SummerView 2026:
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A Celebration of Art & Local Talent

Each year, Art in the Loft presents four unique exhibits for our artists to display their work. Our season begins with the Young Artist Exhibit in the Spring, where students K-12 from across our region are offered the opportunity to see their creations displayed in a professional gallery setting. The gallery then transitions into SummerView, an open exhibit for local and regional artists in any style or medium. In the Fall, we offer a nation wide juried art competition. The theme changes each year, but always aims to push our artists to explore their creativity and think outside the box. Finally, we wrap up our annual season with the WinterView exhibit, which again is open to local and regional artists in any style or medium. During regular exhibits, Art in the Loft can host up to 35 artists. 

Art & Artists on Display

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Hi!! My name is Abigail Adams and I'm a teen artist and author who loves to work with many mediums like acrylics, watercolors, mixed media and digital art. I love to paint and write about things that inspire me...like flowers, animals (especially foxes!), autumn days, birds, starry skies, northern lights, and landscapes but ultimately just paint whatever feels right in the moment!! Art is my favorite pastime and I find myself always carrying a sketchbook in my bag and a pencil in my pocket wherever I go. I create to bring some light into this world and to offer the same spark of inspiration that so many others have given me. Ultimately, every word and brushstroke is an attempt to bring glory to my Creator, who so carefully crafted me and this beautiful world I get to live in. When I’m not painting, you’ll likely find me working on my next book, waking up at 5 a.m. to chase a new idea, adding yet another dream to my ever‑growing notes app, wandering through the woods, gathering wildflower bouquets, reading another new book or simply enjoying time with the people I love.

Beth Preston was first introduced to the art world as a young girl by a neighbor friend and New England artist, Pamela Fox, for whom she used to model. In college, her favorite place to be was the art studio. She learned the encaustic technique, among others, in a Materials and Techniques of Painting class at Sweet Briar College. She learned more about painting from Max Gomes in Hawaii.. Now that she and her husband, Glenn, have moved to Alpena, she is very happy and proud to be a part of this wonderful art community and to show her work here at Art in the Loft, where she and Glenn thoroughly enjoy attending art events as well as other events. Besides showing her art here, she also enjoys teaching classes and volunteering. She writes “sDg” after her name on all her work. It stands for soli Deo gloria, to God alone be the glory.

I grew up in Northwest Detroit and now split my time between Livonia and Oscoda, MI. I am married to Vicki, and we have two grown children and three cats. As a child, I took some art classes at the Detroit Institute of Art. But, basically, I am self taught. My style of drawing began in High School using the black BiC Cristal pen which was readily available for doing my schoolwork. My drawings have a lot of fine detail, and this pen allows me to do the shading the way I like. I took time away from drawing to work full time and raise my family; but since resuming it about six years ago, I have completed over 350 drawings. I am a realist. My work is sometimes mistaken for photos. Traditionally a black and white artist, lately I have been experimenting with adding color. I like people to take the time to really study them and appreciate the detail that goes into each drawing. I am a member of three local Art Clubs in the Metro Detroit area; and I enjoy entering Juried Art Exhibitions. I have participated in some of the Art Fairs in Northeast Michigan including Harrisville Harmony Weekend where I have won Best Of Show twice. I also like to display in Galleries. In my spare time, I enjoy jet skiing, snorkeling, and kayaking.

I am a self taught artist, and have painted for over 40 years. I like to paint on everything. I will also try to paint anything. I was born in Harrisville, in 1957 and lived there most of my life. I do many things, such as bake for farm markets. I love camping and fishing. Travel and concerts are at the top of my lists. I never know how much of all that I will do, but I do know I will always be painting on something.

I have been a resident in Alpena most of my life. I have always been involved in working with a wide variety of art media including jewelry, stained glass, photography, textiles, felted purses, and basketry. Working with different varieties of art medium has always been a passion and form of relaxation after I ended my workday, which is why I have never focused on just one area of art. I had wonderful art instructors in the public school system who let me explore my passion for art and creativity who gave such encouragement. That as I continue to grow up, I have never given up that passion, working with my hands to be able to create new art forms and explore ways to share with others how to explore their own creativity. It is my hope that the person or people who own items that I have created will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed making it. I have served on the Thunder Bay Arts Council Board of Directors, volunteered at Art in the Loft and have shown my work at several different art fairs and venues.

