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Instructor Spotlight: Lea Kouzios

Instructor Spotlight: Lea Kouzios

Lea Kouzios, a former stay-at-home mom turned business owner and veteran, hails from the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin. After joining the army in 2018 as an intelligence analyst, she was stationed in Georgia, where she met her husband. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she began crocheting in her spare time and gradually transformed it into a business as she transitioned out of the army and into stay-at-home mom life. Building a social media following of approximately 80,000 across various platforms boosted her confidence and paved the way for her venture into teaching.

In the Studio, EducationNicole MogyorosiJune 6, 2024Chesapeake Arts Centerartist, maker, fiber, crochet

Meet the Maker with James Whipple

Meet the Maker with James Whipple

James Whipple, also known as Jimi, has been married to Zettie Whipple for six years and resides in Brooklyn Park, Maryland. He shares his home with a cat named Edgar. While his full-time job may be uneventful, his personal interests are quite the opposite. Jimi has a passion for crafting and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, including sewing, painting, and recently, screen printing. He's been immersed in punk music and fashion for about 25 years and is a seasoned musician, playing bass (upright and electric) for 22 years. He also runs a small business called Punkrawkstuff.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiJanuary 4, 2024Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, maker, artist, leather, STEAM

Instructor Spotlight: Benjamin Dysart

Instructor Spotlight: Benjamin Dysart

Benjamin Dysart is originally from Oxford, Ohio, a college town near Cincinnati. Benjamin earned a BFA in Studio Art from Miami University and an MFA from the Rinehart School of Sculpture at MICA. Dysart’s professional work involves creating installations that utilize handmade objects to obscure and abstract projected video. “I am deeply interested in the power objects hold and their push and pull on the world around them,” says Dysart. Woodworking, particularly crafting cutting boards, boxes, and bowls, is a significant part of their creative practice, along with lathework, mainly focusing on bowls and lidded boxes.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiJanuary 4, 2024Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, maker, artist, leather, STEAM

Meet the Maker with Stephanie Alphee

Meet the Maker with Stephanie Alphee

Stephanie Alphee is the driving force behind Alphee Arts. She's an educator, creator, and entrepreneur, harnessing her love for crafting and technology to inspire and assist fellow makers. With nearly a decade of experience, Stephanie has dedicated herself to introducing young minds to the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) through interactive experiences. Today, she leverages her extensive background in teaching and community involvement to empower a diverse range of makers, whether they're kids, do-it-yourself enthusiasts, or budding entrepreneurs, by involving them in the exciting manufacturing journey.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiOctober 19, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, maker, artist, leather, STEAM

In the Studio with Artist Rich Isaacman

In the Studio with Artist Rich Isaacman

Today we are going in the studio with Rich Isaacman. Rich’s extensive photography experience is deeply rooted in his passion for travel, having explored more than 50 countries across six continents. His photography focuses on landscapes, cityscapes, and street scenes, and he’s also honed his skills in drone photography, which he now teach professionally.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiOctober 17, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centerartist, photography, landscape, digital

In the Studio with Artist Becky Borlan

In the Studio with Artist Becky Borlan

Becky Borlan is a Baltimore-based public artist known for her large-scale installations that use light and color to inspire wonder and playfulness. She approaches her art with childlike curiosity, experimenting with various materials and color theory to create vibrant and whimsical works. With a background in public art dating back to 2009, including collaborations with artists like Janet Echelman and Steven Weitzman, she has developed a passion for large-scale sculptures and suspended artworks

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiSeptember 21, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, maker, artist, sculpture, public art

In the Studio with Artist and Instructor Chris Potts

In the Studio with Artist and Instructor Chris Potts

Chris Potts, a burgeoning watercolor artist painting for the past four years, wields color and brush with finesse. His sweeping landscapes evoke a private serenity in his works. His pieces have graced galleries and shows regionally and in Annapolis, earning acclaim from both peers and enthusiasts. A new educator at Chesapeake Arts Center, Chris shares his learned skills, nurturing budding artists.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiSeptember 20, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, maker, artist, sculpture, public art

