Our mission is to teach a visual grammar that will allow each person to translate that which resonates in their heart, mind and soul into paintings.
When one meets Janice one knows Janice has a vision. She sees behind the facade of current culture into truth. This is the sight of an artist/mystic.
All true artists must know their craft and seek truth not decoration.
Janice is my go-to person when I’m not available to mentor our community. Janice is much appreciated by each and all members of artists in bloom.
Community because of her clear vision and wisdom
Thank you, Janice.
You’ve met Joe about two years ago. His work is stronger, bolder and more succinctly organized. Joe is a born story teller and his paintings convey depth, strength and sensitivity in theme and paint handling. His paintings are multi-layer. They engage the viewer into his/her own revelry and thoughts.
Joe’s work is classic, creating reflection and response in the viewer. Artwork is a dialogue between artist and audience. As one can see, his work is not didactic but allows the view entry and exploration in their experience.
Bravo Joseph!
Some paintings were almost monotone early on. Then one cold winter I started to counter with more vibrate color to force myself to have more light and positive emotion. Various forms of yellow I find calm in. When i re-purpose a painting that was drab I will add more colors probably from sun conscious.
The process of painting abstract or expressionist is like navigating on the high seas or out in space until some solid forms arrive. Maybe its trying to find clarity… I could call all my abstracts “A glimpse of sunshine trying to get through.”
The class setting is a positive energy. Everyone gets lost in there painting until the right shapes begin to make sense. Certain images from magazine or other random paintings strike an emotion I find needs to be combined to form a new image…its like falling in love with a beautiful person that you never see again but the image in your mind remains.
Chaya’s paintings are direct and animated with love and
respect, regardless of her subject. Her painting skill
continues to grow with each work. Chaya is an inspiration
and encourages each member of our painting community.
Chaya is a pleasure to work with and adds joy to our
community.
It was by a great chance I met Virginia Maloof Cascarilla at an Apple Store. Virginia introduced me to art classes. My sister would recommend art classes as I would paint on bags etc. I started taking art classes and joined ArtistsInBloom.Community at age 62 . It was a new
dimension which I did not know about myself, our life is
to explore our potentialities, any art form is a discipline
and a challenge .With guidance, instincts can be given a new life, painting to
me like music is a dimension of unknown realms which
need to be explored. I love painting animals as we were
exposed to taking care of different animals while growing
up. My goal is to paint as long as I live to explain themes
of life. As a community when we meet it gives a special
insight as we know how fortunate we are to be able to
grow. It needs patience on both the teacher and
students to work with zeal. Coming from India in 1979 ,
it was a new world and culture, humanity as basis being
the same, we have a deep reverence for guru, it is only
with a blessing you get to meet your guru on the other
hand Confucius quotes a teacher waits for a student
both ways it is a healthy, challenging interaction . I am a
practicing Hindhu, the philosophy is ingrained in me as
we worship both matter and spirit. I enjoy landscapes,
ocean, mountains and ultimate union of matter and spirit.
Love is compassion and love is divinity.
Hussein Ghareeb, Our Artist Extraordinaire!
The Amazing Hussein is from Iraq from which he and his family had to flee. Hussein was the preeminent set designer in Iraq & the Middle East. He designed sets for theatre, film, television studios and much more. Included at end of photos of work, please see his magnificent contemporary designs.
From childhood on Husein was attracted to art. His parents were very supportive because of his innate ability combined with his strong work ethic. He graduated from Bagdad University with the highest honor in painting and design. After University Hussein enlisted (as is necessary for all males) in the military.
With his military duty behind him, Hussein began designing sets for theatre. As his reputation grew, Hussein designed theater sets all over Bagdad and set production in the Cinema Industry. Hussein’s skill and attention for detail earned him a place designing sets for National Television. Hussein was hands-on and supervised all aspects of construction and design and the most sought-after set designer in all of Iraq. Even today, 2018 after fleeing Iraq, Hussein still receives offers for prestigious work in Iraq.
