Art Attack

Susan Edwards (core teacher) is the founder and Executive Director of The Art Attack. She has been painting for twenty years and now focuses on watercolors and murals. She has a degree in Secondary Math Education and is a trained children's leader. She has worked extensively with children and loves to bring the arts to them.

Jim Smith (core teacher) recently moved to Sycamore with his family from Helena, Montana. He has been in pottery for over fifteen years. He worked under an accomplished potter for five years. He has taken classes and workshops at the Archie Bray Foundation in Montana. He also had his own studio in Philadelphia where he specialized in making large scale, wheel thrown pots. He has used electric, gas and wood fired kilns. He looks forward to sharing his love of pottery and experiences in his class.

Ann Apfel
Ann is a senior at Northern Illinois University, where she is pursuing a General Studies degree and will attend graduate school for Art Therapy. She has been involved in all types of art since childhood and has taken several classes at the university in varying media. Ann first became involved with the Art Attack last spring as a volunteer and now teaches various classes. She enjoys working with children and looks forward to continuing her involvement with the Art Attack.

Hattie Sanderson is a "PMC Connection Senior Instructor." She is one of a small elite group scattered across the country to hold this prestigious title. Sanderson travels around the region teaching beginner/intermediate Previous Metal Clay Classes as well as PMC Certification Classes. Sanderson has a degree in Graphic Design and has had her own art studio for 13 years. She has been exhibited internationally and has been published in several books and magazine articles. She will be producing a one-woman exhibit at the Kavanaugh Gallery in St. Charles this fall.

Trisha Schumacher is the art teacher for Clinton-Rosette Middle School in DeKalb. She has a masters in Art and is currently working on her doctorate. She has taught art for the last 8 years for various schools and has taught after school for several different organizations. Trisha loves to do her own art but says she is an art teacher above anything else.

Bob Holmes is a local artist who has contributed to World Children’s Day/Ronald McDonald House Charities Silent Auction. He has masters in Art Education and a MA in painting all from NIU. Currently he is the Geneva Middle School Art Teacher and has been there for twenty-two years. He has had one man shows and completed the Tom Lynch watercolor workshop in 2003.

Kristin Brynteson - Core Teacher Kristin is a life long Genoa girl and is better known in town as JH Studio Creations, the photography studio that she operates out of her home. Kristin has a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Engineering from NIU but has chosen to follow her inner artist and now works with digital photography and art. It is not unusual to see Kristin taking her photos off the page and using them in unexpected places with the help of photo – transfer techniques. When she’s not taking pictures or photo-crafting she’s probably creating unique jewelry with glass, stone and metal beads and, of course, photography! Kristin loves to help others who feel artistically challenged become one with their own inner artist and discover the creativity that is inside of us all.

Lori Tolliver is a member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Odanah, Wisconsin. She first learned her craft from the elders of her tribe and now has over twenty years of experience. Most recently, she has begun teaching it to others as a means to both improve and share her skills. Lori currently resides in DeKlab, Il with her husband, son and foster child. She travels frequently attending powwows – practicing and learning more about her culture. She welcomes you to come in and enjoy the energy of learning a new art.

Dian Johnson has an Associates of Arts from Harper Community College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Watercolor from Northern Illinois University. She has studied with prominent artists Irving Shapiro, Bridget Austin, Phil Austin, Catherine Wilson Smith, Joe Fettingis, Karlyn Holman, and Tom Trausch. Being a member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and Signature Member of the Illinois Watercolor Society gives Dian access to many opportunities. She has been teaching for the past 14 years in various programs: Continuing Education in High School for District 211, Watercolor for Kids at summer school in District 54, and Watercolor and Watercolor Pencil at Fine Line Gallery in St. Charles. She has also conducted numerous workshops, demonstrations and studio art classes.

Laura Alvarez is a songwriter and mother of five children. With a background in theater and a love for music and children, she brings fresh ideas and fun to the class.

Bonnie Saxby is an award winning quilt artist from Rockford, IL. who has shown her work in national and international shows. She is a celebrity teacher for the PBS show, Quilt Central, which broadcast throughout the country. Her work is always colorful and a cut above the norm. She started painting her own fabric for quilting when she wasn’t happy with the painted fabric she could get on the retail market. She has developed many different classes to teach her techniques.

Patricia Farrell - Core Teacher is an art education major at NIU. She has experience in many different art forms. Her interests in art vary tremendously, however sharing a harmonious theme of individuality and liberation. Her work has been commissioned throughout Dekalb, Sycamore, and the Chicago land area. She has experience teaching art to children ages 3 to 14 years old in the Dekalb and Sycamore public and private school system.

Linda Kluber-Byrum has a general degree in art with Waubonsee Junior College of Sugar Grove, IL. She has an award; “2000 Outstanding Artists and Designers of the 20th Century” with the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England and has been awarded various fundraising jobs through the local area. Sycamore United Methodist Church has awarded her a 13 year series in ornament painting of their church crosses which are currently on display at the church. Linda specializes in teaching drawing and painting. She has also taught oils, acrylics on rocks, enamels on glass.