2023 INSTRUCTOR BIOS
SUE DeLEARIE ADAIR, SAA, AWA, Schenectady, NY, is a long-time birder who teaches classes centered on her favorite subject matter—wild birds and small mammals. She creates graphite and mixed media drawings using various combinations of watercolor, colored and graphite pencils. Sue’s work is selected annually for national and international exhibitions.
JOAN APPLEBAUM is a visual artist and instructor specializing in landscape and nature themes. Her inspiration comes from the woodlands and waterways of the North Country and Coastal Delaware. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout New York State, Delaware and Maryland, and are in collections throughout the US and abroad.
SUE ASHCRAFT has been painting for over 25 years and teaching for 23 of those years. She started by learning Tole painting with acrylics and later expanded into teaching fine art in acrylic, oil, and pen and ink mediums.
NICKY BADOUR earned her MS in Art Education from Syracuse University. She and her family live in Clayton, and she is the high school art teacher at Thousand Islands Central School, where she teaches classes in drawing and painting, traditional and digital photography, studio art, ceramics, sculpture, crafts, and interior design.
SUSAN BERRY has been a glass artist for over 40 years and is the owner of Jagged Glass LLC. She has worked with many aspects of the glass medium and continues to explore new techniques and methods. Susan is a fourth-generation River Rat, spending her summers at her glass studio on Bartlett Point in Clayton.
SHARON BOTTLE SOUVA is an artist who works with fabric. Growing up on a farm brought about an intimate relationship with the natural world. Sharon’s art incorporates a sense of realism edged with minimalism to translate the simplicity of nature into her designs. Bottle Souva holds a Master of Arts Degree.
HARRIET BURRIS is a retired physician and native of Alexandria Bay. She has been knitting for 55 years and weaving for 35 years, fueling her love affair with structure, pattern, fiber and color. She is passionate about sharing mind-blowing possibilities and passing on practical, usable skills. She is a TIAC Wednesday Weaver and Trustee and an associate of Bay House Artisans.
MARTHA CLINE is from Hammond, NY, and is an eclectic arts ‘n crafter. She finds inspiration all around and likes to experiment with new creative ideas. Martha’s textile and watercolor work has been displayed in galleries in Iowa, Montana, and New York.
HELEN CONDON has been braiding rugs for over 60 years and is the sole proprietor and designer of Adirondack Rug Braiding. She has taught at TIAC, TAUNY in Canton, Great Camp Sagamore, VIEW in Old Forge, Schoharie River Center, and in her Parishville studio. You can see Helen’s work at http://adirondackrugbraiding.com.
ANNIE DESTEFANIS is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, where she earned a B.A. in Fine Arts at Carnegie-Mellon. She went on to achieve a B.A. in Elementary Education and a J.D. in Law at Duquesne University. Annie served as an attorney in Colorado and finished up her career teaching Kindergarten. She continues working with young children as a substitute teacher.
PAT DESTEFANIS is a graduate of Cornell University and enjoyed a 39-year teaching career before retiring from the school system. She also raised sheep and operated a wool and weaving business, which is when she developed her skill and love of weaving. Pat belongs to TIAC’s group of Wednesday Weavers.
KELLY DIEMOND is the owner of Metal Morphosis Jewelry Studio in Syracuse, NY and has been sharing her love of jewelry-making with students for over 10 years. She has a special fondness for beginners and a curious habit of transforming unsuspecting people into jewelry addicts.
DAVE DINGER has been drawing all of his life, but developed a love of painting after taking classes with the late Wilson Bickford. While Dave prefers acrylics, he continues to follow Wilson’s style and direction in his painting and teaching. Dave’s work has been in galleries in New York and Florida, including at TIAC.
LAUREN EVANS is a retired high school art teacher and local artist with lifelong experience in various mediums. She later developed a keen interest in fiber arts and handcrafts which seemed to naturally lead her to chair caning. Lauren takes great pride in her craftsmanship and is always striving for a perfect finished product.
