community
Donations & more – local supporting local! From neighborhood food banks & countless other charities to in-store & community-driven events.
Donations & more – local supporting local! From neighborhood food banks & countless other charities to in-store & community-driven events.
We are proud to have been voted Best Health Food Store by the community in the Tampa Bay Times ‘Best of the Best People Choice’ campaign for 2019-2022. Nature’s Food Patch placed first, second, and third in other Best of the Best categories over the course of last year as well. In Creative Loafing’s annual ‘Best of the Bay’ campaign, The Patch took home three first place awards, including Best Gourmet Market for a total of six industry accolades from the Tampa based publishing company.
Each quarter, we are happy to showcase a local artist in our Clearwater café. The art is available for purchase at our Clearwater location. Each artist chooses a charity to donate 20% of their sale.
The purpose of the Creative Artists’ Guild is to bring together artists to share experiences, expertise and provide for the exchange of artistic ideas and information.
We work together to develop & promote the Dunedin artistic community as well as by arranging exhibits, shows, and other means to further the purpose of local artists. Our group was founded in 1970 as the Dunedin Art Guild and evolved into the Creative Artists Guild in 1978. Since then, it has remained one of the area’s most active fine arts organizations. Membership is open to all those interested in the fine arts, attending meetings, and participating in the many other activities of the Guild. The membership represents a progressive group of artists and their supporters who share a mutual interest and encourage public awareness in the art field.
We hope you will enjoy the works of the 11 artists featured in this Winter 2023 Group Showcase. Whether you are an artist or art lover, there is truly something here for everyone.
Originally from Michigan, Sherida Wysocki retired to Tarpon Springs, Florida after 31 years in higher education.
As an experimental/Multifaceted artist, she now dedicates herself to the creative process by exploring new techniques
and applications in expressing her art through mixed media and collage.
Her studio and gallery are located at Ann’s Monroe Street Gallery, 234 Monroe St., Dunedin, Florida. Wysocki is a member of Studio 1212 Art Gallery, Dunedin Fine Art Center, Sterling Society, Morean Arts Center, Creative Artists Guild of Dunedin and PAVA (Professional Association of Visual Artists).
“I seem to have a passion to try and express the beauty of nature on a canvas!
I hope to inspire and encourage others to pull out their deepest feelings and express it in some way; whatever medium you choose!
The joy of expression…the journey of creating something are what it’s all about for me. It is also an opportunity to dialog and share with others. Art and culture break down barriers and lead to community.
I’ve only been painting for the last 5 years, taking classes at the Dunedin Fine Center and with other local artists and studios here and in Mountain City, Tennessee where I spend part of the summers.”
“I grew up in Michigan and owned a couple of businesses in a small town along the shore of Lake Huron. I’ve always loved art and enjoyed creating fun images but only did it for my own enjoyment. Three years ago, tragedy hit my home with the loss of my oldest son and at the same time my husband of many years become seriously ill. Painting became a tool of therapy and has now blossomed into beautiful creations of emotion. After 52 years of companionship my husband passed several months ago and now I spend each day, delving into paints and forming beautiful organic images.
I enjoy working with acrylic paints manipulating the colors to form vibrant figures that leap from the canvas and cause your imagination to go wild. It is enjoyable to listen to what people see in the depths of the colors, shapes and images.
I work with acrylic painting, pouring and multi medium. Thank you for taking a moment to enter into my illusions.”
“My personal history has taken me from the industrial hub of Pittsburgh, PA, to the ethereal beauty of the cypress swamps and ancient architecture of Louisiana, to the tropical paradise of my current home, Dunedin, Florida; all of which fuel recurring themes in my work.
I am inspired by beauty and emotion found in scenes both every-day and obscure, such as the spectacle of a fully-operational steel mill at night, a halo of rain highlighting crumbling stucco on an ancient brick wall, or the haunting image of a cypress swamp in a cool mist. I love the way that a painting takes on a life of its own. Even though I start out with a specific intention, it is not uncommon that the painting moves in a different direction. I have found that it is best to not fight it. Although my work is often objective, I always want to leave room for the viewer’s own interpretations.
