DAA Members

Jeanne Ausmus 

My artistry records the present and re-creates the past. I draw from photographs; some new and some antique. The medium I use is colored pencils on colored paper. A drawing usually takes 25-50 hours to complete. My style is slightly Impressionistic because the colors are applied side by side to create the right effect.  My subject matter varies in each picture. I've drawn old barns, old school houses, cheese  factories, the Green County Courthouse, scenes from the Farmer's Market both in Madison and in Monroe, animals, flowers and a few people.  I've participated in many art shows at the Monroe Arts Center, Monroe Clinic and Middleton  Public Library. This will be my 13th year in the WRAP competition. I have had four drawings go onto the state competition resulting in one award. A few years ago I was commissioned by Historic Monroe to draw a series of pictures portraying past schools of Monroe. These six drawings are now on permanent display at the Monroe Public Library. Other commissions for private individuals keep me busy.

Chuck Bauer has been painting for many years and is an original founding member of the  Driftless Area Artists. Formerly from Madison, he lives with his husband, Chuck Beckwith on country property in the Blanchardville, WI area. About his painting Chuck says, "My works are usually executed, or at least begun, out of doors, on site (en plein air), and completed during one or more painting sessions. One quickly discovers there is no substitute for direct response to the natural world: photographs deceive, memory falters. I tend to choose subjects that offer opportunities for color expression, suggest light capture, or provide compositional challenge. Taking the larger view, I believe, and I hope, that by merely trusting to the rich visual bounty of virtually any subject, one can, potentially, infuse substantial, and maybe even universal, emotional content into one's paintings."  Now retired, he carries his painting materials with him wherever he is.  He has traveled and painted frequently in Mexico. Chuck Bauer is represented by the Milward Farrell Fine Arts Gallery in Madison. 

https://www.milwardfarrellfineart.com/chuck-bauer

Victoria Bein - Pastels & Drawings are Victoria's main artistic pursuits. She feels her intuitive line drawings are foundational to the development of her work. As simple sketches evolve into more complex forms, I explore and uncover my unconscious world. Themes develop. Shapes communicate and are broken or rearranged in search of place. Intersecting lines reveal hidden content, patterns, and possibilities for positive and negative space. I tell stories that are not necessarily in a known language; often they appear to me as a puzzle or mystery to be unveiled. Through the use of contrasting elements that project a combination of whimsy and dis-ease, I integrate conflicts of both my inner and outer world. While the iconography is personal, the resulting images tap into a collective unconscious. Key to my vision and compositions are palette restriction, layering, and the creation of transparency within forms.

Carbon pencil and pastel on paper allow me to emphasize linear marks ranging from bold to barely visible and to build a rich surface of texture and shading.

As each drawing goes through a series of transformations, I seek to maintain the impulse of the initial sketch by retaining much of its primitive line--the ancestral source. A constant underlying theme in my work is the expression of a synergistic feminism with inclusivity at its core: the creation of wholeness out of diversity. Thus each final piece reflects my journey; blending representational elements with
abstraction, finding unity and harmony in the chaos of fragments. To learn more about Victoria Bein, visit her website at VictoriaBein.com or you may contact her here via email

Sally Berray - Sally holds a degree in graphic art but she has her hands in many artistic pursuits including beaded jewelry, beadwork, calligraphy, candle making, crafts, creating artistic books, cards and journals, design, drawing, embroidery, landscape quilting, paper mache, papermaking, photography, pop-up books, sculpting, sewing, soap making, typography, and watercolor painting.  Sally enjoys discovering new mediums with which to express the beauty she finds in the world. If you would like to contact Sally you can email her here.   Visit her website SallyBerray.com

Elaine Bethke:  I have always loved to paint and draw and write.  The arts are very important to me and all through my life I have practiced these as hobbies and sometimes as a side moneymaking hobby.  I have a college degree in English with an Art minor.  When I was there abstract art was king.  Since this is not the way my mind works, I was always hesitant to think of art as a career.  

When my children were small art was my escape from the everyday world of responsibilities.  I budgeted my time so I was able to draw and paint regularly while they napped.  I taught art classes at Monroe Art Center and Blackhawk Tech and through private lessons.  I also made the art fair circuit which was a lot of fun and made my feel more like a professional.  I also made a little money which is a plus for something you love to do.  

Today, retired, I enjoy painting, drawing and pen and ink sketches.  I have also combined my love of geneology with my art work.  Many of my current works have this focus as I paint my family enjoying our cottage up north and also our Norwegian heritage through paintings of scenes of people and places in our family history.  The best thing about art now is I feel free to do things my way.  My subjects are things I want to paint, not things I think would sell.  Of course I enjoy a commission or a sale, but that is a plus, not my main motivation.

