Moira Beale was born and educated in England. As a graduate from Farnham School of Art/Surrey Institute of Art she was a Ceramics Major and a Printing/Etching Minor. She has been Head of the Ceramics Department of BAYarts since 2000. Each year she curates the annual Ceramic Exhibit in the Sullivan Family Gallery. She has over 30 years of teaching experience in the USA, including at Orange Art Center and Hathaway Brown. Moira coordinates Youth, Family and Scout programs at Playhouse Square.

Chris is a representational painter who loves painting people and images that inspire and point to the beauty of creation. He works in oil in the direct method and can usually be found at BAYarts open studio, happily painting from a live model every Friday. Chris graduated from Cooper School of Art and enjoyed a forty year career as a designer and illustrator with American Greetings before retiring to pursue his own artistic goals. He is an associate member of the Oil Painters of America, and the Portrait Society of America. His paintings have been juried into numerous local and national exhibitions, does private commissions and has paintings included as part of American Greetings permanent corporate collection.

Tina Benavides enjoys many forms of art, but after retiring from American Greetings as a Vice president in the Creative Division, she decided to focus on Copperplate and Spencerian calligraphy for gifts, weddings and special events. She is a member of IAMPETH (International Association of Master Penmen, Engrossers & Teachers of Handwriting). She has studied under Martha Erickson, Barbara Close, Bill Kemp, Sheila Waters, Suzanne Cunningham, and Master Penmen Harvest Crittendon and Jake Weidmann. She has recently been studying pictorial flourishing with Master Penman Connie Chen and Engrosser”s Script with David Grimes. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, she studied Fashion Illustration and Commercial Art and completed 9 years on the Board of Trustees of the college. In addition to calligraphy, she enjoys drawing, watercolor and beading. She lives in Avon Lake with her painter husband Chris Benavides.

Art Teacher Deanne Conley returns to teach classes at BAYarts. ” I helped teach ceramics with Sally Hudak twenty years ago as a volunteer then taught a summer of children’s ceramic classes. Just out of high school, I loved the creativity of BAYarts.” Deanne pursued her love of Art and studied Art History and Art Education at Cleveland State University. Natural Wonder Design is her Jewelry design and creations that are in the BAYarts shop. She also teaches swim lessons to preschool and school age kids year-round. She enjoys gardening, painting, and photographing flowers. She is often seen with her sidekick, her dog Marley.

Audra Costello began teaching at BAYarts in the summer of 2010. She especially enjoys teaching children hand sewing and how to make wonderful creations using a needle, thread and their imagination. Audra is a 1997 graduate of The College of Wooster where she majored in English. She lives in Rocky River with her husband and two daughters.

Amy teaches preschool pottery and “mommy and me” classes at BAYarts. She has worked with clay since childhood and taken classes at Orange Art Center, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland State University, and BAYarts. She earned her bachelor degree from CSU in Ceramics, as well as Environmental Planning. Outside of the studio, she is a mom to her sons, native plant enthusiast, and a very happy camper. Amy has had the joy of introducing children to clay since 2011.

Amanda DiLisi was raised in Bay Village, Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Baldwin Wallace University, where she majored in Studio Art with an emphasis in painting and printmaking and minored in Psychology. She graduated summa cum laude and her artwork won “Best in Show” in the 2021 BW Art Exhibition. Her artistic style is realism, which is depicted through detailed paintings and intricate linoleum prints. Amanda believes art is not just about the final product, but is also about the therapeutic benefits gained in the process of creating art. She enjoys teaching art to others and explaining how to do things in a way that all students can understand. At BAYarts, Amanda teaches aspiring artists of all ages, from preschoolers to adults. You can see her current work on her website.

As a working color creative Ms. Flauto has worked as: textile colorist, textile dye expert, national and international color educator, product designer, color and trend consultant and contemporary fine
artist. Currently as an abstract contemporary painter, color plays a major role in her painting process. Ms. Flauto has exhibited nationally. Her work has appeared in The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Butler Institute of American Art and countless galleries. She is an active exhibitor and supporter of the arts in Northeast Ohio.

Nicole is a recent graduate from Baldwin Wallace University with a BA in Business Administration and Studio Art (focused in Ceramics). As our recent addition to the BAYarts pottery studio, Nicole comes to us with over 5 years of pottery experience and passion. She manages our adult pottery open studios, has become a Pug-master, and instructs/assists with kids workshops. You can see her current work by visiting her website below.

When he’s not busy thwarting alien invasions, local artist Jim “Rev” Giar is huddled over his drawing table pursuing his passion: drawing comics. Referring to himself as a pop culture brat, Jim was raised on healthy doses of westerns, film noir, grindhouse cinema, horror films and comics. These influences are sprinkled and peppered into his single illustration work. Jim attended CCAD, studying illustration and photography. There is where adopted advice from his illustration instructor as a lifelong mantra: “every illustration should tell a story.” Recently he has contributed to several anthologies, including the Harvey Award nominated Once Upon A Time Machine published by Locust Moon & Dark Horse Comics, as well as the New York Times best seller FUBAR: Empire of the Rising Dead. He shares his love of comics with kids, looking to motivate the young storytellers of the future to continue telling stories through the use of sequential images… A talent, Jim feels, exists in all children.

