Artist Carl Basco’s works include inking, watercolor, metal sculpture and other media.  Born in Chicago and raised in Milwaukee, Carl is married to his beautiful wife Dorothy and they have lived in Menomonee Falls for over 45 years.  He has five children and 12 grandchildren.  Carl graduated from Pulaski High School and then played Professional Minor League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians.  He served two years in the Army.

Carl studied Art at Milwaukee Teachers College (now UWM) under such Masters as John Colt, Ted Kranik and Joseph Friebert.  Carl’s work is nature centered, often featuring birds, trees, and farm scenes.  It can be described as representative without being strictly realistic.  He has exhibited in galleries in Door County, Green Bay, The Starving Artist (Mount Mary Campus), MOWA in West Bend and two galleries in Milwaukee (Bressler and St. John’s on the Lake).  Carl has earned many awards in Art in the Milwaukee area.  Private commissions have been carried out in varied media.  

This influential quote by the famous Danish poet Piet Hein summarizes Carl’s passion for art:

“I am a humble artist
moulding my earthly clod, 
adding my labour to nature's, 
simply assisting God. 
Not that my labour is needed, 
yet somehow I understand, 
my Maker has deemed it that I too should have
Unmoulded clay in my hand.”
 

Carl's Pen and Inks sell so well that BDH may not have what is featured, but a large collection is available to pick from and they range in price from $75 to $225 for an original...there are no prints.

Cheryl Becht was born into a talented family, growing up surrounded by artists and musicians.  Her grandmother was an accomplished pianist while her other grandmother and an aunt were porcelain painters.  She often jokes that her mother was a "hooker" (rug hooker that is).  Cheryl was only eight years old when she painted on porcelain for the first time at her aunt's kitchen table.

       While at Augustana College, Cheryl selected music as her course of study with a minor in art.  Following college, she remained in Rock Island, Illinois initially teaching vocal music.  Later she entered the elementary classroom and completed her career in education as a school counselor.  Upon retirement, Cheryl's first purchase was a kiln that took her back to china painting.  She painted on plates and cups, but has moved from that to painting pictures on tiles that have been framed or incorporated into pieces of art for homes.  Also, many a Christmas gift has been wrapped and tied with her hand-painted ornaments which are sold exclusively at the Blue Dolphin House.

       Moving to Door County inspired Cheryl to branch out to other mediums and she now paints with watercolors, draws with pen and ink and uses photography as other ways to portray her beautiful surroundings.  Her rendition of the Eagle Bluff lighthouse in Peninsula State Park was selected to be sold on cards and other items at the lighthouse's gift shop.

       Cheryl spends many hours each day at the kitchen counter painting for pleasure and for other people's enjoyment.

Ratindra Das is a Dolphin Fellow and a signature memberof the American Watercolor Society. He is also signature member of National Watercolor Society and six other watercolor societies and  has been recognized as Distinguished Master in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.   He is recipient of numerous awards includingeight in the American Watercolor Society. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and studied with many nationally known artists. He was invited to exhibit in the 1st "Shanghai Zhujiajiao International Watercolor Biennial Exhibition" and in the exhibition of " InternationalWatermedia Masters in Nanjing, China", "Taiwan World Watercolor Competition", Republic of China. He has been appointed as Honorary Member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute.   A popular workshop instructor and frequent juror of shows and competitions, he has served as a selection juror for the American Watercolor Society and many other nationalexhibitions. He has conducted workshops and seminars throughout the US, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Singapore and China .He frequently gives demonstrations to general public as well as artists' groups.
Ratindra has just published his second book, "Watercolor-with an Eye for Design" . The first book  "Watercolor Beyond Obvious Reality- a workshop in a book" is still available through his website www.RatindraDas.net.

