Anna Harding

Poet Laureate

The Ashford Arts Council and the Town of Ashford have proclaimed Anthony Paticchio as our town Poet Laureate. Ashford now joins a group of more than 30 towns in Connecticut to have a Poet Laureate. In celebration we plan to honor Tony’s appointment with a virtual party on Zoom with poetry by Tony, virtual toasts, and then an Open Mic for town well-wishers to read their own poems. March 21st 4:00 – 5:30
Please email Christine Acebo to register for this event and get the Zoom link. Event is FREE to attend.

Sharon Punty

Title: Wave Patterns Description: Paint swirls and interacts as m a big wave emerges. Media: Paint Pour Size 10”x10” Price $14.00
Title: Tropical Getaway Description: Two palm trees on a tropical island with a rainbow. Size: 11×14 Media: Watercolor Price: $15.00
Title :Secrets of the Universe Description: Interstellar Thoughts on the Meaning of the Universe Media: Acrylic paint pour Size. 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” Price $10.00
Title Pet Portraits to Order Description: Surprise family with a portrait of a much loved pet. Media: Acrylic paint on canvas Size: 9”x12” Negotiable Price: $40.00 Negotiable
Title: Fall Splendor Description: A striking pumpkin is the focal point of this impressionist fall painting. Media: Acrylic Paint on watercolor paper Size: 11” x14” Price: $14.00
Title: Fantasy Flowers Description: Painterly fall colored flowers on an impressionistic background Media: Acrylic paint on watercolor paper Size: 10” x 6 3/4” Price: $6.00
Title At the Shore Description This painting depicts an orange sunset reflecting on water. Rocks are washed up in the small waves with some spray. In the foreground is a depiction of rosa rugosa on the upper shore. Media Acrylic Paint on canvas Size: 9” x 12” Price. $40.00
Title: Dynamic Daliah Description: A red dalia with lively brushstrokes is featured on a smooth black background Media: Acrylic on watercolor paper Size: 6” x 6”
Title Proud Description Adult bald eagle and her eaglet sit proudly in a rocky, textural background Media Acrylic paint on canvas with texture gel Size. 9×12 Price $40.00
Title: The Wave Description: Shades of blue mix and swirl in this vigorous, dramatic wave Media: Acrylic Paint Pour Size: 28” x 293/4” Price: $40.00
Title: Magestical Description: Bald eagle with sponged background Media Watercolor and oil pastel Size: 11” x14” Price $25.00
Title: Fantasia Description: Lucid colors swirl and marbelize in this acrylic pour painting Media Paint Pour Size 7 ¾” x 9 ¾” Price $13.00

I started my career at Parish Hill Junior/Senior High School in Chaplin, Connecticut. As an public school art teacher, I taught students appreciation of masters’ artwork and of contemporary art. I encouraged all students to work to their best and to enjoy the process of creating art. After having my first child, I ran a family daycare home. I began teaching art in Manchester in 2000 and retired in 2017. Since then, I have been re-discovering my artistic passions, like as pottery, painting, and mixed media. I still love the art of teaching, most recently through zoom lessons.
Contact Information: [email protected]

MEET OUR 2020 AAC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Ashford Arts Council Scholarship
AAC awards two scholarships per year to graduating art students at EO Smith High School – one for the performing arts and one for the visual arts. These students are chosen because they have taken two or more courses in their area; exhibited enthusiasm, interest, honesty, and integrity; and produced quality work viewed or open to the public. The recipients plan on pursuing their interest vocationally or as an avocation.

MADISON ADAMS – PERFORMING ARTS

Hi! My name is Madison Adams and I am a senior attending E.O. Smith High School. I am a passionate and determined student always looking for new and challenging opportunities to learn from. I am looking forward to my future endeavors at Western Connecticut State University in the fall while studying Music Education, a subject I have been enthusiastic about since I was a young girl. I have been a devoted member of E.O. Smiths Choir and Chamber Singers, and have been accepted into Eastern Regional and All-State level choirs all four years of my High School experience, and in the 2019 production of Guys and Dolls, I was cast as one of the leading roles Adelaide, which led me to grow in so many ways as a musician and an actress. I look forward to continuing to sing and act at Western Connecticut State University in the fall!

SARAH JOHNSON – VISUAL ARTS

Sarah has always been and hopes to continue being an active member of the arts community. In both the performing and visual arts, she has met some amazing and talented individuals. Her undying love of nature shows through her work and her ability to use the outdoors as her inspiration. She attributes her love of art to the many teachers, mentors, and peers she has met throughout her life. She firmly believes that everyone is an artist; the arts reflect the inner soul of a person. No matter the medium or size, Sarah finds beauty in all forms of art.

