Meet Our Instructors
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KATHY ADAMS
Ceramics Kathy has been a pillar in the SAA Ceramics Studio for over 20 years. She has taught youth, teens, and adults in wheel throwing, handbuilding, tile making, and raku techniques. Her personal work is about experimentation; inspired by nature, spirituality, surface design, collage, materiality, and form. She creates glaze designs like a painter developing layers and color combinations. |
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MORGAN BEHNKE
Stained Glass Morgan has an associates degree in art from Lincoln Land Community College and has since completed an apprenticeship at an architectural glass studio in Minnesota. She has been working with glass since 2016. She found a love for the craft that allows you to control light by watching the trade be passed down through the generations of her family. She finds joy in adding a modern twist to the antique art. |
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DANUCHA 'DANNY' BRIKSHAVANA
Ceramics Danny is a ceramicist living in Springfield, IL. He discovered the passion for ceramics in the fall of 2014 and gravitated towards this art form because of its versatility and complexity. In January of 2015 he had an opportunity to visit Kyoto, Japan to learn the art of making Japanese tea bowls from a Japanese ceramicist. This learning experience, as well as his deep appreciation and passion for his own Asian culture, has greatly influenced his pottery. He has participated and lead raku firings in SAA's Roasted Pork and Pots; in addition to teaching ceramic classes, one-nighters, and clay date nights at the SAA. |
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JULIE BROWN
Painting + Fiber Arts Julie Brown is primarily a figurative painter who enjoys other forms of art for fun. She is a retired art educator who has taught all levels from kindergarten to college (oil and acrylic painting) to adult learners. Julie has a BA in Visual Arts from UIS and her current professional activities include membership in the SAA Collective as well as the Pharmacy. |
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SAMANTHA BROWN
Mixed Media Samantha took her first metalsmithing class at SAA in 2005 and has been a student, volunteer, and teacher here ever since. While the metals studio is her home, she jumps at the chance to explore any and all mediums. With a background in Early Childhood Education, she has found the most joy in teaching teen classes and helping her students find joy in art and all of its facets. |
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JOE CIACCIO
Oil Painting Joe Ciaccio is a figural narrative painter and draftsman. His paintings and drawings focus on open and widely applicable narrative structures. He has exhibited nationally in such venues as the Fort Wayne Museum of Art and the Prince Street Gallery in New York. Joe received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University in 2007. He resides with his family in Springfield, IL, where he teaches Drawing, Painting, Graphic Design, and Art History. |
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MARIO CLARKE
Glass Mario Clarke received his bachelors in graphic design and photography at Illinois State University in 2017. He returned to ISU as a Grad at Large to further his passion for glass blowing. His work consists of large scale figurative and abstract bodies of work. Mario is now the first glass blowing instructor at SAA. |
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SCOTT DAY
Ceramics Scott Day's current design ideas in clay stem from observations while travelling abroad, interest in industrial materials and design, and inspiration from contemporary Japanese ceramics and Raku firing techniques. Many of the forms created are reminiscent of vessels from the past, while the variation of color in the glaze makes a strong connection back to nature. Scott's formal training includes a B.A. in Art Education from Eastern Illinois University, an M.A. in Art Education and an Ed. D. in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. |
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CORIE DECKER
2D, Ceramics & Metals Corie Decker graduated from Illinois State University with Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education with a focus in Painting, and a second Bachelor's degree in Ceramics. Corie has been teaching art to youth ages 4-18 for 14 years. Her portfolio consists of many 2D and 3D art media, including painting (watercolor, acrylic, and oil), pencil, ink, pastels, ceramics, metals, and textiles. Corie believes that everyone is an artist, and it is her privilege and passion to help her students discover where in the art world their identity resides. |
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BETSY DOLLAR
Printmaking, Paper Making & Book Arts Betsy has both a BFA & MFA in printmaking and paper making from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She made her first block print when she was seven and has been exploring the medium ever since. She has taught art at every level from preschool through the University and to every age and ability level. Her work been shown internationally and is in private collections across the county. She has been the Executive Director at the SAA since fall of 2009. |
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ASHLYNN FREY