Hussein’s son, Akram, told me that Hussein loves the United States and the freedom our Constitution assures. His two sons, Akram and Abdul attend Cleveland State while working full time. Hussein and his wife have another son who lives in Slovakia where he is a computer engineer. Hussein’s beautiful wife Needa, is also an artist of distinction whom we will feature soon. Needa he won the 2002 International Sculpture award. Hussein’s first love is set design. Of his painting, we have only the highest praise as you will see.
I discovered Hussein and his beautiful wife Needa through City of Hope refugee and immigrant center. This organization works with immigrants and refugees to transform from them from stranger to neighbor.
Hussein’s work is magnificent. Although he didn’t pick up a paintbrush for 25 years, his quality of work hasn’t declined. Look at the quality of work he has created from 2017 – 2018. His brush strokes and the simplicity of form, his sense of atmosphere and emotion are beyond description.
Hussein painted these in less than a year, working one day a week when he was able to join our community. He is indeed AMAZING!!!
Artist in Bloom is a community of painters each learning their own method and expression of oil painting under the direction and expertise of Virginia Cascarilla. I started painting with Artists in Bloom 4 years ago. It has been a journey of self-discovery with my fellow artists as companions and Virginia as an advisor. Painting is an ongoing relationship where patience, time and an open heart yield learning, expertise and beauty.
Connie is an old soul who was painting with pastels when we first met and her intuitive sense of balance, design and color was evident. We met at St. Peter’s Church, later to become Saint Peter’s community where we are encouraged to seek God and find God in ourselves and others. This is what we try to do in our Artists in Bloom Ministry/Community.
Connie learned our unique methodology for mixing hues and creating values for her first abstract painting. From there she studied the work the works of Monet and Renoir. With Connie’s love of nature and the ephemeral style she developed, it was clear that Georgia O’Keefe would offer Connie Inspiration and added guidance on her journey to develop an her own vocabulary and style. The paintings below will chart Connie’s course from beginner to professional.
Connie’s growth is steady and strong. Perhaps the most difficult idea for Connie and us all is trying to paint strength, conviction and light into a painting. It is counter-intuitive, but the darker the darks, the lighter the lights become. Chiaroscuro is the name of this method and Rembrandt is most often associated with Chiaroscuro.
Another challenge for artists is the willingness to keep with the journey of the painting when it isn’t what you wanted when you wanted it. As in life, painting is a process; there is struggle, there is resolution and there is joy. This process and cannot be rushed.
As an art mentor, we try to suggest a Master Artist whose work can light the path for each member in our community. If you want to be a heart surgeon you don’t simply start cutting into the heart, you study other Cardio surgeons anatomical techniques. After a few weeks, it usually clarifies which artist may be a mentor at this time on your journey. This holds true for seekers of God. At first we may use Our Book, then one may be interested in other theological writers Victor Frankel, then Jung, then Teilliard de Chardin and Rumi.
Connie’s paintings are not in Chronological order. We can see her progress from painting a reproduction of something to capturing it’s essence.
Upon meeting Karen Doyle for the first time it became immediately apparent that she is both an artist and old soul.
Karen joined our community of Artists in Bloom to develop a visual vocabulary of value and shape. She does this and adds joy to our group.
Realism is seductive but being a Xerox machine isn’t what we do at Artists in Bloom. Karen found her theme in water, a spiritual substance that is ephemeral and transforming. Karen’s work invites the viewer to engage in conversation. I know you will find her work as sublime as we do at Artists in Bloom Ministry….Virginia Cascarilla
I am so grateful that Virginia recognized the artist in me which, without her encouragement, would have likely remained dormant within me. It is through her continued inspiration and guidance that what I paint resonates with me and how I want to express myself. This feeling of connection is a reflection of my inner life, what I enjoy, a tool for self discovery and expression. In essence I have found my creativity, my voice and my soul. I am inspired by the magnitude of sheer beauty found all around us in nature. Even in the simplicity of a single flower. And I love providing a tangible mirror in which others may recognize the beauty of their world.
