Our Instructors
Jim Green
Oil Painting
After graduating from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and completing several business courses, I owned and operated a commercial construction business for 30 years. I have now turned my full attention to a career in the fine arts. My studio and the home I share with my artist wife Betz are located outside Philadelphia. I have exhibited and won prizes for my work in many juried shows and gallery exhibitions including Allied Artists of America, Audubon Artists Inc., both located in NYC, Stover Mill Gallery as an invited artist in a recent dual exhibition, Phillips Mill in New Hope and Historic Yellow Springs in Chester County. Besides jurying regional art shows, I give art lectures, demonstrations and workshops on my painting methods. Over the last few years I have also enjoyed instructing classes at non-profit art organizations. I create oil paintings using vibrant colors in an impressionistic style with an expressionistic twist. As for subject matter, that includes whatever inspires me in that moment.
Nicole Lee
Acrylic Painting
Adults and Children
I’ve been an artist my whole life. From drawing, painting, animation, photography, filmmaking, and pottery, I’ve done a little of everything! I grew up in Feasterville, PA and am the only artist in my family. I attended the University of the arts in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2005 and have a BFA in film and digital video. Like many others, I loved too many forms of art to focus on just one, so I studied several art forms during my college career including animation, photography, illustration, screenwriting and film. I absolutely love Disney and the amazing art of the talented people who work for that company, so I partook in an internship program at Walt Disney World during my sophomore year of college. That was an amazing experience that taught me a lot about customer service and work ethic. After college, I worked on the sets of many major motion pictures that were filmed in the Philadelphia area. I’ve met some truly amazing people and actors through my experiences, but eventually it was time to find more steady work. I spent some years working in marketing before I found an art center and a few paint-and-sip companies that helped me turn my love of art into a professional career. Through the art center, I was offered a role as an elementary art teacher at many different schools. Here I learned that kids are an amazing window to new ideas and creativity and it’s a lot of fun seeing where they go with it. Working as an artist allows me to create art all the time and that is my ideal job. I am one of the rare few in the world who can say ‘I absolutely love what I do,’ and honestly mean it. I am truly grateful to have that in my life and am hoping it lasts forever!
Catherine McIlhenny
Pastel Painting
Catherine McIlhenny is an artist from Harleysville who draws inspiration from the trees, flowers, farms, sky, clouds, and fields near her home. Her work has been included in and won first place and best in show prizes in juried shows at Meadowood, Perkiomen Valley Art Center, GNAL and Pastel Society of Philadelphia where she won a prize for a snow landscape. She was on the portfolio committee of Art Goes to School for many years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Penn State. She began undergrad as a painting/ drawing major and eventually realized she would need a job when she graduated. She started an interior designer business 35 years ago, but is ready to retire to a life filled with creating art and teaching.
Betz Green
All Media Drawing
When very young I would collect bits of nature while hiking in the countryside of Berks County, go home to set up a still life with the found objects, and then draw, draw, draw. This experience developed my perception and discipline. After attending youth classes at Kutztown University, receiving a scholarship to attend Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts and then Tyler School of Art, I married fellow artist Jim Green. While raising two artsy children I honed my own skills by creating commissioned children’s portraits and house portraits. Later I became the cover illustrator for Montgomery County Town and County Living Magazine and co-founded Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists. I jury area art shows and have won numerous awards in regional, national and international shows including gold and silver medals at Audubon Artists Inc. in NYC at the Salmagundi Club, Allied Artists of America, also in NYC, Philadelphia Water Color Society, Phillips Mill, the Philadelphia Sketch Club and regularly exhibit at Historic Yellow Springs. My work has been featured in galleries, including as invited artist at a recent dual exhibition at Stover Mill Gallery, museum shows and many private collections. I reside just outside Philadelphia with Jim, a few chickens, and too many gardens. Teaching art to adults has become a passion, and as I am constantly experimenting with different materials and techniques to create various portfolios of work, in the classroom I enthusiastically pass on what I have learned.
Roxanne Slemmer
Mosaics
I am a Kutztown University graduate with a BS in Education and a BFA with concentrations in painting and printmaking. I have been teaching art for 10 years and 5 years with Mosaics. I have a community, volunteer based 52 foot mosaic mural in Lansdale Pa.
