Class Instructors Bio’s

Kelli Brigham is the owner of Kelli Brigham Photography. She is a skilled family and event photographer. When asked what photograph makes her the happiest she responds Newborn photography. Kelli is a longtime resident of Lake County, after relocating here with her husband from Erie County, Pa.

She continues to balance her busy life as a Realtor and professional Photographer with the motto, if you love what you do and keep a positive attitude, you will never work a day in your life.

I teach two-hour classes once a week that combine color theory and ample time to work in a studio or home setting. As a retired teacher, I am adept at balancing individual desire fore one-on-one attention and the needs of the class as a whole.

Basic supplies needed for the class are colored pencils. Paper, transfer paper and a pencil sharpener.

Pat studied watercolor painting with Mario Cooper, noted artist and longtime president of the American Watercolor Society. Much of what she learned she now passes along, sharing her knowledge with students at the South Lake Art League in Clermont, Fl. Pat is fluent in watercolors, water-mixable oils, acrylics and collage.

For Beth Kreutz, art offers the chance to change reality. “I just love being creative”, the former high school art teacher and mother of three who moved to Clermont six years ago freely admits. “To me, it’s not fun to just copy things. So instead, I make them abstract. I might start with a photographic image and then push the shapes and distort them and add wild colors – push it into a creative direction, so it doesn’t look like a copy of a photo.”

Beth, who has been into art since she could “hold a pencil,” devotes herself to watercolor painting, drawing, oil painting and computer graphics.

Beth holds a M.S. in Art Education, K – 12 and has 38 years teaching experience in grades pre-K, elementary, middle school, high school and junior college.

I have lived in the central Florida area since 1971. I moved to Clermont in 2001. I attended Valencia Community College, UCF, and received my bachelor’s degree from Warner Southern College (now Warner University) in Lake Wales.

Art has always been a big part of life. My elementary school teachers would tell my parents they thought I would be a future artist. My high school art teacher wanted me to accept a scholarship to the Fort Lauderdale Art Institute but my parents thought I was too young. During college I volunteered at an Orlando elementary school for two and a half years offering the students art lessons. I also was an art teacher substitute teacher for an elementary school in Seminole county. Other areas of my life involving my creative side include: designing a convention program cover and meal ticket booklets for a national sorority with attendance of over 1,000, designed and painted photo props and center pieces for a local non-profit organization for four years, and painted a small mural for a business.

I have taught art classes for all ages from toddlers to later life seniors. I have had small classes and classes of up to 30 students. I have taught in craft stores, private homes, a few non-profit organizations, and at South Lake Art League.

I have always had a passion to share art with everyone – which lead me to my latest endeavor of becoming a certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT). Zentangle is a process that everyone can learn – One Stroke at a Time.

Nancy began her love for art as a child. She taught theatrical makeup at 15 years old and learned how to be a scenic painter. She taught art for two years in the school system, then became a full-time school teacher. Nancy teaches the second grade at Sawgrass Bay Elementary.

Nancy is very experienced at teaching art to children and is currently teaching art to children at the South lake Art League.