Candice Holeczko studied art at Pierce Jr. College in California, before training in oil painting with artist Nathalie Salamone for several years. While living in Memphis, Tennessee she studied watercolor with artist Lily Champion. She was a member of the Colored Pencil Society in Memphis, and a member of the Bartlett Art Association for five years as well as their president for one year. She has participated in many art shows, workshops and has won many awards for her art including " The Award of Excellence" from Graceland for her portrait of Elvis. She has been commissioned for many murals. Art is her passion and she loves to share it with others. After moving to Valparaiso in 2002, she opened "Artful Things" with her sister. She is currently a member of the "Emerald Coast Plein-Air Painters"

Artist's Statement: Art is a wonderful thing and I enjoy teaching people how to create their own art. When you learn to paint, you can paint all things because you learn to see values. All things are made up of color values. I believe that we all have the ability to create beautiful pictures and that all we need to have is the desire to learn how. I enjoy painting natural things of the earth and find beauty in the most simple forms. I was aware that I wanted to be an artist at a very young age. My Grandmother taught me how to mix Crayola crayon colors and I found it fascinating. I could sit for hours with crayons and coloring book in hand. No problem! I love to paint with strong lights and darks to create sharp contrasts and a dramatic effect. I enjoy working with oil paint but also do studies in other mediums. I have recently been working with oil barsover a metallic acrylic underlay, using a "Graffito" technique of scratching out areas to expose gold and bronze highlights

Carole Atkinson has always loved photography and crafting. Moving from California back to her home state of Florida a few years ago, she came to Valparaiso in 2002 and with her sister opened Artful Things. She currently holds workshops on creating a beautiful decoupage effect called "Collage on Glass". This technique makes for beautiful vases, bowls or lamps and makes a unique handmade gift. She also holds workshops on creating stepping stones and will be adding more workshops in the coming year. Come have some fun! Workshops can be arranged for groups of 3 or more for special occasions or when relatives are visiting.

Trudy Craine attended Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and received her Associate of Fine Arts Degree in fine art and commercial art from El Camino College in 1974. She owned Tru-Design Advertising Agency from 1974 - 1996 in Hermosa Beach, California, along with The Trudy Craine Art Gallery in Redondo Beach, California, where she taught art classes.

When she moved to Fort Walton Beach,Florida, in 1996, she continued exhibiting in galleries and teaching. She currently teaches Beginning and Intermediate Watercolor at Okaloosa Walton Community College in addition to her classes at Artful Things.