in Show. She was also part of an SCAA Members Invitational Exhibition in 2019. 

​To see more of her inspiring work, check out her Instagram account, @lkingartist.

​Ellie Swanson is a letterpress printmaker & potter from Rhode Island. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 2021 with a studio art degree, she has completed a number of work-study programs and internships to further her craft education. She has been a work-study student at Penland School of Craft, NC, and The John C Campbell Folk School, NC, and an intern at Power & Light Press, NM, and Hatch Show Print, TN. She has also been a winter resident at Penland, and a resident at Directangle Press, NH. Outside of these experiences she works at Mills Creek Market, in Cross Mills and the South County Museum.

​You can find her on instagram @starsheepz

What inspires you to create?

I brake for silos and smokestacks! Having always been curious for subjects that have a backstory, I am drawn to visually capture transition; decaying, abandoned buildings, obsolete machines and artifacts left behind. In photographing structures like mills & barns, I acknowledge their purposefulness in not only design but in the people whose lives unfolded within that space. I acknowledge that spirit, a withdrawn hand of man that leaves a presence that becomes eternal. 

Which artist outside of your chosen medium has had the most impact on your art? What do they do and in what way do they influence you?

Michelangelo’s unfinished figures: the struggling postures of the figures and the clear evidence of the stone from which they were coming alive.
​
The abstraction of Henri Matisse’s larger than life-size series of Backs in the courtyard: the shapes/forms, their abstractions; their textures.

​As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

I love SCAA’s sense of community and history deep in her walls. I’ve enjoyed participating in both educational and exhibiting roles, feeling part of a long tradition. I have met and developed strong relationships with many members of SCAA. Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of Maker’s Monday.

Tell us a joke:

What’s the difference between a large pepperoni pizza and a struggling photographer?
A large pepperoni pizza can feed a family of four!

Brother Ralph has been a member of SCAA since the 1980's, showing in our exhibits almost every year since then, and he's won quite a few honorable mentions over the years. A dedicated supporter, he is a former board member and even helped former President Brie Taylor curate 3 exhibits at our gallery in the 1990's. In addition to his involvement with SCAA, Ralph is also a member of the Providence Art Club and has had solo and group exhibitions at the Lyman Allen Museum, Attleboro Arts Museum, Manhattan College, and Providence College. He was a member of the Salve Regina University Art Dept as gallery director where he also taught 2- and 3-D design and ceramics courses.
Currently, Ralph works at Yonkers Ceramic Studio in New York, but he also recently took a workshop with Theresa Girard as well as participating in a residency with Kevin Gilmore in an effort to explore color and 2-D artwork more.

Where are you from, and what do you make?

I am a Cranstonian; attended La Salle Academy; entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools and lived three times at our Center on Ocean Rd. in Narragansett; BA in Italian from The Catholic University of America in W.D.C., M.Ed. from RIC, and MFA Ceramics at The George Washington University in W.D.C.
I currently work at Manhattan College (Bronx, NY) in the Career Development Office.
Although I have thrown on the wheel, my preferred construction method for my sculptures is hand building, using slabs and coils, and three elementary tools, a fork, various serrated metal tools, and a 30-year-old homemade paddle.  I’ve focused generally on four themes or so: messengers, dolmen structures, closed vessels, -scapes (with mountain/hill scape references) and more recently winged closed vessels and winged “artifacts,” an off-shoot of the closed winged vessels.

How long have you been seriously pursuing art?

Since my undergraduate days. Nell Sonoman, who taught a philosophy of art course that inspired me to see art better and to be in-tune with what it does to our spirit.
Many of you may be aware of my themes and forms over the years. They aim to expose my (and all of our) connection with the collective unconscious: with mystery, with invitation to participation while setting up inhibitions at the point of invitation; with pursuing personal and spiritual development. We wonder about [the themes and forms], what are they, what do they do, how do I react, what captivates me (the viewer), thus starting an active engagement.

What inspires you to create?

Nature, the earth – I’m an avid gardener – even now in NYC with 130 – 210 potted plants over the last two years. I’m fascinated by color and the consequent visual texture it creates as it combines with actual texture. I love touch.
[My work] is the result of what it means for me to construct pieces – what I see is the intimate relationship between building clay sculptures and my personal/spiritual development. Briefly, I have an idea of where I want to go with a piece.  I begin a conversation with the piece, sometimes quite obviously taking the lead; then other times, having to step back, a somewhat unconscious read of how the form is responding; and then continuing that dialog, moving to a sensed but at-the-moment imprecise goal. Building, paddling, removing clay, altering a form’s/shape’s direction moves to an unknown final reality.  Something similar to how I (we) grow individually; how I become the person I am now; how I grow more intimate with my spirit – even in my relationship with my God and His people. All these processes happen slowly, progressively and resulting in a new awareness at their completion.  Then the process begins again.

Is there a work of art that has changed your life or how you view the world in some way?

There isn’t just one. The contemplation of what generally calls my attention, through theme, playfulness, texture and color hold my attention. I believe it calls up something in my collective unconscious.

As a member of SCAA, what do you like most about us?

SCAA is where I had my start, in a sense. I appreciate the community and really enjoyed working on the Board. I became friendly with Jason and even assisted in a few installations some years ago. And Kathleen Carland. We both attended a prayer internship at Our Lady of Peace Retreat House, unbeknownst to each other until she read my resume. And the community is a good bunch of people.

Tell us a joke:

in response to sending in the materials for the Q&A:
I was hoping to have this to you yesterday, but it’s now Wednesday! When I’m one day late, I’m actually early!