Faculty
Charlotte Ballas
Charlotte graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art and received a BFA in Textile Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. A former weaving teacher at Baycrafters, we are thrilled to have her as a part of the BAYarts faculty.
Moira Beale
Head of Ceramics Dept, BAYarts Moira, born and educated in England, studied at Farnham School of Fine Arts/Surrey Institute of Art and Design. She holds a BFA specializing in ceramics and printing. For the past seven years she has taught a variety of ceramic programs at BAYarts and has recently been promoted as the head of our Ceramics Department.
Dianne Boldman
A primarily self-taught watercolor artist, Dianne has evolved in her own approach and techniques. Dianne has been teaching watercolor classes at BAYarts for 30 years and is an award-winning member of both local and state organizations.
Mary Jo Clark
An artist for over 55 years, Mary Jo enjoys teaching in all mediums. She has taught at Michael’s for over 5 years, LCCC Lifelong Learning Center, The Metroparks Mill Hollow, Avon Lake Senior Center, along with giving private lessons.
Stacey Gepperth
A graduate of Miami University, Stacey received a Bachelor of Science in Art and a Masters in Education. She has been a preschool teacher at BAYarts for many years.
Susan Gray Bé
Currently teaching oil painting and drawing to adults at the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Cleveland Botanical Garden. Susan has an MA in Painting from the State University of New York at Albany, a BA from Hamilton College, a Certificate of Merit from The National Academy of Design.
Mel Grunau
Receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree at Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master of Architecture at Kent State University, Mel became a teacher of watercolor, collage, oil and acrylics. He has taught at the Polaris Career Center for 35 years, Beck Center for the Arts, Baldwin Wallace College, The Cleveland Institute of Art along with BAYarts.
Kate Holinek
Kate has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Studio Art from Baldwin-Wallace College and Graphic Design from Virginia Marti College of Art and Design.
Laura Jacobs
In the summer of 2006, Laura opened Embellish, a create-your-own jewelry store in Rocky River, Ohio. She loves helping customers realize their creative potential through jewelry making.
Jim Johnson
Jim learned the art of silversmithing on the job at Potter & Mellen where he stayed for 45 years. He then went to Marlin jewelers for 4 years. He joined the BAYarts faculty 4 years ago.
Teece Lester
A master of all things preschool, Miss Teece is crazy about little kids. Teece has spent over 20 years working in preschools; she was the Director of the Westlake Montessori School and has spent the last 10 years loving the little Nature Nuts at the Bay Village Lake Erie Nature and Science Center.
Brad Linscott
Brad has been teaching adult art classes part time for 15 years. His teaching experience
includes oil painting, drawing and colored pencil techniques. He is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace College with a major in Studio Art.
Alice McGinty
Alice McGinty has distinguished herself as an accomplished painter in Cleveland. She currently studies oil painting with Susan Gray Bé at the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Cleveland Botanical Garden and Hugh O’Neil of Jupiter, Florida.
Rosie Miller
Rosie is a Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance and Certified Yoga Instructor through TRY For Life, a 200 hr. certification program with Judi Bar and Jan Hauenstien.
Bob Moyer
Bob has studied at the Cleveland School of Art, the Huntington Institute, The Cleveland College and Milwaukee’s Latham School of Art. He is a member of the Ohio Watercolor Society and has taught at BAYarts for many years.
Diane Padrutt
After graduating from Kent State University, Diane began a job in the Parma City Schools as an elementary art teacher. Over the next 5 years, Diane worked with hundreds of students in grades K-6 as well as other professionals to develop a multicultural
art education curriculum for the district.
Melinda Placko
Melinda received her Bachelor’s Degree at the Cleveland Institute of Art and her Masters at the University of Massachusetts. Melinda is currently the studio manager
at the Melk Truk Studio in Cleveland, has worked at Art House, Beck Center for the Arts, Akron Art Museum, The Cleveland Institute of Art and with Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio.
Kathy Ruic
Kathy earned a B.S in Behavioral Science from Rochester College in Michigan and also received a Visual Arts teaching license here at Notre Dame College. She has taught students in grades Kindergarten through 8 at St. Leo the Great in Cleveland for the last 7 years.
Paul St. Denis
Paul received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art and his Masters at Kent State University. He is a Faculty Emeritus at the Cleveland Institute
of Art and a member of the American Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor Society and the Ohio Watercolor Society.
Kari Sanford
A double major in studio art and education at Baldwin Wallace College, Kari is a mixed media collage artist living in Rocky River, Ohio. She is also the owner of Papercuts & Gluesticks, a gallery & studio located in Rocky River.
Debbie Sanson
After graduating from The Ohio State University, she taught art in Klein, Texas where she spent several years. Currently the art instructor at Westerly School, several of her lessons have been published in the national School Arts magazine.
Richie Sayles
Richie is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh with a degree in animation/multimedia. He is also a graduate of Notre Dame College with an Art Education degree. Some of his clients include the Cleveland Indians, NBA, DIY Home Warehouse, Channel 3 News and East Coast Custard.
Andrea Serafino
A graduate of The Cleveland Institute of Art, Andrea has exhibited her work and curated shows extensively in the area. Andrea currently teaches at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Orange Art Center, Lakeland Community College, Clayworks and BAYarts.
Erin Stack
After completing one year at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Erin moved back to Cleveland where she graduated from Cleveland State University and was certified to teach students in grades K-12. Erin is currently BAYarts Education Director and Shop Manager.
Jeff Yost
An alumnus of the Columbus College of Art & Design, Jeff Yost graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2004. In 2002, he had also spent a semester of study in Florence, Italy, painting under the artists Lorenzo Pezzatini and Gary Lissa. Yost’s focus is in painting and drawing landscapes and room interiors.