Painting Ashlynn Frey was born and raised in Highland, Illinois and recently moved to the Springfield area. Ashlynn attended Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in 2-D Studio Art. She continued her education at Eastern Illinois University to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Studio Art, specializing in Painting. Currently, Ashlynn taught at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois and Jacoby Arts Center in Alton, Illinois. You can check out her website ashlynnfrey.com |
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JANE HUGHES-JACKSON
Textiles Jane learned to knit in 4-H as a 10 yr old. She really enjoys the combinations of stitches and patterns today. Lace, brioche, double knitting and all types of color work. She has taught for Lincoln Land and for the Heritage Knitting Program, "Stitches in Time." She has been with SAA as an instructor since 2016. |
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RICHARD KOHLRUS
Drawing + Digital Illustration Richard Kohlrus has a BA in Art from Springfield College. He is a Freelance Graphic Artist and an instructor with Springfield Art Association since 2011. He teaches youth and teen classes / camps in comic drawing and digital illustration. |
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BARBIE LAFRANCE
Ceramics & Sculpture Barbie has a Bachelor’s degree in Art with a concentration in Ceramics from the University of Illinois at Springfield. During her undergrad, she curated the Access Gallery on UIS campus as well as assistant teaching in intermediate to advanced ceramics. Her personal artwork reflects the minor she obtained in Women and Gender Studies with sensual objects most often glazed in purposeful binary color palettes. In addition, she uses wheel throwing as an avenue to non functional sculpture in an effort to create contrast from its original intent of functional pottery. Barbie also joined our SAA Staff in October of 2018 as the Administrative Assistant and Librarian and also works at the SAA Collective as the Gallery Manager. |
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ANNE LOGUE
Ceramics Anne has taught art on a graduate level at both ISU and SIU-C graduate programs in addition to clay instruction at the Art Association. She also was a guest installation artist for Lincoln Memorial Garden utilizing willow for portals and feminine imagery. Being passionate about nature, most of her classes call to us to tap into the soul of creatures and the beauty they live in. |
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TRACEY MARAS
Pastel A passion for pastels and for teaching drives Tracey's work. With over 20 years of experience painting with pastels, she brings to her students the strength of the essentials as well as innovative techniques. She is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America, the Illinois Prairie Pastel Society and is a founding member of the Heartland Art Club. traceymaras.com |
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JOHN McCLAREY
Bronze Sculpture Mr. McClarey specializes in the thought and form of Abraham Lincoln and other historical figures. His works are found in fifteen Illinois sites, in three foreign countries, and in many private and public collections and film. He holds a B.A. from Millikin University, and a M.S. from Illinois State University, where he was inducted in the Hall of Fame in the College of Arts and Sciences. He also received the Order of Lincoln from The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and for the past five years has taught at the Springfield Art Association. |
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Nathan Millspaugh
Sculpture Nathan has been working as professional Special Effects artist in the film and television industry for over 24 years. He moved to central Illinois from Californa several years ago. He continues to do freelance special effects work for films across the US. For the last five years his focus has been designing and building escape room props and rooms. He Co - Owns an Escape room business in town called Amazing Xscapes. |
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JOHN MUCHOW
Photography John Muchow fell in love with photography at a young age while growing up in central Illinois. He decided to go to Brooks Institute of Photography to expand his knowledge of photos. Since graduating from college, John is now full time photographer and has taught photography at many different levels. |
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WILL NORRIS
Drawing Will is life-long fan of comic books and all things comic book related. He's been drawing comics for as long he can remember and jumped at the chance to teach and share his love for comics with students at SAA. It doesn't matter what style, genre, period or format, Will is always reading and drawing. He strongly encourage students to create their own characters and stories because that's where all great comics start. |
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MAGGIE PACKMAN
Ceramics, Fiber Arts + Printmaking Maggie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 2012. She has been teaching studio art and art history ever since. Though happy to explore any medium, she gravitates to drawing, printmaking, textiles, and ceramics in her free time. Maggie is passionate about Arts Education and the many benefits it brings to both individuals and their communities. |
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ALLY PADGET