Nikki Cooper of Green Chicks Studio on the square in downtown Monroe, Wisconsin, creates beautiful fun art. She takes recycled plastic bottles, newspaper, wire, quilting scraps and duct tape and turns them into art.  Be sure to stop in the next time you're in Monroe and see all the great art Nikki has to offer. Check out Green Chicks Studio Website at  www.greenchicksstudio.com  for more information

Roger Earth, (formerly Dorenden) photographs nature with an eye that is matched by few.  He has won numerous awards for his photography of birds and animals in the wild. Along with his camera, Roger takes patience and skill into the field.  He will wait hours for the right shot. His sense of humor creeps into photos he shares with friends. Roger is a nature photographer of extraordinary skill. Roger hails from Apple River, IL

Meredith "Merry" Dragovich creates mosaic paintings that will leave you wonder why you tossed out your old cracked china. 

Meredith Dragovich has been making art for many years. However, since 2013 she has been devoted to making beautiful mosaics. Using tile, glass, rocks mirrors, wood and more to creat timeless mosaics. Be it a box, a table, bottle or bench, this art must be seen. Visit Merry's Facebook Page Here. /www.facebook.com/MerryDragovichGallery/  

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Jim Ferris  is a photographer from Monroe, Wisconsin, who specializes in nature photography. He enjoys capturing scenes of trees, flowers, plants, animals, rivers, and lakes, and getting them into people's hands in the form of a photograph. Jim is also a woodcarver, having done mainly plaques and clocks. Always looking for more ways to express his creativity, Jim plans on creating wooden toys, furniture, and more in the future.

It is with great sadness that we must report Jim passed away on Sunday, January 8th at the age of 71.  He was a long member of the DAA and in the past had served on the board.  In his latter years, the physical difficulties he had made it diffiucult for him to follow his passion for photography. He shared many ideas with the group about things the DAA might do, however he was a private person and did not talk about himself.   It was not until his obituary that we learned Jim was a veteran and had served in Vietnam.  He once stood guard duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Jim Ferris, thank you for your service to your country.  It was an honor to know you.
 

Steven Fisher is a Cartoonist and Novelist who resides in Monroe, Wisconsin. He joined the DAA in March of 2017. You may  contact Steven here by email.  Steven has authored a novel titled Corpse Pose, A Murder Mystery by S.D. Fisher, is set in Wisconsin.  His Science Fiction series titles are :The First Misadventures of Fragger Sparks, by Steven D. Fisher   

The Second Misadventures of Fragger Sparks, 

The Third Misadventures of Fragger Sparks,

The Blood of Fragger Sparks.

Find Steve's novels on Amozon or Barns and Noble

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Roger Goodspeed - I have no particular “style” but feel approach and media should vary with subject matter.  Most of my work is done in water-media [watercolors and acrylics] but I enjoy exploring other media as well.  I usually paint in a semi-realistic manner but occasionally try the difficult approach of evoking a response with abstraction. I began painting during a prolonged period of invalidism following a truck- bicycle accident at age nine.  At first , I mostly copied Audubon bird prints using oils [too messy for a bed-ridden child], then using Tempera, and finally, when they became available, acrylics.  I remained a wildlife realist painter for years and picked up training whenever I could when I had time away from my medical practice.  With retirement, more training at workshops, and participation in competitions and shows, I matured and expanded in to other media and other subject matter, and other approaches than strict realism.  Lately, I have enjoyed exploring converting sound into vision as Walt Disney attempted in his “Fantasia ” productions.  I listen to a piece of music and convert the pictures the music produces in my mind to a 2 dimensional painting.  Difficult, but sometimes rewarding.  I believe an artist should hope to renew the joy and curiosity felt by small children, which we seem to loose as adults.  Whether the vision comes through the eye or from deep within the mind, it is a precious blessing to be savored. lean more by visiting my website at:  http://www.acreresidency.org

Kathy King  Always a teacher and a student is how I would describe myself.  I cannot ever turn it off.  I’m always seeking more when it comes to creating art.  I have been greatly influenced by the artists I have been in contact with at Bethel Horizons/Adamah Studios as a student the last 16 years and as a ceramics teacher for over 20 years. I've grown to know the power of networking with artist friends and other professionals within the art field. With a Masters in Education, I have been teaching in the public Schools for more than two decades.  Eighteen of those years art at Monroe High School classes in Ceramics, Watercolor, Computer Graphics, and Jewelry. My strength is persistence; I have always been drawn to certain shapes and forms and over the years of experimenting with many techniques, I continue to come back to those with a new twist, mostly influenced by what I have just learned and observed.  Reach Kathy at her website www.kathykingpotterpainter.com 

Patrick McGowan  as well as being a busy archetect, paints in watercolor and acrylic. He resides in Monticello, Wisconsin, where he turned an unused out building on his property into a glorious ART SHED.  During the warmer months he invites artists to make art with him in the Art Shed.  His firm, MCGOWAN ARCHITECTURE, co-sponsors the DAA Youth Show.

Suzanne Miller of Green Chicks Studio in Monroe, Wisconsin has been a working professional artist for over 25 years specializing in graphic design, theatre prop and set design, mural painting, acrylic painting and sculpture. Her primary focus is recycled mixed media sculpture which uses recycled plastic bottles and containers, wire, newspaper and tape to create an sculpture armature. These are covered in a fabric mache using recycled sheets and a newspaper clay. Pieces are finished with acrylic mediums and varnish and enhanced with found objects. Whimsical animals and creatures are her main themes. Miller’s work has been sold worldwide. Her murals can be found in many public locations throughout the Monroe and Madison areas. She currently sells most of her work through juried art fairs and exhibits in Wisconsin and Illinois. Many samples of her work and her current exhibit schedule can be found at www.greenchicksstudio.com.