Cheryl VanderLaan is a lifelong, self-taught artist who lives and works in Alpena County, Michigan. Drawn to the interplay of rich color and beautiful light, she creates paintings that capture the grace and vitality of human and animal forms, as well as the quiet beauty of landscapes and gardens. Working primarily in oil and acrylic, Cheryl’s art reflects a deep appreciation for the natural world and the expressive possibilities of paint. Her work reveals both sensitivity and strength, balancing realism with a painterly touch that celebrates texture and atmosphere. A member of the Northeast Michigan Artists Guild, Cheryl has recently begun exhibiting her work locally, sharing her evolving vision with a broader audience. Through her art, she invites viewers to pause, observe, and rediscover the beauty that surrounds them every day.

Elissa Sweet (formerly Elissa Englund) is an artist and digital illustrator based in Rhode Island. Her watercolor and ink paintings feature botanical elements and birds, and she also creates custom wedding bouquet portraits and flower arrangement paintings based on the Victorian language of flowers. Her digital work includes logo design and illustrations. She grew up in Alpena, spent eight years in New York City and now lives 10 minutes from the beach in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Hannah is a 33-year-old artist from Michigan. She’s been drawing since she was a child and has always had a very active imagination. Animals and nature have always been a favorite inspiration, leading to her passion of creating monsters for movies and videogames. Her goal is to be a professional concept artist.

Glenn Preston is a newcomer to the artist community, and is excited to be affiliated with Art in the Loft. He is a native So. Californian; he and his wife Beth have been residents of Alpena since 2023. Being a lifelong fan of film and music, he was inspired by an Art in the Loft photography class taught by Steve Jakubcin. Glenn has been an oncologist for nearly 30 years, and currently works with MyMichigan health. He is enjoying his newfound passion of capturing the beauty of God's creation with photography!

Jamey Gheller (aka Sol Rah Spirit) Local self taught oil artist, who teaches paint to sound, offers sound healing journeys, shamanic drumming & unique spiritual facials at Joshua Tree Studio & Spa here in Alpena. My goal in life is to help people feel again through sound, color & touch. Activating dormant DNA to awaken the divine spark within you!

Jan Herring resides in Alpena, Michigan. She grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and spent many years watching and learning as her father designed and created jewelry, a love he passed on to her. Jan has also studied jewelry making through artist workshops at Art in the Loft, interactive online instruction, books, DVDs and through self instruction. During the winter of 2012, she had the opportunity to study at the Tucson Gem and Jewelry show in Tucson, Arizona. She took classes on abstract jewelry design, copper enameling, and ring making using annealing, soldering and drilling methods. Additionally, Jan studied metal texturing and riveting at the Domaci Gallery in Rogers City, MI. She has donated a number of items for charity fundraisers and markets her work at numerous hotel conferences, art shows, galleries and by word of mouth. Jan has taught classes at Art in the Loft for children and adults. She has showcased her work at Art in the Loft in Alpena for several seasons. She is also a member of two cooperative galleries: TBAC Gallery in Alpena and the Dragonfly Gallery in Harrisville, MI. In addition to designing jewelry, Jan is an accomplished seamstress, a published writer, sells Arbonne skin care and enjoys gardening, reading and traveling with her husband, Chuck.

Jessica Adams has enjoyed creating art since childhood. She has dabbled in many mediums from oil pastels, acrylics, watercolors, metals, and mixed media. Her current passion is enameling... Taking two dissimilar items (metal + glass) and fusing them together! The root of Jessica's enamel infatuation began with metalworking. She learned how to forge and work with metal from her husband, Roy Adams, who is a full time blacksmith. She enjoyed creating things like bowls and other small pieces. But they seemed to be lacking something... Color! While at a blacksmithing event, Jessica and her husband ran across a friend who had tried her hand at enameling. She answered Jessica's barrage of questions, and invited them to the next enameling class. They attended the class and Jessica fell in love with the process. Jessica studied under enamelist Jean Vance in 2019 to get her start. Additional self study and experimentation has brought her to her current skill level. Jessica's life tends to be quite full between being a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She finds relaxation in being able to work through her creative process for enameling... First dreaming up the projects, followed up by getting out in the shop and making them a reality! She loves working with enamels because they add such vibrant color to what would otherwise be monochromatic metal. Enamels leave immense room for experimentation with colors and textures. The depth that can be achieved with multiple layers of enamel is astonishing