He has been featured in several books and magazines and was included in a featured article "Break the Rules" in "Watercolor Magazine", by American Artist, "Workshop 101" in Watercolor Artist, andin "Best of America Watermedia Artists, Vol 2".He produced a workshop video titled"Painting a Personal Reality in Watercolor".  He is represented by the Blue Dolphin House and Gallery, Ephraim, Wisconsin; Mullaly's 128 Gallery, Elk Rapids, MI; Li Fine Art Gallery in Singapore.

Signature Membership

Dolphin Fellow /American Watercolor Society
National Watercolor Society
Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Master Status)
Northwest Watercolor Society
Mississippi Watercolor Society
Watercolor West. Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society
North East Watercolor Society
Honorary Member-Jiangsu Province Watercolor Research Institute, China
Montana Watercolor Society

Awards (National and Regional)

American Watercolor Society
Adirondack National
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia
San Diego Watercolor Society International
National Watercolor Society, Watercolor USA
Watercolor West, Midwest Watercolor Society Award
Arizona Watercolor Association, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society
Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, North East Watercolor Society
National Watercolor Oklahoma Award
Northwest Watercolor Society Award
Texas Watercolor Society, Montana Watercolor Society

Collections

Elmhurst Art Museum
Miller Art Museum
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Benchmarc Display
Good Shepherd Hospital
DuPage County Courthouse
Kane County Courthouse
Amoco Corporation,Interlake
Sunbeam, First American Savings
Argonne National Laboratory
and Many other Private collections.

Gallery Affiliation

Blue Dolphin House and Gallery, Ephraim, Wisconsin
Diane Pearl Gallery, Ajijic, Mexico
Mullaly's Studio & Gallery, Elk Rapids, MI
Li Fine Art Gallery, Singapore

Publications

Published recently "Watercolor Beyond Obvious Reality"

Included in:

Strengthen Your Paintings with Dynamic Composition by Frank Webb
Splash 3 edited by Rachel Wolf
Best of Watercolor edited by Betty Lou Schlem and Tom Nicholas
Watercolor Abstract, Watercolor Places, published by Rockport Publishers
Best of Watercolor, Painting Color
Best of Watercolor 2
Best of Watercolor 3
Watercolor Expressions
The Artistic Touch
Best of America Watermedia Artists

Featured in:

Listed in Who's Who in American Art
“The Artist’s Magazine”, 2001/ 2003
Watercolor Magic Oct 2005
Included in “International Artist” magazine showcase, Oct/Nov, 2001

Northern Wisconsin based abstract painter, Kimberly Erickson, has been creating alcohol ink on aluminum paintings since 2015. Her unique paintings sometimes have a landscape or natural feel, as she draws inspiration from her rural surroundings in Dunbar. She is especially drawn to water, which is evident in her flowy style in many of her pieces. Kimberly’s paintings are almost luminescent with rich, vibrant colors as light influences the depth of color. Her artwork transitioned from one-of-a-kind clocks, where she inked the aluminum faces, to paintings that she showcases in Midwest galleries. Erickson graduated with a BS in art from UW La Crosse.

         Susan has an unending curiosity about human behavior, relationships, and a love for pets which she often incorporates into her work.  She loves to play with color, design, and composition.  She enjoys working narratives into her pieces, which are often whimsical and tongue-in-cheek. Susan loves the creative process because it connects her with others.

        Each year Martin donates her original art work to four silent auctions—the Waupaca High School Student Art Scholarship Fund event at the Ale House, the Waupaca County Humane Society, the Portage County Humane Society, and the Waupaca ALS Chapter event at Simpson’s Restaurant in downtown Waupaca.  Susan is also a member of the Northeastern Wisconsin Watercolor Society, the Door County Art League, Mid-Wisconsin Chippers, the Waupaca Area Woodcarvers, Rural Rembrandts, the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, the Cedarburg Cultural Center, and Wisconsin Visual Artists’  Northeastern Chapter.

         Susan has an unending curiosity about human behavior, relationships, and a love for pets which she often incorporates into her work.  She loves to play with color, design, and composition.  She enjoys working narratives

into her pieces, which are often whimsical and tongue-in-cheek. Susan loves the creative process because it connects her with others.

