Previous Artists
Loretta Becker
Loretta is a self-taught artist, influenced by her father’s love and skill of painting. She paints with some nontraditional tools such as rulers, cardboard, sticks, stirrers and shells, along with the traditional brushes and palette knives. Many of her paintings are textured and rough on the surface. Most of her works would be classified as modern impressionism. She paints with oil, acrylic and watercolor and also makes sculptures from bricks and sea glass found on beaches. Many of her paintings are of the ocean and beaches and boats, because of her love for the sea. To her, the ocean represents freedom and peace, and she feels the world needs more of that. Some of her works are in private collections. She attended Alfred University, one of the best universities in the country for art, but interestingly enough the degrees she attained were a BA in Spanish and a BS in Nursing. All the while, she envied the students attending the art classes. She furthered her education, receiving a Masters in Education through the state and a Certification in School Nursing from Cedar Crest College. She is a member of AAC (Allentown Arts Collective) and ACE (Arts Community of Easton). Exhibitions: Allentown Art Museum | New Bridge Group Salemme Foundation | New Bridge Group Moravian College | New Bridge Group Nature Nurture Center | ACE (Arts Community of Easton) State Theatre | ACE Civic 514 Exhibition Center and Blink Optical Boutique | Allentown Arts Collective Allentown Arts Collective First Friday in Emmaus Exhibit Twisted Olive | Featured Artist March/April 2015 and Jan/Feb 2016
Mairin Egge
As an artist, who typically paints impressionistic scenes from nature, I believe there is no right or wrong way to create. This past year I turned a new leaf, letting go of evaluations and focusing on challenge and growth. Mastery is boring so, putting fear aside, I have challenged myself to go in a new direction with my artwork, experimenting with different processes and attitudes. Although I still enjoy recreating my interruptation of nature with paint, I am expanding my body of work to elaborate on past works, bringing a new outlook and light on ME and my art. Along with painting, Mairin enjoys working with others, especially through teaching art. When the weather permits it, she spends as much time as possible exploring the outdoors. While in nature, "I feel so small, a part of something larger than life." She is fond of hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, gardening, cooking and traveling. These activities activate her senses and nurish creativity. Having created many commission pieces of artwork, Mairin has a flair for capturing essential subject elements. She has a unique gift in understanding the needs and desires of her clients and through this talent, she creates outstanding pieces which will undoubtedly grow in sentimental and tangible worth through time. Request a commissioned work and be astounded at the result. //www.mairinegge.com/ *****40% of the proceeds for the art sold at Twisted Olive will be going to the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley***** About The Junior LeagueFounded in 1901 by social activism pioneer Mary Harriman, the Junior Leagues are charitable nonprofit organizations of women, developed as civic leaders, making a demonstratable impact on their communities.Issue Based Community Impact; our current community impact focus is on the issue of Educational Disparity. The areas of impact are improving life skills and reducing the educational gap in lower income communities.
