ESTELLE GRENGS  

Estelle Grengs is an award winning professional artist living on the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida. Over her 30 plus career in fine arts she has molded a unique and whimsical style. She has won numerous art accolades as well as published on several magazine covers. Her art can also be found in Walmart, Target, Wayfair and other galleries/stores.

Estelle owns her own gallery where she curates for emerging artists and teaches several forms of art in her studio. Her enthusiasm when teaching builds a creative confidence in her students who return faithfully for her classes. Although she prefers impasto style acrylics, she teaches young and old in watercolors, oils, mixed media , ink and pastel.

Her medium of choice is Acrylic for its quick drying capabilities as well as its versatility. She often uses thick textures to create a dynamic piece of art. Her goal when creating is to instill a sense of happiness and joy for the onlooker.

Estelle lives in Freeport Florida with her husband Matthew, and their two dogs Hap Arnold and Lulu.

ROBIN POPP

Born in south Florida, Robin has always had a love for sunshine and palm trees. She spent a short time at  Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL, and earned a certificate as a cabinetmaker from Pinellas Technical College in Clearwater, FL. Combining her love for painting and for woodworking has been a challenge until recently when she began to cradle her paintings in wooden boxes. Now Robin has a painting studio and a woodworking studio on the thirteen acres in north Florida she shares with her husband.

CYNDI LANIER

Cyndi Lanier is a Nature Printer and Artist based out of Wewahitchka, Florida. She views art, as she does life, as an exploration and a never ending journey of learning. She has explored various media including pastels, watercolors, photography and more recently oil painting. No matter the media, Cyndi has always been drawn to the nature as a subject. For the past 12 years she has included nature printing in her exploration of art, feeling drawn to capture the patterns and shapes created by “The Great Creator”. She views her work as a culmination of all the artistic endeavors she has learned on her path and enjoys sharing her knowledge through small classes in order to give her students the tools to encourage them on their own artistic journeys.

Cyndi has loved to fish since she was a young girl and that has sparked the passion for her most recognized nature printing works - Gyotaku or fish prints. For her original works, Cyndi’s process starts with careful set up and preparation of the fish and applying oil based inks by hand in a precise method to capture the most intricate details on thin sheets of Japanese paper. Next, another layer of paper is dyed to create watery organic and abstract backgrounds. The papers are then wet mounted to cradled wood panels or canvas, dried and then finished using a combination of watercolor, inks and pastels to bring each piece to life. Once completed, each original is sealed with several layers of UV protective varnish. The finished pieces are a beautiful combination of both art and science!

COLLEEN CLEEK  

Colleen has been an artist for over 30 years. She began my career in the Culinary Arts and owned The Classy Gourmet Culinary Arts Center Art Gallery and Cooking School. Her mother owned a Ceramic shop and learned to tole paint. She entered her first drawing competition when she was 8, she was hooked. Colleen has enjoyed taking classes from Ranger Ink artist Dina Wakley and Dyan Reavely. She has been a Close to my Heart consultant and love card maker and scrapbooking. She enjoys Mixed Media Journaling and uses it as a space to learn, practice and create. It is a culmination of years of learning that she loves to share with others. Currently Colleen is a SUP Yoga instructor when weather allows and an artist when not.

EMERALD COAST STORYTELLERS 

Emerald Coast Storytellers was founded with the vision of bringing big-city culture to our small 30A beach community. Through monthly events and creative meetups, we provide a stage for writers, storytellers, and creative minds to connect through the written and spoken word. Our live storytelling events, hosted at popular venues throughout 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, and beyond, offer a space for sparking creativity, sharing stories, and building community.

As the founders of Emerald Coast Storytellers, we believe everyone has a story to tell. We’re passionate about fostering creativity and creating platforms for people to explore their voices through the power of storytelling. With a background in writing, storytelling, and events, we have helped build a creative haven where both seasoned and aspiring writers can come together. Whether you're attending our virtual writing nights or live open mics, we’re here to inspire and cultivate your creative journey, one story at a time.

Co-Founder: Kristy Holditch is a published writer and aspiring novelist residing in Grayton Beach, Florida. With a Journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, her passion for writing took root long before then but was ignited during a transformative semester abroad in Europe. Her adventures across the continent and beyond became the wellspring of her creative inspiration sparking a desire to capture the world around her through the written word. In addition to her extensive travel-inspired portfolio, Kristy's work and interviews have been featured in publications such as Huffington Post, 30A.com, Beach Happy Magazine, Vie Magazine, Elite Daily, Elephant Journal, and more. Kristy's professional journey took her into the realm of marketing, which she balances alongside her true passion project: her forthcoming, debut novel, “Just Passing Through.” Beyond her own writing endeavors, Kristy is deeply involved in the literary community. As a Board Member and Marketing Manager for Longleaf Writers Conference, she plays a pivotal role in fostering community support around this unique nonprofit and helping to tell its story. She is the Co-Founder of Emerald Coast Storytellers.

Co-Founder: Alexandra Diamond-Tumbush, is a writer, entrepreneur, journalist, and aspiring author. Originally from Cross Plains, Wisconsin, Ali moved down to Santa Rosa Beach at the end of 2019. Ali graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism and high hopes of becoming the next Anderson Cooper or Christiane Amanpour. Although she briefly wrote for her hometown newspaper, the Middleton Times-Tribune, her high school newspaper, the Cardinal Times, she decided to go in a different direction after college. After a successful acquisition of her Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based start-up, Ali took the opportunity to finally move down to the sandy white beaches of 30A. She is the Co-Founder of the Emerald Coast Storytellers and hopes to publish her first horror novel.

