"Nancy has taken art courses at Cornell University and studied painting in several workshops. Since 1989, she has devoted her efforts to painting full-time. During her career, she has won awards for her work in oil and watercolor and has been juried into local, regional, and national and international shows. 

She has found the medium of watercolor provides her with a most satisfying and versatile way to express her love of the natural world. Much of the inspiration for her paintings comes from summer sailing trips along the coast of Maine, exploring this beautiful part of New England from an ocean-side perspective. 

She often works from photos, since sailing is usually not compatible with on-site painting. They are used as reference material to re-create the emotional impact of a scene. The process of looking through the lens at the landscape allows her to search out a center of interest more easily and record details that might otherwise be overlooked. Sometimes elements from three or four photos are used in the composition for maximum effect. She may change the light, weather or anything else that helps to tell her story. 

"The greatest challenge to me as an artist is to communicate my reasons for creating a painting, to convey to the observer the essence of a scene and the emotion it inspired in me. When I can accomplish that, I know the painting is a success"

For more information, please visit her website: http://www.nancydavisjohnson.com/index.html

"Hello, my name is Christine Blain, and I live in Goffstown, NH. Since I love to capture the beauty of the seacoast, many of the paintings are the quiet harbors and old boats that I find along the coasts of NH and Maine. I have been selling my nautical paintings in galleries along the coast for several years, as well as online and through commissions. I am currently represented by Small Wonder Gallery in Camden, Maine.

I am a mother of three college-aged kids who are my greatest blessings in life. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Art Education and am currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Theory and Practice. I am also a juried member of the NH Art Association. I also love to create whimsical, colorful watercolors that evoke a childlike sense of discovery and playfulness. I enjoy painting these lively, colorful paintings so much that I recently made many of these original paintings available to buy on Etsy.

For me, the process of making art is like a journey. I become lost in the world of exploration and discovery, finally landing back on my doorstep with a visual account of my travels in hand. My artwork is the result of an inherent drive to convey the simple beauty that so many people miss in the ordinary scenes of life -- the glory of sunlight, the wonder of a reflection, and the significance of what touches memory or the heart. I thank God for this adventure of being able to share my work with others."

For more information, check out her personal website: https://christineblainart.blogspot.com/

Justin Wheeler is a self taught photographer from Hill, NH specializing in unique and expressive landscape photography. Justin's limited edition nature photography prints combine scenic photography, vivid colors and artistic compositions to create new, captivating visions of the natural beauty of NH!

To learn more visit www.NaturallyNH.com.

Kimberly J.B. Smith is a long time art educator, teaching students from Kindergarten age to high school and adults online. Smith holds a M. Ed. degree and has continued study through all venues -- academic, independent, research and from her students who provide incredible inspiration. 

Smith is known for her 2D & 3D compositions that include recycled & repurposed materials and paper pulp combined with paint and collage. Smith also creates altered books. Using discarded books, Smith creates sculptural pieces and non-sculptural relief works. Sculptures are often old books repurposed. Board books are often used as substrates.

Altered book themes range from highly personal to literary, to historical or ancestral. Smith takes commissions for altered books. Additionally, Smith is a sculptor whose pieces range from clay mixed media to recycled material constructions.

Some of Smith's works are simply explorations. Others are inspired by cultural of literary sources or the work of noted Surrealist artists & writers. A word, a passing event, or the juxtaposition of objects are all launching points. In Smith's words, "Life is inspiration and inspiration is everywhere."

Visit Smith's website at kimberlyjbsmith.com

Jean V. Kennedy
Biography.

I was born and raised in England and came to the U.S. as a young woman in the mid 1960s. I worked for Colombia University in New York as a research administrator for many years before moving to southeast Louisiana with my husband. I now live in Gilford, NH.

As a beginning artist I was told to "paint what you love" as your work reflects your passion. I love flowers and birds and many of my paintings are of nature.

Watercolor was the first medium I learned. Some of my work reflects the use of a negative painting technique called "painting outside the lines." Painting using this technique means one has no preconceived notion of the end result; no photograph or scene to copy, only what is visualized and constructed after applying paint to the paper. I find watercolor a fascinating medium to work with because of its fluidity and transparency. I also enjoy using oils and acrylic.

I have taken many workshops from professional artists. I was greatly influenced by a Louisiana art teacher, Myrna Waters, who taught me to push values and how to better use color and shape in a painting.

As an artist I have earned many ribbons and awards for my watercolors by entering competitions both in NH and Louisiana including Best in Show.

I am currently President of the Lakes Region Art Association and a member of the Artists Loft, both local organizations. More of my work can be viewed at www.jeankennedyart.com and at the website hosted by the Lakes Region Art Association under my name for Showcase pages. More pieces of my original artwork are currently on display at VynnArt Gallery in Meredith Falls, Meredith.

I can be reached at jvk2347 [at] gmail.com

​Our artist of the month is Phyllis Minor Meinke. Phyllis has won a number of competitions and ribbons for her work, including First Place in Mike Moats Macro Flower Competition, Second Place and People's Choice in the 2016 Boston Flower Show Photo Competition, several ribbons in the N.E. Camera Club Council competitions and First Place in the Lakes Region Art Association Summer Show, Photography. 

Her work is on display at the LRAA Gallery in the Tanger Mall in Tilton, and at the Pennsylvania Center for Photography Transformations exhibit in Doylestown, PA. ​

For the month of October, the resident artists at Midnight Moon Tattoo are our Artists of the Month. Check out their amazing work here at the Meredith Public Library for all of this month.

The display includes work by artists: Audi, Mathew Clarke, and Timm Myers.

More information about Midnight Moon can be seen on their website: http://midnightmoontattoo.com/

The author of many great and well-lauded titles, Kate Atkinson is our author of the month for September. All this month, check out our display of her available titles in the fiction room!

Some of her titles available in our catalog:
Case Histories
Life After Life
A God in Ruins
Started Early, Took My Dog
One Good Turn

The Blossom by Lisa C. Hough-Kovacs

"The Blossom is the artist's first oil painting. She concedes ownership of her house in New Hampshire to her cat Lily. "

Contact: lhoughkovacs [at] gmail [dot] com

The artist of the month of August is Sharon Zimmerman from Zimmerlady Creations.

"Sharon Zimmermann is a graduate of Arizona State University with a BFA in photography although her work consists mostly of mixed media. She likes to paint in acrylics, work in mixed media and photography, create fiber art and custom quilts, and does some metal working. She has a passion for creating in any form. She is a member of the Lakes Region Art Association and the Belknap Mill Quilter’s Guild. Sharon lives in Penacook, NH and owns her own house painting business and occasionally works with her mother at Dreamland Machine Quilting.

Sharon currently has two pieces on display until August 14th in the Lakes Region Art Association Annual Show at Vynn Art Gallery in Meredith. Her piece, “Moody Octopus,” is on display and is the second place winner in the Mixed Media Category. Her work is also on display in Tilton, NH at the LRAA Gallery at the Tanger Outlet Mall and in Concord, NH at Crossroads Family Medicine and Sander’s Family Medicine.  Her work can also be found on the artist showcase page at www.lraanh.org  and on her artist page on Facebook: Zimmerlady Creations.

Sharon Zimmermann can be reached by email at: zimmerlady@comcast.net or by phone at: 603-731-5478"