Spring Palette Virtual Art Show Part 2

Celebrate creativity and welcome the season of Spring! Enjoy our virtual art “gallery” filled with color, texture, imagination and inspiration. Peruse our online gallery and experience a palette of unique oil paintings, watercolor paintings, prints, pencil drawings, and much more all created by our very own local artists. You may even find a home for an art piece as many of the artworks will be available for purchase. Let our 17th annual show ignite your passion for art!

Featured works by our talented friends, who have been past participants in our annual show. These artists worked hard on each piece; all artwork shown is original, private property and cannot be replicated or reprinted without artist consent. These talented artists bring their masterpieces to life through composition, color, and technique. If you’re interested in purchasing one of these pieces, contact Westmont Park District at 630-969-8080 for pricing and how to purchase a piece from the artist.

To view part one, click here.

Virtual Art Show Part 2:

Sandra Ragan

“I grew up in La Grange, IL, and have always been creative. I took private art lessons as a child and majored in Art History in College. I am a member of the La Grange Art League, the Riverside Arts Center, and Studio 630, a local arts group. Every year, I enter an art piece in the Fest for Beatles Fan’s art contest, and have won either 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd place every year, except one, since 2006. I participated in 3 of the La Grange IL summer art walks, and have a plaque permanently mounted in La Grange. Since 2012, I have been showing my art at the Dancing Krow art studio and Gallery in Oak Park, I also have some of my work at the Buzz Café, in Oak Park. In Aug 2017, my art was featured in a women’s artist publication, called Startists, which is available for purchase on Amazon. From 2016 to present, my Ringo painting has been included in an international traveling art show called, All you need is paint, which has been traveling thru Italy, being displayed in restaurants and shopping malls. It was part of the 2016 International Beatles week in Liverpool, England. In Nov, 2019 I had a solo art show at the La Grange Library. I enjoy working in most mediums, including oil, acrylic, ink, watercolor, pastels, quilting, linoleum prints, and mosaics. During the Pandemic, I have still been creating, and will always do so, as long I am privileged to be on this earth. I have a website, www.sanddansart.com and an Etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/sanddan0593, where I sell my work.

I find that painting is my way of truly expressing myself, and my special gift from God, I hope you enjoy viewing my creations, as much as I did creating them.”

DArold Drew

“The world around us abounds with images that stimulate our senses. Capturing the beautiful and sometimes unique images from behind my camera, I have been rewarded with a record of many fond memories, represented by flowers, landscapes, sunsets, sunrises and points of interest from travels.”

Below are his photos “Ray of Hope” and “In the Garden”

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Patricia Mroczka

“Painting is a fundamental part of my life. The act of creating takes me to places with no limits–an opportunity to use my imagination and experimentation. I tell my story in watercolors, reaching the observer and leading them down a path of beautiful imagery through vibrant colors and elaborate detail.
D’Arches watercolor paper and Daniel Smith watercolors are my favorite materials. I begin by applying wet on wet, then using extensive layering of colors to obtain deep, rich tones. Not all paintings reach my expectations, but the worthy ones are completed using a plain frame, mat and UV glass. Recently I’ve been using wood panels, applying watercolor varnish, then glueing the watercolors (painted on 100% rag paper, 300 lb.) on the panels. A signature member of the Illinois Watercolor Society, I was honored to receive a honorable mention at the National Watercolor Shows in Dixon IL. I am also a member of the Downers Grove Art Guild, Naperville Art League and Nature Artists’ Guild, and received several awards also with the DuPage Art League, LaGrange Art League. In September 2018 I was accepted for the acclaimed Naperville Riverwalk Art Show, and was honored when my artwork was used in their advertising. I’ve also been accepted by the Alliance of Fine Arts Best of the Best Show the past 3 years.”

Below are her paintings “Ginger Bloom” and “Peace.”

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Sharon O’conor Sleezer

“When brush meets canvas, I begin a grand adventure, seeking new paths to explore creativity and imagination through my use of color and design. If my expression in paint connects with the viewer’s emotions or their sense of soul, my adventure then becomes a shared experience. That’s the real Joy! As a child of an artist, my exposure to creating art came at a very young age. My mother’s drawings and paintings stimulated my creative juices for life! While raising my own family, my skills and techniques were further honed under the guiding hand of artist/teacher/mentor Bobbie Buchanan. Classes and workshops attended at the College of DuPage, the Hinsdale Center of the Arts, and the LaGrange Art League also played a role in my development.”

