Instructors

• Relaxed, Creative, Productive Painting class for adults
• Private Instruction

Lynn’s love for painting began over 25 years ago. As a student at the University of Montevallo, Lynn was honored two consecutive years with the “Excellence in Painting” Award.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Montevallo in 1997.  Since that time, Lynn has been working full time as a freelance artist, receiving commissions from both private and corporate patrons.  She has also enjoyed teaching art classes to adults and children.

• Basic Digital Photography for youth and adults

Paris graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Commercial Photography. She is an internationally published and award-winning photographer. Her company, Paris Photographics, specializes in wedding, portraits, and event photography. She is also the owner and head instructor of the Birmingham School of Photography located in Homewood, Alabama.

Candye Lundy is a beginning hand-building pottery instructor for the SCAC.  She specializes in creating large serving vessels and functional pottery pieces.  Under Candye’s guidance you will learn the basics of utilizing clay to create functional art. Candye lives with her husband, Don, at the tranquil Horsefeathers Farm.  She has a background in interior design.

• Art Abilities Director
• Art Instructor for Seniors & Children

Edna Sealy Booker attended Auburn University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts, Masters of Education, and Education Specialist degrees. Edna has taught in public schools for 26 years and presently she directs and teaches art for the SCAC’s ArtAbilities Program. ArtAbilites brings art and music lessons to special needs students in over 20+ Shelby County Schools at no cost to the schools or students. She has continued her artistic education by taking courses at UAB, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and studied under artist Linda Vance. Her awards & achievements include: Selected to paint “In the Park” at Seaside, Florida; Former Hoover Art Show winner; Recipient of the Shelby County Teacher of the Year Award.

Nita Terrell is a graduate of the University of Montevallo where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) degree. She currently resides in Alabaster, Alabama, with her husband David and son Eli.

Nita started working again in ceramics in 2009.  She finds joy in creating functional pieces that become a part of someone’s everyday-life or special occasion’s pieces. Much of her work is created by incorporating and combining both wheel-thrown and hand-building components to create subtle but basic design.  All of her unique ceramic pieces are food-safe, lead free, microwave and dishwasher safe, yet maintain her signature designs that have simplistic yet elegant lines.  She started teaching ceramics in 2012 to children and adults, and today continues to share her enthusiasm and knowledge of ceramics. Through teaching these classes she has evolved as an artist and is constantly changing and improving her ceramic process.

Ellen Carpenter received Bachelor and Masters degrees in piano performance  at the University of Michigan.  She did post graduate work at The Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore  and the University of Texas at Austin. She has held several college teaching positions including that of Adjunct Professor of Piano at Birmingham Southern College.  She was the pianist for the Alabama Symphony for sixteen years and and has performed in numerous solo and chamber music recitals.  In her spare time she enjoys training horses and gardening.

With southern roots William A. Yarbrough was born and raised just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. His talent as a guitarist and singer/ songwriter has developed over the last 19 years. William currently serves as Guitarist at Canterbury United Methodist Church and Lead Guitarist at Independent Presbyterian Church Birmingham, Alabama. 

Nelson earned a BFA and an M.Ed from the University of Montevallo and has recently retired from teaching art at Hoover High School. His professional career as a sculptor compliments his role as a teacher. Through hard work and his love for art, Nelson’s sculptures have continued to evolve and grow with each passing group of students. He sees the students as an inspiration. “Teenagers live in an imaginary world,” he says, “and it’s that imagination that inspires me”. Nelson is known for his whimsical and entertaining animal sculptures and paintings. He has had multiple corporate and museum purchases. In 2021 Nelson debuted his sculpture, County Seat,  in the Old Mill Square park in Columbiana, AL. The piece was cast in the foundry of the Shelby County Arts Center and features a mill stone that was unearthed during the site prep while constructing the Arts Center. Nelson now teaches classes and workshops for the SCAC while working on commissions in his home studio. 

Sharon is a graduate of Samford
University and has taught private piano lessons at
SCAC for the past 10 years. She is a recently retired
teacher from Shelby County schools having spent the
last 16 at Elvin Hill Elementary. Sharon loves playing
keyboard at her church and various community
events. She is married to Gene Rogers and they have
3 grown children along with 5 granddaughters. In her
spare time she enjoys playing piano, attending music
events, running, and spending time with her family.