I am originally from downstate Michigan and have called Alpena home since 2021. My husband and I first discovered the area in 2016 and immediately fell in love with its natural beauty and sense of peace. Art has always been an important part of my life, and photography became my creative outlet at the age of 13 when I received my first camera. I began by photographing people and events before eventually turning my focus toward nature photography. Growing up, my dad encouraged me to spend as much time outdoors as possible, and that appreciation for nature has stayed with me throughout my life. There is something special about witnessing a beautiful landscape, vibrant sunset, or quiet moment with wildlife. Through my photography, I hope to share those experiences with others and create images that make people feel connected to the beauty of the moment, as if they were there themselves.

Hi, I’m Juliane! a 21-year-old photographer based in Alpena, MI and the creative behind JPR Photography. I started my business at 17 after winning a photography contest through The Sunset Project, which led to a grant that helped launch my career. Since then, I’ve had the chance to work with amazing clients, connect with inspiring artists, and showcase my work in multiple SummerView and WinterView exhibits. My photography blends emotion, nature, and storytelling. I specialize in capturing dreamy landscapes, night skies, animals, and flowers — along with weddings, engagements, maternity, and senior sessions. My style leans vintage and candid, with an emphasis on golden light and in-the-moment feels. I keep things laid-back and fun, turning each session into more of a creative hangout than a formal shoot. I keep my bookings light so I can continue growing creatively and maintaining a personal touch in everything I do. You can check out my work at: jprphotographyy.mypixieset.com

I began drawing before I learned to write. I recall my first mural being done with crayons on my bedroom wall when I was 3 years old. After receiving manilla paper and markers for Christmas at the age of five, I began drawing pictures of hurting, bandaged people. Ironically, I later became a therapist specializing in trauma, publishing a book I wrote and Illustrated on grief/loss. At seventeen, I took part in a mural project that gained worldwide attention. A year later, I enrolled in Lansing Community College's art program and received an Associates Degree in Illustration. I started by drawing photographic likenesses of people and animals. After sustaining a head injury in 1999, I stopped creating altogether for almost two decades and returned to school to pursue a graduate degree in counseling. When I resumed, my artistic abilities changed from realistic portrait drawings to semi-abstract nature paintings. I went from using pencils and pens to sponges and brushes, creating a unique affect with paint. I gained experience in painting faces from my professional clown days. So, I transferred those skills to canvas and began with seascapes and nature scenes. Then, veered out to various subject matter when commissioned. I was running a counseling practice out of East Lansing when I made the decision to move up to Alpena in 2019 to direct a residential treatment facility. I'm inspired by the beautiful area, and as a result, paint mostly seascapes, landscapes, and well known landmarks. In 2021, after the loss of my only sibling, art became a therapeutic avenue for me. Since then, my work has been in eleven juried shows and won ten awards. I combine my gifts of art and healing to touch people's hearts. My hope is to keep reaching the world, one painting, one person at a time.

What I love most about photography is each image takes you to the time and place where it was created. Some images I imagine and plan months ahead of time. Others I stumble upon in a stroke of synchronistic luck. Some days I set out at 4 a.m. to capture a sunrise. On others, I walk the streets of a new city absorbing its energy, not knowing what is around the corner. Creating a split-second capture of a beautiful scene with fabulous light is breathtaking. My photography has been featured in juried shows in Alpena, Michigan and Cincinnati, Ohio. Winning several awards, my work has been published online and in local newspapers, pamphlets, and magazines. My home is in Alpena, Michigan where I am lucky enough to live on a lake with migrating birds, sunrises and sunsets. I kayak, bike and hike, travel to new places, and enjoy visiting and spoiling grandchildren.

I was born and raised in Northern Michigan! I attended Onaway Area Community School from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Alpena Community College was where I attended after high school graduation and then transferred to Northern Michigan University to pursue a degree in art/education. I graduated from NMU with a BS in 1973 and obtained additional credits from Central Michigan University during the summers of 1977 and 1978. From 1973 through 2003, I taught elementary and secondary Art at Atlanta Community School and have been a lifelong artist concentrating on woodcarving. I presently reside on a farm near Onaway with my wife Peggy who I've been married to for 59 years. I also enjoy my other roles as father, grandfather and great grandfather! I have been keeping myself very busy during retirement filling orders for wood carvings.

