Instructors

Susie Larson is a skilled ceramic artist in Lake City, Florida, best known for her striking raku-fired pottery. Raku’s dramatic, reduction-firing process brings unpredictability and stunning surface effects to her work—crackle glazes, smoky textures, and metallic flashes that make each piece truly one of a kind. Alongside her pottery, Susie creates unique clay beads and […]

Pat Albala is a creative and versatile artist based in Lake City, Florida. As a senior instructor with the Gateway Art Gallery’s Youth Art League, she specializes in paper art, Zentangle, and wood-based projects, sharing her skills and enthusiasm with students of all ages. With a degree in education earned in New Jersey in 1971, […]

John Larner is a talented plein air artist and oil painter based in Lake City, Florida. Deeply inspired by North Florida’s rivers, woodlands, and changing light, John captures quiet moments and natural stories on canvas. His work is known for its narrative quality—each painting feels like a fleeting glimpse into the region’s soul. A valued […]

Shirley Zecher is an artist and art instructor from North Florida. She is a member of the Art League of North Florida and the Gateway Art Gallery, as well as a prolific artist, often working with mixed media such as acrylic painting, painting gourds, and other media. Shirley is a passionate volunteer, often lending her time and […]

Carol Cieslik is a self-taught artist who has always had a passion for art. At first, she studied elementary education, but after taking a few art classes, she decided to pursue her passion and move to Jacksonville to study watercolor. For the last nine years, she has been a member of the Art League of […]