Blending art and nature study. Jill has been teaching a variety of art classes and workshops for 20 years. She received a certification in Botanical Art and Illustration from the Morton Arboretum and was named " Featured Artist for Fall, 2021 at the Nature Artists' Guild exhibit. Jill's work is represented in private collections throughout the US with a special gallery in Normandy, France.

Barbara is the co-founder and leader of the Non-Intimidating Writing Workshop - a weekly online writing workshop since 2020. This workshop is designed for writers of all levels and many genres: poetry, memoir, fiction, essay. Many of the techniques developed for these workshops will be used here. She was the features editor and writer for the online arts magazine, Reverie Fair, a member of and reader for Waterline Writers, and a personal essay judge for the Upstate Eight Literary Festival. She works with Eric Bodwell leading workshops for the Drink and Draft Poetry Roadshow. Barbara's approach to teaching is to create a space where the inner critic is distracted to allow for creative and surprising writing to occur.

Eric Bodwell is a poet and high school teacher living in the Chicago suburbs. He has a bachelor's degree in English Education and a master’s degree in library and information science. He has worked with children, teenagers, and adults in various teaching and mentoring roles for over 30 years, 23 as a high school teacher. Since 2015, he has mentored youth spoken word poets who compete in local poetry slam competitions. In 2020, he co-founded the Drink and Draft Poetry Roadshow, an itinerant poetry writing workshop that meets in various locations around the suburbs. His work has been published in several publications, and he has been a featured reader at several events around the Chicago suburbs. He can be found online at ericbodwell.com

With a biology degree, Kelley is a Geneva based scientific illustrator and is currently the contract illustrator for Brookfield Zoo. She is passionate about science, nature, drawing and teaching painting and other mediums. kelleycappellart.com

Dan Connelly is a Metalsmith.

Historically the term Metalsmith referred to an artisan who produces sculptural, wearable or functional objects by manipulating metal. The contemporary Metalsmith, while rooted in the traditions of hand tool skill and strong craftsmanship, has borrowed techniques and materials from a whole host of other mediums to become an entirely new kind of maker.

Dan earned both a BFA and an MFA in Metalsmithing and Jewelry from Northern Illinois University. He is a member of Society of North American Goldsmiths and has exhibited throughout the United States. He currently resides in St. Charles IL.

Jeremy J. Foy was born in Illinois in 1988. He received a BFA from Elmhurst College, 2013 and his MFA at Northern Illinois University, 2016. He is currently an adjunct professor at multiple Colleges and Universities and teaches ceramics at Water Street Studios in Batavia, IL. Jeremy has an obsession with sports and physical activities. His work is an emphasis on both creative and physical prowess, a compression of the rigors of repetitious activity. Combining sport with ceramics, he relates his concept of practice into one cohesive body of work.

Meet area native, Artist and Arts Educator, Lacy Foy. She had an incredibly creative, unique childhood in which open-minded problem solving, the outdoors, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and philosophical, spiritual and cultural studies are what have helped mold Lacy as an Instructor.

She received a BFA at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Art Education with a focus in Conceptual Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Eastern and Western Visual Studies & Art History. As an instructor, she engages students in a variety of materials, techniques, ideas and concepts utilizing the Artistic Process while fostering and encouraging authentic expression and a love & respect for Art. Lacy has served as a High School Art teacher in the area for 21 years and has assisted in creating and maintaining the vibe and culture of our local area her entire life, in which she shares with her children and students.

Joe Giunta has a long career in the graphic arts and cartooning. He managed art departments for Gillette Paper-Mate, Allied Van Lines, and the Pioneer Press chain of newspapers. His cartoons and illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, and websites. He is also an experienced art instructor who taught classes at College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College. He teaches workshops in oil pastel, colored pencil, pen and ink, cartooning, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. You can visit his website at www.drawntohumor.com

Meaghan received a double major in studio art and English literature from North Central college and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Rochester, where she studied British Romanticism and creative writing. After graduate school, Meaghan decided to return to the fine arts as a traditional oil painter, though her literary studies continue to inspire her work.

Nikki Kelsay (she/he/they) is a visual artist and painter from Wheaton, Illinois. She received her BFA in Art Education with a minor in Art History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2020. Through portraiture and narrative oil paintings, her artwork draws upon her Catholic upbringing as a gender fluid lesbian and her interest in ecofeminism. She is currently working as a freelance visual artist and gallery assistant at Boulevard Fine Art in Clarendon Hills. You can view her work at www.nikkikelsay.com or on instagram at @nikkikelsay_art.

Emy Krauspe has been a resident artist at Water Street Studios since 2018. A magna cum laude graduate of North Central College with a degree in education, Emy taught early childhood on four different continents before returning to her midwest roots. As a mother of three herself, she remains passionate about process-based art for the very young and the young-at-heart. She aims to bring a spirit of joy and curiosity to her work, whether teaching, making, or parenting. Find Emy on Instagram @rootandbudstudio.

An Illinois Master Teacher, Ljung has published her teaching memoir as well as two textbooks, dozens of articles, and professional development materials for TeacherMatch. She is currently working on a novel about a teacher. At Glenbard West High School, Ljung taught creative writing, sponsored the fine arts magazine, and co-founded the annual juried performance of student writing, Page to Stage. Her Problem-based Learning course became a model for a state innovation program. When she isn’t busy reading and writing in her home office, Ljung and her husband of 56 years create art glass sold in galleries and travel the world to kayak. You can read her blog at www.imwriter.com and reach her at imwriter@imwriter.com.

