Artists

Patty Clark

I realized my desire to paint in a 9th grade art class when I was asked to copy a Monet. When finished, I looked at the completed project and thought... “hmmm, not too bad. Maybe I can do this.” From that point on I was hooked. I studied at Miami University at Oxford and graduated with a B.S. in Applied Science with a concentration in Interior Design. I was employed at a high- end furniture gallery for a department store in Dayton for many years. 

After the death of my husband Robert in 1993 I realized how short life was and took up painting classes. My first class at Middletown Art Center was under the direction of Larry Doud, a strict, but fun loving instructor. After several interim instructors Shelley Sizemore stepped in as permanent instructor. I enjoyed working with Shelley for over 15 years and feel I learned valuable lessons and grew as an artist under her direction.

I have entered and been accepted in several juried shows, including the Miamisburg Art Guild and the Middletown Art Center. I received honorable mentions several times and was awarded second place on two occasions. I now teach oil painting at Middletown Art Center. A selection of my work is on permanent display at the Pendleton Art Center in Middletown, Ohio. The gallery is open the first Friday and Saturday of each month. I currently reside in Springboro with my husband, Don Clark who is a graphic designer.

LauraLee Schmidt

Body artist Lauralee Schmidt is thrilled to be part of the judging panel for Artfest 2024. Her passion for color, texture, and finish drives her artistic vision. Her work has been featured in prestigious publications such as Harper's Bazaar and InStyle, as well
as on the runways of New York Fashion Week and in projects for Time Warner and HBO.

Peter Berwald

Peter A. Berwald was born into a teaching family in Laconia, NH, in 1962. He lived in Massachusetts for 20 years, except for a 3-year period in Columbus, Ohio. Berwald earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art from UMASS in 1985, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education in 1988 and a Master's in Illustration from Syracuse University in 2001. He has taught in Vermont, Virginia, Arkansas, and Ohio. Over the years, Berwald has participated in several art shows and has received various awards for his teaching and artistic accomplishments. He has been teaching art at Springboro High School since 2002.

Cyndi Wineinger

Cyndi Wineinger is a business consultant living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cyndi is a founding member of ArtFest On Main and has studied various art forms for decades. She has traveled the world, from Bali and Puerta Vallarta, studying silver smithing and from Morocco to Oaxaca, learning different forms of painting, mixed media, and resin work.

Having grown up in a family of seamstresses, quilters, crocheters, and knitters, there aren’t many fiber and thread arts she hasn’t used to create art. Now living in Cincinnati, just minutes away from the world headquarters of Thompson Enamels, she has learned enamel and glass work from many of the masters in the field. Her passion for artists makes working with ArtFest On Main a tremendous joy.

Kimmie Pledger

Kimmie Truesdell is an artist who grew up in Springboro, Ohio. Her art involves a mundane, relatable object, transforming how the object is worn. Influenced by the tactile feeling, this is also what inspires and motivates her. Her work dances between the lines of concept and being a formalist. This alone creates a conversation about material and process.

She earned a BFA in Metals from Kent State University, an MFA in Metals from Bowling Green University. She has been in art exhibitions and adjuncting art shows since 2016. While getting her MFA, Truesdell instructed the introduction to 3D. After school, she continued as a metals instructor to children in Sebago, Maine, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She then returned to Ohio and became a bench jeweler/custom designer. Truesdell now stays home with her two daughters while continuing to make jewelry.

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Emilee Ambrose

Emilee is a passionate advocate for the arts and community engagement in the Dayton region. She currently serves as President of the Junior League of Dayton, is an Associate Board Member of the Dayton Art Institute, and is an active leader with the Springboro Arts Council, where she helps foster creative opportunities and cultural growth.

Beyond her work in the arts, Emilee is also the Logistics Chief for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) C-130 New Production Branch in the Mobility Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Her servant-leadership style is reflected in both her community and professional life—combining creativity, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving to strengthen organizations and deliver lasting impact. Her background includes experience in Acquisition Life Cycle Logistics, Foreign Military Sales, operations, project management, and supervision. Whether coordinating complex logistics or cultivating vibrant cultural initiatives, Emilee is
committed to building strong communities through service, leadership, and the arts.