BONNIE GRANT and TANYA SPICER are sisters who retired from the daily grind and discovered that creating things was very gratifying and also a great way to spend time together. Over the years they’ve taken many classes in metal and beadwork to enhance their craft, and now share their skills with others throughout the North Country. Both sisters live in St. Lawrence County and are artist members at The Gallery at Lake St. Lawrence Arts in Waddington, NY.
BARBARA GREEN owns and operates Adirondack Green House Basketry, which represents her love of the Adirondacks, her passion for basket weaving, and her family name. She found her niche in basket weaving when she took an Adirondack Pack Basket class in 2007 and she’s been hooked ever since. Barbara continues to work at improving her craft and takes great pleasure in teaching it to others.
SUSAN HALDEMAN has a true love for textiles. After thirty years of working in the textile art industry, she continues to explore traditional and sustainable ways to incorporate texture, pattern, and color with natural fibers. Susan gains inspiration from the people in her life, the natural world, teaching, and from her wild obsession with antique fabrics and objects. She is thrilled to live in Northern New York where she has an endless supply of materials growing outside of her back door. Susan’s work at www.susanhaldemanstudio.com.
BECKY HARBLIN majored in art at San Diego State University. She went on to work at The New Yorker magazine and several other newspapers and trade publications. Becky currently lives in upstate New York, is a published author, and is actively painting, writing, sculpting, and exploring photography. Her work has been in juried shows across the United States and was in a European Pastel Association Exhibition.
NATHANIEL HILLER is a Tasmanian landscape artist who loves to explore color and light, depth and movement, as well as nature’s abstractions. He loves the outdoors, and finds that painting is his way of reliving and exploring the outdoor experience. He loves to experiment with how detail can work with looser styles to create an overall impression.
ROBIN HOFFMAN has been knitting since she was 12 years old. She finds it to be a form of relaxation and loves to share this rewarding craft with anyone willing to pick up a pair of sticks. Robin lives in Clayton and serves on the Board of Directors for the Thousand Islands Land Trust.
ANN JOHNSON-KAISER is retired from a long career in county and city governments in downstate New York. She is an active member and volunteer at the Arts Center, as well as a TIAC Board member. She divides her time between Clayton and Sackets Harbor, and has been making personalized cards and gift boxes for friends and family for several years.
ASHLEY RAE KARK has over a decade of ceramics experience and has worked in several studios across New York and New Jersey. Initially focused on functional wheel pottery, she has been exploring more hand building and, since the acquisition of a 300-piece plaster mold collection— slip casting.
PENNY KRING has owned and operated Heath Photography for 35 years. She got interested in barn quilts through the Iva Smith Memorial Gallery and the Hammond Barn Quilt Trail, seeing how they added so much beauty to the scenery. Penny has been painting barn quilts for a number of years and has several commissioned pieces hanging on North Country barns.
JERRY LAFFER is a retired pediatric dentist from Manlius, NY, who has focused his energies and honed his skills in woodworking at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. He is the creator of Jerry’s Scoops, finely crafted, hand-turned wood and brass ice cream scoops.
JACQUELINE MALONEY lives in Watertown, NY, and is a retired third-grade teacher. She fondly remembers how much fun she had creating things as a kid, so in her retired life, she enjoys sharing that joy.
MARCI EVANCHO MASON is a seasoned watercolorist from the Pittsburgh suburb of Turtle Creek. She is a school art teacher and has been a watercolor instructor for over 30 years. Her paintings can be found in corporate and private collections and she welcomes commissions of all kinds. Marci describes herself as somewhat of a rebel watercolorist, not following the written rules, but always managing to achieve what she attempts.
BRENDA MAXSON has been a professional artist for seven years. Her tactile tendency leans well into the heavy-textured (sculpted) painting that has become her favorite pastime. Brenda’s work has been featured in shops and juried exhibitions around New York State, as well as in the Xanadu Art Gallery Catalogue in Scottsdale, AZ.
MARGOT MILLER is an Ontario College of Art and Design graduate and has been a lecturer and instructor at Sheridan College, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, and Fleming College. She has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and worked in India for a Canadian Company as a designer. Margo designs and sells her painted clothing, floor cloths, and furniture from her studio in Rockport, ONT, and has exhibited her work in numerous galleries. Her work can be seen at www.margotmiller-summerhouse.com.
