Teachers’ Talent

Annika Bauerle*
Chris Finnie
Hayley Brentmar
Judy Nightingale Person
Kathryn Pierno*
Katy Kenyon-Abel*
Laurel Grace/Frank Borovich*

Liz Mazurek*
Lori Wilson*
Margaret Morrison
Noëlle Lightbourne
Rae Rodriguez
Sarah Orre

Chris Finnie

THE WHEEL THING: INTERMEDIATE WHEEL THROWING

Bio

Chris started teaching people to throw on the wheel almost 50 years ago at her own studio in L.A. Now a Boulder Creek resident, she’s thrilled to be able to do it again at the Art Center. She focuses on the fundamentals so that students have a firm foundation to build on. And she loves to share her enthusiasm for clay!

Hayley Brentmar

STUDIO ART AFTER SCHOOL at BROOK KNOLL ELEMENTARY
STUDIO ART AFTER SCHOOL at SCOTTS VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Bio

Art and teaching are my lifelong passions. I have a degree in Fine Art from The University of California Santa Cruz and I am also a credentialed teacher. One of my greatest joys is guiding students through the process of translating their creative visions into reality. Currently, I teach through our Art After School program at Brook Knoll Elementary, in Scotts Valley.

In my own artwork, I bring a painterly approach to multiple mediums. My realistically rendered images are created largely through the use of chalk pastels, colored pencils, or paint. It is my aim as an artist to bring a sculptural quality to two dimensional images. Through my art, I explore color, shape, and the delicate dance of light and dark.

Judy Nightingale Person

WONDERFUL WATERCOLOR

Bio

I am excited to be able to share the joy of and the basic skills of watercolor at the Mountain Art Center! I love to let pure watercolor express what is in my heart, mind and eye whether in my Ben Lomond studio, while hiking our beautiful area or while traveling. Over the past few years I have taught adult classes in basic watercolor skills in the Bay Area, at the Mt. Art Center and even in my home. I continue to stretch and learn by taking various painting courses and enjoying gallery and museum exhibits. My goal is to teach you basic watercolor skills step by step (using demos and your own in-class guided paintings), enabling you to then launch out on your own creative process as you begin a relationship with watercolor. I am grateful to all my painting mentors and now am eager to share with you!

Margaret Morrison

SODA FIRING

Bio

I like clay. I have liked working with clay since I was a very small child. I enjoy throwing, trimming, pugging, pulling handles, and firing clay. Making functional pots clears my head from background static to design considerations. I focus on soda fired pottery because the process accentuates the qualities of bare clay. I can emphasize rather than mask the marks my hands make throwing vessels and pulling handles.

I studied Asian Art History at the University of Michigan which required closely observing the shape, glaze and surface quality of pots over millennia so I could identify when and where they were made. Luckily some of those visions got stuck in my head. I took a ceramics class in college, but my most important ceramics education took place in West Virginia during a grueling and grounding apprenticeship with Ed Kaplan, a functional potter.

Working with other ceramic artists encourages me to keep on learning, plus the people are great, so I enjoy facilitating the soda firings.

Noëlle Lightbourne

HANDBUILDING: BEAUTIES AND BEASTIES (coming soon)

Bio

My path into ceramics began with constructing a handmade tile shower wall. It was a big project and being a beginner I took a risk as a lot could have gone wrong. But with time and perseverance I accomplished it and have been delighted with it ever since. That was 2010. I’ve learned a lot along the way and am inspired by the enthusiasm students new to ceramics bring. Clay is a form of celebrating Earth energy. Creative self-expression through this medium has brought a sense of grounding, meditation, and joy.

Rae Rodriguez

JEWELRY MAKING THURSDAYS

Bio

Express your inner beauty with precious little treasures handcrafted from natural elements of Mother Earth. One-of-a-kind, artisan-made jewelry & home décor… sustainably crafted just for you!

The journey began from the inspiration of creation… I’ve always been enamored with the magic of creation. And throughout my life, it’s taken on many forms (mainly photography & visual balance). But one day, I stumbled upon the beauty of metal clay. This art of transformation sparked a creative fire in my soul.

In 2008, I decided it was time to share my creative magic with the world. After much encouragement from friends, I went for it & launched my own independent artistic business venture. And voila… Jester Swink was born! Little by little came the creation of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces inspired by the beauty of nature. Each piece embodies an essence of patterns, textures, and designs you would find in your natural environment.

Then in 2016, I began creating original home décor pieces such as spinners, wall hangings, and mini bud vases. The magic of creation happens at the Jester Swink art studio in an adorable little town tucked in the Santa Cruz mountains. Each and every piece is made with my love for creating new things, appreciation for the beauty of nature, and the flow of each present moment.

Sarah Orre

BEGINNING ACRYLIC PAINTING: WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS
PASTEL PAINTING
OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTING

STUDIO ART TUESDAYS
STUDIO ART AFTER SCHOOL at SLVE
STUDIO ART AFTER SCHOOL at SLVMS

Bio

Sarah Orre is a local artist and painting instructor who serves as the Education Director at the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. Sarah teaches adult and youth classes including: Oil and Acrylic Painting, Pastel Painting, Mixed Media, Beginning Acrylic Painting Workshops, Youth Studio Art, and Art After School at SLVE and SLV Middle School. Sarah grew up in the San Lorenzo Valley and her artwork is inspired by Santa Cruz Mountain landscapes. From the gorgeous California coast to the majestic redwood forests, there is endless inspiration to draw upon. Sarah’s passion for art comes through in her paintings and in her enthusiasm for inspiring others to learn and grow.