As a resin artist, I am drawn to the fluidity, depth, and unpredictability that resin offers as a medium. Each piece I create is a reflection of my fascination with nature, movement, and light. Resin allows me to layer color, texture, and embedded materials in ways that create visual experiences, often evoking the serenity and chaos of water.
My process is both intuitive and deliberate- allowing the material to move and cure in ways that can’t be controlled.
Whether I’m working on wall art or functional art, my goal is to invite viewers to slowly and deliberately engage with the subtle details that emerge through the layers.
My work is strictly hand-built ceramics; I do not use a wheel. Each piece of my work is one-of-a-kind.
I feel no compunction to excel at creating perfected, repeatable forms. Rather, I prefer to allow ad hoc inspiration lead me into experimentation. Building with clay provides a sense of sovereignty missing in a world where most are asked to conform.
Clay has been an essential part of my healing: physically, mentally and spiritually. By choosing the work I produce, my art becomes a source of liberation—leading me to explore, interpret and transform ideas within this malleable medium. Self-expression through clay captivates my imagination and has helped me recognize and reveal my wholeness.
I’ve tried many types of crafts (mostly self-taught) to beautify life, as well as to be useful in life.
I seem to have settled on spinning, knitting and felting millinery items. I believe that Jesus gives these talents, and I enjoy working with them to spread them to others.
I also provide a selection of hand-grown succulents to beautify an home.
I have a great eye for color, composition, and I have a passion for storytelling. My work is whimsical and can bring a story to life! I excel at making compact illustrations with a lot of small stories incorporated into the design.
I make art that brings magic and wonder into the lives of others. I am a multi-medium artist and have experience in everything from digital art to clay mediums and woodworking. A large amount of my digital work resembles my passion for traditional work by bringing in textures and a great pop of color
Mel is an experienced wood turner and long-time member of the Woodworkers of Central New York and the American Association of Woodturners. A native of Central New York, he now lives in Camillus.
Mel takes great pride in the originality of his work, saying, “My work isn’t just round and brown. I try to make each piece special.” The variety and unique designs and the attractiveness of the wood he chooses makes his work exceptional.
Mel often uses burls to create his bowls, platters, dishes and boxes. He also uses turquoise highlights to accent the wood patterns in his pieces. He also makes wooden toy trains and trucks for children. A wide selection of his work is on display in the Riverside Artisans gallery.
I’m a self-taught glass artist, but have been making jewelry and quilts and all kinds of things all my life. My designs have been described as whimsical, and I love the organic look of decorative soldering.
Born in Orange County, NY, I moved to Alabama at age 12. I lived in the south for 50 years and finally made it to Central New York several years ago.
I don’t like to make the same thing more than once, so each item has an element of individuality to it. I’m never happier than when I’m making something and I think it shows in my work!
Erin is an Oswego native and returns to the city after more than 20 years away, most of which she spent in Timmins, Ontario.
A self-taught artist, Erin paints in oil and draws striking graphite pencil illustrations. Her work at the Riverside Artisans includes oil paintings and prints of local buildings and landscapes, as well as whimsical retro-style drawings of movie stars and famous movie scenes. She has also contributed hand-painted glass and wooden Christmas ornaments to the shop’s tree, which features handmade ornaments from several artists.
According to Erin, “I like to challenge myself, so I’m always working to refine my techniques and work in other media that are new to me.”
Cris is an Oswego native and returns to the city (with her husband Benjamin) after a 33-year career as a teacher and successful artist in the Rochester area.
Originally introduced to art as a child by Riverside Artisans member Bert Leighton, Cris has studied with numerous painting masters and until recently had gallery space in Rochester’s Hungerford Building. She currently works in oil, pastels and charcoal.
According to Cris, “I find art to be my meditation. It quiets my mind and brings focus to beauty. It is a record of my ‘interior life,’ not always the one shown to the world”
Bob’s colorful and exquisitely crafted cutting boards and coaster sets are made from exotic hardwoods and finished to perfection. Available in a range of colors and sizes.
Cheryl has been creating jewelry since 2005. After retiring from teaching Technology at a local high school, she went to work in a bead store where she taught others the art of beading. She is primarily self-taught, learning new stitches and techniques from beading books and magazines. Her love of bead weaving expanded to include bead embroidery and bead crochet.
More recently, she began to wire weave to set stones and fossils. In 2010, Cheryl began selling her work under the name Windflower Beads. In 2007, Cheryl founded the Bead Society of Central New York to promote the art of jewelry creation. She also joined the Gem and Mineral Club of Syracuse and has been collecting, cutting, and polishing her own cabochons (a stone that is polished to a finished shape, rather than being cut).