Photography, 2D + Painting Ally knew she wanted to be an artist from a very young age and has worked in as many mediums as she could get her hands on, but was always drawn to the medium of photography. Her parents knew that she was going to be a photographer when she used three rolls of film to get the perfect picture of an elephant at the age of six. She pursued her passion and earned a BFA in Photography with a minor in Art History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated as Senior of the Year in Photography. Ally believes that everyone can be an artist if they just have the courage to try and finds enjoyment in helping people play with art! |
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SHERI RAMSEY
Pastels Sheri Ramsey has been teaching at the Springfield Art Association since 1975, when she taught oil painting. She now teaches Intermediate pastel. Sheri graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington, with a BS in Art Education with a concentration in drawing and painting. Her website is SheriRamsey.com |
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BOB RITZ
Metals |
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MARIANNE STREMSTERFER
Mixed Media, 2D + Painting Marianne Stremsterfer has been an art educator for over forty years, currently conducting research for the SAA Art Outreach portfolios, teaching SAA classes in acrylic painting and facilitating art projects in the OMA (Opening Minds through Art) program with SAA and SIU. During her career in the arts, she has conducted art workshops for teachers and students in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Tennessee and Louisiana, as well as teaching for Springfield College, Benedictine and Quincy Universities, St. Aloysius School, and of course, the SAA. Her favorite mediums are pen and ink and experimentation with acrylic paints, but she enjoys the exploration of any art form. |
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ERIN SVENDSEN
2D, Painting & Public Art Erin Svendsen is the Education Director and 2d Instructor at SAA since 2011. She has her BFA in Painting/ Sculpture from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her experience is in illustration, public art murals/sculpture, and theater set design. In her personal work, Erin creates mostly figuratively. Her public art projects with SAA are as lead of the High School Summer Art Camp, works are installed around Sangamon County. She collaborates with the City of Springfield and Downtown Springfield Inc, producing public art murals and sculptures for the community. |
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ELIZABETH MAI THAI
Ceramics Elizabeth Mai Thai was born in Vietnam, and spent a significant part of her childhood there. As such, she often finds herself drawn to produce work that trail an East Asian ceramic culture. Her work is at once classical and modern. Her forms are habitually traditional (Vietnamese – Chinese), and regularly contemporary (Korean). You can find her work at the SAA Collective Gallery, via her artist page or on Instagram @thaimai_gom. |
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MEGHAN TIPPY REESE
Metals Meghan received a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, graduating summa cum laude in 2000, and took numerous workshops at Penland School of Crafts during her college years. She experienced a variety of jewelry industry jobs before opening her own studio in 2010, and is currently a full time practicing studio metalsmith and jewelry instructor. She finds joy in the process of fabrication and makes detailed, often kinetic, work that constantly pushes the limits of her skills. She has been the recipient of numerous competition and art fair awards, and recognized as a Golden Palette Outstanding SAA Instructor in 2021. Meghan has been teaching jewelry and metals at the SAA since 2002. |
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KARLIE UPHOFF
Glass Karlie Uphoff has graduated Illinois State University with a BFA in glassblowing in 2021. Karlie is from El Paso Illinois and is currently traveling to different glass shops to teach and learn anything she can about glass blowing. Her work consists of copper and intricate glass goblet forms. |
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POPPY VINCENT
Metals Poppy Vincent received her Associates Degree in Art from Lincoln Land Community College in 1976. It was there that she was introduced to lost wax casting and metalsmithing. In 1988 she took over the jewelry classes at the SAA along with starting her own jewelry business doing custom work along with designing and producing her own line of jewelry. In 1996 Poppy received a grant through the Il Arts Council to attend an enameling class at The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN. Since then she has become a member of the Enamelist Society and has taken classes and workshops from world renown enamelists and jewelers from around the world and continues to improve her skills. Poppy Vincent is considered an expert in the field of jewelry making. She is experienced in soldering, stone setting, etching, metal clay, enameling, keum-boo, lost wax casting and fabrication and has sold her work internationally. www.jewelrybypoppy.com |
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KATE WORMAN-BECKER
Watercolor Kate received a Fine Arts degree from Western Illinois University in 1991 with an emphasis on design, drawing and printmaking. In 2008, she decided it was time to pursue at full-time and began painting in watercolor. Since then she has earned signature memberships in the Illinois and Missouri Watercolor Societies. Her award winning paintings has been selected in numerous national and international exhibitions throughout the central United States. She has been an instructor of watercolor painting at the SAA since 2015. |