Lindsay luker’s unquenched curiosity about the relationship between biology and soul has deeply guided her studies to advanced levels. She has earned her bachelor of arts from Illinois Wesleyan University and an optometric doctorate from Illinois College of Optometry. Lindsay also holds a 200-hour yoga instructor certification from school yoga institute and a 500-hour yoga instructor certification from Rishikesh Yog Peeth in India and is a certified aromatherapist with Aromahead Institute. She is grateful for the knowledge her instructors have shared with her and is equipped to support all who are willing to explore a journey that leads to optimal well-being.

Sara is a graduate of Purdue University and The New York School of Interior Design. She specializes in creating colorful interiors that mix traditional and contemporary elements to create an unexpected and delightful result full of character, charm, whimsy, and elegance.

Sara finds design inspiration in nature, history, and travel. She believes that interior environments play an important role in mental well-being and that beautiful, functional interiors increase happiness. You can view her work and follow along on Instagram @niklasinteriors

Caitlin Palagi is an independent artist at Caitlin Palagi Creations. She believes in the process of intuitive art – in finding our creative voices by trusting in our minds and bodies. Her growth as an artist occurred when she began leaning into her creativity and stopped analyzing it.

Caitlin grew up Irish dancing, painting, crafting, sewing, and teaching those around her, spreading her joy for the arts.

Caitlin holds a B.S. in Psychology and previously worked in research and software sales. The juxtaposition of coming from such an analytical background to stepping back into her original creative roots has brought her joy in process art.

Caitlin believes the process of art, just like life, is a temporary one. Any perceived mistakes she makes on the canvas are only held for however long she fixates on them. If she keeps moving with the process, things may get better, they may also appear to get worse at times; but in the end with enough paint, patience, and time, they usually end up coming full circle. Knowing this allows her to be more present in the moment and quiet her inner critic. This is a creative-thought process she is passionate about sharing with others.

Carly Palmer is a Writer and Artist. She spent many years as a Professional Makeup Artist. This type of specialized work required a constant attention to detail, anticipatory vision, and a steady hand working on a “live canvas”. It was there that she developed a keen eye for precision and placement. She naturally drifted into collage making as she has always had a deep appreciation for re-purposing and re-imagining. For her, collecting images for collages often feels like a treasure hunt without a map. She considers herself “old-fashioned” and hand-cuts all of her paper collages with scissors and flips through print magazines of today and yesteryear. She teaches workshops for both children and adults. You can follow her on instagram @artfullycurious and visit her website www.carlypalmer.com

Megan Ryan grew up in a small town in the outer suburbs of Chicago, immersed in an artistic environment within her family. Her childhood home was surrounded by a heavily wooded area and numerous forest preserves, which she frequently explored as a child and young adult. These natural surroundings have profoundly inspired her artwork.

Megan discovered her passion for ceramics at the age of fourteen, during her sophomore year of high school. She immersed herself in learning the craft, dedicating time to build her skills in preparation for college. After graduating from high school, Megan attended Waubonsee Community College from 2017 to 2019. There, she took ceramics classes and studied under Doug Jeppson, focusing on atmospheric firing and further developing her skills.

Following her time at Waubonsee, Megan moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, and enrolled in Colorado Mesa University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program from 2019 to 2023. At Colorado Mesa, she was mentored by KyoungHwa Oh and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art in December 2023.

As a ceramic artist, Megan creates functional pieces that harmonize aesthetics, form, and function. Her work is deeply inspired by nature, a theme that reflects the tranquility she experienced in her childhood surroundings. Megan now finds similar peace in the creative process of making functional ceramics. She employs underglazes, transparent or ash glazes, and techniques such as Mishima, carving, surface design, and natural themes to add layers and depth to her pieces. Megan’s functional pottery aims to enrich everyday lives through the interaction and intimacy of daily use.

Art is everywhere and for everyone. From an early age, Kristin has always had a love of graphic and package design, and a heart for folk and outsider art. Her art classes are designed to engage those who maybe haven’t immersed their lives in art, but would like to benefit from the mindful practice that art making offers to all. Kristin earned an BA of Art History from the University of Delaware, with a Minor in Fine Art. She began her career as an Education Director at The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. She has been making and teaching art with Water Street Studios for the past seven years.

Danielle is a Professional Dancer, Choreographer, Educator and Adjudicator with 30 years of training and performing in the field, as well as a certified 500-hr Yoga Instructor. She perceives and understands life as an ongoing poetic experience which fuels her creativity and exploration as a mover, movement maker, and instructor. Currently, Danielle is most inspired by creative endeavors which cross-pollinate various artistic modalities and/or expand her experience of storytelling through movement.

Kyle L. White is an illustrator and author. His unique, contemplative art prints utilize the feel of Northwoods fresh air and water, and can be seen at www.MyLakeHouseArt.com. White's recent books include Freezing, Thawing: New & Revised Stories from the Midwest (2020), and Bear. With Me. (A Field Journal) (2019). Discover more of his work at: https://linktr.ee/KyleWhiteInk White lives with his wife in Sycamore, Illinois.

Rosalie began creating art at a very young age mostly using discarded scraps of materials she would find around the house. She has been a student of Art ever since. Among a number of art forms, repurposing household items and clothing is still her most satisfying work.

Rosalie studied Fine Arts at Columbia College Chicago and received an MA in Education and Educational Leadership from Dominican University. She worked as an educator and public school administrator for more than 20 years.

As an instructor at WSS, her focus is to involve students with a variety of materials and techniques for the purpose of fostering and encouraging individual creativity, expression and a love of art.

Lisa is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a degree in Graphic Design. For the past 20 years she has taught graphic design at Waubonsee Community College, College of Dupage, Elgin Community College, and Elmhurst University. In addition to design education, she is a working graphic designer with her own business, Resolution Creative. Recently, her focus has been creating art with colored pencil. Prints of her work may be purchased at her Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/LisaYoungdahlArt