Susan Gray Bé has taught Oil & Acrylic Painting at BAYarts since 2010. She has a MA. in Painting from the State University of New York at Albany, a Certificate of Completion from the National Academy of Design, and has taken summer courses at the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Vermont while in college. Susan received an BA. from Hamilton College in 1980, majoring in Art & a minoring in Psychology. Alongside teaching at BAYarts, she teaches drawing and painting to adults at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Cleveland Museum of Art (since 1997).

Erjon Hajnaj is an Eastern European artist born Fier, Albania. At an early age, Erjon was familiarized with the idea of art as a concept through his uncle Kujtim Komprencka’s work, a brilliant classical style sculptor, which influenced Erjon’s work in a major way for years to come. In 1992, Erjon enrolled at Jakov Xoxa Art high school in Fier, Albania, to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and study classical sculpture as well, and graduated in 1996. During that time, the country of Albania went through a political and economical crisis that created instability and uncertainty for its citizens, which forced Erjon to immigrate to the United States. Just like most immigrants in a foreign country, learning a new language and adapting to a new culture shifted his focus away from art. 20 years later, in 2017, Erjon found himself thinking again about art. But his interest this time was in painting instead of sculpture. Erjon recently graduated with his BFA in painting from Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland, OH.

Linda recently returned to the Cleveland area after a career as an art educator and art program supervisor in Baltimore, Maryland. She creates artworks that reflect her desire to attend to and decode her dialogue with place, particularly with the natural world. The natural environment is full of opportunities for decoding – even the smallest, most humble elements hold vast potential for investigation. Linda considers her work to be a visual record of an unscripted dialogue between the constructed and the natural world. Her work includes many media including acrylic paint, wood, and collected/found materials.

Beth brings her experience in retail management, marketing and fundraising to oversee the general operations of the BAYarts campus, including the Playhouse renovation. She is also responsible for human resources. She has a BA in Communications from Cleveland State University, with a strong background in marketing and public relations. Beth serves on the board of The Bay Village Foundation and is active in community area events. Beth is a Certified National Geographic Educator and her interest in environmental education is a perfect fit for the BAYarts motto Artistic by Nature.

Tara teachers Mini Mosaics: Art & Music. She is a Music Therapist and the Music Class Coordinator at Music Therapy Enrichment Center (MTEC) in Westlake. Tara received her Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Western Michigan University, with voice as her primary instrument. She then completed an internship at The Pioneer Center in Chillicothe, Ohio, where she worked with children and adults ages 0-21 with developmental disabilities. Tara grew up in Canton, Ohio and in her spare time she enjoys  spending time with family and friends, going to baseball games, watching movies, and cooking. Music as has always been part of her life and she’s eager to continue using what she loves to help others.

I’ve been working with watercolors since 1992 and being self-taught has brought many challenges to my watercolor journey. I love watercolor and paint many different subjects including florals, landscapes and still life. Painting in a tight controlled manner using a very fluid medium has its challenges.  Watercolor like the world around us can be very unpredictable.  Trying to control it is exciting and provides hours of enjoyment and satisfaction. My work has been sold in local co-ops, gift shops, art shows and festivals and has been printed in several poetry magazines. I’ve been teaching watercolor for about six years.

Jen Nebraska has been passionate about yoga for 15 years. She has been teaching kids yoga for three years. A graduate from Siena College, in 1990, with a marketing degree, Jen decided to switch careers and go back to school for yoga. She completed her 200 hours YTT training at Cleveland Yoga in March 2019. Jen teaches a variety of classes with us during the summer and school year. She also teaches teen yoga, senior yoga, and chair yoga around the area. Jen’s classes are upbeat and fun. Her goal is to teach the children to calm their mind and their body while having fun with yoga.

Hilary Nemecek has been teaching Art in the Cleveland area since 2010. Her experience ranges from years in the public school systems, time as an artist in residence, and working with after school Art enrichment programs. Hilary holds a BA in sculpture and photography from Xavier University and MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University. She enjoys dabbling in all mediums and providing her students a safe, comfortable environment to explore and express themselves. In addition to teaching, Hilary also runs a portrait photography business. Hilary loves spending time with her three young daughters and husband.

Amanda Nyx is a multimedia and multi-disciplinary creative from Cleveland, Ohio. As an artist, Amanda works primarily in mixed-media abstraction and can frequently be found playing with color and techniques in any of her many active art journals. Amanda has found a deep passion for arts accessibility, with her classes most often aimed at the true artistic beginner. She also builds large-scale installations, producing interactive and experiential pieces for festivals, events, and small businesses. Amanda is more than a visual artist — she’s also an actress, dancer, circus performer, and a fire spinner through her company Fiercely Serene Studios. In addition to her own creative pursuits, Amanda works with local musicians and performs through her ListenCLE programming, which works to advocate for fairly-paid opportunities and greater visibility for Cleveland’s many performance talents.