Jason Rodriguez
Online Drawing
Adults and Children
I started drawing Sesame Street’s Ernie and Bert at the age of two, and from then on I couldn’t stop filling sketchbook after sketchbook. In highschool I attended the School of the Arts in Charleston, SC as a Visual Arts major. However, in college, I started to question the purpose of art which led me to give up on it and major in something “useful.” It wasn’t until my mid 20s (while I was in seminary of all places) that I realized I was created to be an artist and that creating art was one of my deepest joys. It was on an iPad in a program called Procreate that I started drawing again. I especially liked the “undo” button and the diversity of true to life brushes. Creating on the iPad got me back into drawing, and eventually I returned to physical/traditional media. I now use both digital and traditional tools to illustrate; for example, I will ink or watercolor a picture and load it into the iPad to utilize the breadth of tools available in a digital workflow. Being part of an Art Community has also been crucial to this journey. I am actively engaged with the Society of Visual Storytelling, an online art school and art community for illustration. I am a major proponent of self paced learning, challenging yourself and finding what’s available to you to improve your craft. Currently, I am homeschooling my own little artists, freelance illustrating and running a custom portrait studio.
Sue Trembeth
Zentangle
Sue T. has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She was an art major in high school but ended up being a nurse for over forty years. Throughout her nursing career, she continued to be creative and used her art as a form of self-care. She is an accomplished paper artist and has taught rubber stamping and paper crafts over the last twenty years. She has her master's in nursing education and has taught art journaling to nursing students and at nursing conferences as a form of self-care. Prior to the pandemic Sue took a beginner Zentangle class; Zentangle called to her because it is an art form that anyone can do. While she felt she couldn’t draw well, she found beauty, satisfaction, and relaxation in the arts of Zentangle. It became an outlet for her during the extremely stressful times of being a nurse during Covid. She is a Certified Zentangle Teacher and loves to share the creativity and mindfulness of Zentangle to others.
Doug Tweddale
All Media Painting
I have been an artist my whole life. I remember being nine years old and oil painting with my Uncle Lester Gallagher, an artist from the Midwest who loved painting the sand dunes of Lake Michigan. For the last 30 years, I have been a pastel artist, and for half of that time I have studied with Master Painter Albert Handell. Now that I have retired, I have the wonderful opportunity of making painting my first priority as I travel this beautiful country with my wife Sue. So far, we have been on two three-month extended trips to many National Parks out West. I’ve attained signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Society of the West Coast. A story of our 2015 journey and my travel art work was just published in the August issue of the Pastel Journal. During our travels, I conduct “Living the Dream” Plein Air Workshops to share my artist’s knowledge and experience with students as we enjoy painting our treasured National Parks.
Lori Crook
Alcohol Inks
My name is Lori Lorraine. I am a long time social worker who stumbled upon alcohol inks a few years ago and serendipitously unleashed my inner artist! I possess no formal art training but used all my free time during the pandemic to experiment and teach myself multiple techniques and improve my art skills while working with this magical, mercurial and very fluid medium. I opted to take some art classes in other mediums at The Greater Norristown Art League and met some amazing long-time artists who encouraged me to develop a beginner level workshop and become an instructor. Desperate for change and a strong desire to reinvent myself I rose to the challenge. Over the past few years I have taught at least 80 workshops and a few 5 week courses at GNAL, vineyards, breweries and privately. I am a volunteer at Expressive Paths in Norristown and teach this medium to teens. I offer customized workshops and have been blessed to have met some very creative people. I have a penchant for abstract florals and have sold some of my work including my small floral notecards in local venues/stores. Being creative helps me to relax, soothe and distract myself from the challenges of life!
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Jocelyn McEleney
Charcoal Drawing
Jocelyn McEleney is a freelance artist who has dabbled in just about everything and anything creative she can get her hands on! After graduating from North Montco Technical Career School where she studied graphic design and fine arts, her freelancing career began by working with tattoo artists as well as doing other custom art. Her tech teacher is a great inspiration and the reason she fell in love with charcoals to begin with. "Art is my passion and a large part of my life in so many different ways, I hope that it will continue to inspire and influence my future and others!"
