Sabrina Cordovana
Founder / Art Teacher
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Sabrina Cordovana has always had a passion for the arts. She has been classically trained at Montclair State University and Pratt Art Institute in NY. She received an Associate in Arts degree in Photography and Painting from College of Morris and went on to the University of New Mexico to receive a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in Painting. In 2008 she was honored to be chosen to be in the first Inlight Festival by 1708 Gallery. Her work is in the permanent collection at the Science Museum of Virginia and for several years exhibited with Crossroads Art Center. In 2010, she immersed herself in a new media, fused glass, which has unlocked an entirely new art form for her, that combines science, math, chemistry, and art. Sabrina is an active Board Member National Charity League of Midlothian and a member of the Virginia Glass Guild. Her work in private collections around the country.
Nicole Brinser
Art Teacher
Nicole Agee Brinser is a visual artist and art educator living and working in Midlothian, Virginia. Her work ranges from painting in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, to printmaking, collage, jewelry, and clay. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens University, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She continued her education and reicieved her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Currently, she is the Art Teacher at St. Edward-Epiphany School where she teaches Elementary and Middle School children. She has attended at Nimrod Hall off and on in the summers over the last 18 years and taught art in Henrico County Public Schools. She believes there is an artist and creator in every person, some just need a bit of courage to take that first step.
Cynthia Erdahl
Art Teacher
Cynthia Erdahl is a vibrant painter who lives in Richmond, Virginia. She holds a degree in Social Work from East Carolina University and Virginia Commonwealth University. She pursued her passion for art and enjoys working in small 4 x 6 inch ink drawings to large 48 x 36” or larger oil and acrylic paintings. For several years she has had shows through the Korean and American Exchange Exhibit and at the Richmond Public Library. She has attended Nimrod and is in the permanent collection at the Morris Museum of Fine Arts in Augusta, Georgia. She is also in several private and corporate collections all over the world. Cynthia has been a volunteer docent at VMFA for 20 years.
Mary Parsons
Art Teacher
Mary Parsons is a local artist from Midlothian, Virginia who has a wide variety of work ranging from landscapes, still life, portraits and mixed media. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and has also studied Art Education, Fashion Illustration, and Graphic Design. Recently, Mary has been working on illustrating an inspirational calendar using nature as the subject matter. These illustrations are detailed and include texture and depth with just a hint of color. She has also had some poetry published and enjoys incorporating writing in her mixed media paintings.
Mary Pedini
Art Teacher
Mary Pedini is a Virginia based artist who creates paintings that capture the likeness as well as the spirit of the individual or place. Her paintings are treasured by many and can be found in several private collections throughout the United States. Mary’s formal training began as a fine art major at Westfield State University and Massachusetts College of Art. Upon receiving her Bachelor in Fine Arts, she began working at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where she was influenced by the great works of many of Americas first impressionists. After moving to Richmond Virginia, she continued her artistic journey in the field of graphic design working as an illustrator and designer. All which contributed to her artistic vision as a painter. Mary has had her work exhibited at several art venues including Crossroads Art Center, Brazier Fine Art, Artspace Herndon, Uptown Gallery and Gallery Flux. She is currently a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Virginia Plein Air Painters and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters.
Michelle Phaneuf
Art Teacher
Michelle Phaneuf is an artist and art teacher based in Richmond, Virginia. Originally from New England, Michelle has been making art at a very young age. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Art Education and Ceramics. Though she has studied many mediums, her art practice focuses on the use of natural and recycled materials to make paper, ceramic pots and other mixed media works. She is passionate about making the arts affordable, sustainable and accessible to all. She is pursuing a license in expressive arts therapy.
Lynda Ray
Art Teacher
Lynda Ray is an artist based in Richmond, Virginia who received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, MA. She has attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, where she studied under Agnes Martin and Joseph Campbell. Thoughts she references are “perfection is in the mind” from Agnes and the “work parallels the experience” from her professor Rob Moore. Lynda has been recently awarded the Cultureworks Grant as well as artist residencies at the Vermont Studio Colony, the Santa Fe Art Institute, and the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, Woodstock, NY. She has received fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Program and The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts, Inc. Her work has been widely exhibited and collected.
Here is a recent interview:
Meet Lynda Ray
Sherry Siewert
Art Teacher
Sherry Siewert is a jewelry and mosaic artist from Richmond, Virginia, who has always embraced artistic endeavors, “I really like designing jewelry for the unique creativity and beauty that an object of nature combined with metal and other mediums bring to the enjoyment of my customers, family, and friends.” In her earlier years, she created ceramic, but later she pursued a career in technology, teaching high school and middle school students. During her teaching years, she ventured into quilting and jewelry. Sherry is currently working on the Metal Clay Masters Registry, a credentialing program for metal clay artists and the Halstead Design Challenge, which is the Society of North American Goldsmiths.