Barbara Tracy
Barbara Tracy grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and enjoyed drawing, painting, and craft making at an early age. She attended Kutztown University, majoring in art education where she studied under Dr. Mary Erickson and Dr. Thomas Schantz, both well-published and notable artists and art educators in the national art education field. She attained a Masters Degree in Art Education from Kutztown and taught art in the public school arena for over 30 years, serving as K-12 department chair for four years. As an adjunct professor at DeSales University, she instructed classroom teachers on methodology of integrating the arts into classroom curriculum. Her art lessons have been published in DreamMakers, a Hallmark / Crayola company publication for parents and teachers. Retiring from her teaching career in 2012, Barbara devotes all her time to painting in her studio or plein air. She has a passion for depicting trees, which is derived from her early childhood memories of her grandparent’s estate, where a stand of huge oak trees were part of her early imaginative play. As a mostly self-taught watercolor artist, Barbara has focused on landscapes, though she also has a love for florals and wildlife. She draws inspiration from her surroundings in Pennsylvania as well as her extensive travels. Barbara was mentored by the award winning pastel and watercolor artist, Priscilla Rosenberger Taylor, at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA. Among the many workshops and classes she has taken, Barbara recently completed an intensive painting workshop with internationally acclaimed water-colorist, Tony Couch. She is a member of the Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem Palette Club and the Lehigh Valley Arts Council as well as a lifetime member of the National Education Association (NEA). She has begun to exhibit and win awards in regional and international juried exhibitions. She was a recent finalist in the international Faso Broad Brush competition. She currently maintains a studio in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Her web site is: www.bctracy.fineartstudioonline.com
Karl J. Unger
Karl J. Unger is a self-taught artist from the Lehigh Valley who discovered his creativity slightly later in life. During his professional career in technology, Karl attended many webdesign classes at Northampton Community College to tap into his creative ambitions. Some of his work was selected for Earth Day and displayed throughout the college. This encouraged him to continue to express himself through his art. He is continually inspired by artistic works from digital artist Stephen Harlan, abstract / modern artist like Michael Lang, Kevin Hill, and Roger Dean. The colors and elements of light shine through their works and show the viewer a di)erent way of seeing. Karl shares their vision. His acrylic work makes light and color seem to come alive on the canvas and create a magical mood. His digital canvas creations incorporate color and contrast. The works that he creates both acrylic and digital conjure up many moods and touches deeper than the eye can see. He creates uniquely special views that can’t help but attract the eye. The images created draw the viewer in almost to make them feel part of the scene. His work is both visually appealing and thought provoking. As Karl continues to challenge himself it is his wish that art lovers will see things in his creations that inspire them. What he likes about Digital Art is that it is a more accessible and a relevant way to share his art work with everyone. Hope you enjoy his talented works.
Lisa S. Patti
Rebecca Rhodes
Rebecca Rhodes discovered watercolor painting in 2012, and after a rewarding career as a Public School Music Educator, is now a watercolor artist in Lehigh County, PA. Rebecca specializes in realistic paintings of nature, wildlife, music, and loves to create commissioned portraits of pets and people. You can learn more about Rebecca’s art at www.rebeccarhodesart.com, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Contact Rebecca at rebrho@gmail.com.
Suzanne Bartlett
Drawing inspiration from all her experiences, Suzanne creates work by mixing fabrics, paper textures and layering, giving her works an ethereal, tactile quality. The images are painterly and softly realistic.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Suzanne is an Interior Designer for Ethan Allen. She uses her creative skills for combining color, texture and scale to create individually styled interiors.
Suzanne is available for commissioned work.
suzzartstudio@gmail.com
Michael Sandy
A lifelong resident of Pennyslvania nd calls the Lehigh Valley home. Michael began his journey in photography while serving in the United States Army, as a photojournalist. After his tour in the Army, Michael worked for the American Red Cross as a staff photographer. He also continued his education at The Art Institue of Philadelphia, graduating with honors in 1993.
For the past fifteen years Michael has been trekking the globe, in search of unique portraits and landscapes of nature and the human experience. Spending the majority of his time in India and Central America. Michael's works have been feature exhibits in galleries throughout the United States.
Michael is an avid and experienced outdoorsman, giving him a keep eye for the beauties of nature. Michael's works have now come full circle, returning to what he loves the most, capturing nature through the lens of his camera. Michael believes in top quality in every piece of work he delivers. All his products are produced here in the United States, utilizing local vendors.
Michael takes great pride in printing his own work and brings a master printers touch to his work. His images are all printed on gallery quality archival paper with archival links. He chooses to use exhibition quality matting and frames to highlight his photographs.
Contact info
610-393-4495 - Michael Sandy
Eric Armusik
Born in 1973, fine artist Eric Armusik grew up in the northeastern coal region of Pennsylvania. Once one of the largest coal mining operations in the county, his hometown was a landscape riddled with the depressions of post-industry. In contrast to the blight was a diverse ethnic community strong in faith. What the community lacked in public art and museums it made up for it with churches on each city block. It was there that Eric had his first experiences with art, staring at the walls and ceilings at church on Sunday. The traditions and academic realism of Catholic religious paintings and artwork made a permanent impression that continues to influence his work today.
