On display now through March 12, 2025...
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Sharon Fedor
Art has always been part of my life. I find the creative process is a great escape that brings me peace. I grew up in Euclid and in high school was enrolled in a two-year commercial art program. This led to a position in the advertising department at the nostalgic Halle’s, in downtown Cleveland. When Halle’s closed in 1982, I began my career as a public safety dispatcher where I was also trained as a forensic artist. I was used primarily for criminal composite sketches which I found to be a fascinating and rewarding process. Although quite different than drawing from a person’s memory, I believe this is where my love of portraits began. Shortly after retirement I took an open studio painting class and was immediately hooked. The classroom setting was inspiring, I learned the proper building process and the use of beautiful colors. Nothing quite compares to the enjoyment I get while painting. I work in acrylics and favor doing portraits of people, pets and wildlife.
Yvonne Delgado Thomas
As an artist, my journey is deeply rooted in the landscapes of rural Geauga County, where I grew up surrounded by the serene beauty of farms, fields, and quiet country settings. My identity as a woman artist of Hispanic heritage informs my perspective and stories I wish to tell through my art. Inspired by my late father, a self-made artist and musician, I have been creating since childhood, honing my craft as I transitioned into young adulthood. His influence continues to inspire me to this day. Art has always been a channel for my appreciation of the world around me. My experiences growing up in rural Geauga have instilled in me a profound respect for nature and a yearning to capture its beauty on canvas. Through my work, I seek to express the vibrant colors and awe-inspiring landscapes that often elude my camera. This passion culminated in my project, "Life in Color," where I blend my techniques from years of painting rain barrels- an endeavor I have contributed to for over 15 years-that includes spray paint and traditional acrylic painting celebrating the natural wonders of Ohio. My creative process is a meditation on light, color, and the emotions they evoke. I strive to transport viewers to those remarkable sunsets, tranquil skies, and poignant pastures and fields. Each stroke aims to conjure feelings of peace, rejuvenation, joy, and faith. I am particularly drawn to old rural architecture-the barns, silos, milking parlors, and root cellars-that are slowly fading from our landscape. Their quiet dignity resonates deeply with me, and I am saddened by their slow deterioration yet humbled by their role from days gone by. Through my art, I hope to cultivate a greater appreciation for the natural world and its fleeting beauty. I invite viewers to reflect on their own connections to these spaces, to embrace the tranquility, and to feel the pulse of life that runs through every color and shadow. My work is not just a representation of what is, but a celebration of what can be an invitation to see the world through a lens of wonder and respect.