In my work, I attempt to reflect my vision within its emotional context, while allowing room for viewer’s individual interpretations. A recurring theme is the call of home… the beckoning light in the window or the quest for that just beyond the sight line.
My works are typically intuitive abstracts, depicting florals, buildings and street scenes, landscapes all abstract and expressionistic or impressionistic in style. My paintings have been described as loose, energetic, light, airy, a bit wistful, layered, and textural. One defining theme is the absence of negativity, angst, stress and conflict. I feel that we all have plenty of that in our work-a-day world. I do want my paintings to take the viewer somewhere else entirely.
I have always been a creative person. During my corporate career as a Chemical Engineer in the Environmental, Safety and Health arena, that creativity was channeled into project design and implementation. It was very much in the “left brain” arena. Since my retirement, I have been fortunate to have first rate art instruction, mentorship and opportunity through local art centers and artist groups and outreach from nationally recognized artists. I serve as the President of Studio 1212 Gallery in Dunedin, FL and on the Board of Directors of the Creative Artist Guild of Dunedin.”
“Although my degree is in Business Analysis, I’ve always had an interest in art which I pursued when I retired. I began taking classes in colored pencil, watercolor pencil and graphite and soon moved on to watercolor painting and mixed media.
I am a member of Pasco Fine Arts Council, Clearwater Creative Artists Guild, Florida Watercolor Society, and Fine Art America.
I have studied with various artists at Dunedin and Pasco Fine Arts Centers, and have taken workshops from notable national or international artists including Joan Fullerton, David Lobenberg, Pat Weaver, Bob Burridge, Mark Mehaffey, and Vladislav Yeliseyev.
I have won several awards in different mediums. In the Florida Watercolor Society 2020 Annual Exhibit I won 1st Place which is the Guy Beatty Award.”
Jane Swank began painting in 1988 in Ithaca, NY. After she retired in 2010, she traveled the US for 8 years and met various artists. Jane visited many art museums in her travels. She learned watercolor and acrylic techniques in Quartzsite, AZ where she joined the Quartzsite Art Guild and became President. As she traveled through Colorado, she met an artist who taught her the techniques of Alcohol Ink Painting. She took a scratchboard class at The James Museum where she is a member. Currently she has been juried for Watercolor, Alcohol Ink, Acrylic and Pencil artwork. She is a Board Member of CAG, The Creative Artist Guild of Dunedin, and Trustee Board Member at PPAS, Pinellas Park Art Society. Jane will be a judge for the Talentum Meritus Arts Foundation’s Art exhibition in Oldsmar, FL.
Jane has won several awards in NY, AZ, and FL for her varied artwork.
In 2020, she won 1st Prize for an alcohol Ink painting at the Florida State Fair and Mayor’s Choice Award for her Watercolor painting called Poppy Love. The Pinellas Park Mayor purchased the painting for the Pinellas Park County Buildings. Jane continues her art education as new methods and mediums are developed. She teaches Alcohol Inks at PPAS, CAG and private classes.
Carol P. Klovekorn is a watercolor and acrylic artist inspired by the light and bright surroundings near her current home in Palm Harbor, FL. Originally from Philadelphia, PA she moved around the Northeast and Midwest developing her love of drawing and various art media. Earning a BS in Marketing, but taking art electives and continuing classes throughout adulthood, primarily in watercolor painting, has informed her style. Georgia O’Keeffe, Van Gogh and Seurat are among her favorite artists. Her first art love was watercolor botanical illustrations, classically used for science. Sketching in pencil since childhood and visiting museums around the world inspires her paintings. Experimenting with acrylic pouring has opened up new avenues for expression as well as teaching “Art on the Rocks” classes at Beach Art Center in Indian Rocks Beach, FL. Participating in local shows and exhibitions has provided a gratifying opportunity to share her work with the community.
“I have a deep appreciation for the spectrum of color nature has to offer. Awed by the simple beauty in a single flower, fall leaves, and especially beach waves, I often utilize negative space to highlight and focus on my subject. Aiming to find interesting shapes to create design and invoke a sense of wonder and delight in the world around us is my goal in creating pieces that are vivid and joyful.”
