July’s Artist
Cheryl Shanahan
Cheryl Shanahan is an acrylic painter who splits her year between New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and Metro Richmond, Virginia. For decades, she expressed herself through photography, writing, and music. Having grown up with several amateur artists in her family, Cheryl was curious about painting. In 2020, she signed up for acrylic painting classes. She got eight lessons under her belt before the lockdown, and much to her surprise, there was a painter who was eager to come forth.
Cheryl has done photography for over 40 years with every type of equipment from 35mm Canons to quirky Holgas. She believes she had a solid jumpstart into painting because she has thought in terms of composition, value, and color for so long. There are many transferable skills between the two disciplines. She is very interested in value accuracy and fascinated by color relativity.
Cheryl finds inspiration in the natural wonders that New England offers, particularly the sparkling lakes, scintillating blue skies, and range of textures and colors found in the forests and on the hills and mountains.
Cheryl is the President of the Governor Wentworth Arts Council in New Hampshire, a member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS), and a member of the Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA).
August’s Artist
Lucy Merrow
Lucy Merrow is a member in good standing in Mount Washington Valley Arts Association, and a member of the Governor Wentworth Arts Council. She has been painting since the age of 9 when she learned to mix colors from a lovely Belgian artist. Later, while a student at the University of New Hampshire, she was fortunate to study art courses with John Hatch. She has taken many community art classes and recently a drawing series with Mount Washington Valley Arts Association.
Lucy likes to paint landscapes, buildings, and local scenes. The colors and shadows in nature are constantly changing and she delights in capturing their beauty in scenes familiar to people who live and vacation in the area. Her medium is oil on canvas, and she finds enjoyment and satisfaction in especially fine brush work to create realistic details.
Lucy is an organic gardener, each year growing a yard full of bountiful vegetables and colorful flowers.
September’s Artist
Ann-Marie Shpeley
Ann-Marie is an award winning Potrait and Landscape photographer based in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. A member of the NHPPA New Hampshire Professional Photographers Association, PPA Professional Photographers of America, and the WPPI Wedding Portrait Professional International where she earned her Associates designation.
Her work has been published both locally and internationally as well as on the covers of published authors books.
Ann Marie currently owns and operates Harbor Lane Studio & Gallery located in Gilford NH where you can see her work on Canvas and Acrylic options as well as traditional matted prints and unique Winnipesaukee note cards. You can follow her on facebook @Ann Marie Shpeley Photography
