Originally from India, Varada Vaidya moved to Maryland in 2015. Her background is in atmospheric science and she works as science support at NASA/Goddard. (How cool!) Though she has no formal training in art, her pieces are fabulous and her talent is inherent. Varada works in many mediums and each type of work that she creates has its own unique style. Her painted sticks are very graphic with a very bold use of color and air of the side of playfulness; Her oil paintings and pastel drawings tend to sway more toward realism with tighter lines and wonderful use of shadowing; And her hand-painted vases and vessels illustrate her heritage with their detailed patterns and fine lines.
After studying fine art and art history at Indiana University, Jen Eidson spent much of her time focusing on her family and career in archives and libraries. Although she has always had a passion for art, she did not actively pursue her creativity until 2016. Once her children were of school age, she began an oil painting class, something she had not really focused on while in school. Though she had previous experience in acrylics, photography and graphic design, this was a new experience for her. With her new appreciation for oils, Jen creates stunning landscapes and botanicals. Her work varies from detailed realism to some pieces that are a little looser and airying on the side of impressionism. She has a strong sense of color throughout her body of work, especially when painting scenery and skies.
Paul Hoyt, a Delaware resident, began his artistic journey after retiring from Healthcare Management. He began studying art in 2012, enrolling in various art courses including drawing, watercolor, acrylic and oil painting. He acknowledges Linda Minkowski for guiding his creative accomplishments. A sailing enthusiast, Paul’s works often depict nautical themes, namely scenes from the Chesapeake Bay, though he has also begun to broaden his subject areas to architectural themes and portraits. His style has an impressionistic quality through his emphasis of light and it’s fluctuations in his portrayals of modern life in the natural world. This is very evident in his representation of sun glistening on the water and highlighting chrome and glass.
University of Maryland graduate, Robin Lazarus-Berlin, has recently shifted her focus from graphic communications to pursue her passion for oil painting. After twenty years running her own design studio and working for clients such as Time-Life, Marriott International, Maytag, and Georgetown University, Robin decided in 2020 to concentrate on developing her art. Studying under Glen Kessler at The Compass Atelier and Walter Bartman, Gonzalo Ruiz Navarro, and Maud Taber-Thomas at The Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo, her work has evolved into incredibly composed and technically dynamic pieces. Her canvases are filled with rich, deep colors that radiate a moody tone. Her subject matter, ranging from still lifes and landscapes to flowers and portraits, exhibits her incredible eye for realism. Since 2020 she has been involved in several juried art shows including Rockville Art League Juried Members’ Spring Show where she was awarded third prize.
After many years as an aerospace professional with a doctoral degree in mathematics, artist Sheela V. Belur retired from her career and began painting with encouragement from her daughter. She has been painting for about 6 years, focusing on Maryland landscapes and illustrative pieces inspired by Hindu scriptures. Utilizing watercolor, water-based oil and acrylic paint, with visible brush strokes and bright colors, Sheela’s artwork has an impressionistic quality with whimsical nature. Sheela paints mainly because she finds it relaxing, and her artwork radiates that peaceful feeling.
Maryland artist, Catherine Rohsner, is a watercolorist who concentrates on still lifes, landscapes and architectural scenes. Her watercolor paintings follow the impressionistic tradition of capturing light, and she does it beautifully through her technique and strong grasp of color. Because of her inherent knowledge of the medium, her pieces have a sense of realism with a hint of whimsy and airiness. “Teatime Rose” really captures her ability as an artist, illustrating her technical talent as well as her attention to detail and composition. Catherine has been creating art since she was young but also is an urban fantasy author and copywriter.
Fine artist, Marty Spence, is a Maryland native who gathers inspiration from her life, surroundings and nature. Rich color fills the canvas of her oil paintings and thoughtful strokes in pencil and charcoal cover the page of her drawings. Marty began her artistic journey in 1997 when she was 50. Her passion and talent were evident to her instructor, who encouraged Marty to pursue art further. It wasn’t until 2017 that she was able to devote herself to her work. Since then she has had her work displayed in several solo exhibitions including Reeves Art Gallery and Atwaters. Several of her pieces are also held in private collections at Sheppard Pratt Health Care System Hospital and in Charles Reeves personal collection.