GiGi Elizabeth Mullen

This spot if waiting for CHRIS ROBERTS, A new DAA member from Albany, WI.  We understand Chris draws and writes poetry.  He will have to tell us more about himself soon.

Jill Lazerchick-Sampson  I enjoy creating in fiber arts and photography. I cannot remember when I wasn’t knitting or taking pictures when I was growing up. Throughout school and college and as an adult, I took many classes in both mediums. I love nature, and in my photographs, I often capture the interplay between light, textures and the transitions within the seasons. Besides making hand-knitted garments, I also create knitted sculptures and textured “scenes” using a variety of fibers, beads and wire. I am the Lower Sugar River Watershed Association’s Chairperson of The Seasons of the Sugar River Annual Juried Show held at The Monroe Arts Center.  For information on upcoming LSRWA art and nature workshops for all skill-level and medium.  Contact Jill at:  www.artshowcoordinator@lsrwa.org.      

Linda Shannon -  My art is an extension of my faith and walk with God. I love the true God and his son the Lord Jesus Christ and my paintings are part of my worship of Him. I praise and thank him for the beautiful farm scenery of Green County that I reside in, that are the primary images I use. Some paintings bring to mind for me, Bible verses and some I have done calligraphy first and then painted.

My methods of finding painting subjects are taking photographs while bicycling, walking or driving. I then paint in my small home studio. I have drawn and painted all my life. Some seasons of my life, I only produced a few, but my dream was always to paint and have art shows. I went to college for art and worked in graphic arts for 20 years. Currently, I am a RN working part-time and looking forward to when I can retire and paint more.

Cheese Days 2016 was my first public art show. I was excited to show my original watercolors and calligraphy depicting the farm scenery of Green County. I have found my favorite subject and medium. The hills and hollows, the animals, plants, flowers, and most of all the barns of this beautiful area in watercolor. In July 2017, I had a painting in BFAI Beloit Gallery with the Driftless Area Artist Association. August-November 2017, another painting is in “The Art of Healing Show” at Monroe Clinic Hospital.

I grew up in Port Washington, Wisconsin and now reside in Monticello, Wisconsin. My family roots are in Argyle, WI. My ancestors were Norwegian immigrants that pioneered farms in that area. I still have second cousins farming in the area.

Mary Soddy is the owner of Creative Photography located at  1114 17^th Avenue in Monroe.  She is well known in the area for her professional photos and her skill as a pianist.  This photo of the Monroe's Historic Courthouse on the Square is one of her iconic images. Mary can be reached at:  

crphoto1114@gmail.com

Joan Stackpole is a Monroe artist who works in the mediums of acrylic, graphite, and watercolor. Joan finds great pleasure creating paintings that reflect her life experiences and her love of the outdoors. Joan is also a member of Wisconsin Regional Arts Association. Her work can be seen at Enterprise Center at the norh end of Blackhawk Technical College, at Art and Antiques on 11th Street just off the Square, and hanging at The Black Walnut Resteraunt on the east side of Monroe's Historic Square.both in Monroe, WI.

Joan can be contacted here

Helen Stauffer, a Monroe resident, has dabbled in art her entire life. She is a photographer and painter.  Currently she paints in watercolor and acrylic and also draws in ink. Her work can be seen in the Lower Sugar River Watershed exhibits and the WRAP exhibits at the Monroe Arts Center. Helen is a member of the Wisconsin Regional Arts Association and the Driftless Area Artists.

This space reserved for new member

Rose AnGela Taylor.  We can't wait to heard about your art.

Terry Tackett enjoys working with soft fiber and combining it with elements of other media, such as beads, metal, and paint. Her work reflects her love of nature and an optimistic spirit. The wool Terrty uses which she cleans and colors, comes from her sheep that share a pasture on her property. She  shows her felted creations at many art fairs in the area during the summer and holiday seasons.

You can find her work and upcoming shows on her website at tackettsmeadow.com 

Valerie Weihman-Rock - Metalwork, Sculptor, Painter,comes to us from Arglye, Wisconsin. She creates beautiful art including metal work, watercolors, and more. If you visit her, she might be out in the work shop welding a new sculture. contact her here

Mary K. Zierold  has been painting and doing needlework since age five and has been actively involved in the arts all her life. She holds a BA in Art Education, an AAS in Graphic Design, and an MSE in Cultural Arts Management.

She often works with acrylics and watercolors, however her true passion is fabric, which she manipulates with a variety of  techniques, including dying, stamping, painting, and hand- and machine-quilting, and beading, embroidery, and other embellishments to create "Art Quilts.”

For more information on obtaining some of Mary's works of art or to commission a new work of art, contact Mary here via email.