Kevin Englund is a retired nurse anesthetist who lives in Alpena. He is inspired by nature, and his artwork largely features landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. He works in various media, including watercolors and acrylics, but his favorite is pastels, which he uses to create both soft and bold strokes of rich, blended colors. Kevin has had an interest in art since childhood, but for decades, he tried to paint but experienced an “artist’s block,” where he was unable to begin or finish any artwork. In 2021, he returned to painting and is now exhibiting his work. One of his pieces, “Lake Sainte Kathryn,” was selected for honorable mention in the 2022 juried art show, “The Five Senses".

Leah Stafford is a diverse artist! In addition to visual arts, Leah performs in circus arts on the high flying trapeze and aerial silk. She traveled internationally in Japan and Canada as well as throughout the US and Puerto Rico! Leah grew up in Indiana where she remembers watching a potter throw on the pottery wheel and was completely mesmerized. After seeing the pottery process, Leah took as many classes as she could throughout highschool and college. Leah graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Science Secondary Education. In 2006 she moved to Alpena Michigan and seriously began her work as a potter under the guidance of Sam Machulis. In 2016 Leah created her own pottery studio and loves spending as much time as possible in the mud.

After a career of working in resorts in the U.S. and Mexico, I retired to pursue my photography hobby full time. I am most drawn to photographing scenic landscapes and the play of light during different times of day - I find cloud formations, sunsets and moonrises to be most compelling in this genre and have recently ventured into night photography to capture auroras. Additionally, I enjoy photographing botanicals of all varieties from flowers to fungi. I share my photos on social media by the name Slow Lane Snapshots on Facebook and @leannamarie on Blue Sky. I currently live in Lost Lake Woods Club outside of Lincoln, Michigan. I am a graduate of Arizona State University with a Liberal Arts degree in Art History and Museum Sciences. I am a supporter of the National Park Service and enjoy the beautiful scenery and wild spaces offered by our national and state parks. These spaces provide me with excellent subject matter for my photography!

I am a locally based photographer who loves the Alpena area. My most common subjects are local landscapes, streets, and wildlife, but I love photographing many kinds of things. I have had an interest in photography since I was a child, but I got into it seriously while studying in college. I appreciate the beauty to be found in Alpena, with its diversity of wildlife, plant life, architecture, and people. Walking around this small town with my camera is one of my favorite activities. Facebook: Louis Demarrais Instagram/Threads: @louisartphoto TikTok: @louisartphoto

Marilyn has lived at Hubbard Lake since 1992. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Michigan and has been a nurse and teacher as well as an artist. She enjoys gardening, bicycling and golfing in addition to painting. Marilyn is the past president and co-founder of the Northeast Michigan Artist Guild. In addition to galleries, Marilyn has had one-person shows in Florence, Alabama and the Jesse Besser Museum in Alpena. She has won many “Best of Show” awards in Alabama, Florida and Michigan. She has been painting all her life, but seriously for over 20 years and enjoys the continuous challenge of creative expression with paint. She received her signature membership in ISEA (International Society of Experimental Artists) in 2016 and successfully competed to exhibit in Washington D.C. and New York City.

Mary Lightner is an Alpena native who has been into photography for about the past ten years. She has been displaying her work for about the same amount of time. Her first submissions were for the Art in the Loft Juried Art Show entitled “Light”. She has received honorable mentions from the “Senses” Juried Art Show at Art in the Loft and from the annual art show at the Besser Museum. Mary has always had an interest in photography, and that interest blossomed into a passion when her husband gave her a Canon camera for Christmas after they moved into their current house, which is located in the woods. This location has inspired much of her work, and many of the pictures she takes are on her own property or in various locations in Northeast Michigan. Mary enjoys nature and her flower gardens, and that is shown through her work. As she explains, “I feel like I look at things through a different lens, and I try to reflect that in my photos.”

