Meet The Artists
Lois Merrill
Acrylic, Oil, Castings, Suncatchers
Grew up in Columbus, in Newcomerstown since 1980. Married with two grown sons, their wives, and two grandsons. Retired Nurse, art therapist, reflexologist.
Jack L. Hunt
Mixed, Acrylic, Photography
I was a frustrated painter that picked up a camera to record images of scenes I thought might make interesting paintings. I hope my compositions tend to reflect that point of view. I don't consider myself to be a photographer per se, as I am much more interested in creating an image than recording the proverbial moment in time. Many folks say my work is too painterly and that suits me just fine, because my mission as an artist is to blur the line between photography and painting. I regularly combine photography, paint and inks to make mixed media pieces. You can see my work at Foothills Studio in historic Roscoe Village.
Jody A. Rohr
Acrylic, Graphite, Pen/Ink, Pencil
Jody married a Holmes Countian in 1990, leaving her hometown of Long Beach, CA. She and her husband Chris own a farm where he raises commercial beef cattle. They have two, grown daughters. Jody has loved both making and viewing art for as long as she can remember. Paintings done by her mother and grandmother, displayed in her childhood home, were strong motivation for Jody to learn how to draw and paint. Her art education has mostly been from Jr. and Sr. High School art classes. After grade school she has taken an acrylic painting class and a general art class (both 100 level) at Long Beach City College, plus a number of one-day workshops. Bob Ross videos, The Great Courses art instruction DVDs, and a growing library of instruction books are also aiding her growth as an artist. Both of Jody’s daughters are artistically talented but one pursued a degree in art. Jody’s passion for art was reawakened by seeing her daughter’s college work. So, in 2017, with an empty nest, Jody started painting in earnest. Jody also customizes plastic model horses. Epoxy putty is used to correct flaws or fix breaks on the models, or to reshape them, then they are sanded and re-painted. It’s basically sculpting/ carving, and painting combined. For her acrylic paintings Awards of Mention have been won at two out of four Tuscarawas County Art Guild Fall Exhibits and in 2022 Jody took home two First places, the Judges Choice, and Best Overall awards at the Holmes County Fair.
Lynn Fraelich
Oil, Acrylic, Gauche
I have loved art for as long as I can remember and was always encouraged by my mother who was an artist. I work mostly in oils but drift off into other mediums occasionally. I enjoy painting for others and do commission work, mostly places of the heart and pet portraits. I belong to the Coshocton Art Guild and am a partner at Foothills Studio and Gallery in Coshocton Ohio.
Ernie Galajda
Arcylic, Oil
My curiosity for painting began when I retired. A new life chapter opened with time to explore a new discipline. During school years, I had worked on engineering blue prints and being raised on a family farm, painting Mail Pouch Barns was my first challenge. Painting began using acrylic paints. It was a good choice since acrylic paint is easy to use. Old and faded siding gave a wonderful opportunity for portraying aged and distressed wood. Several commissions for painting homes confirmed my architectural slant in painting. Over time, subjects for paintings expanded to landscapes, birds, nautical scenes, and others. Several years ago, I began using oil paints and have enjoyed the results and effects that are possible. Painting is a creative process and continues to challenge. There are a host of painting techniques can be used to show details, create emotion and capture the new viewer.
Linda Linham
Oil, Arcylic
“My primary goal is to create something that tells a story and captures a mood or emotion that strikes the soul of the viewer. Working primarily in oils, I paint people, pets, wildlife and objects in an impressionistic realism style and enhance the narrative value with imposed composition. My interest as an artist is related to how people build personal memory and their social world. I paint to connect with others and enjoy making a client’s vision come to life in a painting they or their family can cherish forever. Themes for my work include empowered women, connecting past, present and future, communicating social issues, people enjoying life, wildlife and the beauty of nature. My past experience gives me an appreciation for the basics of design and a fascination for art as a communicative device. As a result my paintings tell the viewer a story in a creative and realistic manner. I often use family and friends, keepsake treasures and photos of places people have visited as subject matter.” Linda is an award winning artist whose paintings are displayed by collectors nationally. An Ohio native, Linda attended Ohio University, initially focused on art then changing to a business major. Always building on her strength of creativity she served in various roles in the printing, publishing, and advertising industries, including CEO, President, Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing, Sales Manager, Creative Director, Illustrator and Graphic Designer.
Darlene Hollingsworth
Mixed Media
My artistic endeavor started in 2020 with an online art course and I’ve been hooked ever since. I love texture so using acrylic, glass and resin makes a good fit for me. I also enjoy using an extra thick textured acrylic paint. As a nature lover the majority of my paintings will include flowers, water, sky and sun and a lot of times they will be free flowing and whimsical.
Christy Mosier
Pastels
Christy has loved art for as long as she can remember. However, she did not start painting until later in life. Christy feels fortunate to have taken lessons and workshops from some wonderful teachers during her art journey. She has tried different painting mediums but favors pastels due to their rich and vibrant colors. Christy primarily paints pets and wildlife. She hopes her love for animals shines through in her paintings and that she is able to bring them to life by capturing their unique personalities. Christy occasionally dabbles in other mediums and subject matter but her first love will always be painting animals. Christy has found another creative outlet in addition to her paintings. You can also find her fun and unique earrings at the Tollhouse.
Brandon E. Scott
Photography, Design, Woodburning
Brandon Elijah Scott is a 20 year world traveler and explorer, photographer and artist, herbalist and healer, author and designer, dreamer and nature lover, thinker and seeker of truth and wisdom. He is the owner of Woodland Herbal and Green Path Academy: School of Herbalism, and is a master herbalist, Coshocton Art Guild member, and advocate of Nature Conservation. Brandon focuses his work on showcasing the many moods of nature with the hope of inspiring others to see the beauty and the myriad of reasons to protect the natural world. He works in natural health and wellness, teaches education in herbalism and photography, and has experience in film, marketing, web/graphic design, branding and portraiture. Brandon attended the Ohio State University for computer information systems, photography, design and marketing, and Sage Mountain for herbalism.
Monica Crawford
Mixed Media, Acrylic
Monica Crawford began painting in art journals in February of 2020, extending her painting to using acrylics on canvas in the spring of 2021. She has been creating artwork nearly full-time since her retirement in February 2023 from a successful career as a software project manager in higher education. She is now a mixed media artist who creates colorful, fresh, and eclectic paintings in acrylic or by combining collage with watercolor and/or acrylic paint. Her inspiration comes from shapes, colors, and patterns found in nature. She frequently incorporates an abstract or fanciful interpretation of plants, flowers, birds or fish as a primary focal point or as background elements. Her visually rich paintings arise from a belief that rediscovering our innate connection to nature is an essential counterbalance to our industrialized and technology-focused society. Exploration through experimentation and play is fundamental to her work. She loves incorporating intriguing marks made with a palette knife or unusual found objects. Monica exhibits her work regionally and is a member of ZAAP, ArtCoz, Coshocton Art Guild, and SEOWS (Southeast Ohio Water Media Society).
Deborah Schaefer
Mixed Media
I am a mixed media, fiber, altered book artist. I love creating art with found, vintage and fiber items. I also teach classes in these mediums to adults and children. I have taught home school students a year or quarter at a time. Adult classes are usually 2 to 4 hours long. I enjoy also getting clubs going that meet monthly or more often. Artist trading cards and art journaling lend themselves to clubs. The newest trend of junk journaling could be another great club. I have enjoyed traveling the world and mostly recently living in Maine. Living in Maine close to the ocean was an inspiring artistic time for me. Now I enjoy living here and creating art with my granddaughter Chloe and with many good friends.
