Beth enjoys working in and experimenting with a variety of mediums, materials and processes. Her work is best described as intuitive painting, where the expression “becomes a dance and conversation between myself and the painting.” She says, “since I was young, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating something — drawing, painting, crafting, gardening and poetry projects.”
Beth pursued an art degree from Syracuse University and found her artistic voice and vision in a class called Materials and Techniques, where she learned to paint in layers, experiment with textures, and allow the painting to reveal itself. A member of several arts organizations and exhibits regularly in group shows as well as some solo exhibitions.
Paul Molesky is a studio potter living and working on his seven acres of land in Syracuse, NY. He sells his functional ceramics at fine arts and crafts shows and in select galleries in and around New York State. Art educated at Kansas City Art Institute, with a Master’s of Fine Arts from Tulane University, Paul has been throwing pots and teaching about pots for forty years.
He built his fast fire wood kiln in 1995 because of his passion for the rare and wonderful effects of fire and wood. Not many Potters produce functional ware in this ancient and venerable tradition, but for Paul, the beautiful results are worth the process. Paul teaches ceramics at Onondaga Community College.
Linda Remig is a Hannibal resident who creates hand-woven baskets as the Duck Hill Weaver. Her baskets are all individually hand-made and colored with natural dies she develops in her studio.
Beeswax Candles
My husband and I began our candle making adventure in 2002. After a brief stint using paraffin wax, I strongly suggested we use only beeswax, for I knew pure beeswax, of all the waxes, is the most environmentally healthy choice. Beeswax does not emit toxins or soot, and it has the longest burn time of all the waxes.
After hubby caught the wood turning bug in 2009, I took over the entire candle making process. I have expanded my offerings to include pillars and tapers in many sizes, shapes and colors, plus a varied line of novelty candles. I use cotton wicking only, and I do not add fragrance.
I have sold my candles at craft shows, and had my work in two other artisan shops. At this time, I am very happy to be affiliated with Riverside Artisans.
Nature Photography
After teaching chemistry and physics for 30 years, Phil retired and attended photography classes at SUNY Oswego. As a scientist, Phil believes that the origins of both scientific and artistic creativity are identical.
He is interested in the ability to communicate without the written word. He attempts to take photos that evoke an emotional response. Phil has received a Merit Award from the New York Institute of Photography and has won many local, regional and national awards.
I have always enjoyed art and studied painting as a schoolgirl, but art took a back seat when I left for college and pursued a career in biology. As a biologist, I studied animals in their natural environments and I have been inspired by the beauty and complexity of nature. Now that I am semi-retired, and my sons are grown, I once again find expression in artistic endeavors.
My art consists of fusing my own glass shapes and colors in a kiln. This involves placing smaller pieces of glass on a larger piece and heating them to their melting temperature in a kiln so they fuse together. With the kiln my husband bought me for Christmas, I taught myself to create pictures of frogs, dragonflies, birds and other creatures.
I’ve taken several weekend courses in flame working glass at the Corning Museum of Glass and in 2013 took a week-long course in fused glass. My artist-instructors helped me raise my glass working skills to a higher level.
Kathy’s early sewing ventures were pretty traditional, but that soon led to creating her own things. About twelve years ago, she took a quilting class and became hooked! Kathy soon began looking for other things she could make with the quilting fabric, and made a few bags. She soon began experimenting with different styles, adding pockets, coming up with closures, etc.
She enjoys working with the other artists, and meeting all the different types of people who come into the store. She collects quality quilting fabric, and especially likes batiks and artistic fabric. Kathy makes an assortment of bags and accessories from her extensive “stash” of fabric–each bag is uniquely designed, and no two bags are ever exactly alike. Kathy also enjoys working with people to pick out their own fabric from her “stash” and making a bag for them that they helped design.
I began working with clay during my senior year in college. The flexibility of the material allowed endless possibilities for creating both functional and decorative forms. Those possibilities, along with the pure joy and therapeutic release of getting your hands dirty and pushing around mounds of clay, captured my interest. This interest has endured through years of graduate work, a demanding profession in healthcare, and (along with my husband) raising two daughters.
Originally my work was more traditional, wheel-thrown pieces, When I moved to Oswego I had the opportunity to take some classes at SUNY Oswego with Richard Zakin and Barbara Frye, both of whom helped me explore the process of hand-building with clay, which opened up many more possibilities for my work. Currently I work primarily with mid-fire stoneware and porcelain. I get ideas, information and feedback from fellow potters and customers, which has helped me revise and develop forms and surface decorations. In reality, it’s a never-ending process, which is why working with clay is so challenging and rewarding.
Carl Patrick – Wood Carvings
I’ve always been fascinated by the beautiful grains and rich textures of our native hardwoods and started carving wood many years ago. Over the years, I’ve found that the character of the wood I use gives a special feel to my carvings.
Celtic knots have interested me for many years, so it seemed natural to put carving and the knots together. Many Celtic knots have a special symbolism, while others are simply beautiful patterns. All of them are endless paths, symbolizing eternity and the continuity of life.
The rich wood brings life to the figures I carve, making it the ideal medium for my work. I use only a light finish, with little or no stain, so the beauty of the wood stands on its own. Each figure is unique, with a distinct personality and character.
Sharon Terry designs jewelry from a variety of materials including Czech Glass and Swarovski Crystals, flamework beads and metal beads, as well as her own metalwork creations which she embellishes with colorful additions.