Born and raised in Alpena, Michigan, I have always found inspiration in the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region. As an agricultural education teacher, I spend my days helping others connect with the land and appreciate the resources that surround us. My lifelong love of the outdoors, combined with a fascination for the unique treasures found along the shores of the Great Lakes, led me to begin collecting rocks from an early age. What started as a hobby soon evolved into a creative pursuit as I searched for ways to showcase the natural beauty of Great Lakes stones through art. Today, I create one-of-a-kind three-dimensional artwork and jewelry using a combination of Great Lakes rocks, resin, crystals, inks, and mixed media. Each piece highlights the textures, colors, and stories found in nature while blending them with contemporary artistic techniques. My work is inspired by the ever-changing landscapes of the Great Lakes, from rugged shorelines and crystal-clear waters to the hidden gems waiting to be discovered beneath the waves. Through my art, I hope to share the wonder I experience when exploring these shores and to create meaningful pieces that connect others to the beauty of the natural world.

She describes herself as a self-taught abstract realist---inspired by spiritual guidance. Her forte expresses life from color, shape, experience, love and pain. With an extensive resume of poetry, awards, gallery shows, professional art fairs, business and commissioned work, she remains humbled by compassion and humanism. Growing up in Owosso, MI (small town), she always remains grateful for her simple heritage. Pamela has owned her own interior design business for over 40 years. Having received her degree in Chicago, IL and traveling throughout the Eastern United States, she continues to use her creativity while doing professional display, design work and her art. Pamela’s education is always continued through workshops, research, teaching and experiences.

Peggy is inspired by the amazing world around us. She paints to express her enjoyment of nature. She doesn’t copy a scene, but rather paints her version or essence of it. Peggy resides in Oscoda, MI.. She spent summers in the Tawas/Oscoda area with her grandparents while growing up. After college she moved to Rogers City where she raised her family and taught elementary school for 38 years. During this time she focused on Photography and worked with stained glass. Her photos serve as references for her paintings, hoping others will also enjoy the places that resonate with her. Now that she is retired she has time to pursue her love of painting. She takes advantage of workshops, whenever she can to learn, explore and experience new techniques. She began with watercolor, then oils, and now paints mainly with acrylics. A few years ago she was introduced to batik, which brought her back to watercolor (on rice paper). Peggy’s work has been accepted in several juried shows both in Tawas and at Besser.

I select a wide variety of materials for my creations that marry found objects with original collage painting techniques. I delight in the creative process, truly appreciating that I don't know where inspiration will lead me as I create each piece.

Bob Stroupe, age 82, has been around tools most of his life. After a career of selling industrial tools and related products, it seemed logical to find a retirement hobby that involved tools. After some coaxing by a friend who was an accomplished wood turner, Bob joined the local Buckeye Wood Turners group in Akron, Ohio, and he was off and running! He was drawn to making pens and enjoying the creative designs and materials used in turning them. At first they were gifts for family members and friends, but he hoped to find another outlet so he could keep making them! They are now in several retail shops and he’s proud to be able to have them at Art in the Loft in Alpena. Bob and his wife have a cottage on Lake Esau in Presque Isle and they both love northeast Michigan.

I am a local (recently published) author and fine artist who works in mixed media. I have been creating art in many capacities for decades. I studied art on the west side of the state, under John Link and received my associate’s in fine art in 1997. I followed up with earning my bachelor’s degree in art education from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in art education, with a focus on art therapy from Wayne State University. I’ve showcased my artwork throughout numerous disciplines in various exhibits across several states. If you’re out and about in Oscoda, MI, please visit these commissioned pieces I’ve painted: the Welcome to Oscoda sign, the life size Paul Bunyan on Furtaw Field, the Sunset Mural outside of the Zoning Department, and the Paul Bunyan Mural in Township Hall. Be sure to follow me on Facebook for updates on my next publication, as well as recent art endeavors: Robin G. Savage, Artist/Author.

My husband and I raised our three kids in Asia and I spent the bulk of our 22 years there as a high school art teacher at an International School. The sites and sounds of Asia were great resources for art. Since returning to the States and Northern Michigan, I am falling in love with a new landscape. My favorite medium of soft pastel lends itself to the Great Lakes shoreline and interior rolling hills.

Teresa Okowit is an artist based in northern Michigan, where her love of nature and animals inspires her emotionally expressive drawings and paintings. Her work reflects a deep connection to the natural world and the unique personalities of the animals she portrays. A graduate of the Institute of Fashion Merchandising and Design, Teresa brings a strong sense of design and composition to her art. She works in pencil, watercolor, and acrylic, while continuing to explore new mediums. Specializing in custom pet portraits, Teresa has created commissioned works for clients nationally and internationally, capturing the spirit and individuality of each cherished companion.

Art in the Loft operates with support from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts