“SHe who works with her hands is a laborer. She who works with her hands and her head is a craftsman. SHe who works with her hands and her head and her heart is an artist.”
- St. francis of assisi
ARTists & INSTRUCTORS
BARBARA ZIEV • Founder • ARTIST • INSTRUCTOR
Barbara is a self-taught artist who specializes in abstract and mixed-media art. With a passion for fearlessly exploring the boundaries of creativity, Barbara has embarked on a remarkable journey of self-discovery through art.
Through experimentation and an intuitive approach, she has honed her skills in creating a body of work that is both visually captivating and emotionally evocative.
KIANGA Jinaki • ARTIST • INSTRUCTOR
Kianga Jinaki creates dolls, quilts and mixed media works that celebrate Black life. Her work has been been exhibited both nationally and internationally since 1991. Ms Jinaki is a 2022 recipient of the Artist Innovation Fellowship, Cultural Council of Palm Beach county. A Baltimore native living in South Florida for 30+ years.
mINDY LIGHTHIPE • ARTIST • INSTRUCTOR
Mindy Lighthipe believes in protecting the earth and does this by educating people through her art. She works in a contemporary approach similar to John James Audubon and Maria Sibylla Merian, to show the natural history and interconnection of plants, insects, birds and mammals. Mindy gets her inspiration from working with local and international rescue groups who rehabilitate and re-introduce animals back to the wild. She has been painting butterflies for over 30 years.
RONNI GERSTEL • performer • puppet fabricator • INSTRUCTOR
Ronni Gerstel, the creative spirit behind Flamingo Park Puppets, has been a professional performer, puppet fabricator and teaching artist for the past 30 years. She has produced, and performed in shows for the Jewish National Fund, the New World Symphony, The Palm Beach Zoo, and the Puppetry Arts Center. Ronni has designed and created puppets for the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, the Florida Reef Foundation, and the Palm Beach School District’s “Character Counts” program, besides building puppets for her own productions and for the Puppet Network in Fort Lauderdale.
PATRICIA BEAN • Professional Photographer INSTRUCTOR
Patricia brings a wealth of experience to her work as a teacher, artist and professional photographer. With a deep background in digital arts and photographic arts, Patricia has spent decades perfecting her craft. As an independent commercial photographer, she has captured stunning interiors for designers, architects, and builders. She has participated in numerous Art Shows and Galleries in three different states. She currently resides in Saint Augustine and provides Saint Augustine Historic Photo Tours, sharing the history, architecture, and helping others improve their photography skills.
LIANNA SLATER • ARTIST • INSTRUCTOR
Lianna Slater, raised in Newport, Rhode Island, is an accomplished artist and educator. She holds a BFA from the University of Hartford Art School and studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and in Florence, Italy.
Lianna has a strong foundation in jewelry design, composition, and color theory. Her work has reached major retailers, and her passion for teaching encourages students to explore and build confidence in their creativity. Her supportive classes foster a positive environment, inspiring individuality and artistic growth.
NANCY HUSS • ARTIST • INSTRUCTOR
With three decades of experience as a healthcare professional, Nancy Huss’ desire to delve deeper into her wellness journey led her in an unexpected direction. A lifelong background in visual arts helped lead her to discover the realm of Neurographic Art. With this profoundly cathartic experience, drawing lines becomes a liberating journey for the soul and a transformative process for rewiring the mind.
LEESA GORDON • RESIDENT ARTIST, ENCAUSTICS
Leesa Gordon began her creative career at age 9, directing disinterested playground schoolmates in original short skits. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Communications, followed by a 40 year career as an award winning news reporter, advertising copywriter, and documentary film writer and producer. Her lifelong love of photography is now being explored through the prism of encaustic collage.