        Each year Martin donates her original art work to four silent auctions—the Waupaca High School Student Art Scholarship Fund event at the Ale House, the Waupaca County Humane Society, the Portage County Humane Society, and the Waupaca ALS Chapter event at Simpson’s Restaurant in downtown Waupaca.  Susan is also a member of the Northeastern Wisconsin Watercolor Society, the Door County Art League, Mid-Wisconsin Chippers, the Waupaca Area Woodcarvers, Rural Rembrandts, the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, the Cedarburg Cultural Center, and Wisconsin Visual Artists’  Northeastern Chapter.

        Susan’s work is for sale at the Blue Dolphin Gallery in Door County and the Revival in downtown Waupaca and welcomes commissioned personalized carving orders through them.  Her paintings are also at Simpson’s, Little Fat Gretchen’s, and the Green Fountain Inn restaurants in Waupaca, Chameleo in King, the Village Hive Bakery in Amherst, and the Silver Coach restaurant in Stevens Point.  

For me, photography is about discovery. I have made thousands of images of little scenes, quiet places, and seemingly insignificant things, mostly in Wisconsin, but also in other places when I travel. The four seasons figure prominently in life, and many of my photographs reflect this. Over the years, I have become increasingly aware of the persistence of nature and how we live with her, the character of her seasons, the quality of light at different times of the year, and how quickly we go from celebrating the exhilarating arrivals of Spring to the beautiful departures of Fall.

Photographs give us a kind of “next chance” to look more deliberately at what may have been missed or forgotten. They are my way of extending memories and inquiries by holding on to time and the elements that came together in those moments.

I have come to know and appreciate that I would have missed many things and moments in my life, had it not been for photography.

Since the very first humans made art on cave walls I am certain that all things aesthetic are elemental for the well being of mankind. Personally, the need and appreciation for beautiful things gives me the philosophy that artists (of all kinds) exist to insure that the aesthetic element is provided for all humanity.
     I was born and grew up in rural, Missouri.  When my first grade teacher hung the class art projects up over the blackboard, (my first art show), I knew I wanted to be an artist!  Even then I had the idea that all living things needed some aesthetic food for spiritual/psychological survival.
     In my 40 years as an artist, I have mastered my own style, enjoyed a rich, artistic experience and find my work included in many public and private collections.
     I love the idea that art is communication so delight in using subtle symbolism in colorful compositions that are artistic and pleasurable. Small moments in life, sitting alone or with friends in conversation over a glass of wine; tending flowers in your own garden or catching a glimpse of light in your house upon returning home....that feeling, the profound recognition of humanity at ease, is my subject. If my art brings a smile or a nonverbal connection, on any level, to just a few kindred spirits, my mission is accomplished!  Indulge your sense of well being by adding art to your home.

As artists and teachers, we pursue our passion for clay with a sense of responsibility to share and celebrate the joy of the material. We’ve played with clay for over thirty years. Its sensuality enamored us from the very first touch and has inspired a style of work that strives to retain a “visual” softness even after the pieces are kiln fired. Clay is one of earth’s most abundant and magical materials. Responsive when wet, fragile when dry, then strengthened by its often unpredictable journey in the kiln firing. Our work is inspired by all that we take time to enjoy and observe in life, and the mystery of the fire has taught us to embrace the failures and successes that provide both humility and elation.

David has been working with wood since 1975 when he made his first piece of furniture, a 1900’s farm style kitchen table.

Wood By DSA cutting boards are end grain cutting boards. End grains combine to create wonderful designs that make each board unique. The end grain of hardwood is also an ideal cutting surface. The combination of careful sanding and durable finishes makes these boards remarkably resistant to wear and tear.

Wood By DSA produces a variety of wood products from pens to furniture. Our wood products are handmade from select grades of North American maple, cherry, walnut, pine, and other wood varieties. Some products are made with wood imported from South America and other countries.

