CVAC CLASS INSTRUCTORS
José Paul Sacaridiz studied art and painting at Pratt Institute, under Gabriel Laderman and Martha-Mayer Earlbacher. Awarded a one-year grant to the National Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, he painted extensively at Gil Uffizi working from the drawings of the old masters. He received his BA with a concentration in Fine Arts from the State University of New York. In 2004, Mr. Sacaridiz was invited by Bennington College to participate in a Masters program that encouraged creative teaching and foreign travel. He teaches drawing and painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art.
Leroy Cross is a watercolorist who loves painting nature scenes. He has studied under such noted artists as John Pike, Don Stone and Edgar Whitney. He is a past president of Akron Society of Artists and is a member of Whiskey Painters of America.
David Everson is a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and the Whiskey Painters of America. He has received over 20 awards locally, nationally, and internationally. He has paintings in private collections in universities, Canada and Europe.
Sally Heston’s career as an artist and art teacher spans over three decades and includes work experience in a variety of media and content. Sally has a BS in art education from Indiana University of PA (cum laude) and an MEd in art from the University of Pittsburgh. She works in watercolor, pastel and acrylic. She has had several one-person exhibits and has been part of numerous group art exhibits. Her artwork is included in private collections locally and throughout the United States and Europe. She also teaches at Virginia Marti College.
Linda Hutchinson has a B.A. in French from Miami University of Ohio. She is an instructor at the University of Akron and Kent, Ohio City Schools, continuing education program in painting, drawing and calligraphy. Watercolor USA, Patron Purchase Award; Adirondacks National Exhibition, NWS, Philadelphia Watercolor 100th Anniversary Works on Paper, Award; three times finalist in Artist’s Magazine Contest. Perm Collections: Parkersburg Art Center Perm. Collection and State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio
Tom Jones received a Bachelors Degree from Akron University and a Masters Degree from Kent State. He spent over 32 years teaching art, working with oils and mixed media of many sorts. He now devotes his talents specifically to transparent watercolor.
Ken Kirkland started painting while attending junior high school by taking sculpture and painting classes at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. Later, Ken enrolled at the Applied Art Academy of Commercial Art and found a job in a graphic arts studio leading to the directorship and ownership of KHOURY ART SERVICE. Through the years, Ken has also taken fine art lessons from Jack Richard, Marc Moon, and the University of Akron. Mediums include oil, pastels, and watercolor in a technique he describes as “Impressionistic Realism”.
Elinore Korow is a nationally known portrait artist; is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art; and was a student of the renowned Rolf Stoll. A designer for American Greetings, she has had her own portrait studio since 1973. She has had major juried and invitational exhibitions: National Academy of Design, New York City; World Trade Center, New York City; Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Show, Golden, Colorado; Arts Club, Washington D.C.; National Traveling Exhibition, American Watercolor Society; Charter member of O.W.S; and many more. She is listed in Marquis “Who’s Who In American Art”.
Carolyn Lewis is inspired by nature, wildlife and people. Her work has been selected to exhibit in a number of local, regional, and national art competitions. Carrie is a signing member of the Akron Society of Artists, Portrait Society of America and a founding member of the Portrait Guild of Ohio.
Jack Liberman paints primarily in oils with emphasis on portraits and landscapes. He has a B.F.A. from Kent State University and graduate work at Art Students league in New York. He has studies with National Academy members Frank Mason, Everett A. Kintsler and Ivan Ohnsky. He is represented locally by Gallery Blue in Medina.
Kate Murgatroyd She is a long time member of Cuyahoga Valley Art Center and the Hudson Society of Artists, Peninsula Art Academy. Kate’s work has been in several solo shows and received awards. She has studied with Carl Musgrave, and Marc Moon to name a few.
Beth Lindenberger has a B.F.A. in ceramics from the University of Akron. She is a studio artist and art educator, adjunct faculty at Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State - Stark campus and has taught clay classes at CVAC since 1985. She has worked as an artist in schools, on numerous public tile murals and exhibits her ceramic work.
Dino Massaroni has been a professional portrait artist and an instructor for 20 years, and has won numerous awards in major regional and national competitions. The style of his work is distinguished by its high degree of natural realism. He is a past president of the Akron Society of Artists.
Susan Mencini graduated in 1980 from Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, and then went on to study at Kent State University. She married, never straying too far from creativity and art, yet raising a family took priority. Eight years ago she became a volunteer and member of Cuyahoga Valley Art Center where she has taken numerous workshops and classes. She is in her second year of teaching a children’s after school art class at the center. For the past seven school years she has instructed several area home schooled families in art; developing a curriculum with various approaches. This fall she will begin her second year of teaching art at Cornerstone Community School in Stow.
Jack Mulhollen’s specialty is watercolor. He is affiliated with numerous art groups and holds full active membership in the Oho Watercolor Society and the Whiskey Painters of America. He has participated in exhibits that have honored him with many awards including over eight Best of Show and First Awards. His work has been selected by the OWS to be included in their annual travel show, 1988-89 and 1989-90; also chosen for the First Purchase Award, Brecksville, Ohio, 1988; and is currently included in The Creative Artist, authored by Nita Leland.
Robert Putka trained in B.F.A., Art Education at Kent State University where he has worked towards a M.A. in Art Education. He is with the Stow City School System where he has been teaching for over 20 years and nominated as “Outstanding Educator”. He has had works exhibited at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Massillon Museum and Butler Institute of Art. Robert has been teaching the Children’s Art classes at CVAC for many years. He is art instructor at Stow High School where he serves as the art department chairman.
Mary Sanders is a graduate of Western Reserve University, studied art at the Cleveland School of Art and has an Art Education degree from the University of Akron. She has taught art in the public schools, many adult group lessons, CVAC and in her home studio. She is a member of the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Hudson Society of Artists and Woman’s Art League. Mary works primarily in acrylics and watercolor, and has exhibited in many local and some out of state shows.
Paul Adams received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Dayton. He studied watercolor painting under Barney Cole, Tony Cross, Jack Mulhollen, Marc Moon, and Mel Stabin. Paul enjoys painting landscapes, portraits, and figures. He has won several local awards and is a member of Hudson Society of Artists and Cuyahoga Valley Art Center.
Diane Keske Talmadge began her studies with Jack Richards and eventually studied portraiture with Daniel Greene of New York. A very prolific artist, Diane has many paintings hanging in public buildings and private collections throughout the country. She teaches at the Richfield Art Center and here at CVAC. Diane is a member of Peninsula Art Academy, the Portrait Society of America, the Women’s Art League of Akron, and the Hudson Society of Art.
Mark Giangaspero began studying with Richard at the age of eleven and is now a professional painter... (a work was recently accepted into the permanent collection of the Butler Museum of American Art.) Giangospero has taught painting at the Quirk Center and does restoration and framing at the studios.
