Jane Hendley
All Ceramics Classes Jane received her BFA degree in ceramics from VCU. She is a
recipient of the Virginia Museum Fellowship Award and her work has been exhibited in
galleries throughout the East Coast. Ms. Hendley is recognized as an artist who consistently
explores the boundaries of both functional and sculptural traditions.
Culinary Arts
Ann Spark
All Culinary Arts Classes Ann Spark’s enthusiasm
& love of teaching is evident in her Confectionary Arts Programs. Ann has 30 years of
experience in the Glen Allen & surrounding areas instructing children, youth & adults in
Creative Art & Confectionary Arts. Ann combines her education, talent & work experience in
her program at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Home Economics from Seton Hill University, Wilton Method Cake Decorating Instructor, former
elementary teacher, & creative arts instructor, Ann encourages students to tap in to their
creativity in every course she instructs: cake design, cupcakes, cookie & candy making.
Fiber Arts
Julia Dixon
Beginning Knitting Julia Dixon first learned to knit as a child and continued
through her teen years and into adulthood. She earned a B.A. in art from St. Andrews
Presbyterian College in North Carolina. She has also studied textiles at Trinity College in
Carmarthen, Wales. While living in Wales, she took advantage of many cultural aspects of the
country including access to fantastic wool. Most recently she has experimented with felting
and knitting with the new fun novelty yarns.
Claudette Arnold Beginning Crochet Needlework has always been fascinating to
me. A fabric can be embellished or created with the simplest of materials - needle and
thread. My fascination has grown to a study of the art of needlework and to practice archaic
needlework... the needle art forms that are little known or forgotten. My main interests
are - but not limited to - crochet, embroidery, needle tatting, needle laces, quilting and
weaving. I know how to knit, but only the fundamentals. Tunisian crochet (“afghan stitch”)
can replicate knitting very closely. Shuttle tatting was never a comfortable technique.
Needle tatting can duplicate shuttle tatting with no discernable difference. After
teaching crochet for over 8 years, I enrolled in the CYCA Certified Instructor’s Program. I
received my Crochet Teacher’s Certificate in 2007. I have taken various classes in heirloom
embroidery and crewel embroidery. I have taught needle tatting, embroidery and hand
quilting. The art of needlework is rewarding. Sharing my abilities and knowledge with
others is best reward.
Glass Arts
Judy M. Coleman All Stained Glass Classes JoMoCo Studio Stained Glass, 8416
Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA 23228 804-262-3551 Judy has lived in Richmond since
she was five years old. With an interest in and flair for art from a young age, she took as
many art classes as possible in high school and attended Virginia Commonwealth University
where she studied Interior Design. She has continued her education on her own and considers
herself to be a lifelong student of art, stained glass, architecture, crafts, interior
design, and antiques & collectibles. After working from her studio at home for several
years, Judy and her husband Joe added stained glass to their business in 1997. Some of her
first stained glass customers found her at Arts Around the Lake. JoMoCo Studio sells stained
glass supplies, teaches classes, repairs stained glass, and completes custom orders. Judy
also has two stained glass pattern books in print and another due out this year. After
spending the last several years focusing on stained glass for the home, she now is enjoying
the luxury of creating unique stained glass pieces for the joy of the creative process.
Judy's work is made using the traditional lead came and copper foil methods embellished with
elements created using modern fused techniques. Additionally, she also has created pieces
which combine not only elements of stained and fused glass but also bits and pieces of found
objects, recycled flotsam and jetsam, and horded bits of fine glass. Each of these pieces is
unique and would be impossible to duplicate due to the nature of the materials used. Judy
and her husband are assisted at their studio by several skilled artisans and two cats.
Jewelry
Pat Whitlow
Various classes Pat Whitlow is a Richmond native who has enjoyed various types of
crafting for years. She started making jewelry about ten years ago and has been hooked on it
ever since. She especially likes to make jewelry that incorporates unusual and found items
such as buttons, vintage items, etc. Pat was beading instructor at Michaels on Brook Road
for two years before coming to the Cultural Arts Center.
Music
Robert Bullington Mandolin and Guitar Robert Bullington is a founding member of
national recording artists The Hackensaw Boys (www.hackensawboys.com). He has performed in 9
countries and contributed mandolin, guitar and songwriting to 4 studio albums. He is
experienced in one-on-one instruction for both mandolin and guitar and specializes in
lessons for beginners who would like to learn old-time music as well as rock and popular
genres. As the great-nephew of Mahlon Overstreet, a member of the Roanoke Jug Band
(1927-1931), Robert is well-versed in American roots music styles and traditions.
Penny Drew
Piano, Strings Penny Drew is a professional violist and pianist, jazz educator,
composer, clinician and certified instrumental teacher. She received her Bachelor’s from
Eastern Michigan University and her Masters of Arts in Performance from Meredith College.
While teaching strings at the elementary, middle and high school levels throughout North
Carolina and Virginia, she taught strings and conducted the orchestra at the Raleigh
Community Music School from 1997 through 2001, served as assistant conductor for the Wilson
(NC) Symphony Orchestra and performed as violist with numerous symphony orchestras from the
Detroit Metropolitan Symphony to various orchestras throughout North & South Carolina. She
currently serves as principal violist for the Petersburg Symphony.
Ms. Drew has
served on faculty for many summer camps including Stringfield Chamber Camp at Meredith
College, Summer Strings at Wesleyan in Rocky Mount NC, Virginia Commonwealth University
String Camp and Summer String Jazz and Music Camp in Richmond. She has founded several
professional groups including Bridgetower Chamber Consort, St. Paul AME Philharmonic,
Southeast Raleigh Chamber Orchestra, and youth groups including String of Pearls Youth Jazz
Orchestra and String Improv N Me with emphasis on providing arts exposure and Jazz Teacher
Training opportunities to and for all aspiring musicians ages 5 and up.