Paul Manoogian
Photography
Paul J Manoogian, of Manoogian Photography, LLC is a full-time commercial, portrait, and event photographer. Paul is a highly rated photographer for his work with models, business clients, real estate agencies, events, and cosplayers. Paul’s skills extend beyond photography to cinematography and special effects compositing. He is a drone pilot, as well as the Director of Photography on a full-length feature film and has other IMDB credits and has worked on several productions. He has been working with Photography since the 80s. Paul has an office in Lansdale, PA where he creates photos, video, and 3D solutions for products, business owners, and entrepreneurs. He is also the President and CEO of Manoogian Media, Inc.; a company which specializes in offering film and photography, as well as film production, 3D design and Visual Effects services.
Ratna Gandhi
Clay and Paper
Ratna Gandhi is an accomplished sculptor, art curator, and art instructor residing in Pennsylvania, USA. With a rich experience spanning over two decades, she has showcased her artistic versatility by creating diverse artworks using a wide range of materials such as stone, metal, wood, fiberglass, paper mache, ceramics, fabric, plaster, and clay. Ratna received her Bachelor's degree in Sculpture in 2000 and her Master's degree in Creative Sculpture in 2002 from the prestigious Faculty of Fine Arts at M.S. University in Vadodara, India. In recognition of her exceptional talent, she was honored with India's most prestigious accolade for visual artists, the National Award, by the Lalit Kala Akademi of Arts in New Delhi, for her sculpture titled "Family Fun" in 2001. Additionally, Ratna has been invited to participate in numerous Indian National and Regional art camps, and she was granted a National fellowship in Visual Arts by the Government of India for the years 2001-02. Her cultural achievements were acknowledged with the Outstanding Young Indian award by the Worldwide Federation of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs in 2004. Furthermore, her sculpture titled "Interface-I" earned her the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy Award in 2008. Prior to relocating to USA, Ratna Gandhi resided in India, where she collaborated with renowned National Arts and Design Institutes as an Art instructor. She has actively engaged with esteemed artists of International repute and local communities to create sculptures in various media during art residencies and workshops. Ratna has also made significant contributions as a co-curator for theme-based art shows across different International platforms. One notable example is her collaboration with Israeli and Indian artists on the theme of "Earth" resulting in an exhibition that traveled to India, France, and Israel. This exhibition was co-curated by Ratna and Doron Polak. From October 2020 to March 2021, Ratna served as an Artist in Residence for the City of Port Coquitlam in Canada. During her residency, she undertook a public art project titled "Wall of Interactions" which involved the local community and explored the theme of Nature. Today, Ratna Gandhi's remarkable artworks are cherished by private Art collectors and esteemed Organizations worldwide, including Germany, the United States of America, Canada, Yugoslavia, Paris, Venice, Singapore, Israel, and India.
Jennifer Finch
Portraits and Animals
Jennifer Finch is a second-generation artist, with a diversely artistic background. Her mother, Ellen Hall is a painter living in Bucks County, PA and founder of the Ivyland Art Group. Her father, Richard Finch is a renowned wildlife bird carver and sculptor who now resides in Coryell, TX. Although she was surrounded by the Fine Arts, she pursued a dancing career of Classical Ballet in Manhattan. She retired from dancing in 1991 and got her BFA degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, later to obtain her MA from New York University in Art Therapy. Jennifer’s art has been exhibited at Denise Bibro Fine Art, Ceres and the Times Square Gallery, New York City, the Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA, and Phillips Mill, in Solebury, PA. She received a grant for her public work titled “Animal Parade” (1999-2008), at Union Square Park in New York City. In addition to the greater metro area, Jennifer has shown at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, in Narrowsburg, NY. Her work has also been represented in Sullivan County galleries such as: Jerico Gallery, The River Gallery, Art of Living, The Red Eft Gallery and Honey Hill Pottery. Since her relocation to Bucks County, Jennifer has joined with the other artists and has shown work with the New Hope Arts Center, Phillips Mill, the Arts and Cultural Council of Bucks County, and with the Ivyland Art Group. Although Jennifer’s work covers many figurative subjects, perhaps she is best known for her depictions of the natural world combined with elemental spirits in both her murals and animal portraiture. Each animal encompasses a specific energy, which is believed to offer lessons or implement healing properties.
Maureen O'Hara
Childrens Art
Biography coming...
