Meet the Artists of Democracy by Design 2026
Debbra L Brown
Bio Coming Soon…
Jenny Campbell
Jenny Campbell has been a freelance cartoonist and children’s illustrator for 38 years, with more than 25 storybooks to her credit. Jenny also is the writer and cartoonist of the nationally syndicated cartoon strip, “Friends”, based on an ensemble cast of seniors. In addition, Jenny has drawn for most major textbook publishers, multiple hospitals and corporations, and others. She also is a prolific source of cartooning for animal welfare organizations nationwide.
Sheay Cono
Sheay Cono has a passion for color, texture, pattern, and florals, using her background in graphic design and quilting, she infuses these elements into her art. She lives in Bainbridge with her husband, children, and two very needy, but adorable, dogs. She enjoys bringing natural elements into her work and is happiest sculpting intricate florals from polymer clay or painting from a fresh bouquet of flowers.
Dina Dean
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Abby Denton
Abby lives in Chardon and enjoys nature photography around Northeast Ohio and wherever her travels take her. She also likes working in acrylics and her artwork and photography have been displayed at the Geauga County YMCA. She participates annually in the Metzenbaum Art Show, held in November. Abby is a graduate of Chardon High School and has an associate’s degree from Lakeland Community College. She has been employed at Bob Evans in Chardon for the past 10 years as a hostess. Abby is the daughter of LWVGeauga member Gail Roussey.
Lisa Eastman
My Reverie is painting the Natural Landscape. Luminous Landscapes of Light and Color Inspire me. The Majestic Rotation of the Universe, Blessing us with the Grand Sunrise, Sunset, followed by a Star filled Sky. The Beauty of a Valley of Emerald Green, with Rivers of Life, meandering along a Peaceful Journey towards the Sea. The calming lull of Water in Rivers, Lakes and Oceans. The Rainbow mist of a Grand Waterfall. The Serenity of the Forest and the changing of the Seasons, Are a most symbolic Metaphor to the Seasons of our Lives. A Painting can touch your Heart and serve as a Nostalgic place of the Beauty our World.
Ed Erbach
I received my first set of oil paints while in high school in 1965 and began taking lessons from a woman in a nearby town, copying paintings from the Masters. From there I went on to obtain a college degree in Architecture and subsequently began a 50-year career as an Architect. I would dabble in art in various forms over that time, but very sporadically. Over the past few years, I’ve begun painting again more earnestly, first in oils and more recently in oil pastels. It is my hope that whatever comes through me will elicit a feeling of “Presence” … and hopefully joy!
Emily Felderman
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Brigitte Fiorille
Brigitte Fiorille enjoys teaching classes in Ceramics, Children’s Art, and special events along with her current role as Art Director at Fairmount Center for the Arts. A graduate from Grand Valley High School, Orwell OH, she received an Associate of Art from Lakeland Community College, Kirtland OH and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics from Kent State University, Kent OH. As a lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio, her path in the arts has been interwoven with her personal work and involvement with local communities.
Laura Sue Fuderer
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Elaine Gerber
Elaine M. Gerber has lived in Ohio for most of her life; she began drawing and painting as a child. She was graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in English. She lives with her husband in Chardon Township.
Mark David Gottsegen (1948-2013)
Mark Gottsegen earned his BA in 1971 from the University of Rochester, and his MFA from Boston University in 1974. He joined the art faculty at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) in 1976, teaching all levels of drawing and painting, as well as a course in art materials for 31 years. Recognized as one of the foremost authorities in the science of art materials, his book on the subject - The Painter’s Handbook - is regarded by art teaching faculty as the standard painting manual for the contemporary artist.
Cath Griffith
Lifelong artist painting in oil and acrylic. Inspired by nature and design. Recent juried art shows are Gates Mills, Fairmont, Burton Library, Geauga Hospital.
KC Henry
My passion for ceramics has developed throughout my life – starting with my original love of collecting pottery. After taking a few ceramic classes – I quickly turned my back yard office into a pottery studio – changing my creative focus and my personal time commitment. I was further blessed with master level mentors who greatly influenced the development of my work.
My pieces echo a love of the natural world -– from organic stoneware designs to earth tone finishes. The horses I create reflect my career in equine therapy – the magical healing impact and amazing reflective relationship horses have with humans.
John Hershey
John Hershey, a professional architect with 35 years of experience, also excels as a visual artist specializing in painting, photography, and woodturning. He employs expressive, figurative, and abstract styles, utilizing a dynamic wet-on-wet painting technique to capture the immediacy of his vision in a single session. His artworks seek to distill the emotional essence of everyday moments, inviting viewers to connect deeply with the subtle and powerful feelings woven into daily life.