From an early age it was evident that Eric had artistic talents and at the age of 10 he won an art competition "Why I love living in the Wyoming Valley" that included students from all of the surrounding schools and his drawing of the Swetland Homestead was exhibited in the Franklin First Federal Building in downtown Wilkes Barre. His talents continued to win him numerous competitions and in 1990 he was awarded for his Contribution to the Arts by Wilkes University where he attended their Upward Bound program.
In 1991, Eric attended Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a B. F. A. in painting, with and a minor in an art history focusing on Baroque art. In 1995 he received the Margaret Giffen Shoenfelder Memorial Scholarship for the Arts and finished his art history minor abroad for a semester in Todi, Italy. During his art classes where he drew from original paintings, architecture, and sculptures by the old masters such as Michaelangelo, Bernini, Caravaggio, Rubens and Donatello. The rare opportunity to study masterworks by Baroque painters Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi had a profound effect on the quality of his work and focused the inspiration he experienced as a child. After years of learning the techniques of the Old Masters, Eric honed his skills at the Philadelphia studio of renowned international realism artist and portrait painter Nelson Shanks, Studio Incamminati. In 2003, Eric was selected to represent the United States in Florence, Italy at the Biennale Internazionale Dell Arte Contemporanea where he exhibited several of his paintings. Today Eric's paintings have established him as one of today's strongest purveyors of traditional figurative painting. Eric has been a finalist in four Art Renewal Center International Salons and has won the Chairman's Award for the Sixth International Art Renewal Center competition out of 1700 submissions from over 30 countries worldwide. In 2015 Eric's work was selected as a finalist for the Figurativas International Painting Competition in Barcelona, Spain. His painting was in the top 5% out of 2500 entries from 90 countries. In 2015 Eric was recognized by the Art Renewal Center as an Associate Living Master. Eric is an artist ambassador for Jerry's Artarama Art Supplies and is regularly featured in their Artist Spotlight series. Eric has been recognized as a Boldbrush Signature Artist and is a writer for their FineArtViews publication. Eric conducts several workshops in his studio on traditional painting each year and has attracted students from around the world that come to study with him.
Eric's work has been featured in such galleries and museums as the Salmagundi Art Club and the National Arts Club in New York; Allentown Art Museum; Philip and Muriel Berman Art Museum, Ursinus College; Monsoon Galleries; Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts; State Museum of Pennsylvania; and Reading Public Museum to name a few. His paintings are in the permanent collections of Howard Tullman, The Trenton City Museum, The National Shrine of Czestochowa USA, Lehigh Valley Hospital and numerous churches private collections worldwide. His artwork has been prominently featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, American Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, The Huffington Post, Victorian Homes, and Old House Journal.
ROSE MAVIS
Laura A. Brady was first noticed with her gifting for fine art at an early age, which included a wide array of artistic awards, recognitions, and acknowledgments. She continued her education in both the study of illustration and graphic design. After graduating with a Bachelors in Fine Art, Brady furthered her study in illustration. She has developed her talent and gift of expression through her many forms over the years until her true passion found a home through her love for painting. Laura continues to explore and unravel the outer-earthy nature, which is inspired by the countryside at which she resides, expressing an artistic view that is unique to any other. Many have applauded dynamism and bold expression bestowing upon the viewer a new and unforgettable perspective.
Laura currently resides and works in her studio based in New Tripoli, PA.
Artist Statement
I am told that I see the world differently than most. A world created with dynamic, vivid color, where sound is transformed into shape and emotion is released in the movement of a paint brush.
By utilizing real objects, through figurative art, I seek to host a new perspective for the viewer. Approaching each piece with a move of impressionism, which carries a boldness yet softness, a parallel understanding that suggests a glimpse of a new reality. A refreshing for both the mind and the spirit, as the viewer receives what each painting has been made to release.
