Ashley Bell grew up in Raleigh, N.C., always enjoying taking art classes. She graduated from East Carolina University in 1985 with a B.A. in Art Education and a minor in painting. Living in Statesville since college, she has taught art in Iredell at the elementary, middle, and high school levels since 1986. She also taught years of private lessons and summer art camps.
After retiring in 2020 (with 32 years of service), she spends her time substituting for art teachers in the schools, painting, crafting, or babysitting her new granddaughter. She currently teaches a Watercolor class at the South Iredell Senior Center and after-school sessions for ages 8-11 at Mooresville Arts.
Last summer, she taught two weeks of watercolor painting. This year, she will focus on various ways to paint creatively using different mediums. Even though she enjoys spending time painting and crafting, she says, “Teaching art is my passion, and I am thrilled to provide instruction for students at Mooresville Ars this summer. Come join in the painting fun this summer!”
Ashley is currently teaching Youth Art Classes and will be teaching "Paint Explorer's Class" during Summer Art Academy class from June 3-7 for ages 6-9.
After twenty years in Healthcare, Rebecca made a bold move to follow her true calling- becoming an artist to create jewelry using upcycled vintage wares, leather, and dried botanicals. Her mission is to give items a "second chance at life" to keep them out of the landfill.
Rebecca's passion is creating something with her hands that people can appreciate and enjoy. And loving her job every single day—well, that's the icing on the cake!
Follow Rebecca on Instagram @thefernthesnailandthewren
As a multimedia artist, Paul's practice ranges from painting and photography to digital collage and animation. The work often relates to light, pattern and topography. He is particularly interested in observing moments of un-covering and re-covering, examining the act of transformation.
Paul received a B.A. from the NCSU College of Design and an MFA from Western Carolina University. He has participated in artist residencies at The Bascom Center, Vermont Studio Center, I-Park and Keystone Art Space. Paul's work has been exhibited across the U.S. in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Currently he is a visual arts instructor at Mitchell Community College.
Learn more about Paul at
Register for Paul's "Abstract Painting with Acrylics 2-Day Workshop" on April 13 and 14.
Coming from a regular school teaching background, Andi Fernandez is living her best life now as an art teacher at North Iredell High School. She had always dreamed of becoming an art teacher, and now her classroom art studio is filled with all the supplies she can access.
Andi shares space with budding artists who love to explore the art world with her. She believes giving students the freedom to make choices about their art inspires them to love art more because it is something they are interested in doing, not what the teacher told them to do.
She looks forward to having fun with her students every day!
Sign up for Andi's Summer Art Academy class "Animal Artmania" for ages 10-12 from July 22-26.
Kortney Gibson has lived in the Lake Norman area all her life. Now residing in Mooresville with her husband, daughter, and four dogs, she's excited to open more opportunities in the world for anyone who wants to paint. Kortney's primary focus is on painting animal portraits in oil mediums. She is passionate about bringing out the animal's personality in each painting. She wants to continue to help people of all ages find their inspiration to start making art.
Dixon Handshaw is a photography educator based in Mooresville, NC. He spent 35 years of his career as a learning and performance consultant as president of his own company, Handshaw, Inc. Before that he earned his living as a professional photographer. Now he is combining those two experiences to teach fine art photography in both digital and film formats. His favorite aspect of teaching is inspiring students to find personal expression through the lens of a camera.
Dixon has a BFA in photography from Alfred University and a MS in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University. He served on the Board of Directors for The Light Factory in Charlotte, NC and chaired their Education Committee where he also served as an instructor and designer of courses. He served on the Board of Directors at the Carolina Raptor Center in Charlotte, NC, where he designed and taught a course in Bird and Wildlife Photography.
Dixon is now a member of the board of directors for Mooresville Arts and Education Committee Chair. He has been passionate about photography since he was 14.
Learn more about Dixon at www.handshawphotography.com
Sign up for Dixon's Black and White Photography Class March 9 and 10
Brenda has been a member and volunteer at Mooresville Arts for seven years. She is also an artist. Her artwork consists of watercolor and acrylic paintings. She enjoys painting flowers, nature scenes, and abstract art in watercolor and acrylic.
Brenda received a BS in Child Development and Family Studies and a BA in Interior Architecture from UNC-Greensboro. Her background includes teaching preschool classes and working with children of all ages.
"I believe everyone can express themselves through visual arts."
Learn more about Brenda at brendakadlecik.com
Sign up for the next Paint & Sip "Spring Tulips" on March 22.
Sign up for the Summer Art Academy Class "Fun with Watercolor" for ages 6-9 from July 8-12.
Justin has instructed all grade levels, from kindergarten to collegiate, over the last 16 years.
He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Time-Based Media Studies (Animation) from Columbus College of Art and Design, Master of Fine Arts in Illustration from the Academy of Art University, and Art Teacher Certification from Seton Hill University. Justin has worked with ESPN, Wendy's, and the Walt Disney World Company within the visual arts field.
"As an educator in the field of visual arts, I feel that it is important that every individual finds their way to self-express themselves and to use that skill when moving forward in life's journey."
Zan Thompson was born into a family of watercolor artists which has greatly influenced his passion and his persistence for watercolor painting. Zan grew up playing and experimenting with art in his parents’ Atlanta studios.
Today, Zan paints strictly in watercolor, is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and teaches a number of workshops and classes from drawing to painting. He likes to share with his students the little tricks that helped him conquer the difficult medium of watercolor.
He paints both En Plein-Air and in the studio and always welcomes an audience. He paints in realism, impressionism and abstract.
"Watercolor paintings celebrating the essence found in our environments from the alluring subjects to the most mundane!" -Zan
Learn more about Zan at
Sign up for Zan's Watercolor Classes
Janet Visser, a prize-winning American Painter, simplifies any subject
matter by reducing it to a fundamental and poetic form of line and color.
There are no blatant messages in her art, but rather, a journey of visual excitement. She creates using acrylics and mixed media in a rhythmic series of freedom and thought.
Janet's finished abstract compositions are composed of up to ten layers of paint.
Learn more about Janet at
Nicole Anne Weldy is an artist from Fishers, IN. In 2020, Duct Tape sponsored her work and mailed her over 100 rolls of duct tape, which assisted her in showing the importance of art during the pandemic.
Nicole was the first BFA graduate of Samford University in 2021 and graduated from Clemson University with her MFA in December 2023. During her time in school, she had the opportunity to intern at the Birmingham Museum of Art and study abroad in various countries such as Spain, Portugal, the UK, Africa, Italy, and Japan to immerse herself in the art world.
While in Africa, she taught children sculpture classes and helped create a dark room after showing students how to use pinhole cameras at the Mully Children’s Family Foundation.
Sign up for Nicole's Summer Art Academy Class "Mini Masters: for ages 6-9 from June 17-21.
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