Joanne Mclaren

Owner, Art Escape Gallery

Watercolor, Pastel and Acrylic
 

Growing up in Princeton NJ, I was introduced to art at a young age. I fell in love with painting, and art remained my focus through college where I studied for a few years at Mason Gross School of the Arts.  Shifting to a business major, I had a productive career as a business process consultant and worked throughout the United States as well as for clients in Europe and Central America.

After a relocation to Venice Florida, I happily shed my corporate life, put down the project plans and picked up my paintbrushes! Inspired by the beauty of the southeast, I create seascape and landscape paintings that capture the movement and color found in the area. Plein Air painting is my new love, and you will find me painting outdoors with groups along the coast. I am fascinated by the ever-changing big Florida sky, the gorgeous water and amazing trees. I feel like I have come full circle and am blessed to be able to live my dream.

Oil

Heather began her love of art very early in life. Her grandmothers and her parents were influential and endlessly provided her with books, crafts, supplies and encouragement. Her ever present interest of the human form led her to briefly attend med school. Her studies of anatomy, art history and ceramics were a clue that art was her calling and should be followed through. Heather’s path has taken time with many twists and turns only to bring to light that oil painting excited her as much as the figure, and so she began her career as a professional oil painter.

Heather enjoys painting any subject but her first love is the figure. “The perfection of the human body, the curves, the movement, how a being sees and looks back at me, how it walks across a room, it’s all perfect. Figures are a vehicle for me to show my appreciation of the grace and mechanics of life’s ultimate creation.”

Pastel

Barbara Archer-Baldwin, PSA :  Internationally  known for her pastel paintings, she has also illustrated, in pen and ink, several published books and periodicals, and occasionally works in oil, acrylic. She has written one published book of Pastel Lessons.

Painting pastels is her passion, teaching about them is her mission.

She has many awards, both national and local, to her credit,  juried acceptances into many national and international shows.

Photography

Our natural world is full of color, textures, motion, dimension and amazing lighting.   My goal is to capture the beauty in those fleeting moments and present them in a pleasing composition.  

Artisan Jewelry

Jessica creates unique jewelry using aluminum and copper.  She shapes and layers her pieces to create interesting wearable works of art. 

Enamel Artist

I love art that convert a thought and opens up a conversation., I frequently draw upon inspiration from the Modern Art Philosophy which emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression while combining a fluid evolution of thought and process.

I'm moved to observe social and environmental concerns and incorporate the comes questions and answers into the works' abstract forms.  Working from an intuitive place allows shapes and figures to emerge as the story unfolds. The titles serve as a starting point for your own interpretation.

Photography

having lived in the area for 50 years, I am also a graduate of Venice High.  I have certainly seen a world of changes in our area, but the beauty is still here. During the years, travel and photography, and my love of nature has brought a great serenity to my spirit and given me an earnest desire to share my work of all of God's creations.  From the beach to the mountains, through the various seasons, there is beauty everywhere; thus, my love of the Vision of Nature.

I am fortunate that my work has been on exhibit through the years at Selby Gardens; The Meadows; Sarasota Senior Friendship Center - First Prize: Macro of Dandelion; Oscar Scherer Earth Day - First & Third Prize:  Butterfly & Heron; Wells Fargo Advisors exhibits in Venice and Sarasota; and numerous exhibits at Jacaranda Library.

Pottery and Glass Sculpture

Julie is a French Canadian who has been living in Sarasota, Florida for the past 20 years. Her art reflects a direct inspiration of the seashore that is her adopted home. She has always been fascinated by glass. For her, glass fusing is mad science with endless possibilities.

Oil and Pastel Paintings

Being mostly self-taught Kathleen has been sketching since she was a child. Her love of art continued through high school where she received the Student Art Award her senior year.Kathleen had a strong foundation in design and studied fashion and interior design at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. But her first love was painting - people, animals, and nature.After raising her two daughters Kathleen started painting again. She took classes regularly and as many workshops as she could, and still continues to do so. She likes to stay current with the latest techniques and feels there is always more to learn.

Kathleen's mediums of choice are pastels, oil, and watercolor.

