A longtime resident of Florida, Nancy grew up in Asheville, N.C. and spent her childhood drawing and exploring nature. Nancy studies art at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fl, principally with Jean Blackburn and at the Ringling College Wildacres Artist Retreat in N.C. under Peter Brown. In Montana, she has worked with Cassandra James and Jean Blackburn exploring landscape and color. She regularly takes her paints to explore Florida's diverse West Coast.

With her unique perspective, Nancy Betty paints images from nature and daily life in a contemporary style, entertaining the viewer with her intriguing - and slightly askew perspectives. Often in her paintings, the negative spaces and the mysteries of dappled light become as important as the objects themselves. With an education in commercial art and advertising design, Nancy has raised a family, had a successful career in real estate development sales, and has traveled extensively – including a two year sailing adventure in the islands. Nancy now paints full time – often in her studio in Sarasota, FL. Her works can be found in private collections in Hilton Head, S.C., Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, Sun Valley, ID, Gainesville, FL, Asheville, N.C., and Sarasota, FL. - go to Meet the Artists

Jeanne was born in the coastal city of Wilmington, N.C and later moved to Richmond, VA. where she developed an avid interest in painting and sculpture while in high school. After studying fine art and interior design at the Ringling College of Art & Design and the New York School of Interior Design, Jeanne settled in Sarasota. She has continued her studies at RCAD, the Institution de Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and the National Academy School of Art in NYC where she studied under Wolf Kahn. She has exhibited her work in numerous galleries and exhibitions in Sarasota. Her work has exhibited most recently in the M Gallery of Fine Arts on Palm Avenue, Sarasota. Jeanne work evolves between oils in landscape and female nudes using watercolor, acrylic and pastels.

Art Critic Joan Altabe says, "You will recognize Matisse in her work. While most of us see foliage as green and tree trunks as brown, Chinnis sees varied complexion-whole armies of pigment that recall how Matisse captured the natural world in non-natural shades. To get an idea of Chinnis' palette, imagine that our skin is transparent and we can see the color of life underneath." "Beneath the apparent surface of a female figure or aspects in nature lies a deeper world of color, form and design. My interest is expressing the mystery that I find there." Jeanne describes what inspires her. - go to Meet the Artists

Born in Chicago, Gary Gorman graduated from the Goodman School of Drama, at the Art Institute of Chicago with continuing studies at the Yale School of Drama, Design Department. He has won awards from the Chicago Lyric Opera and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology for his imaginative set designs. Simultaneously, he pursued his personal painting style and successfully exhibited in juried gallery shows as well as traveling exhibitions throughout the Mid West.

Gorman's career took him to NYC where his successful development as a designer led him to win awards for projects that were exhibited in major venues such as the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, NY. His work has been published in Domus, Industrial Design, Architectural Digest, and other international journals.

As founder of Gorman Multimedia Communications, Gary designed and produced corporate and private events. After a life re-evaluation, Gary moved to Sarasota and rejuvenated his fine arts career. He continues with studies at the Ringling College and has produced a series of paintings that draw on his sense of theatre with all the innovation, the fun, and drama that is its heritage.

"Growing up, I was the one that you could always trust to color the tree pink and the dog green" says Gary. His paintings below illustrate Gary's willingness to seek unusual subject matter and new materials to integrate into his paintings. It is clear that the artist's use of the unexpected is energizing to him and relays the joy he experiences while playing with color, form and texture. Gary Gorman challenges you to smile. - go to Meet the Artists

Irene Gorman is a Graduate of The School of Visual Arts and studied further at the New School and NYU School of Film. She was the Creative Director of Gorman Multimedia Communications, N.Y., an Award winning production company specializing in video, film, photography and corporate presentations.

As Creative Director, Irene accessed all mediums to achieve her visual objectives, collage, painting, photography, video and drawing. Her move to Sarasota in 2005 inspired her to pursue her studies in Fine and Computer Art at Ringling College where her enthusiasm for discovery of her own personal voice through painting is evident. Her rich mixed media background brings personal rewards as Irene presents colorful narrative imagery that urges the viewer to imagine the story behind the image.

"I LOVE TO PAINT! No subject is off the table. For me Art is where the intellect meets the soul. From the creative struggle that ensues when the mind and the heart converge, emerges a personal visual expression to be explored, shared and enjoyed." says the artist. - go to Meet the Artists