Angela Oster grew up in northeast Ohio and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in digital media from the Cleveland Institute of Art. After a life-changing Creative Workforce Fellowship from Cuyahoga County Arts & Culture in 2009, she found the confidence to do what she truly loved – draw cartoons. Angela’s work explores the tearful yearnings and joys of childhood, and she also enjoys drawing odd and spooky characters. She lives in Rocky River with her husband Tom Stevick, also an artist, and her daughter Sylvie. Angela’s grandmother and father were both teachers, so she is thrilled to carry on the family tradition as a teacher at BAYarts.

Cass Penegor (They/Them) is a nonbinary artist currently located in Lakewood, Ohio. They received their BFA from The Cleveland Institute of Art in Drawing and Printmaking and their MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Print Media. Their work has been exhibited at H-Space Gallery, Cleveland (OH), The House of Blues, Cleveland (OH), The Progressive Corporation, Cleveland (OH), Prospect Gallery, Cleveland (OH), The Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood (OH), Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti (MI), and Forum Gallery, Bloomfield Hills (MI). Cass Penegor is a recipient of the Gund Family Scholarship, the Francis J. Meyers ‘51 Scholarship for Excellence in Drawing, the Frank N. Wilcox Memorial Prize, The Cleveland Institute of Art Printmaking Departmental Award, The Northern Ohio Art Dealers Association Award, and The Cleveland Institute of Art Board Honorable Mention Award.

John Plymak grew up in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood, and first became interested in art and graphics by collecting comic books and drawing superhero characters.  He graduated with a BFA in art from Ohio Northern University, and works as a package design art director, with accounts such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.  John is a colored pencil/drawing instructor and is currently illustrating his third book.

Joy Powell was born in Ohio, and moved to Los Angeles where she worked for Break The Floor, a well known dance production company. She started her dance career at the age of two, and her first job was teaching preschool ballet in studio when she was fourteen. Formally trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and acro. She has danced competitively for seventeen years traveling the country. Currently residing in Cleveland she’s excited to share her love of dance with all who want to learn.

Cara Romano is a Cleveland-based artist and jewelry designer. She has been part of the art faculty at Cuyahoga Community College since 2009 and is affiliated with Negative Space Gallery in Cleveland. Cara received her BA in Visual Arts from The University of Chicago in 2002 and her MFA in Sculpture from Ohio University in 2007, along with an MA in Art History. She is a life-long artist who works in many different styles and media but is best known for her paintings that incorporate light and shadow patterns into colorful, abstract compositions. She loves community, art, music, nature, and animals. Her work can be viewed on her website.

Using bold colors, dynamic textures, and a sense of movement, Chrystene Thomas creates pieces that are both visually striking and emotionally evocative. Her art is a reflection of her own personal journey and deep appreciation for the world around us. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Chrystene holds a Masters in Social Work, which has given her a deep understanding of the complexities of the human experience. This knowledge has informed her art, inspiring her to explore issues of social justice, mental health, and community through her work. Chrystene is passionate about helping others to discover their own artistic voice. Whether through teaching, mentoring, or simply sharing her own experiences, Chrystene believes that everyone has the ability to tap into their creativity and make meaningful art.

Shannon Timura is a mixed media artist who dabbles in Feminine Alchemy – the ability to transform the mundane and ordinary into something delightful. Upcycled textiles, and discarded books are my art materials of choice. They are handstitched, glued or “concrete-mached” into whimsical pieces designed to give a feeling of empowerment to the viewer.

With over 30 years of experience as an art educator, Camille is ready to help you move along your own artistic journey. After discovering her love of making art for others as a young adult, she went on to a formal fine arts education (B.F.A. with a specialization in oil painting). Although she enjoys working in and teaching a variety of mediums (watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pastel chalk, etc.), oils are still what she loves and works with the most. Within these mediums, portrait painting is her deepest passion. When teaching, Camille tries to meet students where they are in terms of experience, technical skill, and personality.

Janet Wade has taught art classes and workshops for over 30 years. She started her art career in Bay Village teaching at Baycrafters from 1980-1997. Janet rejoins BAYarts faculty after moving back into the Cleveland area from St Louis, Missouri. She continues to exhibit her work both nationally and regionally, has been the recipient of Juror Awards in Excellence and her work has been published. She is an active member of several national and regional art organizations such as Women’s Caucus for Art; where she served on the St. Louis Chapter Executive Board. Janet looks forward to teaching a variety of fiber based classes at BAYarts.

Mike Zawacki is a Westlake-based musician who performs all over Greater Cleveland with his band Hoodoo BBQ and the acoustic duo Mike & Mike. A life-long student of the guitar and a fan of all types of music, Mike is eager to share his knowledge with the new generation of guitar players.