Watercolor Paintings

Keith is an award-winning watercolor painter who does most paintings en plein air. I’ve been a working artist most of my life.  I was a professional photographer but now I focus on watercolors. I enjoy painting on location (plein air). Painting directly, I complete most paintings on the scene in one go. It is a fun way to paint and suits my style. Go out and paint, get it done, and have coffee. Even if the painting doesn’t turn out it was an honest try.

Keith is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society, the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society and various local painting groups. His paintings are in collections throughout the country and can be seen in several galleries in southwest Florida

Pottery and Glass

Raised in Maryland, graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA & MAT, I taught in Maryland for 12 years & in Sarasota county for 17years at Venice Middle School 2years & Pine View for 15 years. I retired in September of 2016. My first love has always been any type of clay. I started working with clay when I was 15 years old. I am now working with colored porcelain and have started adding lusters. My second favorite medium is fused glass, both functional and decorative. I live in Nokomis with my husband and two golden doodles.

Oil Paintings

"I am ever on my journey of learning what the paint can do, and what I, the artist can do."

Carols work has been featured in galleries from SC to Naples, FL. Her paintings hang in prominent personal collections from coast to coast. Her work is on permanent exhibition in:  Charleston Mayor's office, Roper Hospital , Bon Secour St. Francis Hospital, Roper Mount Pleasant, the Cancer Center and Mamie Whitesides Elementary School. .

Jewelry Designer 

Nancy creates interesting hand made, wire wrapped jewelry made with reclaimed shells, sea glass and beach stones from the Gulf Coast Beaches. Original designs-no two alike

Pastel Paintings

Laura Pollak is an award winning Fine Artist, showing her works in galleries and museums across the nation. Her works are in International Juried Shows and Galleries and Museums across the nation.

Watercolor Paintings

In 10th grade I took a class in Sumi-E and fell in love. I never forgot that class. In 2015, many years later after raising a family and retiring from a career in Public Health I picked up where I left off and started painting again. 

I find watercolor to be the most challenging because it's not easy to do, it keeps your attention and has a mind of its own. I also dabble in some of my other  favorites  Sumi-E, acrylics, pastels and resin works. 

Watercolor Paintings

Descended from a long line of artists, with art training since eleven years old, Nancy Rose is a professional award winning artist who is listed in “Who’s Who” for American Art. She has exhibited extensively, including in the New Britain Museum of American Art. She is a Juried member of the prestigious Connecticut Watercolor Society and is also a member of Sarasota's Women Contemporary Artists. 

Photography

Whether it be a visit to the water’s edge in southwest Florida or traveling to an ancient hilltop town

somewhere  in  Europe, John  finds  his  Inspiration  on in the  fragments of  the  larger picture. By  adding

splashes of color and exaggerato ng textures, he creates a very personal interpretation. John has been

painting with light for 47 years. His photography has been honored with solo exhibits in New England.

He has received first place recognition from the Venice and Englewood Art Centers. John’s images have

also been published in various local newspapers.   

Paper Collage and Pastel Paintings

The spirit of an artist is said to be exquisitely captured within their body of work through many dynamic elements.  Medium alone can say so much about the energy and nature of an artist.  In the case of Florida based artist Raven Skye McDonough, her personality is one eclectic, vivacious presence seen in her vibrant mixed media, non-traditional collage work.  Employing layer upon layer of different patterned papers, Raven Skye combines intense color, texture, and pattern to create glorious scenes from nature, drawing the viewer in to explore the vibrant tapestry of her art.  In addition, her use of patterned papers instead of solid color, as well as one of her techniques with original photographs, sets Raven Skye apart from her contemporaries.  Her collage work is a true representation of her very creative, unique character

Artisan Jewelry

I love creating beautiful, unique pieces for everything from casual to elegant wear and all points in between.  Each piece is one of a kind and I take great pride in creating each and every one. Draped In Jewelry is a collection of unique, one-of-a-kind, custom jewelry.  Each piece shown has been designed and created using a variety of materials such as
semi-precious stones, artisan glass, Swarovski crystals with a mixture of metals, in particular sterling and fine silver.

Oil Paintings

Amy Weber creates beautiful ceramic pieces and oil paintings.

My artwork is a reflection of the beauty I observe everyday in nature. It is a statement of how mankind needs to preserve our environment and take heed to his footsteps that are left.