In the Studio with Instructor and Dancer Abigail Carter

In the Studio with Instructor and Dancer Abigail Carter

Abigail Carter began dancing when she was three years old, here, at CAC. Nearly 17 years later, she is now an instructor in our dance department. With a rather impressive resume for someone her age, Abigail has danced at the Washington School of Ballet as well as the City Dance Conservatory and Charm City Ballet.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 14, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centerinstructor, dance, ballet

In the Studio with Instructor and Artist Maks Prykhodko

In the Studio with Instructor and Artist Maks Prykhodko

Originally from the Ukraine, Maks emigrated to the US in the early 2000’s. He pursued a BFA in Music Composition & Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He joined the Milwaukee Makerspace to extend his skills in electronics and rapid prototyping technologies, and learned how to laser cut. After moving to Baltimore in 2018, he attended UMBC to acquire his MFA In Intermedia and Digital Arts. Now, he manages the MakerSpace here at CAC and teaches courses in digital fabrication. Here’s some of his story:

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiJanuary 25, 2023Chesapeake Arts Centermakerspace, instructor, maker

In the Studio with Artist Seth Ellison

In the Studio with Artist Seth Ellison

The color; the depth; the symbolism; the enormity. Your breath may skip as you enter the Hal Gomer Gallery at first glimpse of Seth Ellison’s work. Massive canvases almost completely cover the walls, every inch, saturated with vibrant color. Sketchy, yet quite detailed line work is reminiscent of early satirical cartoons. Each piece of work leaves your brain reeling in an attempt to capture and decipher the copious amounts of symbolism in his compositions. Each piece varies in subject matter, but are all tied together with a common thread of southern culture.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiOctober 12, 2022Chesapeake Arts Centerpainting, illustration

In the Studio with Artist Jo Coyle

In the Studio with Artist Jo Coyle

From contemporary portraits with with loose yet intentional strokes, to gritty, abstract mixed media pieces, to fine line inked or printed pieces, Jo Coyle’s body of work displays her unwillingness to stay in one place artistically. Driven by curiosity and enthusiasm to challenge her own creative boundaries, Jo’s newest collection of paintings is her Siren series. A visual commentary on the stigmas surrounding mental health issues for women (in the most inclusive definition of the word), and how it affects them and their lives. Jo hopes for the Siren exhibit to exist as a safe place to discuss these struggles in the open while assuring other women on their own mental health journey that “it’s okay to be in the dark, and they’re not alone”.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiAugust 23, 2022Chesapeake Arts CenterMaryland, painting, mental illness

In the Studio with Artist and CAC Instructor Eric Birkin

In the Studio with Artist and CAC Instructor Eric Birkin

Meet Eric Birkin, a CAC Visual Arts and MakerSpace instructor and new Gallery Coordinator. Originally from rural Utah, Eric’s exposure to the vast world of the arts was limited. Growing up in a remote location, far from suburbia or even neighbors, Birkin spent his youth in his own introspective worlds. He spent his time developing creatures and environments that he imagined, drawing for hours. It was not until he entered college that his arts education truly began, and all that independent development started coming together. Eric received his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Utah in 2016 and continued his education here in Baltimore at the Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art where he attained his Master’s degree in Fine Arts. He has spent the last two years as an instructor at CAC and has recently taken on a new role as Gallery Coordinator. When he is not working at CAC, Eric is traveling the country with his fiancé and their new little helper, selling their artwork at conventions.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiAugust 8, 2022Maryland, painting, teacher

In the Studio with Artist Lexi Arrietta

In the Studio with Artist Lexi Arrietta

A collection of foraged and found, naturally occurring and manufactured. Lexi’s work relies heavily on her connection with nature and her ability to construct these delicately balanced sculptures that elicit curiosity and familiarity simultaneously. There is a graceful harmony in the pairing of elements she uses in each piece, transforming what they once were into a visual language she uses to process and understand her own innermost workings. Lexi grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, laying the foundation for her connection with her natural surroundings.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiJuly 14, 2022Maryland, painting, mixed media

