Staff and Instructors

Oksana Danziger is a natural born creator with a passion for textile art. She works as a freelance textile artist for numerous studios – including Printfolio, Design Works International and Group Four. Oksana also teaches at the Art League of Long Island and conducts workshops in schools through the Huntington Arts Council. She taught in the surface design department at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) as an adjunct professor.?Born in Moscow, Russia where she also received a classical art education from the Moscow School of Art, Oksana continued to study textile design at the Moscow State Textile University where she received a Master’s Degree in 1986. Following graduation, she exhibited tapestry, silk paintings and fabric fine art collages throughout Russia’s galleries and museums. She completed several residencies, including one in Torino, Italy. ?In 1991, Oksana moved to New York City where she lives and works today. She sold collections of her silk scarves at Henri Bendel in Manhattan and had a solo exhibition of silk paintings in Gallery One in Soho, New York. She regularly exhibits her work at the Art League of Long Island and Long Island Craft Guild. In her spare time, Oksana is a certified yoga instructor and practitioner, teaching classes at local libraries and studios. She is a huge believer in meditation.

You can see more of Oksana’s work on her website.

Marc Josloff was listed as one of “11 Artists to Watch” in Watercolor Magic Magazine in December, 2004 and his painting “Boy on a Scooter at the Hotel Deville” was purchased by the Art Students League of NY for their prestigious permanent collection. “Boy on a Scooter” was displayed alongside works by Georgia O’Keefe, Norman Rockwell, William Merritt Chase, and other American artist luminaries. Artworks by Marc Josloff are parts of other public and private collections, including the New York State Museum and Pratt Institute Marc has been the recipient of many best-in-show and merit awards in various juried exhibitions in the metropolitan area and was recently declared a finalist in the 2014 “Artist’s Magazine” Annual International Competition. Marc Josloff is a watercolor instructor at Il Chiostro Travel Art Workshops and the National Art League, and has taught at the Roslyn Village Gallery, NY. He is frequently called upon to give painting and photography workshops, demos and presentations and also to serve as a judge for regional exhibitions. He majored in Advertising Design & Visual Communication at Pratt Institute, in addition to Art Therapy and Art Education at Pratt’s graduate school. Later he studied under the tutelage of watercolorists Mel Stabin, Irwin Greenberg and Paul Ching Bor. Marc acknowledges:

“All of my studies have nourished my views on seeing and producing art from college years onward. I feel that good drawing, painting and design skills are essential, but the ability to conceptualize, empathize and be familiar with one’s own psyche are also extremely valuable for artistic growth.”

You can see more of his art at https://www.josloffgalleries.com/

Stephanie Navon-Jacobson: As an artist, I am always observing the world around me. Whether floral, landscape, animal, or figure, abstract or realistic, my images always go back to nature. I am first and foremost a printmaker, although I work in other mediums, too. I am a printmaker who paints, rather than a painter who prints.

I was originally attracted to printmaking in college. I loved the studio community aspect as well as the various techniques. I like to experiment with various techniques. The possibilities seem endless. I also like the element of surprise each time you pull a print.

It is so satisfying to work with people who are new to printmaking or to teach experienced artists a new technique and watch their enthusiasm as they ‘get bit by the printmaking bug.’ Printmaking is such a versatile medium. It can stand alone or be incorporated with other mediums such as oil or watercolor. I encourage my students to add printmaking to their artistic arsenal and incorporate it with their other artistic endeavors.

Award-winning artist, Denis Ponsot has worked in all of the various media but prefers to work in watercolor. He also teaches watercolor painting, oils, mixed media, and drawing from introductory to advanced levels to children and adults.

He says, “Teaching is my greatest inspiration. The combination of teaching and painting has helped to make my artistic experience complete. Working with students is important to me because I enjoy helping them with their painting and drawing problems. I am able to encourage them to experiment with their own ideas. I take pleasure in helping my students expand their artistic horizons beyond their expectations.” Denis teaches at The Craft Students League and The Kids Club in Manhattan and at the Art Guild in addition to accepting commissions in watercolor, oil, and portrait painting.

Denis has developed watercolor portfolios in three areas: “Landscape,” “Flowers and Still Life” and “The Figure and Portraits.” His work can be viewed on his Facebook page @DenisPonsot or at www.denisponsot.com. 

Howard Rose graduated from the School of Visual Arts, NYC, and Graduate studies at C.W. Post, and the New School in NYC. In 1989, Howard saw the paintings of a western painter named John Nieto. The amazing colors and large-sized paintings of American Indians caught his eye and he hasn’t looked back since. Howard has studied with Artists, Alfred Chadbourn. Charles Sovek, Matt-Smith, and Ovanes Berberian.