KAREN BENCO
Artist’s Biography
Allentown, PA 18106
paint101@ptd.net
I have been painting in watercolor for over 20 years and have won numerous awards in juried and judged shows. When I was younger, I took a few classes at Baum Art School and Barnstone Studios. The Barnstone classes were tough, but they taught me that art takes a lot of discipline and drive. In 2008 I gained signature status through the Philadelphia Water Color Society and in 2009 for the PA Watercolor Society. I have appeared in the “International Artist Magazine” twice in 2009 for a Landscape painting finalist and also a flower painting finalist. One of those paintings was accepted as a finalist in the Watercolor Magazine 2009 summer issue. The North Rim also appeared in the Splash 11 book that came out in June 2010. . In March 2011 my entry into the American Watercolor Society placed with an award and in the summer of 2012 that same painting appeared in the Splash 13 book. In 2013 appeared in June/July Issue of International Artist’s magazine as a featured artist with a few page spread. I first started painting florals from my own garden and trips to Longwood Gardens, but my recent love, is painting rocks and water and the designs that I see in them. Mostly look for how the water plays with the rocks in a reflection, seeing submerged rocks or the designs of the water flow. Exploring the coasts when low tide is happening, will leave the normal picturesque images, looking a little dreary. So testing myself, I tried looking for something different and creative in the short time the rocks would be exposed.
ASHLEY DORNEY
"Lehigh Valley based artist, Ashley Dorney, has spent much of her free time falling in love with portraiture for the past several years. After studying fashion design in college, she combined her love of figure drawing and fashion illustration and started creating whimsical portraits of people. Her love of details like gold leaf and delicate prints add a unique sensitivity to her interpretation of each person she draws. Though Ashley’s artistic style continues to grow and change, her portraits always reflect the same concept: to memorialize a person’s face and, most importantly, their spirit."
CHARLIE DANIELS
Charles J. Daniels
Charlie was employed in the electronics industry for over 35 years.
His art interests include oriental (Ling Nan style) watercolors; Western (traditional) watercolors, drawing, and pastels and. He studied oriental painting with Martha Chang, Martha Wu, Eloise Braylove, and the world-renowned oriental painter Henry Wo Yue-Kee. Charlie studied traditional Western style watercolor painting with Phil Metzger, Dana VanHorn, William Wentz, Fred Bees, drawing with Myron Barnstone, and Les Fletcher, and pastels with Jackie Meyerson.
STEVEN ANDREW
Artist’s Statement
Bethlehem based photographer Steven Andrew has been perfecting his skills in
fine black and white photography since 2012. With a focus landscape and
street photography, Steven “chases the light” with the use of unique angles,
exposures and reflections.
His current collection is an assembly of photographs taken from various
locations along the East Coast including several in the Lehigh Valley. His
inspiration is drawn from his travels to the city, mountains, countryside and
beyond. You will often find Steven on a rainy, foggy morning in the middle of a
muddy field, chasing the perfect shot.
You can view Steven’s work by following him on:
• Instagram- @steven_andrew_photography
• www.stevenandrewphotography.com
MANDY MARTIN
Nature is the main muse of Mandy Martin's acrylic paintings, which feature bold botanicals and bright color palettes. She practices intuitive painting, and her work explores layers of texture, rhythm and movement as she interprets it in the natural world. It is her hope that her work will inspire viewers to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover beauty in unexpected places, and to take care of the earth.
Mandy's striking acrylic paintings are available online as well as at select shows and exhibitions in Southeastern Pennsylvania and the surrounding states, where many of her collectors reside. She works in her home studio in Sellersville.
Follow Mandy on Instagram: @Mandy Martin
Jesse Graver
Jesse Graver is an artist based in the Lehigh Valley specializing in deep space astrophotography and astro-landscape photography. He travels to the darkest regions in the United States and uses his camera to capture the unseen detail of the night sky. When he is not taking photos, he works as an electrician and enjoys woodworking on the weekends.
