ArtistsMeet our gallery artists
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Ellen SchwarzbekEllen has recently returned to making art seriously, creating work that is informed by many years of art historical study and work in museums. She loves the magic of art materials, working mostly with acrylic paints, colored and graphite pencils, and various fiber techniques. A major interest is exploring the line between realistic and abstract images.
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Genie GreenlawGenie began knitting as a child and went on to working with macrame, quilting, crochet, and other off-loom fiber crafts, but her preferred technique is weaving tapestries on a simple frame. She enjoys the range of expression possible with tapestry weaving. About ten years ago she learned to spin with a drop spindle and now uses her own hand-spun yarns in her work. Genie continues to develop her proficiency in spinning with various types of spindles
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Meredith JanssenMeredith studied art at Newcomb College of Tulane University and George Washington University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree . Predominantly a watercolor artist, Meredith also works in oils, pastels, and graphic art printmaking. Photography and copper and silver jewelry design are included in her interests as well. She concentrates mostly in realistic landscapes and still-life paintings, although she also occasionally moves to figure painting. Originally from New Jersey, Meredith currently lives and paints in Hickory.
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Tom Helfert“Primarily paints in watercolor, specializing in portraits and figures; and does the occasional seascape. His primary goal is to create fresh pleasing paintings using the natural glow possible with transparent watercolor paint.”
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Richard Sinclair
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L. Michelle Bitler |
Ernest SillsErnest “Ernie” Sills is the recently retired president and managing partner of CBSA Architects in Hickory, North Carolina and has more than 51 years of experience with all facets of architecture and planning. Ernie started painting as a young person, which he continued through college. (By chance, Ernie was in the same art class in high school as Tommy Stine and Joe Lafone). He continued painting for a short while after graduation from NC State University and two years in the Army, but kids and demands of work finally got in his way.
About eight years ago he promised his wife, Cindy, that he could re-create a painting they had seen of Santorini while visiting there. The picture now hangs in their living room and Ernie has renewed his love of painting. He has exhibited in several Downtown Hickory Art Crawls and tells us he has even sold a painting or two. |
Hannah GraceHannah Grace is an oil and acrylic painter from Hickory, NC. She began painting and drawing as a child, and went on to graduate with Honors from UNC Asheville’s Fine Arts program in 2013. Students here were taught to incorporate other knowledge bases into their works, which is when she found a way to articulate her passion for psychological and emotional subjects. She’s been finding ways to fit painting into her life since then, and a few years ago took the leap into creating full-time. She teaches formal drawing and painting lessons at her dining room table with wonderful students; she goes to local breweries and galleries to teach non-artists the joys of painting and sipping, so that they can better appreciate the arts while relieving stress from their lives; she sits home in her studio and makes loads of paintings for galleries, festivals, stores, and patrons. It’s a life surrounded by paints. Her subject matter ranges widely from landscapes to pets to portraits, and really centers around any theme that will bring joy and connection to her audience. She strives to keep her work as affordable and unique as possible so that someone might feel the happiness of taking home a piece of artwork they love. She has prints, small mixed media pieces, and affordable originals available for purchase at FCA.
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Rose Mary CheekRose Mary Cheek has been one of North Carolina’s premier portrait photographers for 25 years although now she concentrates more on fine art, painting in Photoshop and landscapes. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and competitions nationally. Ms Cheek has received certifications and a Photographic Master’s degree from the Professional Photographer’s Association and is a former President of the Professional Photographers of North Carolina. She has been recognized in her field for teaching Photoshop skills to photographers across the United States.
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