Margaret S Heydorn
I discovered a new passion at age 56 when I attempted my first oil painting which opened up an amazing world of beauty. Since retiring I’ve enjoyed more time for painting, exploring and growing as an artist. I’ve been accepted into numerous regional juried art shows and even won some awards. In 2018 I joined an artist studio and recently joined the Board of the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls. I feel fortunate to be a part of this vibrant Northeast Ohio art community.
Debbi Homola
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Jackie Jeromin
Jackie Jeromin is a Geauga artist who enjoys playing with different media and styles. She is often inspired by nature, fantasy and history.
Kathleen Kobyljanec
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Sarah Komaromy
I have enjoyed the privilege of growing up and living in northern Ohio. Always having an interest in taking pictures when I was young, after high school I really started to dive into taking more photographs everywhere I went. My first camera was an Olympus film camera that was with me day and night. Capturing everything from sunsets, to flowers, to cemeteries across Ohio. Over 12 years ago, I was blessed to meet my now husband. Together we have a son, who is slowly starting his own photography journey. I am also thankful to have a wonderful connection with his aunt as we share the same passion for photography. We both love the sunsets of Lake Erie, to the covered bridges in Ashtabula, and especially the colors of fall.
Kathy Komaromy
I was born and raised in NE Ohio and didn’t appreciate what it has to offer until I started taking pictures. I have always enjoyed taking pictures of family gatherings and vacations. I started out with the Kodak Instamatic with the flash cube. Photography sure has come a long way since the days of those Instamatic cameras. My retirement gift to me was a Canon Rebel DSR camera. Everything looks better through the eye of the camera. I started printing and framing pictures and saw even more beauty in them. I am drawn to sunsets, clouds, water and ‘naked’ trees. My goal is to expand my photos to all things’ nature. I want to push myself and look outside of my comfort zone for more photo opportunities as well as hone my photography skills and camera knowledge. All of this will allow me to share my view of Northeast Ohio with others through the eye of my camera.
I truly am “Enjoying the Outdoors, One Photo at a Time”. Quoting a fellow photographer, “Life is a Gift, Live It”
James Komaromy
At 9 years old I already have an eye for taking photographs. Before I could even walk, I would be out on photography adventures with my mom, and my aunt Kathy. By my 3rd birthday I got my first mini camera, and I would take it with me everywhere we went. By 2023, I entered my photographs into my first photography contest at Penitentiary Glen. Ever since then, I have enjoyed taking new photographs every year to show anywhere I can. I am currently an honorary member of Euclid Arts, and this year I will be the featured junior artist at the Euclid arts spring show. I plan to continue on my photography journey, improving my skills as I go, and showing my photographs.
Steve Koren
Steve Koren, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Cleveland State University, came to the United States from Yugoslavia at the age of six. Following four years in the US Army and a forty year career in financial services, he discovered oil painting as a means to make retirement interesting and rewarding. His art education includes courses at the Chagrin Valley Art Center, Orange Art Center, Cuyahoga Valley Art Center, Cleveland Institute of Art, and workshops with Ramon Kelley in Santa Fe, New Mexico. his works are known for bols and bright colors depicting a city skyline, an iconic structure or a portrait in a mosaic of colors. See his instagram page at #stevekoren99
Wendy Landry
Wendy loves to play with color in fabric, often challenging the eye to see colors together that may not normally be considered companions. Every piece of art she creates is infused with the intention of radiating love.
Honey Lazar
Honey Lazar lives and works in Cleveland, Ohio. She studied at The Cleveland Institute of Art and is a lifelong workshop student. Selections of her work are in permanent collections at the Progressive Corporation, University Hospitals, and Southwest General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. She focuses on long-term projects for exhibition with subjects ranging from Amish life to faces of survivors of sexual assault most recently seen at Bowling Green State University, www.seenandheard.net. For more information, www.honeylazar.com (photo credit: https://www.elizabethglorioso.com)
Ken Long
Ken Long began to create photodigital art a few years before he retired in 2019. Since then, he has had solo gallery shows at the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Nature Center and The Gathering Place West, exhibited and sold his work at BAYarts, and won two first place awards at the Westshore Arts Council annual juried show. You can see more of his work at https://www.facebook.com/riverphotocraft and contact him at riverphotocraft@outlook.com.