Member of: The Artful Souls, Creative Artists Guild of Dunedin, Beach Art Center, Fine Art Connection & Dunedin Fine Art Center
Miki Kline was born and raised in South Africa where she attended the Hugo Naude Art School in the afternoons for 4 years as part of her school curriculum. She studied Fashion Design on leaving school but always wanted to be a true artist
Today she lives in Clearwater, Florida and is a member of The Creative Artists Guild and Studio 1212. She specializes in Portrait paintings of Pets and People.
Barbara Connolly, a self-taught Florida artist, started painting in 2001 while sailing in the Bahamas.
Palm trees, beaches, and the abundant wildlife inspire her. She honed her skills through books from the library and watching other artists paint. Barbara is a member of the Creative Artist’s Guild of Dunedin where she has served on the board of directors, jury panel and is currently Coordinator for two venue art displays. She is also a member of the Pinellas Park Art Society. Over the years Barbara has won numerous local awards, including a 2nd and 3rd at the 2020 Florida State Fair and 1st for alcohol ink, 1st for mixed media 2021 Florida State Fair.
Barbara is proud to have 2 of her works chosen for the Pinellas Park Mayor’s Choice 2020. She resides in Pinellas Park.
Denise is a self taught artist and retired RN. She moved to Florida from her native Rhode Island to better enjoy the coastline, nature and animals year round.
Many of her paintings reflect pictures captured from beautiful Florida scenery.
As a resident of Dunedin many of the scenes she paints are from neighboring towns, beaches and parks or from travels in her career.
Marie Cummings was born in Detroit, Michigan. There she studied psychology and business at Wayne State University. She moved to Clearwater, Florida with her three daughters, where she embarked on a career as a Realtor. When her last daughter entered college, Marie decided to seek a new direction in her life: she wanted to explore the world of visual art. While studying Experimental Watermedia at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center (Dunedin, Florida), she also ventured into Creative Writing at St. Petersburg College (St. Petersburg, Florida). This dual experience served as a launching pad for a serious embrace of fine art from an outside-the-box viewpoint.
Since that time, Marie has focused on the creative potential of Watermedia. She finds deep, rich, bold hues intensely exciting. Marie thinks of her palette, brushes and paper as tools for play. Water and paint dance together in her studio, making forms that spark the imagination and speak to the heart. Her work is a form of meditation, an expression of her soul.
Marie recently taught Experimental Watermedia at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center—the same course that first inspired her to take the leap into the world of art. She also enjoys teaching beginning watercolor classes for adults who are beginning to dip their toes in the wellspring of their own creative resources. She takes a relaxed yet encouraging approach to instruction, giving her students the time, space and gentle guidance necessary to grow as artists.
Marie is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, the National Association of Women Artists, (New York, NY) SLMM, Society of Layerists in Multimedia, International Society of Experimental Artists, Tallahassee Watercolor Society and Watercolor USA Honor Society. Her works are in numerous private and public collections.
The Patch is proud to be involved with countless local donations & events.
Nature’s Food Patch endeavors to reduce food waste & help end hunger by donating to several local food banks seven days a week. The two local food banks we donate to are:
• Homeless Empowerment Program
In addition to our daily donations, The Patch hosts several food drives each year to benefit these amazing organizations. To stay up-to-date on how you can help feed our community healthy & nutritious food, sign up for our newsletters HERE.
One way we support local is by providing food donations to our friends over at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (home of the late celebrity dolphin, Winter, who starred in the movie Dolphin Tale)!
This is Vlad, the Russian tortoise who receives the donated food. He is an herbivore and we help feed him a diet of dark, leafy greens, bell peppers, carrots & zucchini. Vlad joined the CMA team when he was about 2-3 years old & can live up to 40 years. He is an animal ambassador that has been part of the CMA’s Education Center since 2014. Through Vlad, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium can teach anatomical differences of the 3 types of turtles while also teaching students & guests how to protect local species. To learn more about Vlad or the aquarium, be sure to check out their page!
From health fairs to charity fundraisers, The Patch gives back to causes that align with our mission. Interested in having Nature’s Food Patch support or participate in your charitable organization’s event? Tell us more.*
*Please do not call regarding your application. We’ll contact you.
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