Enjoy the beauty and versatility of wood. If you have a desire to have something made from wood ask a woodworker. They can probably make it happen.

Through my work I attempt to integrate my various identities of woman, mother, friend and artist with my associations to those women in our history who also spent time sewing, quilting, knitting and handling fibers throughout our history, I am inspired in my work by the spirits of those who came before me, those whom I know presently and all others still to come.
It is my desire to express my concern for truth, justice and peace and to challenge some of the stereotypes concerning the human condition and its relationship to the universe. My final hope is to express hope.”
Wisconsin native, Mary Jo Scandin, has many years of experience in surface design. Receiving an art degree from the University of Wisconsin at Superior, Mary Jo began her career as an art teacher, later devoting her time to creating and exhibiting her own fiber work. She and her husband, Jim opened Serendipity, their studio/gallery in Sister Bay, which they operated for nineteen years. For may years Mary Jo has been creating designs for garments in a clothing line which she sold from her Door County studio. Mary Jo’s vivid silk paintings and whimsical drawings have led to illustrations of children’s books. She has illustrated three children’s books: Gloria , the Christmas Angel, The Stray, and Rosanna, the Rainbow Angel. These books were published in 2000 and 2001.

I’ve always been an artist, obsessed with coloring as a child. In my 20s and 30s, while raising my son, portraits of children and pets led to commissions of more serious portraiture in pastel. Later a 25-year career as the home content editor at Romantic Homes, Country Home and Midwest Living magazines took time away from painting. But my magazine credentials, artistic talents and interior design expertise blended, leading to HGTV appearances, media trend interviews, trade show talks and, ultimately, being chosen as one of three judges for the highly rated 2011 Des Moines Art Festival. Along the way, while designing multiple magazine show homes and hundreds of room sets, I found, surprisingly, that most principles that apply to interior design also apply to compositional painting. Lessons in color, scale, balance, rhythm and more, in room design, prepared me for returning to painting in retirement.

I am mostly self-taught, but since retiring to Door County, I have augmented my skills in numerous classes with nationally known pastel artists at The Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. I was chosen as the Emerging Artist at the 2018 Sturgeon Bay Fine Arts Fair. I was a member of the Door County Art League, have been invited to exhibit in numerous shows at The Francis Hardy Center for the Arts in Ephraim (where I currently serve as a docent), have had pieces hung in several local restaurants, donate my work yearly to raise funds for local charities, and have had success in selling my art to numerous private collectors.

My paintings are rendered on archival sanded pastel paper intended to “grab” the small particles of pigment that make up each stick of colored pastel. Created with pure pigment mixed with just a little water and binder (nothing more) is why pastel paintings are so luminous, intensely colorful and why they never fade. It is also why pastel paintings must be kept under glass for protection.

As an artist living in Door County, I find unending inspiration in its shorelines, woods and pastoral back roads. I observe how sunlight and shadow affect a landscape and render it in a more intensely colorful way with my own artistic vision. I have stepped away from a pure representational style (as in earlier portraiture) into a slightly softer, impressionistic interpretation that the pastel medium is perfect for rendering. I tend to work quickly, and pastels offer an immediacy that suits me. Working the “magic” into each piece is what keeps me inspired as an artist.

Annette Schuh

There is brightest light evident in darkest shadow and deepest shadow inherent in brightest light. I am fascinated by the shapes and colors of shadows. I love how they identify an object and reduce it to two dimensions. At the same time a flat shadow may fall on a surface with dimensions and colors of its own. The shadow conforms to the topography and darkens, cools and lowers the intensity of the colors it envelops. The shadow lies at the feet of the object which is in strong light casting the shadow. The subject rises out of the shadow in contrasting light, warmth and vibrancy. My intent is to show the viewer something familiar in a way that he/she will see it differently than before, in other words, in a new light.

