Mary Rochelle Burnham

Mary Rochelle has been producing portraits professionally since the age of eleven. It is her philosophy to find the beauty in every individual she draws whether as a formal portrait or a ten minute caricature. Mary holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the College for Creative Studies of Detroit in Graphic Communications. Mary Rochelle has worked as a caricaturist, freelance illustrator, courtroom sketch artist, fine artist and teacher. Some of her clients have included: WDIV Channel 4, CNN, The Associated Press, Ford Motor Company, Seimens, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Hour Magazine, Crain's Business Detroit, Eastern Michigan University, University of Michigan, Children's Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital to name a few.

Kathleen Campau

As an experienced third generation embroiderer and quilter, Kat Campau has always had a passion to create. Fascinated with inventing things as a child, Kat considered her artist apprenticeship to be the time she spent fixing cars and making toys with her father. Though Kat studied ceramics in college, her passion has always been fiber arts. Fascinated by intense, vibrant colors and the Impressionist style, Kat aims to feed the eyes and souls of her viewers using an unstudied, naïve look. Kat’s art quilts have been included in numerous shows including the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Kaleidoscope of Quilts in Sylvania, Ohio, Michigan Quilt Network Shows, Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild Shows, and Michigan Quilt Artists Invitational Shows. In addition to her shows, Kat has lectured and presented her work in both Michigan and California and is a member of the Baguettes Art Group, Running With Scissors Art Group, Michigan Quilt Artists, and Mosaicians. At Two Twelve, Kat has taught Knit a Felt Bag, Art Quilts, Mosaics, Beaded Bracelets, Art Salad (a medley of media and techniques), Wood Burning, Machine Sewing, Machine Felting, and more. Kat enjoys the community of the arts center and notes, “It is truly a community of caring, nurturing people, who speak the same language of art.”

Nancy Miller

Nancy, who was born and raised in Saline, began sewing, crocheting and embroidery as a child to guarantee a large wardrobe for her dolls. Nancy developed her art tastes and skills as time passed, creating her own teaching materials and illustrations as an elementary teacher. Currently, Nancy is retired and finding that she can spend more time exploring different mediums. In addition to her artwork, Nancy is a prominent member of St. James United Church of Christ, a garage sale enthusiast, and frequently visits Lake Huron. In addition to crocheting and quilting, Nancy focuses on knitting, soap making, and handcrafted spa products; having taught the latter two art forms at Two Twelve. Nancy has been hooked to soap making ever since a co-worker at Clinton Schools taught her how to make cold process soap and has been adding to her knowledge of the subject ever since. Nancy’s favorite part of creating is collaboration with others. She loves the artists at Two Twelve, finding them inspirational and knowledgeable.

Christy Howden

Christy, who earned a BA and MBA in Economics and Sociology from the University of Michigan, has taught numerous classes at Two Twelve focused on practical crafts that can be used in everyday life. As a crafty child of the 1970s, Christy has always had a knack for creating. Christy has taught a variety of classes at Two Twelve including sewing-related classes, Oilcloth Totes, Wool Felt Pillows, Chalk Mats, Make Your Own Hula Hoops, Stained Glass Mosaic Pots, and Make Your Own Lounge Pants. In addition to teaching at the arts center, Christy is also the Craft Community Contributor for Ann Arbor.com, a Girl Scout Leader, and the owner of an online sewing and craft supply store . Recently, Christy has begun teaching an Etsy workshop at Two Twelve, sharing her own success story with students and covering the basics in managing and selling your artwork on the e-commerce website. With classes focused on getting students to create a practical and successful product, Christy notes that she loves figuring out her projects and cherishes the “TaDaa” moment that comes with the completion of each project.