From Pasadena, Maryland, artist Ricky Chenoweth, takes the ordinary and infuses it with a style all his own. Somewhere between pop, surreal and abstract art, Ricky’s pieces explode with color. His graphically bold compositions have earned him Winner of the Pasadena Voice’s Best Artist 2020 as well as being published in multiple newspapers and online companies. His artwork ranges from realistic illustrations to tattoo flash graphics and eye-catching interpretations of pop culture icons. Ricky got his start at the Chesapeake Arts Center over 7 years ago and works in a variety of mediums, graphic design and editing being his personal favorites.
On December 4 and 5, the Dance Foundation of Maryland and Morton Street Dance Center will present a truly special Nutcracker at Chesapeake Arts Center. Born out of the pandemic and presented at a time when representation in the arts seems so critical, this fast-paced, original Nutcracker featuring dancers aged 7-64 is packed with spirit, spectacle, and the enchanting beauty of ballet.
Kianna Wilson is a Baltimore-based photographer specializing in portrait and lifestyle photography. Her imagery is bold, often saturated with color and extremely expressive. Her work has been featured in local publications including the Baltimore Sun. Though Kianna has been creating since she was in high school, she took a giant leap forward in 2016 when she began Major Ki Photography. Her body of work consists largely of striking portraits from individuals, to weddings, maternity to other big life events. Kianna’s keen photographic eye has also captured fast paced sporting events, thrilling concert photography and some highly moving protest moments here in Baltimore.
Today, we’re going In the Studio with concert photographer Andy Jones and owner of AgeOwns Photography . He has been photographing concerts , sports and creating beautiful portraits for years. Andy’s concert photos were just on display in the Chesapeake Arts Center’s Rock n Roll Gallery exhibit.
Here’s Andy talking about his background, and passion for photography:
Today, we’re going In the Studio with concert photographer Brad Price from Annapolis, Maryland. He has been photographing concerts since 2017, and launched Planet B Photography on Halloween 2019. Live music is his favorite thing to photograph, and having to go a year and a half without it wounded his soul. Now that live shows have returned, that wound is healed, and you may just spot a long-haired man in a red coverall with a camera lurking in a photo pit; he is a happy man indeed.
His concert photography is currently on display in the Hal Gomer Gallery at the Chesapeake Arts Center in the Rock n Roll Concert Photography exhibit until October 2, 2021.
Today, we’re going In the Studio with concert photographer Deanna Escobar the owner of SugarShot Media. Deanna started photography in 2001. She really got into it, post 9/11, to get closer to things she loved — extreme sports and music. Of the two subjects, concerts have dominated her portfolio.
Today, we’re going In the Studio with concert photographer and musician Domenic Cicala. He wears more than a few hats. One of his great loves is photography. He started as a collector and lover of the medium back in the analog days of film. That love of film still influences his work. He lives mostly in the photography world, shooting people. His main areas of work these days are Music and Beauty portraits, though you will find an occasional still life or landscape. He prefers to capture those moments in between, unstaged, no pretense, truth.
Today, we’re going In the Studio with new CAC Theatre Instructor Adrienne Bergeron. Adrienne graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lees-McRae College with a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts Studies with emphases in musical theatre and dance in 2008 and has since been building an extensive resume as a theatre choreographer, director and teaching artist.
Maryland artist Blandine Broomfield realized she was an artist in 2nd grade when all of her fellow students kept asking her to draw elephants. Raising a family of ten children paused her art education until 2016 when she started taking painting classes from notable artists such as Dorothy Redding and Abigail McBride. Since then, she has been drawing and painting every single day. Here’s Blandine discussing her inspiration, work and dreams for the future:
As a child Kimmary would spend hours perfecting her drawings, as a teenager she would hide in my room painting, and as an adult her version of a vacation is sketching or painting in a new place.
Lisa Scarbath is a Resident Artist at the Howard County Arts Council in Ellicott City, MD. She creates mosaic wall art, decor, furniture and custom portraits. Lisa's art is diverse; she thrives on being able to choose what materials to work with based on the finished project she envisions.
Here’s Lisa talking about her art, process and experience………..
Today we have received information that two students that attend a class have tested positive for Covid-19 and are in quarantine. The last date they were in our building was Saturday April 10th
Out of an abundance of caution for students, instructors, and patrons, CAC will be cancelling all classes and open studios until April 30th. Our facility will be closed and is undergoing a thorough cleaning. Normal classes and activities will resume on Saturday May 1st.