CLAIRE RATLIFF 

In her youth, Claire Ratliff was weaned on Bewitched and grew intent on becoming an advertising executive like Darrin Stephens. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree with a concentration in Commercial Design and launched a meandering career in marketing and communications, eventually founding a PR firm based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Claire rediscovered a love for the visual arts after attending a watercolor workshop on the island of Paros, Greece in 2019. With a focus on watercolors, she decided to make room in an old drawer filled with acrylic paints by using up the medium, but soon found herself buying more of the versatile and vibrant paint. Her style is best described as eccentric. One day, tiny acrylic folk art and another day, light and airy watercolors or giant palate knife paintings. She takes pride in always being a student and explorer. “I enjoy teaching because it offers so many opportunities for me to learn as well.”

KAREN MACK 

Karen taught mosaic and glass fusing classes at her shop, Karen Mack Tiles, for over 9 years and made custom mosaics for approximately 25 years. After retiring from a career that she began upon closing my shop in 2006,  Karen says, I now can concentrate on making art everyday and it is wonderful.

JANE KIRK

Jane is a self-taught jewelry artist specializing in creating unique wire-wrapped wearable art using authentic sea glass. Jane collects the sea glass myself from the beaches near Apalachicola, Florida, or source it from other sea glass collectors around the world. In addition to sea glass, she also incorporates freshwater pearls, local oysters, river stones, semi-precious stones, and recycled glass beads in my jewelry. When creating a piece, she doesn't usually plan how to wire it, but rather, allow the wire to wrap organically around the sea glass.

The earrings make from recycled glass are very popular because they look and feel similar to sea glass. However, I am very careful to explain they are not sea glass; it would be impossible to find round matching sea glass.

STEPHEN TEEKELL

Stephen is an award-winning photographer based in Port St. Joe. He is well-known for his ability to capture life's special moments and preserve them forever. Stephen has a talent for stopping time and encapsulating the essence of your family in every photograph, from candid laughter to tender moments. I'm the founder and head editor. A husband, father, and freelance photographer who loves to travel. As a retired Air Force veteran, I have spent the last few years traveling all over Europe where I have photographed some amazing weddings, family portraits, and private events.

MELINA ELUM

Mel is an artist and an art teacher with 30+ years of experience teaching all media to all ages in both academic and recreational settings. This includes the art of printmaking.

LISA SEGER

Lisa learned the art of mosaic tiling from her sister many years ago, before ever considering trying her hand at stained glass. Once she realized how extensive the color selection was with art glass, the switch was easy. Lisa  loves the way glass colors and textures can make art come alive. Mosaic glass designs can be used to refurbish old furniture, or add splashes of color to any garden, in the form of different shaped garden stones. Lisa has even used stained glass mosaic designs to create one of a kind house address signs, many of which can be seen around our community.   I have been teaching a variety of art glass classes for 15 years and owned/operated 2 shops, one in Ohio for 10 years, as well as a storefront in Mexico Beach, for 3 years.

MARCY TRAHAN 

Marcy has been exploring watercolor and acrylics since 2004. She is a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society and a member of the Florida Watercolor Society. Her work has won awards in both local, sate-wide and national shows. Watercolor is a life-long journey towards mastering the medium. Come and join the journey!

AIMEE VAN GELDER

Aimee is a portrait photographer based in Port St. Joe, Florida and  has been in business for almost 8 years.

Her focus is mainly portrait and headshot work though she does some landscape and wildlife photography as well.

Aimee is proficient at using DSLR and mirrorless cameras in manual mode and feels comfortable teaching others how to use their cameras in Manual, Automatic, and Program modes.

RONNA DEL VALLE

I have been working as a fused glass artist for over 10 years. My training came from classes I took over the years as well as videos and observations of other artists. My work includes creating fused glass wall art, multi-media art, and functional pieces such as bowls and trays. My work has appeared in various local galleries and I have been in multiple shows over the years. I have a Facebook page for Crazy Cool Jewels where my work can be viewed and inquiries can be made for custom orders or purchases.

MICHELLE BURKETT

Michelle has been doing professional photography for over a year in the local area, but prior has experience with landscape and animal photography. She is also a counselor by trade and would like to offer an experience in making people feel warm and welcome during a photo shoot. Michelle currently shoots with a mirrorless Canon and will be bringing a DSLR as well as a few different lenses to walk you through the steps of proper composition and learning the light of a sunset.

DRAGONFLY PHOTOGRAPHY

Laura is a 2-time winner of Best of the Forgotten Coast Photographer as well as many regional wins from St. George Island to Mexico Beach. She is based in Mexico Beach, Florida. Laura is also a graphic designer and marketing professional - you may recognize her work throughout the area with logo designs such as Shoobies, exhibit posters for The Joe Center for the Arts, and many Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Festival designs! You might even have the T-shirt!

Her focus is mainly landscape and wildlife photography with a strong passion for sunset and storm chasing.

She is a Sony Mirrorless user.

https://www.facebook.com/DragonflyPhotoDesign

CHERYL PLOEGSTRA

Cheryl is a local water media artist specializing in en Plein air watercolor painting. She has participated in the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air event as a Florida’s Finest instructor and teaches water media classes at The Joe Center for the Arts. She works in traditional watercolor, gouache, and watercolor pencils.