Linda Rogers

Linda Rogers has been working with the Encaustic process since 2008 after viewing this unusual process at a gallery in Charleston, SC. Switching over her studio was a bit challenging as Encaustic painting requires good ventilation, heated pallets to melt the painting medium and torches to fuse the work.
The painting medium she uses is made from refined beeswax and colored pigments. Linda also applies shellac mixed with pigments to create lacy intricate patterns that look organic when burned off. The entire process requires a controlled burn method to achieve fine detail and translucency. Most of Linda’s work reflects her love of nature including landscapes from her travels around the world and botanicals of all sorts. Recent work also includes portraitures using the Encaustic method often with paper collage additions. All work is available, contact her here.

Christine Acebo

I am a recently retired research scientist and lifelong photographer. Both my science and my photography required me to develop and hone my abilities to observe, be it patterns of behavior, patterns of light and darkness, the detail of a caterpillar’s skin, or the stretch of a mountain range below storm clouds. Both have also enabled me to visit that special place where the intensity of focus puts me squarely in the present moment and utterly involved with the object of that focus. I gravitate towards deep, rich, old-world colors and light, and I aim for “painterly” images.

Three of my photos were licensed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for use in an Ad campaign in 2011. I have exhibited in juried shows at the Salmagundi Club in NYC, the Fairfield Museum and History Center, Arts Center East in Vernon, and others.

Although my goals are not primarily commercial, I am willing to consider requests for professionally printed and mounted images.

My photography is showcased on my personal website: https://www.christineacebo.com/

I can be contacted by email: [email protected]

Artisans at Middle River

60 Main Street, Stafford Springs, Connecticut 06076
Dot Drobney, owner of Artisans at Middle River has awesome craftsman’s work in her Gallery! PrimeChime windchimes creates amazing chimes/mobiles out of upcycled metal and glass parts…real works of art! She also has jewelry made from many different media, paintings, textiles, ceramics and other unique handcrafts.

Dot does all types of photograpy portrait sessions – family, children, pets, senior high school, corporate, fashion – as well as product shoots, nature, travel, landscapes, macros, and small events. Stop by to see the canvas mounted portraits on display to see what Dot does.

Her mini-studio is located within Artisans at Middle River, a new fine art gallery and gift destination at 60 Main Street, in Stafford Springs. Artisans at Middle River offers gift cards, both traditional and e-cards, curb-side pickups, local deliveries or mailing small items when feasible…so people are able to shop. Contact business owner Dot Drobney via email.

Marilyn Makuch

Marylin Makuch

Find her o n Facebook
TBG Accessories aka Midge
Marilyn makes her joyful jewelry in her little barn studio in Willington. Her wire wrapped bracelets, earrings and pendants are extremely affordable!!

Maggie Kendis

Maggie Kendis
860 423-0337
email Maggie

Animals are a big part of my life and focus on my prints, because they are all around me.
Whether it’s my dogs, cats, horsies, birds, my friends are now asking for pet portraits of their pets. I have also translated those pets into personal pins, pendants, and earrings. Also, since my teens, when I lived in Mexico and was mesmerized by their art, the retablos, the carvings, the colors, and the joy. I am bringing that influence into my work now, creating a combination of my prints incorporated into the Mexican retablos (originally devotional paintings of saints, and made thanking a sacred person for their protection). These are cut out panels I make, pasting my prints onto them, and then embellished with acrylics.
My prices vary from framed prints between $20 for mini prints, to $60 and up for commissions.

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Pat Morris

Purchase Pat’s work on Etsy
Around Connecticut and on Cape Breton Island Pat Morris is known for her spectacular wildlife paintings especially on unconventional surfaces. In particular her wildlife paintings on feathers. She has painted on slate, birch bark and other natural materials. Owning her art or her book, Lessons From The Geese, will be a treasure for anyone!

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Deb Gag

Deb on Facebook

Ashford native Debra Gag is inspired by nature to be a painter. She has exhibited watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings for three decades and her paintings are in private collections all across the country. Debra retired from a public school art teacher career (33 years), followed by 3 years teaching painting to children-adults at Arts Center East. In addition, Debra has led critiques for art guilds, has juried art shows, and offered paint events and workshops with a local gallery. Debra has been a part of the Northeast CT Open Studios Tour since 2014, showing at the Old Warrenville Post Office with 4 other artists.

Contact Deb.

Listen to Debra Gag speak about her work on Windham Arts Radio

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