All beauty comes from love. It is the face of God, where spirit and form meet. The heart feels what the eye sees. It is all around us, we just need to pay attention.
Most of us are unaware that our cultural conditioning, our perceptions are influenced by the media today. Instant everything.
We live and are immersed in the digital age. INSTANT EVERYTHING.
We come to believe that everything is equally important. When one designs a canvas, it’s important to know that the bottom of the canvas has more weight and therefore more significance in your painting.
Where to place ones’ attention in a painting is similar to designing one’s life. The edges of the canvas, like the edges of our lives, want less attention. This is a difficult concept for all of us. We’ve been conditioned to believe that we can have it all, all the time. We know this is false, but we do become disaffected when it’s truth is born out in our lives. Knowing when to let go of false or insipid information is important in our paintings and in our spiritual/soul life.
These are the challenges we set for ourselves in the Artists in Bloom Ministry. We are called a ministry because we are a community of people on the journey to God. For me, this is the Christian Trinity. However, we are joined by faithful Hindu’s and faithful Muslims, and faithful people, sharing our work and journey. It is not fashionable today to say that we are doing soul work. That this class is as much about spirituality as it is about paint and canvas.
Let us try to budge the logs in the forest of our eyes and see everything as new again, as if for the first time!
Eileen Vernon has a life long interest in oil painting five years ago she joined the Artists in Bloom ministry of well-known artist Virginia Cascarilla. Under Gini’s guidance, she has gained self-confidence and is finding her individual voice as an artist.
Eileen’s work has evolved from imitative to constructing an authentic image. Eileen’s work is representational, but not imitative. Each work vibrates with profound understanding of her subject matter. Her paintings give evidence to not only her subject’s soul, but her own bountiful person.
Eileen and her husband, Don, were charter members of The Bay Village Foundation in 1997, where Eileen remains on the board for over 20 years. She helped organize the first Foundation Memorial Day gathering in 2002 and chaired the Honors Plaque program since it’s beginning. She served as Executive director of the Foundation for a few years and as its president for 9 years. She is currently active with the Community Fireworks Committee and the Live Theater in Bay, and, she serves as a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church.
Eileen was one of the drivers of the Community Fireworks Fund that helped save the community’s fireworks display, helped raise the funds for the repair of the City Hall clock; and, as President, she kicked off the plans to refurbish Play-in-Bay
Eileen and her husband Don have been residents of Bay for 32 years. She was debate coach at Bay High School 1985-1988. She served as Executive Director of The Cleveland International Volunteer Organizations. She graduated from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1991. Eileen became the Regional Vice President of The American Arbitration Association for twelve years before retiring in 2005.
Before coming to Bay Village Eileen taught speech and debate at Bradley University and hosted a daily talk show for 12 years on WZOE Princeton Ill radio. Eileen and her husband Don are proud parents of Jan, Donna and Christina. They have 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
We are thrilled to have this fireball who works for the common good and evidences God’s Love, to us all.
Nancy Marie has a unique style all her own as she finds the heart and soul of each painting she creates. Each subject Nancy paints is expressed uniquely, she doesn’t pretend to be a camera. Nancy paints the embodiment and essence of her subjects through the eyes of her soul. She is a unique and wonderful artist as well as master gardener and piano teacher.Udella left this world for the next and is missed by all who knew her.
Udella Spotts, Nancy’s mother, was a wonderful lady who painted with the class until she was 90 years old. Udella’s work lies in the truth of its simplicity. Udella is a Master of color and design and with these two tools she finds the essence of each piece she paints. Udella worked as a waitress at Pier W for over 30 years, while raising four strong children, cooking and being a master gardener. The strength of both their paintings is that they find the soul of their subjects without pretense. They are well admired by her fellow artists and peers.
If you’d like to learn more about Artists in Bloom, volunteer or donate to our organization, contact us directly with this simple form.