KATHLEEN MORRIS developed a love for ceramics when she met internationally known ceramicists Otto and Vivika Heino. She earned her BA in Art at Kean College with a concentration in ceramics and photography and went on to teach in both disciplines at the Lakeland School in Chester, NJ. She also studied at the Tuscarora Pottery School in Tuscarora, NV, and Scuola d’Art Ceramica in Deruta, Italy. Kathy is the staff potter at TIAC and a member of the Fibonacci Art Gallery in Watertown, NY.
DEDE NASH fell in love with knitting 14 years ago after watching a good friend knit a baby hat in one sitting. With so many beautiful yarns available today, she finds every project new and exciting. Dede lives in Clayton and is a member of the Clayton Community Band.
JULIA PITTS is a local fiber artist who has been exploring the many types and uses of fibers for much of her life. Aside from her love of fiber, she has a passion for animals and enjoys many types of 2D art as well. She hopes to someday raise her own flock of fiber animals.
MITCHELL PRICE has been teaching art for over nine years all over the world. He was trained classically in Florence, Italy, where he spent an additional seven years teaching an international student body in drawing, painting, sculpture, and human anatomy. Examples of his work can be found at www.mhpart.com
LINDA SCHERZ has been weaving baskets for over 30 years. Her love for weaving led her into designing, teaching, exhibitions and juried shows, winning numerous awards for her baskets. Known for her intricate patterns, eye for color and incorporating different materials in her designs, Linda teaches throughout the United States for various guilds, conferences, art centers and organizations.
CHERYL SIMEONE is a retired NYS certified Art Teacher and an award-winning artist in drawing and painting. She is a member of three regional art galleries, and while painting in oils is her passion, jewelry making is a relaxing sideline. Cheryl balances her jewelry making with plein air painting competitions in the summer and studio work.
ANNMARIE SIMMONS is a retired Elementary and Special Education Teacher from Clayton. She is committed to lifelong learning which led her to the Arts Center and her first weaving class. AnnMarie is now an enthusiastic Wednesday Weaver and weaving instructor at TIAC, as well as a member of Northern Blend Chorus.
SARAH ELLEN SMITH is a North Country native and resident of Clayton, NY. An artist all her life, she is a glass bead maker, jeweler, photographer, painter, mosaic artist, journalist, and teacher. For 11 years she collaborated with John Arnot at St. Lawrence Pottery. You can see Sarah’s work at www.sarahellensmithartist.com.
KATIE ST. LAURENT was ten years old when she learned the art of pysanky from her grandmother. Many years later, she began practicing it on her own and has been making pysanky for almost 20 years now. She is a librarian, a triathlete, and an animal lover who lives in Watertown with her husband and their little zoo.
Paul Allen Taylor is a professional watercolor painter from Rochester, NY, who is recognized for his unique use of color and impressionistic style. He is a respected teacher and workshop instructor and has developed a following of students who find his style very approachable and highly-skilled. You can see Paul’s work at www.paulallentaylor.com.
AMANDA THRASHER has been sewing for over 20 years. She worked in a professional costume shop, designing and creating costumes for the stage, and now owns her own sewing and alterations business.
GREG TROMBLY has been working with soft pastels for over 35 years, continually working at improving his technique and skill in the medium. He has earned numerous awards at juried art exhibitions and held workshops throughout New York State and California. His work can be found in private collections throughout the United States.
MARIA VANPELT is currently a teacher at LaFargeville Central School and has been helping kids discover their creative potential for over 18 years. Maria completed her undergraduate coursework at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, followed by an M.Ed. from SUNY Potsdam.
LISA WAGNER is a watercolor, acrylic, and collage artist who has been painting and teaching for 29 years. She has been a full-time artist in the last eleven years, with her work being showcased in several local, national, and international exhibitions. Lisa lives on Wellesley Island, and you can see her work at www.lisawagnerart.com.