By Teresa Vitale

Artist Opening – 11 Fennell St., Skaneateles.
First Friday, February 5, 2009, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Skaneateles Artisans is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit featuring artists  Sandra Philips/painter and Linda Bishop-Surbeck/jeweler. Refreshments will be served by blue Danube Gourmet . Music by Harvyn Tarkmeel/pianist.  Exhibit  runs through 2/28. The gallery offers off-street parking and accepts major credit cards. Visit their website at www.skaneatelesartisans.com. For more information, call 315-685-8580.

Sandra Philips is a decorative artist as well as a portrait artist who paints in acrylics and oils. Her passion for decorative art leads her to paint on multiple surfaces that are either functional or decorative. Combined with her love of the holiday seasons her work spans the spectrum from unique and detailed hand painted ornaments to refurbished sleds and toboggans. Sandra is known for her paintings on sleds, often taking commissions painting on treasured sleds from owners’ youth.

Originally trained in oils Sandra has taken lessons from portrait artist, Karen Patton of Wichita Kansas. She has painted pet, home and people portraits including a full length life size painting of Dolph Schayes for the Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.

Sandra has taken private art lessons since she was a young child and continues her training with multiple yearly seminars. She is a member of the National Society of Decorative Artists and a member of the North Syracuse Art Guild.

Linda Bishop – I have been greatly influenced in art by my parents. My father, who was a dairy farmer here in Skaneateles, was a great metal worker and welder. My mother was an oil painter who also created bisque dolls. After finding a small bead store in my town by accident in 1997, I became inspired to create my own jewelry. My next great discovery came at a bead store I was teaching at in 2005, one of the other classes they were offering was PMC (Precious Metal Clay). I now create my own pendants, and sometimes beads, to use in my creations. In 2006 I ventured to New Jersey to become certified in PMC. I am always increasing my skills and imagination!

My work will always be unique and I prefer not to make more than one of a particular piece. There will always be some subtle changes in color or design each time. However, I do make exceptions for special orders, such as wedding party jewelry. Please keep in mind all special orders require a 20% down payment.

I truly enjoy sharing my passion for beads and PMC by teaching at different locations in New York State.