Bachelor of Science in Art Education, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Juried Exhibits: Watercolor Wisconsin: 2021, 2017, 2015, 2008, 2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1981, 1980, 1979 National Watercolor Society: 1981, 1980, 1979, 1976 Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition: 1997, 1982, 1981, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1975 Marietta National: 1980, 1978 Wisconsin Biennial: 1980, 1978 Invitational Exhibits: Watercolor Wisconsin 25th Anniversary Exhibit: Racine, Wisconsin: 1991 Watercolor West: Chase Fine Arts Gallery, Utah State University: 1982, 1981 Watercolor Invitational: Edna Carlsten Gallery, UW Stevens Point: 1980 Still Life We View and Use: Miller Art Center, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin: 1992 Two person exhibit: Riverfront Art Center, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 2003 Awards: Watercolor Wisconsin: Wustum Museum Purchase Award: 2008, 1991; First Prize: 1998; Fourth Prize: 1979; Merchandise Award: 2017, 2008, 1995 National Watercolor Society: Festival of the Arts at Laguna Beach Purchase Award: 1981 Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition: Artisan Award: 1982; Colorado Watermedia Award: 1979; Strathmore Award: 1975 Wisconsin Arts Board Artist and Community Collaborations Grant: 2004 Collections: Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, Wisconsin; UW Stevens Point, Wisconsin; St. Michael’s Hospital, Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Honeywell, Minneapolis, Minnesota; 3M, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Sentry Insurance, Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Employers Insurance, Wausau, Wisconsin; Marine Bank, West Bend, Wisconsin; Acuity Insurance, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Julie uses traditional metalsmith techniques to create modern art-jewelry pieces.

Each piece is created with an emphasis on clean lines and quality craftsmanship using only the finest materials. Fine silver wire is shaped, fused with a torch, hammered, then tumbled with steel shot to work harden the silver and create a shine.

Sterling sheet metal is sawn, hammered, and forged to create texture and depth. A deep gunmetal sheen may be applied to some pieces to provide an interesting contrast to the bright silver. This is achieved by applying a patina, then brushing with a brass brush to imbed the charcoal sheen onto the surface of the silver. Semiprecious stones such as chrysoprase, lapis, turquoise, and labradorite add the earth-tones of mossy greens, turquoise, and glacial blues. In keeping with the artisan process, all ear wires are hand formed from sterling wire.

“I love the process of transforming metal into art. Beginning with the design process, to forging the metal, and setting the stones. Finally, when each piece finds its way to its new owner, this is deeply satisfying for me.”

Sharon Stelter-Stoneware Sculpture

My husband and I call Sherwood, Wisconsin home. Sherwood is located in east central Wisconsin by High Cliff State Park and the northeastern shores of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest lake. This is a beautiful part of the state and a constant inspiration for my work.
I have a degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After graduation I worked extensively on wheel thrown pottery, selling at Art Fairs and Galleries. When my children were young I concentrated on two dimensional work and did less with clay art. For many years I had ideas inside of me that I wanted to express. When I started working in clay again, a few years ago, I knew I had found the right medium to express these ideas. After a few failures I learned how to build the three-dimensional forms I had wanted to develop for so long. The zebra was my first successful animal and inspired the logo design for my business.
I am finding that clay has unlimited creative potential for me and I have much to explore yet. I thoroughly enjoy what I do. There are never enough hours in the day to create everything I would like. Often I feel like a child that is left alone all day to play, free to create whatever I imagine.

Watercolor painting became my artistic choice over time. 
Because I taught Art in the public schools for over 30 years, I had ‘my hands in almost every medium. It was the challenging aspects, complexity and yet direct simplicity of Watercolor that intrigued me.  When painted well, watercolors can appear simply-made, as though they only took an afternoon to create... and yet because there are few “take-backs” they take years of experience to master. Handling this medium in a traditional way, leaving white areas of the subject, the white of the paper, adds to the challenge and then also the delight in achieving a final work.  