Susan Love
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Sarah McGlone
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Nancy C Murnyack
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JoAnn P Mynchenberg
I live in Chagrin Falls with my husband Gary. I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. I enjoyed my career as an Art Educator K-12 at Chagrin Falls Village Schools, a dream come true! Before that I taught children’s workshops at the VAC. I absolutely love teaching and exposing young children to the world of Art. I developed at a very early age a passion for visual art when my third-grade teacher brought it to my mother’s attention that I had a talent for drawing. Mom then enrolled me in the Cleveland Cooper School of Art. There I found my people! I received my Art Education degree from The Ohio State University, minored in Photography, Weaving and Art History. I just could not get enough!! While teaching, I Received my Masters in Printmaking from Kent State University. Here I focused on Intaigo, silk-screen and lithograph with Professor Noel Riffle, extreme perfectionist! Fell in love with the possibilities along with the messy process! Now retired I’m spending more time with the family, enjoy/struggle learning oil painting, gardening and volunteering for my favorite charities! Contact info mynchjp@gmail.com
Anne Nelson
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Eileen O’Connor
Eileen O’Connor, a Mayfield Village-based oil painter known for landscapes inspired by regional natural beauty, studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art and is currently mentored by master painter Kami Mendlik. Her work, including several award-winning pieces, has been featured nationally, regionally and locally, including Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, and the Zanesville and Springfield Art Museums. View her paintings at Sara’s Place, Tommy’s on Coventry or www.EileenOConnorFineArt.com.
Aimee Pierson
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David Randall
“The best colors from sunlight are the ones found in its shadows.” —David Randall
I’ve been pursuing watercolor since 1980 (age 14) as a life-long hobby. 30 year career as graphic design and branding professional is making way to full time pursuit of art. Primarily self-taught—I'm inspired by natural landscapes and structures, water, and the infinite emotions of color and light recreated only by water and pigment. Next: Large format acrylic landscape and still-life behind the scenes; soon to open a gallery and virtual storefront. Randall resides in Bainbridge Twp with his family and dogs. The 2 paintings here result from a visit to his beloved Andrew Wyeth’s Maine: Olson’s (Cushing). Wyeth’s quintessential 1948 “Christina’s World” depicted this house and property, and he completed over 600 paintings here over his 80 years of painting. The home is in tact…and preserved as it was in Wyeth’s time. The Northern Pines are witnesses from the back yard painting —reflected in the window on the Northern side of Olson’s.
Mary Rensel
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Mary Ann Scott Sedivy
Artist Mary Ann Sedivy’s passion is painting the landscape in both the plein air fashion and through abstraction. Mary Ann has her degree in Fine Arts and Art Education from Hiram College. She spent 31 years as an art educator at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School in Chardon, Ohio. Mary Ann’s painting career has spanned 45 years during which she has exhibited in Ohio in numerous juried exhibitions and has had several solo shows.
Anissa Smith
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Cris Clair Takacs
Cris Clair Takacs has been a bookbinder for over forty years. In restoring books the art is to hide the art. In design binding the art is to showcase the book. From Toledo, Ohio she went to Ohio University and took up bookbinding after her move to Geauga. Her bindings have been exhibited and are in private and university collections. She lives in a century home in Chardon, Ohio with her husband and two cats.
River Trimmer
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Chuck Tuttle
I am retired after forty-two years working in the not-for-profit social services field. I have been creating stained glass since 1984, after taking an adult education class. It has been a life long hobby that I continue to enjoy.
Kristen Walenga
I’ve always loved making things including a messy work area. I settled on sewing starting with clothing and traditional quilting. Eventually, I realized that making perfect points meet perfect points was never gonna happen. I found freedom in imperfection. I’m largely self taught, although I have taken workshops and classes from amazing artists where I eventually realized I was a fabric artists, not a quilt maker. I use a variety of techniques and am inspired by many things, especially nature and colors around me. I enjoy the process as much as the final product.
Jason Wein
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Martha Young
Martha earned her undergraduate degree in Art from San Jose State University, completed graduate work in Art Education from SJSU, and studied textile arts at the Cleveland Institute of Art. A longtime resident of Cleveland Heights, Martha has been making art and teaching here since 1973 in public schools, private schools, the Cleveland Institute of Art, and in after-school settings. Besides her teaching, Martha is active in the textile arts community as an exhibitor, curator, and installer of artwork.
Johanna Yurak
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Caleb Zelch
Caleb Zelch just graduated from high school and has been creating jewelry since age 11. He started his company, Zelch Zoo Designs, when he was 13 and his designs include beading, metalwork, handmade glass, and enameling. He will attend Alfred University in the fall studying glass engineering science and art.