Geneva Lake Art Association

Great Teachers Inspire

All of the award winning GLAA Art School instructors have art backgrounds, many years of experience, and are considered leaders in the art community.  Frequently exhibiting at the GLAA Gallery, they also exhibit outside of our Gallery. Please check their websites for a look at their beautiful artwork and join us for enlightening classes sure to improve your skills. Classes are small so individualized instruction can be given. Chat with other artists, share techniques, and get creative at the GLAA Art School.

Meet The GLAA Art School Instructors

Ken Cottingham

Pam Ring

Pam Ring has been a collage artist for over 30 years. For 5 years she was the display artist for the Westchester, New York, AC Moore Co., an arts and crafts store,. Most recently she was the artist-in-residence for the Shades Repertory Theater in Haverstraw, New York. Her work has also been licensed for holiday greeting cards. Although largely self-taught, she has studied under many well known mixed media artists, notably Claudine Hellmuth, Bev Braxton and Kelly Killmer.

Ms. Ring states that her collages are the ultimate in "green" art, for she uses found material in all her pieces - ephemera, billboard papers, flea market finds. She works in small formats so that her work is affordable to all who appreciate and desire to own original works of art.

Her work is readily identifiable - bright colors, easy to navigate compositions and whimsical juxtapositions. She recently expanded her work to include collaged jewelry.

Ms. Ring works out of her home studio in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and 3 dogs.

Nancy Wolff

Jack Nichols

Few artists offer such depth or experience. Jack has a distinguished career creating memorable visual images. His portfolio includes wholly original characters, award-winning package designs and digital graphics for top-selling computer and video games. Employers/clients have included Pizza Time Theatre, where Jack created all the characters (including Chuck E. Cheese) and character-related merchandise for Marriott’s Great America theme park, Walt Disney World and Mindscape. From his art studio in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Jack’s unique blend of talent and whimsy is now available to all.

Mickey Fielitz

Nancy Newcomb

Nancy has been teaching the art of transparent watercolor in workshops all over the country for over twenty years. Her ability as a Master Teacher and award-winning artist make her workshops popular. Educated at the Art Institute of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, plus studying with some of the watercolor workshop "greats", have helped to hone her skills.

Jeanne Dyer

Even as a young girl, I have always been happiest when I have a pencil, pen, brush or camera in my hand. I enjoy capturing the beauty of this world and sharing it with others though my art.

I graduated from Bradley University with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art and worked for Caterpillar Inc in Peoria, IL and Caterpillar S.A.R.L. in Geneva, Switzerland in Marketing and Communications for almost 20 years.

Retiring to Lake Geneva in 2006, I have taken oil painting instruction from Ken Cottingham, watercolor classes from Vicky Lilla and Nancy Newcomb and botanical watercolor classes from Lynne Railsback, all teachers with the Geneva Lake Art Association. I have served as Publicity Chairman for GLAA, Member’s Tent Chair for Art in the Park and have recently been elected to the Board as Executive Vice President for 2010 – 2011. 

During my life, I have been fortunate to live on four continents, in five very different countries, each with its own particular character. I’ve studied the inhabitants, both human and animal, their unique dwellings and landscapes. My artwork is a reflection of what I’ve learned.

Lynne Railsback

I don’t paint roses, orchids or iris. The plants that grow in the woods and prairies in the Midwest are my subjects. I particularly enjoy the plants in fall and winter with their interesting shapes, colors and textures.  I begin a painting without doing preliminary studies, drawing pencil lines on the paper or relying on photographs. Instead my inspiration is the physical plant "close up and personal". My pigments are limited to Viridian, Permanent Rose, Burnt Umber, Aureolin & French Ultramarine; my paper Strathmore 500 series 3 ply Bristol board and my brushes Jack Richeson 9000 series #3/0, #0/0 & #1/0. I have been privileged to have solo exhibitions in botanical gardens and arboretums as well as to be included in group exhibitions throughout the United States and U.K. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Janesville Rotary Gardens, New York State Museum, Racine Art Museum, Springfield Museum of Art, Zurich USA, and many private collectors have purchased my watercolors.. My work can be seen in many publications including "Today's Botanical Artists". I enjoy sharing my techniques and experiences with the students I teach as well as encourage them to develop their own style of painting.

Mary (M'Lou) McEneely

Painting people is my passion. I find their stories endlessly fascinating. Sometimes I know their stories when I paint them. Other times I don't but I make up stories about them as I paint. The stories become the painting. Real or imagined, they are all fascinating to me.

Oil is my medium of choice. I love its juiciness. However, I also love the texture and brilliant colors of Pastel.

I have a bachelors degree in Art and continue my studies with Lake Geneva artist, Alice White.

I am honored to have been juried into shows that include "Womens Works" and "Real People" at the Courthouse Gallery, Woodstock, IL, Hilton Head Biennial National Juried Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC, the Wustum Museum, Racine, WI, and the Geneva Lake Art Association, Lake Geneva, WI, having been honored with the "People's Choice Award" twice for Oil and Pastel.

I am privileged to have my work in private collections throughout the country.

My teaching philosophy is to give my students the tools they need to express themselves in their own style. Medium, supports and brushes, as well as technique and a historical perspective are explored to allow the student to create their own style.