Heather Vollans

Heather Vollans explored many pursuits - paper-mache sculpture, furniture restoration, acrylic and oil painting, quilting, collage, and decoupage until eventually mosaic became her passion. She has been teaching indoor and outdoor mosaic for a number of years in her studio and at venues including Mohawk College in Hamilton, Glenhyrst Gallery in Brantford, schools in various school boards, as well as locations in Mexico, her native Australia, and Ireland. Heather created public art for the Children's Memorial Gardens, Brantford and has spearheaded a number of community and large-scale school projects. In her studio practice, Heather's mosaic work is mostly abstract. The combination of textures, working either harmoniously or disparately, is what fires her interest. She finds the process of experimenting with materials to be the most enjoyable and important part of the process. The value of using discarded or found objects for art is an essential tool in her teaching and her art practice. For More Information: @heathervollans | dawningdecorstudio.com

Wendy Ladurantaye

Wendy Ladurantaye has enjoyed an eclectic art journey. After graduating from Sheridan College in general fine arts, she studied the glass medium under Jim Schnick and Clark Guettel and joined the faculty of the Haliburton School of Art + Design over 30 years ago. Her commissioned glass has found homes worldwide, with her favourites being the church windows installed in St. George's Anglican Church, Haliburton, and St. Margaret's Anglican Church, Wilberforce, Ontario. Wendy developed strong solution-focused problemsolving skills, and enjoys supportive teaching techniques which build upon the learner's strengths. She has found inspiration in many of her successful students, as well as her mentor, Mary Intven Wallace, fellow author and paint media artist. Wendy believes strongly in the journey and the importance of making time to discover joy in the process of art-making in any media.

Rene Petitjean

Instructor for:

• Pottery Throwing Camp - Intermediate/Advanced
• Media Explorations II

Rene Petitjean has been a maker of objects for more than 40 years. After attending Sheridan College, he bought Robin Hopper's Hillsdale, Ontario studio in 1975 and began a reduction-fired line of pottery, selling to stores throughout North America. Moving to Creemore in 1979, the business expanded to include a selection of salt-glazed pottery sold under the Bowerman's Hollow logo. In the late 1980's Rene developed a fascination for wrought iron, and eventually left the ceramics field and began to design and build architectural iron. Many of his projects have been large in scope and have taken over a year to complete. Currently, he takes commissions from selected architects, builders and interior designers. In 1998 he assisted with the design of the Haliburton School of Art + Design's Artist Blacksmith Certificate Program, of which he is a faculty member. Rene also teaches in the Ceramics Certificate Program. For More Information: renepetitjean.com

Todd Jeffrey Ellis

Instructor for:

• Drawing and Rendering
• Jewellery Forming I
• Jewellery Forming II
• Media Explorations II

Todd Jeffrey Ellis received an arts diploma from Niagara College in 1970 and completed his degree at OCADU, attaining his Bachelor of Design. He has worked extensively in various areas of the arts: teaching, directing, and set, prop, and furniture designing. His love of metalwork took hold when he discovered chasing, repousse, and the moving of metal in 1995. Since that time he has studied at OCAD U, George Brown College, the Haliburton School of Art + Design and through extensive studies with such renowned masters as Lois Etherington Betteridge, Brian Clarke, Charles Lewton Brain, and Don Stuart. In 2000 Jeffrey was awarded 'Best Holloware Award' in the Metal Arts Guild's 'Under Glass' Exhibition. In 2003 he participated in a group exhibition at Metalurge in Toronto, which showcased his expertise in the decorative form. He has taught at Niagara College, York University, Toronto Teacher's College, and the Haliburton School of Art + Design, and served on the executive of the Metal Arts Guild of Canada for seven years. In 2008 he was published in 500 Metal Vessels. In 2010 he had an exhibition with Susan Watson Ellis at the Ontario Craft Council Gallery, and Jeffrey and Susan created the window display for the Guild Show during the 2010 Film Festival. For More Information: silversmith.ca

