Cheryl DiCara is a native of Maine, living in Brunswick. She retired from a career in public health in 2013, and is now happily engaged in painting. The ocean, skies, colors, animals and birds provide inspiration for her work. Her interest in art began in childhood when she often drew animals, birds and people, then continued through adulthood designing and making quilts. Cheryl enjoys exploring and experimenting with color, and especially loves painting birds, conveying their beauty and their quirky personalities. “I  find the painting process to be exciting, calming and centering. Being an artist and part of the Maine art community significantly enriches my life. I access as many opportunities for learning and growing as an artist as possible."

 

Elaine Hranich grew up living on the water in the small coastal community of Green Island in Toms River, New Jersey and spent much time outdoors as a child. She lived a short time in California and in central New Jersey surrounded by beautiful farm land before moving and settling in Maine. Reconnecting with a deep desire to create, she restarted her art journey in 2012.  Her art guidance has been primarily through private instruction and has attended multiple classes and workshops. Plein air painting has provided her with the opportunity to paint the essence of nature. She enjoys living in Maine with four distinct seasons, which provide continuous variations in the surrounding landscapes, scenery and wildlife.  Elaine likes to experiment with multiple mediums such as pastel, oil, acrylic and watercolor. During the cold winter she enjoys quiet time painting indoors. “Maine Moments: with each creation I seek to capture and convey the feeling of the moment. Nature provides the most beautiful subject matter, especially when the sunlight is glistening on ordinary objects.”

 

Cheryl A. Young was born and raised in rural Brunswick helping her family raise different domestic animals and watching or interacting with wild creatures in the fields and woods of their extensive property. “Art tells a story. I combine my love of drawing, color, and nature to make art and the tale is usually about animals. My mediums are color pencil, ink, and watercolor pencil. Animals attract me because we humans have a strong empathetic connection to them.  Drawing them is fascinating because animals’ fur, skin, and feathers have texture, patterns, and colors, much like fabrics.”  Cheryl graduated from University of Southern Maine with a BFA in Art, with concentrations in drawing and textile design. She also designs costumes, selling them online. She lives in Bath with her family and their cat, Murphy.