Below are her oil on canvas paintings, “The Musician – My New Orleans” and “The Farm Stand.”

Karen Remkus

“I am a nature lover and my art depicts things found in the natural world. I do botanicals, plants, butterflies and birds and scenes from the outdoors. Most of my art is done in oils and watercolor. My hope is that my paintings will inspire others to go out in nature and they instill an appreciation and respect for Mother earth.”

Ryan McKenna

“Ryan paints with acrylics on canvas, wood and ceramics. She is self-taught and has been painting since 1989. Ryan also works with other mediums such as pencil, crayon, water color, and creates abstract pieces of art. Ryan has been a member and show participant at the Naperville Art League in Naperville, IL. Ryan lives in Illinois with her husband, Rob. They are both athletes and avid readers. Ryan is a self-published author of a cookbook, a book of poetry and several novels. For more information on Ryan’s art or books, she can be contacted at ryanmckennabooks@yahoo.com.”

Below are her pieces “Faceless Date” and Lion Acrylic on Canvas.

Jean Heasley

“Jean resides in Westmont and has enjoyed a lifelong interest in drawing and painting. Her current artistic focus is on sketching and oil painting. Her still lifes and landscapes often portray nature with rich color, texture, and dramatic lighting. The joy of creating art and the calming nature of oil paint keep Jean in the flow!”

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Carrie Rymek

“Happy Spring! Creativity has always been important to me; whether arranging my personal environment, dabbling in jewelry making, or expressing myself using colored pencils or paints. I love color and learning the technique of using different mediums. For me, subject matter ranges from realistic to abstract expression, depending on my mood. Always my own worst critic, I’m learning to enjoy where I am at the moment!”

Jan Yedinak

“I have been a Westmont resident for 35 years and began painting watercolor four years ago after retiring from a career in technology. I am drawn to watercolor due to its transparency and the beautiful effects that occur when colors blend. I have always been interested in art, and coincidentally my grandfather took art classes at the Art Institute of Chicago 100 years ago!”

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MAry Launi

“Mary has been a resident of Westmont for 25 years. She is a graduate of Columbia College in Chicago and studied Botanical Illustration at The Morton Arboretum. Mary gets her inspiration from nature.”

Kyle Pappalardo

“Kyle has a BFA in ceramics from Truman State University. She has been working in the field as a ceramic artist and instructor for over 8 years. She also runs her independent business K.M.Pottery. Her work focuses on capturing the beauty of naturally occuring patterns and finding unique ways of subtly portraying them in the body of both her sculptural and functional work. You can find more of her work at kmpottery.indiemade.com, or at etsy.com/shop/KMPotteryDesign.

Apostalia Vallianatos

“I love to work with my hands. I think the world is created beautifully, and I enjoy, and want to be a part of that beauty, while increasing it. I think creating pieces of art does that for the artist, and hopefully for the people viewing it. All of my artworks are original, copyrighted pieces I created, drew, designed, painted, and inked, which cannot be copied without my permission. I mostly do watercolor, and ink, but I enjoy an abundance of other mediums.”

Mike Johnson

“Mike has enjoyed drawing since he was a child. His sketch book is filled with pencil and ink drawings including Looney Tunes characters, cowboys, churches, eagles, butterflies, flowers and birds. Most recently he is enriching his drawings with watercolor pencils. In addition to art, he enjoys gardening which inspires his art work.”

Barbara Tatic

“These paintings were done in the ancient technique of egg tempera. The pigments are derived from plants and minerals. Many layers are applied beginning with darkness and moving toward light. Each step in the process is prayerful and symbolic. The artist has studied with Russian and Byzantine masters.”

Below are her creations, “Mother Mary and Child” and “Archangel Gabriel.”

Thank you for viewing our art. We hope you enjoyed it! If you’re interested in purchasing one of these pieces, contact Westmont Park District at 630-969-8080 for pricing and how to purchase a piece from the artist.