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INSTRUCTORS

Meet our Instructors! Bios Below

Ginny Baughman

Workshop Instructor

Bio coming soon

 

Craig Boldman

Cartooning Instructor

Craig Boldman nationally renowned cartoonist, He has worked on Superman, 'Mazing Man, Cap'N Catnip, Bazooka Joe, and his written two full length comics for Disney.​

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Jean Ann Bolliger

Ceramics Instructor & Ceramics Studio Manager

Jean Ann Bolliger was raised between the fields of Illinois and the rivers of Florida. Always her experience and inspiration comes from the natural spaces and creatures of this part of the US. She's earned a Bachelors of Nursing and Fine Arts from Miami University. She has been making pottery and sculpture since 2001 and teaching classes for the same. What pays her bills is selling cheese at Kroger which is fun. Just ask her about cheese - you might regret it!" Click here to visit Jean Ann's pottery shop online.

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Patty Clark

Oils & Acrylics Instructor

Patty Clark graduated from Miami University with a B.S. in Interior Design. She has been a student at the Middletown Arts Center for almost three decades. She mostly paints with acrylic and top it with oil. She paints on boards more than canvas. She truly love color!"
 

Adriana De Palma

Ceramics Instructor

Adriana De Palma has had extensive work in raku and pottery studies at North Carolina State University and Miami University. Adriana began instructing at the Middletown Arts Center in 2001. 

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Joy Dysart

Jewelry & Silversmithing Instructor

Craftsman Society Member, Joy Dysart has been an instructor at MAC since 1986. In addition to teaching at the MAC for over 36 years, she has been a student of painting, enameling, glass fusion, and knitting. She has also been part of the display team for exhibits and our lobby gallery for all of those years.

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Nate Flanagan

Teen & Outreach Instructor

Nate Flanagan was raised in Liberty Township, Ohio. Since childhood, he has had a passion for art. During his younger years, You could find him drawing and sketching on anything he could find. Throughout High School, He took every art class he could. In 2014, Nate enrolled in The Art Institute of Ohio, studying Color Theory, Observational Drawing, and Design Fundamentals.​​

 

​Carole Lantz

Mixed Media Instructor

Carol Lantz is a fine artist and operator of Paint and Panache studio at the Pendleton Arts Center in Middletown, OH​

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Susan Marine

Basket Weaving Instructor

Sue Marine received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and worked as an analytical chemist for 47 years.  While a professor at Miami University, she designed and taught a special topic course Chemistry in Art for non-science majors on the Middletown and Luxembourg campuses.  She redesigned it as a study abroad course in Italy for science majors. 

Sue became a serious basket weaver in 2009, has participated in many juried shows, and has won blue ribbons at the county and state levels.  She started teaching basket weaving in 2015 at the Heritage Basketry Guild of Dayton.  She is a member of the Happy Weavers and is currently serving a 3-yr term on the executive committee of the Kentucky Basket Association.

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Jen Morrell
Weaving & Outreach Instructor

Jennifer Morrell is a Middletown native. She does multi-media, including Painting, Stained glass, weaving and drawing. She has several murals around town.

 

Jill Niemiec

Fiber Arts - Knitting & Crochet Instructor

An accomplished artisan, Jill Niemiec was taught to knit and crochet by her great-grandmother when she was eight years old. Jill took a brief hiatus from fiber arts until her daughter was born in 2000 and has been knitting and working in fiber artistry again ever since! Jill is skilled in many facets of knitting and other fiber arts including cables, color work, socks, entrelac, and intarsia.

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Sarah Pate

Photography & Youth Instructor

Sarah Pate is a photographer and mixed media artist. She currently teaches k-12 art full time and has been an instructor at the MAC since 2022. Sarah has a BFA with a major in photography and a minor in art history.

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Cassie Pence

Youth Instructor

Bio coming soon.

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Jill Pheanis

Wire-Wrapping Instructor

A Middletown native, Jill Pheanis is a self-taught artist specializing in wire wrapping. She is passionate about collecting minerals, gemstones, and fossils which she can transform into works of art. She has been making jewelry for over 20 years & is constantly refining her craft. Jill is a longtime member of the Cincinnati Lapidary and Faceting Society,  and now serves as the club's president. She shares her artwork at local festivals and craft shows, and is featured in several small businesses throughout Ohio.