Nicholas Russell

Nicholas Russell holds an Honours Degree in Music and also studied the art of guitar-making with Master Luthier Sergei De Jonge, designing and constructing a concert classical guitar under his tutelage. As a professional guitarist and music educator, Nick's musical style and knowledge spans genres, but his current exploration as a guitarist lies at the intersection of acoustic music, classic and contemporary jazz, and progressive rock. In recent years he has expanded his freelancing to include work as a composer (Dusk Dances Dance Festival, Arts Bournemouth University) and as a studio musician (Metalworks Studios, Escarpment Sound, Deschamps Studio). Numerous studio projects he has worked on have aired on national radio (CBC, Jazz FM, CFRU) and international television. Nick is officially endorsed by Godin Guitars (CAD) and Keeley Electronics (US). His most recent music release, ARCHTOP, was recorded on a 1949 Gibson L-7 Archtop guitar in 2021 and can be heard on all major streaming platforms. For More Information: @nicholas.on.guitar | nicholasrussell.ca

Kirei Samuel

Kirei Samuel's fascination with glass started purely by accident 25 years ago, when a friend gave her some scrap glass. For many years she travelled the Ontario art and craft show circuit and then, in 2009 she opened her studio/gallery which houses her one-of-a-kind pieces in jewellery, plates, bowls and artwork. In 2019 Kirei designed 550 pendants for the Women's Half Marathon in Wellington, ON. She also designed and built the bases for the pewter sculptures for the Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Toronto's annual theatre, dance and opera. She is happy to continue the Dora Award bases commission in 2023. Kirei has been a member of the PEC Studio Tour for the last 14 years.

Paulus Tjiang

Paulus Tjiang graduated from Ontario College of Art in 1988 and continued his studies both at Pilchuk Glass School and as a resident at the Harbourfront Craft Studio until 1989. Utilizing primarily Venetian techniques with remarkable skill, he brings intense colour, precise detail, and an elegant disposition to his work. Paulus owns and operates Frantic Farms Clay and Glass gallery in Warkworth, ON. www.franticfarms.com.

Miranda Britton

Instructor for:

• Marketing/Portfolio Development

Miranda Britton is a jeweller, multi-disciplinary artist and gallery owner based in Muskoka, Ontario. As a jeweller, Miranda creates pieces that explore the multitude of ways that humans converge with the natural world. Using abstracted and simplified representations of organic motifs, her pieces celebrate many facets of the natural world, reminding the wearer of their place within the natural order of things. Together with her father, Miranda opened the Britton Gallery in Bracebridge in late 2019 and the experience has re-invigorated her love of art in its many forms. For More Information: @mirandabritton | mirandabritton.com

Helen McCusker

Helen McCusker is a graduate of the Sheridan College Illustration Program and has been a practicing artist for more than 40 years. A member of the Etobicoke Art Group, she has work in private collections, and exhibits in solo, juried and group exhibitions. For over 20 years, Helen has taught art classes throughout the GTA, specializing in drawing, figure drawing and painting, portraiture, and paper sculpture. Helen's teaching is based on a solid understanding of drawing and design principles and personal attention to each student. She is enthusiastic about helping students discover their potential and encouraging artistic exploration. For More Information: @helen mccusker | eaglewoodstudios.blogspot.ca

Darlene Bolahood

Darlene Bolahood engages in many forms of visual communication through the arts. She completed her B.Sc. at the University of Toronto, focusing on organic chemistry and philosophy, and then continued her studies in painting, drawing, sculpture and textile arts at the Banff School of Fine Arts, Sheridan College, and Fleming College. After completing her studio MFA at the University of Waterloo, she continues to focus on her own studio work in mixed media painting and sculpture. Professionally, Dar has engaged in industry as a designer/illustrator in fashion, costume and textiles, as well as architectural design for residential and commercial renovations. Partner in WHEW inc., she is a designer and producer of luxurious kid mohair textiles. Dar became involved in the art of computer animation, developing programs and presentations for private institutions, the industry and Ontario colleges, and launching Durham College's three year advanced diploma in Computer Animation. Dar currently enjoys her position her at Fleming College as full-time faculty teaching in the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma, Integrated Design Diploma, as well as other studio arts certificate programs at the Haliburton Campus.

Jan Anderson

Jan Anderson became a committed fabric artist-quilter after taking her first course at the Haliburton School of Art + Design. After experimenting and creating with glass, wood, stone, paper and wire, she is addicted to the texture, diversity and colour of textiles. Jan manipulates wax, wool rovings, rust, paint, dye, pigment, canvas, cotton, origami, embellishments, and more to produce unique wall hangings. She has over seventeen years of teaching experience at colleges and universities in Ontario and is recognized for her passion, creativity and innovation, touched by humour and motivation. For More Information: bytheriverstudio.com