In the Studio with Artist Colleen Harkins

In the Studio with Artist Colleen Harkins

Connecting the senses and giving form to that which has none. Colleen Harkins work is a record of lived experience, driven by process and ritual. Based on connecting the senses and her environment, her paintings as she describes them “are form given to the formless inner experience”. Abstract shapes and organic forms take shape on her canvas as visual markers, evidence of a lived moment in time and space. Colleen’s appreciation for the natural world and connecting with her environment took root growing up near Pennsylvania forests.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiJuly 14, 2022Maryland, painting, nature

In the Studio with Artist Dasha Kalumuck

In the Studio with Artist Dasha Kalumuck

Dasha has been creating art since she was very young. For her, art has been a safe outlet for her to express her feelings. Dasha’s illustrations take the form of a comic-like style, coupling witty humor with characters that she has developed over the years. She works in a variety of mediums and enjoys taking an idea and putting her own personal spin on it. Dasha has been a member artist of Make Studio since 2015. When she is not illustrating, she likes going on “crazy adventures”.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 25, 2022Maryland, illustration, mixed media, comic

In the Studio with Artist Margie Smeller

In the Studio with Artist Margie Smeller

Margie’s illustrations are a delightful combination of whimsy and color. She draws inspiration from pop films and National Geographic. Margie develops and composes her drawings into these wonderfully vibrant patterns that dance across the page. When she is not working on commissions or exhibiting her work, Margie is an accomplished athlete who competes in snowshoeing, skiing and kayaking.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 25, 2022Maryland, illustration, markers, colored pencil, patterns

In the Studio with Artist Amy Holt Cline

In the Studio with Artist Amy Holt Cline

California native, Amy Cline, channels sunshine and good vibes in her artwork. Much of her work is inspired by the ocean, nature and the rhythms of life which is evident in the vivid color palette that sprawls across her canvases. Amy’s brightly colored pieces emanate happiness and positivity. Much of her work is also set at a larger scale, making them very inviting to view and experience the pigment, textures and patterns.

Cline studied art at the University of the Arts and receive her M. A. in Art Education. She went on to develop a method of teaching science concepts utilizing art theory in her classroom. She also completed an apprenticeship under Philadelphia based artist, James Dupree and has exhibited her work in both Philadelphia and Brooklyn art spaces.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 19, 2022Maryland, painter, acrylic, vivid, mixed media, nature

In the Studio with Artist Jiwoo Shin

In the Studio with Artist Jiwoo Shin

Looking at Jiwoo Shin’s work is an experience. There is so much color, life and movement within each one. She utilizes bold brush strokes combined with intense color that create these individual abstract worlds. By layering, adding, removing, and blending her medium, you can see each paintings’ history, bringing you on a journey through her process.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 11, 2022Maryland, painting, abstract

In the Studio with Artist Lexi Arrietta

In the Studio with Artist Lexi Arrietta

Lexi Arrietta’s works of art rely heavily on nature, both in subject matter and foraged materials. She utilizes these organic forms, growths and findings and sculpts them into creations that are a visual guide and interpretation of emotion. Many of Lexi’s pieces draw from internal struggles and issues not openly discussed in our society; drawing comparisons from these feelings within herself to the natural world around her.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 11, 2022Maryland, sculpture, nature, mix media

In the Studio with Artist Stephanie Smith

In the Studio with Artist Stephanie Smith

Stephanie Smith’s portraits are filled with color and deliberate, expressive brush strokes resulting in highly emotional depictions of her subjects. Though her works are not realistic, there is a reality to them that you can feel in the way she paints them. There is movement in her strokes and depth from layering. Her use of natural light and highlighting gives her subjects an almost angelic appearance. Her work captures the essence of who she is painting.

In the StudioNicole MogyorosiApril 4, 2022Maryland, painting, portraits