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Chris Riegel

Teen/Adult Instructor

Chris Riegel is a retired high school algebra teacher turned artist, engineer, and designer. In addition to her passion for creativity and teaching, she is also the founder of Silver Lock Designs where she designs and engineers portable plein air easels and other fun projects like hardbound sketchbooks and earrings! 

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​Paul Rienzo

Fine Arts Instructor

Paul Rienzo is an award winning artist in Cincinnati, Ohio. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including an article in American Artist’s Watercolor Magazine. He has shown around the US, including a solo exhibition in New York City’s Soho district. His work is found in numerous collections, including the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Plaza in La Paz, Bolivia. Paul is also an experienced juror and three time author.

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Yetunde Rodriguez

Blockprinting/Textiles Instructor

Yetunde Rodriguez is a Nigerian-American textile artist and designer living and working in Dayton, OH.

Her work celebrates the joy created by the simple combination of color and pattern. She believes that the things we surround ourselves with should bring joy and have meaning, elevating the everyday.

As a child growing up in Nigeria, she experienced the delight of color and pattern. She comes from a culture that truly believes in celebrating with passion and beauty. This ethos informs her creative process, whether she is in the studio making art or designing patterns. She creates whimsical and bold artwork with a vibrant color palette that elicits a strong reaction.

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Anisha Kanakia Sanghani

Youth-Adult & Various Classes Instructor

Anisha Kanakia Sanghani is a contemporary artist based in Cincinnati, OH. She has a diverse background with a BFA in Fine Arts from DAAP (Dean's List Recipient), 25+ years of working experience as a Senior Graphic Designer, and Background in Textile Design. Her portfolio is prolific and ranges from miniature paintings to bold, brazen abstracts. Having spent her childhood years in Mumbai, India, her artwork references both Indian and Western artistic cultures. Her versatility stems from her fun–loving, adventurous self!

Anisha's goal is to create an emotional connection between the viewer and her work. Anisha has taught Art Workshops at DAAP Summer Art Camp, Fitton Art Center, University of Cincinnati. Anisha has also taught art to children and adults of All Levels at various Outreach Programs and her artwork has been shown in several juried exhibitions throughout the U.S. She has been consistently growing in her field and receiving recognition awards. She has created artwork for many companies and their clients such as: Martha Stewart, Target, Kohl’s, Wal–Mart, CVS, Pier–One Imports, Mars M&M, Star–Wars, JCPenney, Dylan’s Candy, Christopher Radko, Walgreens, Meijer, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby.​​​

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Kate Santucci 

Encaustic Instructor

Kate Santucci, based in Dayton, Ohio, graduated with a BFA in visual art from Wright State University in 1994, concentrating in sculpture. She has recently completed a residency in encaustic painting with Patricia Seggebruch and received a 2020 Artist Opportunity Grant for advanced encaustic classes with Alicia Tormey. In 2025, she will be an artist-in-residence at Chateau D’Orquevaux in France. Her work has been displayed at various venues, including the Springfield Museum of Art and the Dayton Society of Artists. Kate’s public art includes a mural in downtown Dayton and pieces for the Southeast Branch of the Dayton Metro Library. She has private collections in several cities and will have a solo show at Edison State College in October 2024. Kate’s current work in encaustic and mixed media explores themes of human connection and meaning through patterns and randomness.

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​Peggy Trimble

Watercolor Instructor

Peggy Trimble is a graduate of New York School of Interior Design and attended Ohio State University and Miami University.  She is a current artist and art instructor at the Middletown Arts Center since 2008, teaching both Beginning/Intermediate and Advanced Watercolor classes. Her art has been shown in many one-person exhibits, received numerous awards, including acceptance in the Ohio Watercolor Society Exhibit, Cincinnati's Viewpoint, Arts Council of West Chester & Liberty, Fitton’s Greater Hamilton Art Exhibit, Kettering's Rosewood Gallery, and MAC Masters Exhibit.  She has recently been a guest artist at the Fifth St. Gallery, Cincinnati, and Pop Revolution Gallery, Hamilton.  Her work is currently on display at Hanover House in Cincinnati.  Her paintings are in private and corporate collections in 12 states and Europe. Peggy has had an art studio, Paint and Panache, at the Pendleton Art Center in Middletown since 2012. Preceding her art career, she worked in the corporate world, retiring from Financial Planning Consultants as Corporate Secretary in 1993.  She then founded The Finishing Touch, a custom framing business, from which she recently retired.