Vey Valentine

Vey began teaching at Two Twelve in 2010. He is an experienced ceramics instructor, having taught traditional pottery at Greenfield Village for nine years. Vey began throwing pots in high school, and had his first inspirational encounter with pottery at his cousin Trudy’s studio in Berkeley, California in the late 1960s. With a BFA in Ceramics and Design from Wayne State University, Vey spent thirteen years as a production potter at Greenfield Village and twenty-two years modeling full-size clay concept vehicles at the Ford Design Center. Vey’s classic shapes and early American utilitarian ceramic forms are inspired by ceramicists he refers to as the “old masters,” including Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew, Karen Karnes, and others. He appreciates and follows their natural approach with natural materials that soothes the spirit. Vey loves the community found within Two Twelve and appreciates the process of creating his pieces. His passion to create can be described in one statement, “I’m not happy unless I’m makin’ something.”

Michele Montour

Michele, a fiber and graphic artist, was introduced to art as a child when her mom placed her in art classes at Cranbrook to push her out of her shell. Earning her BFA from Eastern Michigan University with a major in Fiber Arts, and taking numerous workshops in Toronto, Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michele has become a very experienced fiber artist. Michele teaches Silk Scarf Dyeing, Nuno Felting, Batik, and Silk Papermaking at Two Twelve. Michele focuses mainly on wearable pieces, ranging from scarves and shawls to jewelry (in which she also utilizes wire and sterling silver). As a graphic artist, Michele specializes in print materials for both individuals and organizations, including the Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild and Surface Design Associations. Driven by the color and patterns found in water, Michele’s fiber work is a beautiful example of how an idea can come to life. Michele wants people to know that she “truly loves everything she makes and wants anyone who owns something she’s created to enjoy it.” She also encourages everyone to take an art class, in which they will not only gain understanding of that particular medium, but also have an overall greater appreciation for art.

Karen Blackwood

Karen, who received classical studio training and a BA from the Fine Art Department at the University of New Hampshire, is an experienced oil painter. Although she focused heavily on the human figure and still life while earning her degree, Karen fell in love with landscapes when she was asked to do a landscape mural for a California Bungalow home in West Hollywood. Karen has been a professional artist focusing on fine art for the last twelve years. In addition, she was an advertising art director in Manhattan for eight years (which she considers to be a detour on her path of fine art creation). As a child, Karen recalls innately knowing what to do with the brush. Though her skill and natural ability in painting always earned her attention, Karen says that she feels blessed to be able to do this every day. Karen is influenced by many of the painting masters, including Winslow Homer, William Chase, Whistler and Monet, just to name a few. In addition to teaching Oil Painting Workshops at Two Twelve, Karen is a member of the California Art Club, and has taken classes at New York Art League and The CA Institute. Karen feels honored to share her art and talent, noting that her favorite part of the artistic process is how she just gets from point A to point B. “That’s when all the training and years of painting take over and you allow a more spiritual experience to occur,” Karen adds.

Cindy Baxter

Cindy focuses on photography, and photo-enhancing techniques including hand painting, transfers, collage and embellishments, and watercolors. Cindy first began doing watercolors in 1995, and when she moved to Michigan in 2003, Cindy quickly signed up for a class taught by Taylor Jacobsen. When she first moved to Michigan and was no longer working in Early Childhood Education, Cindy started taking pictures at her children’s sporting events. Inspired by the pictures, Cindy yearned to do more with them, which led to her transition into photo tinting techniques and painterly tinting techniques using water-soluble oil paints. In addition to tinting photos, Cindy also enjoys using Photoshop to enhance her digital photos and turn them into photo art pieces. At Two Twelve, Cindy has taught classes in Hand Painting Photos, Inkjet Transfers, Photoshop, and has taught children during numerous summer camps. Outside of her career in teaching, her artwork, and instructing at Two Twelve, Cindy spends much of her time with her family and traveling with her husband.

Holly Losee

As a child, Holly Losee was greatly influenced by her mother, an art teacher in the public school system. Formally, Holly earned an Associates Degree in Art from Cottey College in Nevada, MO, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Center for Creative Studies—College of Art and Design. Though Holly primarily works in weaving and paper collage, she has experimented with a widespread array of uses for these techniques. Working (but not limited to) themes of trees and nature, Biblical themes, and figural forms, Holly has woven rugs, clothing material and fine art pieces. As a weaver, Holly enjoys the step-by-step progression of the artistic process. The planning, loom set-up, and the inch-by-inch progress that can be measured as the piece develops. Having taught Weaving—scarves, bags, and wall hangings—Coiled Basketry, Woven Paper Baskets, as well as themed kids classes at Two Twelve, Holly notes that she loves the inspiration her students bring to the arts center. In addition to her class offerings at Two Twelve, Holly is in her 13th year as AWANA Secretary at Calvary Bible Church, and very active as a volunteer for her sons’ school, South Arbor Academy. Holly’s love for art extends beyond her own art production. “Even if I am not making art,” Holly notes, “everything about art is influencing how I plant my garden or how I arrange my furniture or what I wear.”