He had is first art studio in Roslyn, NY for 18 years where he taught and specialized in landscapes. The beaches of Long Island became his favorite subjects including the dunes, waves, and the sky found in some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. He teaches oil painting classes in multiple venues on Long Island, including the Art Guild,  League of Long Island, National Art League and runs classes at his studio in Syosset, Long Island. Howard runs many varied workshops including; Color Mixing, iPhone, photography, Design and perspective, and an intensive Calligraphy and Penmanship course. His articles and instruction techniques have been published in various magazines, including “Artists”, and “American Artist” Magazine. He runs annual workshops in Tuscany, Paris, Venice, Barcelona, and many locations on the east coast. He runs Plein air workshops all over the east coast.

Kerri Shiekman

Kerri Shiekman is a Port Washington resident. She received a B.A. in Studio Art and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from Adelphi University., has student taught at Weber Middle School in Port Washington. Kerri is an award winning artist and has shown her work across Long Island for nearly 20 years. She predominately works with watercolor but has a strong background in drawing, painting, mixed media, and sculpture. Kerri is looking forward to sharing her love of art with the students at The Art Guild.

Ellen Hallie Schiff has been painting 25 years and abstractly for over 20 years. She exhibits regularly on Long Island. Ellen teaches Abstract Painting at The Artists Studio in East Norwich and at The Art Guild. Ellen loves sharing her passion for painting with her students and gets so much gratification from helping students find their own style and voice.

She recently had an exhibit at Gallery North in East Setauket, as well as a two person show at The Art League of Long Island.

website:

http://www.ellenhallieschiff.com

Rob Silverman’s innovative techniques have been featured in American Artist Workshop Magazine and The Art of the Portrait, the official publication of the Portrait Society of America. His work has appeared at Crosby Street Gallery and Spring Studio Gallery in Soho, the Art League of Long Island, Edward Hopper House, The Art Guild of Port Washington, The National Art League, the Lockwood-Mathews Museum, as well as the National Arts Club and Salmagundi Club.

Born in Brooklyn, Joan Stevens moved to Long Island in her teens. She always had a love of drawing and painting, She works in oils but also sketches in charcoal and pencil. Joan graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in Fine Art and from there went to FIT to earn a degree in illustration. She has studied with Robert Baxter, Charles Pasqualina, Howard Rose, Kim English and Peggi Kroll Roberts. Always returning to her love of figure drawing she can still be found taking life drawing classes in her home town of Long Beach.
She has had many jobs in the world of art including illustration, art director, photo stylist, muralist, window dresser, and face painter. Her company, Through the Looking Glass, designs and installs store windows and decorates for events at restaurants and parties.
Joan has exhibited her work in group and solo shows throughout Long Island. Venues include The National Art League of Douglaston, Art League of Long Island, Elderfield Preserve, Adelphi University, Le Bon Amis Gallery,  Martha Clara Vineyard, and iFly Trapeze. She has been commissioned for portraits and landscapes and has donated many pieces to raise money for various charities. She teaches oil painting and drawing at Garden City High school. Joan paints pleine aire whenever possible and is constantly inspired by the beauty of Long Island.
You can see more of Joan’s work on her website.

Nancy’s art career began at an early age thanks to her parents’ gift of the big box of 128 Crayola crayons. Her love for painting and desire to capture the beauty of the natural world in her art was nurtured at Southampton College of Long Island University, Southampton, NY. She graduated with a B. F. A. degree in 1981. Following college, she ran her own stained-glass design company and enjoyed many years as an assistant to a fashion jewelry design firm.

Over the last 35 years Nancy’s watercolor & oil paintings have been exhibited and won awards in national and regional juried art shows in the New York City and Long Island, New York area. Happy, refreshing, uplifting, and “windows to the outdoors” are words admirers and collectors often use to describe her artwork. Nancy also creates pet and house portraits on commission. Her oil & watercolor paintings may be viewed on her website. She also teaches watercolor painting and digital painting on the iPad.

Nancy works as a full-time artist, and she brings the same love of nature with an added element of fun and whimsy in her digital-art illustrations which are licensed worldwide though HVC Licensing for jigsaw puzzles, greeting cards, garden flags and a variety of home de´cor products.

You can see more of Nancy’s work on her website.

Patty Yantz grew up in Manhasset and have lived for the passed forty five years in Suffolk County, N.Y. She is a retired secondary high school art teacher and continues to teach painting and pastels in an adult education program. Patty earned a masters degree in Art Education from C.W.Post in Greenvale, N.Y. Professional organizations that she currently belongs to are: The North Shore Art Guild, Setauket Artists, Mills Pond Art Gallery and Long Island Museum arts. I have shown work in The Reboli Center, Gallery North, Port Jefferson Village Center, the Emma S. Clark Library and many others.