Cindy Lyons teaching an acrylic painting class
We are grateful for the support of our instructors who share their time and talents with the Les Cheneaux Arts Council. Thanks to them, we are able to provide a variety of classes and workshops to enrich the summer experience within our community.
Many are local artisans in the Les Cheneaux area and sell their work in local shops, or through their websites. We hope you will consider taking a class with one of these talented artists!
Many are local artisans in the Les Cheneaux area and sell their work in local shops, or through their websites. We hope you will consider taking a class with one of these talented artists!
Michelle Colangelo spends her time between Les Cheneaux and Metro Detroit and has been a summer resident of Cedarville since childhood when she fell in love with the rugged natural beauty of northern Michigan. That beauty has inspired her creative work, including a long career in professional event planning and instructing workshops. She started with teaching scrapbooking workshops in the early 2000s, then added other elements to her work, such as card design, sign making, home furnishings, and other wood projects through Rustic Workshops, which she launched in 2016. Michelle specializes in working with wood, and often collects and repurposes wood from Les Cheneaux and the city of Detroit to integrate into her projects. In addition to sign making classes, she instructs in making home decor such as bottle openers, leash holders, and more.
Susan Hallums
“I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.”― Vincent Van Gogh
On a recent trip to see his exhibit, this quote spoke to me. I think this describes my approach to art. I often take a backward approach by buying something I like then trying to figure out how to do it. I consider myself more of a crafter than an artist, but I love making things in many different mediums. A few years ago, I spent the summer taking some art classes in Cedarville that looked like fun. I was immediately smitten by fused glass. I have a kiln in Florida where I use our garage as a craft studio. In the summer, our family lives on Island Eight in Cedarville where we just remodeled our home to include a craft room with space for two kilns. I feel very fortunate to have found the enclave of artists in the Les Cheneaux Islands who inspire me to learn new things.
Ron Paquin is an elder of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a member of Eagle Clan. He is a gifted self-taught artist who specializes in traditional native crafts. He is especially known for his full-sized birch bark canoes, as well as his storytelling, his work in black ash, antler carvings, porcupine quill boxes, dream catchers, and jewelry. He has been awarded numerous awards and commissions throughout the nation, produced museum pieces, and taught demonstrations around the state. His book, NOT FIRST IN NOBODY’S HEART, and his prolific art works reflect his interesting and diverse talents.
Linda "Lin" Schepperly started working with clay after retirement, with her primary focus being ceramics designed for daily use. While living in Florida during the winter, she is a working artist at The Potter’s Studio where she focuses on wheel throwing, hand building and coiling. She is an active member of the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County, Inc. She lives with her husband, Chris, on Marquette Island during the summer months where she has a small studio.
Linda Sattler says "I am an artist, educator, traveler and student. Art has always been a focal point in my life; acquiring, studying, producing, teaching and observing. Creating in a variety of media, 2-D or 3-D, I love it all. From painting to glass and photography to clay, design remains a constant theme. Having taught art for most of my life, I love to experience and revisit many materials. If I find something new, I want to try it. I work in series, sometimes more than one media at a time. Hosting 36 foreign exchange students over the years, has expanded my views and enriched my experiences. I continue to exhibit, volunteer, offer workshops and serve as an advocate for the arts. Life is good!"
Cindy Lyons says "I love playing with paint and color. It’s fun to layer acrylic paint with a palette knife and watch the magic of the medium take form. Shades of blue and green are my favorite! After graduating from Ferris State with a degree in Commercial Art, I gained experience as a graphic designer while interfacing with business promotion and the print industry. I have enjoyed the freedom of breaking away from the world of registration and exact measurements to bringing design elements to life on canvas. Creativity comes from my soul. A piece of my soul is left in each composition."
Susan Hallums
“I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.”― Vincent Van Gogh
On a recent trip to see his exhibit, this quote spoke to me. I think this describes my approach to art. I often take a backward approach by buying something I like then trying to figure out how to do it. I consider myself more of a crafter than an artist, but I love making things in many different mediums. A few years ago, I spent the summer taking some art classes in Cedarville that looked like fun. I was immediately smitten by fused glass. I have a kiln in Florida where I use our garage as a craft studio. In the summer, our family lives on Island Eight in Cedarville where we just remodeled our home to include a craft room with space for two kilns. I feel very fortunate to have found the enclave of artists in the Les Cheneaux Islands who inspire me to learn new things.
Ron Paquin is an elder of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and a member of Eagle Clan. He is a gifted self-taught artist who specializes in traditional native crafts. He is especially known for his full-sized birch bark canoes, as well as his storytelling, his work in black ash, antler carvings, porcupine quill boxes, dream catchers, and jewelry. He has been awarded numerous awards and commissions throughout the nation, produced museum pieces, and taught demonstrations around the state. His book, NOT FIRST IN NOBODY’S HEART, and his prolific art works reflect his interesting and diverse talents.
Linda "Lin" Schepperly started working with clay after retirement, with her primary focus being ceramics designed for daily use. While living in Florida during the winter, she is a working artist at The Potter’s Studio where she focuses on wheel throwing, hand building and coiling. She is an active member of the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County, Inc. She lives with her husband, Chris, on Marquette Island during the summer months where she has a small studio.
Linda Sattler says "I am an artist, educator, traveler and student. Art has always been a focal point in my life; acquiring, studying, producing, teaching and observing. Creating in a variety of media, 2-D or 3-D, I love it all. From painting to glass and photography to clay, design remains a constant theme. Having taught art for most of my life, I love to experience and revisit many materials. If I find something new, I want to try it. I work in series, sometimes more than one media at a time. Hosting 36 foreign exchange students over the years, has expanded my views and enriched my experiences. I continue to exhibit, volunteer, offer workshops and serve as an advocate for the arts. Life is good!"
Cindy Lyons says "I love playing with paint and color. It’s fun to layer acrylic paint with a palette knife and watch the magic of the medium take form. Shades of blue and green are my favorite! After graduating from Ferris State with a degree in Commercial Art, I gained experience as a graphic designer while interfacing with business promotion and the print industry. I have enjoyed the freedom of breaking away from the world of registration and exact measurements to bringing design elements to life on canvas. Creativity comes from my soul. A piece of my soul is left in each composition."