Amara Karapas

Amara has been with Two Twelve since the summer of 2009. She has taught Super Stories for kids, assisted with Pottery Camp, and has been a big part of the Art on the Go program for kids. In addition to teaching children, she is a seasoned and renowned face painter—for Two Twelve and other organizations—during large events and festivals. Amara is currently attending Adrian College for Art Education and plays softball for her school.

Jean Canavan

Jean’s love of art began when she was just five years old and her mother’s friend critiqued her drawing of a bridge, introducing her to perspective. Inspiration for Jean’s work stems from other artists, art history, artwork that speaks to her, everyday life, and the way the sun hits an object. Jean has worked in watercolor, gouache, acrylics, pastels, and most recently oils. Jean has also created art quilts, knits, and collaged art and jewelry using paint, paper, found objects and soldered silver. Jean has studied Fine Arts at Miami University, Illustration at Washtenaw Community College, and Watercolor at Eastern Michigan University. At Two Twelve, Jean teaches Beginning Watercolor, Basics in Watercolor, and has previously taught Collaged Canvas, Painted Floor Cloths, Twisted Stitchers, and kids camp classes. Jean notes that she loves teaching and watching her students progress. In addition to her class offerings at Two Twelve, Jean paints murals and embellished walls for a local interior design business, A Fresh Eye, volunteers for Saline Schools, is a parishioner and volunteer for St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, is a member of the Ann Arbor Women Artists and Saline Plein Air Painters, and has painted theater backdrops for Saline Area Players and Varsity Blues. Jean’s favorite thing about being a part of Two Twelve is “the fact that right here in Saline is this wonderful, warm place where it is safe and comfortable to put your artwork out and everyone is so supportive.”

Barb Yerace

Barb first tipped her blowpipe into hot glass in 1980 at Carnegie-Mellon University. She has been dreaming and thinking about glass ever since. Barb has studied glass blowing and lamp working with outstanding instructors and artists throughout the years. She has tried many techniques and made many mistakes, believing all of which led her to the next step or idea. Her passion continues to be hot glass. Recently, Barb has combined both blowing and lampworking processes. This work involves blowing vessel forms with a coil wrap and adorning these pieces with 3-pronged lamp worked beads. She views these beads as elements that repeat themselves, creating an elaborate design of texture and color. The beads allow the blown glass to reach beyond its defined boundaries. Her goal is that both techniques will enhance one another, creating an object of beauty and intrigue. Barb teaches both adult and children’s classes in Glass Blowing out of her home studio.

Sharon Graf-Horning

Sharon is the Two Twelve Arts Center’s Pottery Studio Manager and instructor. After thirty years in health care, she decided to redirect her passion towards pottery. As a full time potter, she has participated in numerous local art fairs, but her main interest continues to be teaching the thrill and the limitless possibilities of clay. Sharon offers classes for adults and children, functional and non-functional pottery. During the summer of 2011, she is also offering a week long Pottery Camp for children. Sharon believes that if you can imagine it you can create it.

Suzanne Poulton

Suzanne focuses on wheel-thrown and altered pottery ceramics, having taught Wheel-Throwing, Hand Building Using Extruded Forms, and Hand Built Fountains at Two Twelve. Suzanne’s work is influenced by ceramicists including Matt Long, Steven Hill, Pineroot Pottery, and Matthew Tell, and she notes that her favorite part if the artistic process is getting dirty. In addition to being an instructor at Two Twelve, Suzanne is also the Ceramic Studio Manager at the Ann Arbor Art Center.