Born and raised outside of Chicago, Nancy Hielscher has lived in Sarasota for over 25 years. She began painting at an early age, and was encouraged by her father to pursue a career in the arts. She holds a degree in Graphic Arts from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and continues to explore different techniques of oil painting by attending the Continuing Education programs at the Ringling College of Art and Design and at The Ringling College at Wildacres, N.C. She has studied under Bill Parks, Ron Wick, Jean Blackburn and Cassandra James.

Nancy utilizes her graphic design skills in her current role as Marketing Manager and Creative Director for a luxury custom home builder. The artist dedicates her evenings and weekends to painting still life's from her home studio or en plein air.

Oil on panel is the artist's preferred medium and surface. Nancy says she satisfies her visual appetite by "painting simple foods, domestic objects, and flora and fauna from area farms and fields." The surface of the artist's panels show the luscious viscosity of the paint as it has been moved around to create shapes, with color and value juxtapositions.

While this is her first local gallery show, her works can be found in private collections in Chicago, IL, Schererville, IN, Munster, IN, Indianapolis, IN, Scottsdale, AZ, Wesley Chapel, Bradenton and Sarasota, FL. - go to Meet the Artists

Cheryl Moody is a Bradenton native whose family revered the natural beauty of their native state, and also valued the travel experience. Always encouraged to draw or paint, time spent in the woods or on area waters were influential experiences. Moody graduated with an art degree from Florida State University, and has continued to take classes both locally at Ringling College of Art, Wildacres in N.C. and The National Academy of Art in New York. She has shown her work at shows throughout Florida.

Married to a landscape architect/musician and a fiddle player herself, the rhythm and movement of blue grass music has been added to her aesthetic mix.

"I paint because I'll never be a good enough fiddler to join a band. I paint because I see colors and compositions everywhere I go. I bring them home in my memory and allow them to grow on the canvas. I paint because I enjoy feeling the energy that oneness of vision and body create. When it goes well, the whole creative process is exhilarating. When it doesn't go well, I pick up the fiddle", says Cheryl. - go to Meet the Artists

Originally from the New Jersey/Delaware area, Evelyn McCorristin Peters has lived in the Sarasota/Manatee county area on and off for over 24 years. Her first exposure to this area was her arrival in Venice in 1984 with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus train.

After working for Ringling Brothers as a scenic artist, Evelyn continues to pursue her art career and education in the fine arts and will graduate from the University of Delaware in the spring of '09. Evelyn has also attended The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Ringling College of Art and Design, and participated in classes at the Manatee Art Center.

The Myakka River State Park and the shore line of Quick Point Nature Preserve in Sarasota have been inspirational environments for the artist. "The light shining through the mangroves and water to the objects below creates mystical illusions. My goal is to capture the fleeting illuminations and restless color of that moment when the light and movement make magic", says Evelyn. The artist's work is a translation of the shifting light and color in the forms of nature. - go to Meet the Artists