Fern Christian, Director and abstract artist (oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, teaching member)

Bright, flowing colors converging into swirling masses, blooms exploding on the canvas. This describes the artwork of Fern Christian, founder and director of the Renaissance Art Gallery. She specializes in acrylic abstracts. She also teaches two painting classes a week, Monday mornings, 10-12 and Saturday mornings, 10-12. Both classes are open studio and continuing. Call Fern for more information.

Fern is a native of West Virginia. She graduated from Marshall University in 1968 and later earned thirty hours of post-graduate credit in studio painting. She belongs to the Tri-State Art Association, of which is a past president. A signature member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society, she is an accomplished painter in many media. Currently she serves as the Director of the Renaissance Art Gallery.

Fern is known for her vivid florals and vibrant abstracts.

Several of the Renaissance Painting classes are lead by Fern, and she has a loyal student following.

Fern is known for the unique way she handles a subject

Gary Lapelle; Pet Portraitist and Cartoonist (ink, watercolor)

Gary Lapelle was born and lives in Huntington, WV. He is a graduate of Art Instruction Schools, in cartooning and attended art classes at Marshall University. Gary is an accomplished illustrator and cartoonist. His cartoons illustrate many pamphlets and two books. Gary contracted polio at the age of three leaving him with paralyzed arms and limited use of his right hand. But this has not stopped him from creating art. Locally, his love of animals has helped him created portrait quality paintings of people’s pets. He still loves cartooning and creates whimsical drawings. He also custom designs cartoons upon request.

One of Gary's unique Pet Portraits

Gary Lapelle has earned a reputation for his commissioned pet portraits as well as his gentle humor and delightful cartoons. He works in colored inks and sells prints of his work at the Renaissance Gallery.

Gary Taylor; Photographer and painter (photography, water media)

Heavily influenced by his time spent teaching in China, Gary has brought a definite foreign flair to the Huntington Gallery. He has traveled extensively and this shows in both the quality of his work and the cosmopolitan subject matter he chooses. He is a founding member of the Renaissance Art Gallery.

Susan Tschantz; Blue Collar Artist (photography, painting, drawing, teaching member)

Photographer, painter and teacher, Susan uses a multitude of mediums. She is gaining a reputation for her fine art drawings in several mediums and is always exploring new mediums. Historic and even ancient mediums and techniques have always fascinated her, and compel her to keep expanding her knowledge and experience. She teaches three classes each week on Wednesday, starting with a Fine Arts Class, “How Pictures Work” helping students understand all the fundamental of fine art and painting, “Getting to know the Pencil” a junior art class for school aged artist and an evening “Drawing Fundamentals” an adult drawing class. All classes are open studio and continuing. Call Susan for more information.(304) 757-3241

Visit Susan's website

Janet Lester (watercolor) (portraits) (teaching member)

Bruce Bowersock (oil, watercolor, teaching member)

Bruce hails from Baltimore, Maryland, but migrated here to West Virginia for love; love of his beautiful wife and fellow artists, Lillianne. Vivid and bold abstracts in ink, acrylic and oils grace the wall of the Renaissance Gallery, along with bright watercolors. Bruce leads our figure drawing classes and is available for group lessons and workshops. He loves nothing as much as Plein Aire painting and is always ready to assist emerging artists.

Lillianne Bowersock Cats-in-the-Window (watercolor, photography)

Cats peaking here, cats peaking there, old houses and cozy vista mark Lillianne’s watercolors. She has a definite appreciation for West Virginia’s country life that is revealed in both her watercolors and photography. She is a founding member of the Renaissance Art Gallery.

Bruce and Lillianne's work can be seen at their web-gallery

Bowersock's Art Gallery

Kumkum Majumdar; Batik Artist (batik, watercolor, teaching member)

Learn more about Batik at: Kumkum Majumdar

Yvonne Newman; Photographer

West Virginia artist Yvonne Newman sees the world through a camera lens, and enjoys recording her uniques views of the country side and her travels.

Ron Haeberle Ron is an award winning fine artist known for his exquisite and detailed renderings of down town Huntington.