In order to make the white ‘highlights’ remarkable, I found early on, that I enjoyed adding rich darks to magnify them.  You’ll notice some of my work is created on canvas. I added canvas surfaces to the traditional paper option because I wanted to paint larger. But beside changing size, I found that canvas can exaggerate some pigment and textural effects, so I continue to use both surfaces.

Recently, new transparent (silica based) watercolor pigments have been marketed adding another option/ challenge to this medium. Many of the traditional gum arabic pigments create delicious sedimentary effects that are still very irresistible. So now, juggling two color palettes is my norm.

This is a medium that will never let me rest. It is always challenging, and I know will always present more questions, more options, more delights.

Over the past 30 years, 
Lenox has been running adult watercolor classes
Offered workshops at the Peninsula Art School in Door Cty, WI, and 
     various Art Leagues  and
Presented Demos, Critiques and Exhibition Jurying  

Her work is represented in:
    Watercolor Tips and Tricks (Robin Berry, Reader’s Digest)
    Compendium of Watercolor Techniques (Search Press)
    Watercolours in a Weekend (David & Charles)
    Splash 3, Splash 5 (Northlight)

The Blue Dolphin Gallery, Ephraim, WI and Mullaly’s 128 Gallery, Elk Rapids, MI have exhibited her work for many years.

Retired Art Teacher with a BA & MA - Art Education
Watercolor studies with Irv Shapiro - American Academy of Art
TWSA Master Status Signature in’11 (10 acceptances into TWSA annual Exhibits)
Past President and current Board Member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America.

Weed is a Waupaca painter known for her paintings of “Women with Attitude.”

The women depicted are coupled with a unique, often humorous and sometimes sassy title she adds after completing the work.

Her use of color with bold contrasts and skill at capturing specific moods has made her work distinctive and collectible locally and throughout the country.

"I layer, scratch, dab on color, glob on acrylic paint, and then perhaps repaint the whole piece. But, if I had a challenging and interesting time that work is a success for me. My paintings are primarily non-objective, sometimes expressing humor, always with little regard for “correct” color, shape or perspective."

Brenda taught kindergarten, raised four children, directed a religious education program, and is now a grandmother to six, while following a desire to create art. Born, raised, educated and living in central Wisconsin her non-representational acrylic paintings incorporate spontaneity, humor and a childlike quality. Reflecting her interest in bold color, texture, and pattern the pieces express her love of life.
Her work has been exhibited in national, state and local shows, most recently at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum in Neenah, Wisconsin.

Exhibits:

Waupaca Fine Arts Festival 1993-2014

   Foundry Purchase Award 1994

   Honorable Mention 1993, 1995, 2009, 2010

   Second Place 2004

Appleton Gallery of Arts-Secura Show

Hardy Gallery, Ephraim, WI

Three Person Show Brown County Library 1995

Midwest Watercolor Society Exhibit 1997—Grumbacher Award

Texas Watercolor Society Show 1997

Wisconsin Visual Artists Shows

   University of WI  Green Bay

   University of WI  Oshkosh

   Waupaca Public Library

   Neville Public Museum- 2009

   Bergstrom Mahler Museum, Neenah 2008

Wisconsin Watercolor Show-Racine

Mississippi Watercolor Society Grand National Watercolor Exhibit 1998

Neville Museum Exhibit 1995.  2006

St. Norbert College 2005

West Bend Art Museum 2005

Steenbock Gallery-University of WI, Madison 2007

Seven County Show-Bergstrom-Mahler Show 2008

65th Art Annual-Neuville Museum  09

Hidden Studios Art Tour  08-09

Two women Show  Q Gallery co-operative Stevens Point, WI  2010

Wild Apple Show   2014

Q Gallery  Hidden Q Show 2014

Hidden Studio Retrospective Show 2014

Galleries:

Silver Coach-Stevens Point

Blue Dolphin, Ephraim, Door County, WI

Waupaca Community Arts Center