 

Jean Vance

Enameling & Watercolor Instructor

Jean Vance is a versatile artist and instructor working in watercolor, oil, jewelry, and glass enamel on metal. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Miami University, a Master of Arts, and a Master of Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University. Whether painting portraits, landscapes, or intimate studies of nature, her work has a personal quality that is evident in her use of color and her sensitivity to the subject.  Her style ranges from abstract “impressions of nature” to more realistic images of people, places and things. Jean’s work is represented in private and corporate collections throughout the United States, Europe, China, Japan, and the Caribbean. She has had numerous one-woman shows and her work has been included in many juried exhibitions. Jean is currently an adjunct professor at Miami University and conducts workshops for the University of Cincinnati.  She continues to teach private classes in Oxford, Ohio, and at the Middletown Arts Center.  She is curator for two annual regional juried exhibitions placing original art in hospitals, and conducts painting workshops.  Jean is also a signature member of the Ohio Watercolor Society.

 

Gary Waits 
Certified Bob Ross Instructor

Gary Waits has been passionate about painting since the 1970s, starting with children's room decorations and rustic crafts. A longtime admirer of Bob Ross®, he  became certified at the Bob Ross® School. After retiring from P&G® in 2017, Gary began teaching Bob Ross® techniques in the Cincinnati, Dayton, Gulf Shores, and Mobile areas. He offers private group lessons and community recreation center classes. Specializing in Bob Ross Wet-on-Wet Landscape Painting, Gary employs a fun, patient approach to help students create finished paintings they can be proud of. Many students start with no prior experience and still enjoy success with each project.

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Sam Watts 

Workshop & Outreach Instructor

Sam Watts began Split Leaf Co in 2020 after leaving the military and discovering how calming and transformative plants can be. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to sharing my passion for plants with others. In my workshops, I offer hands-on experience and insights into plant care and indoor gardening. My goal is to show how green spaces can positively impact our well-being. Each session is designed to be interactive and inspiring. Whether you’re new to plants or a seasoned enthusiast, I’m here to help you grow. I look forward to exploring the world of plants with you!

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Nicole Anne Weldy

Youth – Adult & Various Classes Instructor

Nicole Anne Weldy was the first BFA in Fine Arts graduate from Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. During her time there, she interned at the Birmingham Museum of Art and explored diverse fields such as graphic design, architecture, music, theater, animation, painting, printmaking, photography, and drawing. She later earned her MFA in Visual Arts with a focus on Sculpture from Clemson University in 2021. In 2023, she represented the College of Architecture, Art and Construction in the Three-Minute Thesis Competition with her research project, "Material World." Weldy's work spans various mediums including painting, drawing, fiber, photography, and sculpture, and offers fresh perspectives on our relationship with materials and subjects. Her artistic practice examines how individual components contribute to a greater whole. Currently, she is actively involved with the Tri State Sculpture Association and Mooresville Arts.

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John Wiehe

Oils & Acrylics Instructor

After retirement, Fairfield Ohio resident John Wiehe turned his focus to artistic painting. His 40-year home improvement career, experience with graphic design programs and lifetime hobbies of woodworking and furniture making have all contributed to his success in this new venture. In his short career, this self taught artist has won numerous awards from local area art shows, exhibiting in 10 different Greater Cincinnati art venues. John is a partner with 3 other MAC teachers and students at Studio 104 in the Middletown Pendleton Art Center, where he currently has a series of 38 Civil Rights paintings on display in the 2nd floor main gallery.

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Sarah Williams

Youth Instructor

Sarah Williams received a bachelor's degree in art education from Bob Jones University and taught kindergarten through high school art at Middletown Christian Schools for 8 years.  She is now a stay-at-home mom but enjoys keeping up her art and teaching with her involvement with the MAC.  "I love trying all different types of art but some favorites include drawing, illustration, calligraphy, and batik.  The creativity of children makes me smile, and I love to see their art skills grow!  In my own art pieces, I try to express color, beauty, and imagination - all things that point me back to my Creator God."

 

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