Artist/ Owner Christi M. Dreese 
Professional Artist Christi Dreese was born and raised in West Michigan and has been involved in the arts since she was a child. She spent summer’s as a young girl on her father’s boat, enjoying the Lake Michigan water, colorful sunsets and the relaxed atmosphere. Christi received her Bachelor of Art degree at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, emphasizing in painting and also attained a business administration major. After college she decided to get her experience at Frames Unlimited and this has led her to currently own Dreese Fine Art & Framing in her hometown of Spring Lake.
Christi paints the lakeshore scenes. Sketches are drawn while she sits on the beach looking out over the lake. The drawings are then taken back to her studio where she creates an oil painting from her own interpretation of the day.
Along with Christi’s passion for the lakeshore, she has found abstract to be a great emotional release and different creative process from her impressionistic landscapes. Many of her abstract paintings are created on paper using current color trends. Quick brush strokes, gouges from the end of her paint brush and graphite are drawn into her paintings. Each painting has its own personal meaning.
Christi’s love for the arts, lakeshore and personal growth continues to inspire her to create new works of art and have purpose in life.
Sheri Woodard- watercolors
The inspiration for my watercolors come from glowing light. The impact of this glow is heighten by dark rich deep areas that I see and paint to capture the viewer’s eye. This contrast reaches a brillance in which colors seem to melt and flow together in. When creating a painting I wish to express a peaceful, yet amazing moment when flowers shimmer and shadows beckonI began my watercolor career with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. I taught for Jenison Public Schools in Michigan for 33 years and just recently retired. I found teaching art to be rewarding, demanding, and extremely enjoyable. While teaching I took classes at nearby Universities in watercolors. This launched my love of painting. I also completed a Master’s Degree in Gifted and Talented Education. Through these studies I learned to present my love of art to my students in a more creative and exciting way. I now look forward to branching out in my own way through my watercolors. My work has been shown in many galleries and interior design stores. I have participated in many art competitions including the West Michigan Regional Competition and area festival competitions. Many of my paintings have won awards.I hope my paintings show the beauty of everyday life. I believe that God has created an incredible world where we can see light-filled flowers and flowing, peaceful landscapes. I offer you a glimpse of my inspirations and hope you can appreciate the everyday moments of joy that I find so enlightening.
Diann Reicherts-Lemmen – oils & watercolors
Diann Reicherts-Lemmen believes in quality in Artworks and has studied extensively in the standard techniques of the Old Masters. she has a solid background in design, color and applications, having studied with the best instructors in the region. She is a member of the Plein-aire Artists of West Michigan, the Grand Valley Artists and the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. She paints watercolors of the local birds and flowers, her oils are mainly the landscapes of Michigan, the Lakes and the meadows. Local inhabitants are also a favorite of her pencils and brushes and she is available for portraits and paintings of your home. Diann won ‘Honorable Mention’ at the ‘Wine over Winter’ in Grand Haven this past winter and had work accepted into the ‘West Michigan Competition’ in Lowell.
LeeAnn Sowa – watercolors
Sally Cronkright -pastels & oils
Elizabeth Reynders – photography
Sherri Russell -mixed media collage
Artist-Outdoors Enthusiast-Design Engineer, Sherri Russell was born and raised in Michigan. As an artist, Sherri prefers working with non-traditional mixed media. As an outdoors enthusiast and fly fishing gal from www.ShesSoFly.com, she is simply intrigued and amazed by the life cycles of nature and its splendor – and shows her fishing passion and travel experiences through art. As a design engineer, she loves learning new techniques/tricks to keep her more focused when challenged.
Sherri’s innovative techniques/approach towards using mixed media has proven to be invaluable when creating unique “outdoor theme art”, such as:
Tissue Paper Art (TPA): Multiple layers of vibrant colored tissue papers and acid free glue are placed on a canvas and then then sealed with a UV resistant coating. The tissue paper layers often appear transparent and provide a natural motion and display a spectacular array of colors when viewed. TPA has a very distinct look and will surely generate interest and conversation by viewers when displayed. Sherri has spent many years experimenting with materials and solvents on prototype samples to ensure the tissue colors stay true.
Photo Inspired Art (PIA): Is more technical and combines photography, photographs, illustrations, creativity, imagination and graphic design. Sherri believes that “the beauty of a photograph does not stop merely at its existence, but at its potential”. Sherri looks forward to creating and inspiring others through mixed media collage art for many years to come.
Glad to have you as a guest artist at Art in the Barn. I am planning on having an orientation meeting at the venue some time in July.
AIB chair, Carl Luther