Chris Hale
Banjo, Fiddle, Guitar, Mandolin Chris has been playing, performing, and writing
music for over 25 years. Concentrating on mandolin, guitar, banjo, and fiddle, he has
developed a deep appreciation and understanding of many musical styles including old-time
bluegrass, jazz, blues, and rock. Currently, he is an active member of several local
Richmond bands: Scattered, Smothered & Covered, and The Mills Family Band. Past involvement
with music groups has included old-time dance bands of southwest Virginia, an electric
funk/soul group, an acoustic jazz duo, an alternative country-rock band, and high school
wind ensembles. As an instructor, Chris takes into consideration the individual student’s
particular playing ability, whether they are just beginning or looking to expand their
current skill set and confidence. Musical concepts and techniques are introduced as each
student’s own personal musical goals are explored in a positive learning environment.
Craig Evans
Creating a Song Workshop I've been listening to and singing music as far back as I
can remember. I drove my parents crazy as a toddler, running around the house singing all
the words to The Beverly Hillbillies theme song (my first big hit!). I've been playing in
bands since my teens, and have been writing songs for the last 30 years. I wrote the radio &
TV jingle for Cocoanut Jewelry in Richmond, and my current band The Taters has twice been
named Billboard Magazine Critic's Choice. As a member of V.O.C.A.L. (the Virginia
Organization of Composers and Lyricists), I was named Recording Artist of the Year award in
1999, and won the Outstanding Songwriter Award for 2003.
Photography
Stephen Boling Just the Basics Stephen is a Web designer and a photographer
for a direct marketing firm in Richmond. He also enjoys playing the French Horn in a church
orchestra and plunking around on the piano.
Carver Evans
Polaroid Transfer Workshop Carver Evans received a Bachelor of Science degree from
Meredith College in Raleigh, NC in 1986. She received her Master of Fine Arts degree from
VCU, School of the Arts in 2000. Carver teaches photography part-time in the Richmond area.
Her photography has been shown nationally and internationally and has been the recipient of
various awards and fellowships.
Janine Turner
PhotoShop Janine Turner is a professional artist. She exhibits both nationally and
internationally. She is the director of art6 Gallery and is actively involved in promoting
the arts in downtown Richmond. She teaches Photoshop classes locally from beginning levels
through advanced composition.
Visual Arts
Roz Berlin
Watercolors My first stirrings to be an artist began as far back as I can
remember. Beginning with coloring books, and slowly growing into many areas as I was exposed
to new classes & materials. During this odyssey of discovery, I found one medium that has
captured my heart more then anything else I have ever tried, and that is WATERCOLOR. It is
the perfect medium that quenches my thirst for creative exploration, as it responds to so
many different tools when I try to control it, yet giving many HAPPY SURPRISES when it
exerts a 'will' of its own. The limitless possibilities make it the most fun. Watercolor
BEGS the artist to PLAY with it.
I began as a watercolor student at the Cultural
Arts Center about four year ago, and accepted a teaching offer when the instructor left to
pursue her painting career. I have been teaching watercolor classes for the past three
years, beginner thru advanced levels. I find additional inspiration in looking at the medium
through my students' eyes. Some days, I feel that I learn as much or more from them, as I
try to teach them. They inspire me to keep excelling as quickly as possible, so that I may
pass along all that I can for their growth. My goals with each student is to discover their
'inner voice' or style, not just learn a basic technique, but really be able to express
themselves with confidence, and to 'see' the world with new eyes. Also, I strive to reduce
the fear factor of learning watercolor painting with a relaxed atmosphere and lots of fun &
laughter.
Many of my paintings have been exhibited in local area shows, and currently
I am taking more classes & seminars to enhance my teaching skills in painting, photography,
and graphic design. Researching is my second pastime and I like to keep students updated on
materials of current books and magazines, shows in the area, and when possible, a fieldtrip
to the museum or painting outdoors. My photography has been a great teaching tool to bring
inspiration into the classroom, supporting visually the lessons I may be trying to explain
better as an image. My classes are always reinforced with some form of written materials for
the students to take home and study.
They say true Happiness comes from doing what
you love, and love what you do, and I have finally found that perfect love in Watercolors.
Jan Shropshire Handbuilding Busts and Flower Painting in Oil Workshop Jan
Shropshire moved to Richmond in 1991 after graduating from MS State University with a BFA in
Fine Arts. Jan is proficient in many areas including watercolor and oil painting, clay
sculpture, and stained glass. She has taught with Chesterfield County Schools, the Visual
Arts Center, and the JCC of Richmond. She ran a ceramic business with her sister, Jill
Shropshire; and from 2005- 2008 was represented by 45 galleries throughout the United
States. She currently works on commission oil portraits in her studio at Plant Zero.
Linda Wolitz Pastel Painting and Drawing Linda Wolitz’s portraits and
wildlife paintings hang in private and public collections from Florida to Alaska. Following
many years working as a portraitist in VA, Linda relocated to Florida with her husband in
1977 where, in response to the richness of nature and wildlife, she began painting wild
animals, floral and bird paintings in addition to her commissioned portraits. Now back in
the Richmond area, Linda works in pastels, colored pencil and graphite to create
award-winning paintings that reproduce the spirit of her subjects in a style that is almost
3-dimensional in effect. In addition to commissioned portraiture and wildlife paintings,
Linda has taught portraiture and pastel painting for eight years in Lakeland, FL, and
presented numerous demonstrations and workshops. She was a member of the Imperial Art
Gallery and numerous art leagues in Florida. She was the official portrait artist at Cypress
Gardens and has been represented in Galleries in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina.