• Piano Instructor

Rebekah Perry graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education, with an emphasis in piano pedagogy. Following her graduation, she immediately began her teaching career at Vestavia Hills Conservatory of the Arts and Dominion Baptist Church where she currently teaches. She has had the privilege of teaching grade school ages through senior adults, but primarily focuses on grade school students. Having recently moved to Columbiana, she is excited to share her love of music with her community by teaching at Shelby County Arts Council.

• Pottery Instructor

John is a certified instructor of art for Pre K – Junior College. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Art and a Master of Art Education from the University of Montevallo. Both degrees allowed for the development and mastery of three primary disciplines: Ceramics, Photography/New Media and Oil Painting. In
addition to his academic career John has accrued nearly 7 years of work experience in the field through various marketing and promotional companies and has had work featured in publications both in Alabama and nationally. In the classroom John aims to create an environment that is not only laid back
and relaxed but also challenging, both creatively and personally, in the hope that each student gains a better understanding of their artistic capabilities as well as how themselves as individuals and artists can influence their work.

• -Private Lessons
• -Group Classes
• -An emphasis on Jazz/Blues/Gospel

Born and raised in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, Byron Thomas is one of the best kept musical secrets in the south. He has played for a wide range of people, from world dignitaries to famous entertainers to inspirational speakers. He has dedicated his life and love to the practice and performance of music, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance from Stillman College in 2004. It is this love and pursuit that has made him a southern music phenomenon.

Byron plays for several different artist and groups within the city of Birmingham including, Belinda Peoples and Smooth Blend , Jose Carr and Pizzaz, The Official Clutch Band, Aretta Woodruff, Elnora Spencer and countless others.

Currently he is and Minister of Music at Bethel Baptist Church of Pratt City and president of Morfingarz Music. He the loving and devoted husband to his wife and biggest supporter, Mrs. Deidra Brown-Thomas

• Painting/Mixed Media Workshop Instructor

Chris Cruz was a stay at home mom when she signed up for her first painting class over 30 years ago. She was looking for something creative and fun to do. Chris was introduced to the power of the paint brush and was hooked from then on. The vibrant colors reminiscent of her Caribbean and Florida living was the perfect setting for her to let loose and express herself in a visual way that words could not tell. Three years ago she came to Alabama to be near family
and has never looked back.

She calls herself a Mixed Media Experimental Artist because she believes there are no limits to what you can create when you let your mind take over with creativity. Chris is an Artist Educator for Marabu Paints, GOLDEN Paints and Silver Brushes. Because her belief in spreading the love for ART is so strong you can find her doing painting workshops at the Shelby County Arts Council, Alabama Art Supply, Falcon Art Supply, and Artists Inc. where she encourages her students to break all the rules and just play. She also does group painting parties to stimulate the creativity in those that are interested in learning
how to relax through art. Her goal is to unite creative women through art. She travels to teach in Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and in anyone’s living room who has an interest in connecting with people. Her goal is to have the love of art pass on to the next generation.

Collectors of Chris’s work have said: “Her paintings are fun, different and always have a happy feeling to them that people love.” People call on her when in need for that special gift. She has won numerous awards and people who collect her work say it brings a smile to their faces. She is a member of the Mountain Brook Art Association, Shelby County Arts Council, Central Alabama Arts Association and The Middle Tennessee Decorative Artists Group.

Chris can be reached at 954-608-7220 or visit her @ ChrisCruzdeSigns.com

Leslie is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in Music Education specializing in vocal performance. She has taught private voice lessons and worked in education for over 20 years. Her specialty is teaching a variety of repertoire that focuses on her students interests and vocal style. Leslie has had the opportunity to teach all ages in education and her true passion is in the area of Musical Theatre. As a drama queen herself, she loves to encourage the creativity that comes along with discovering the true meaning of each and every song and portraying that character through the performance.

Leslie is currently the music teacher at Elvin Hill Elementary School in Columbiana. Her primary goal as an educator is to encourage students to find their passion and giftedness in the arts, to be comfortable in their own skin and gain confidence in themselves through the process of performance.

Leslie currently resides in Chelsea with her loving husband Justin and two amazing kids Hannah and Gabe. They have a cat named Mellie that LOVES to eat!

Russell Lawlis is an Alabama native who has been playing guitar, performing, teaching, recording, and touring the southeast region with various bands in a variety of genres for the past 30 years. He teaches a wide range of styles, and is passionate about helping students of all skill levels reach their goals by custom tailoring a lesson program to meet their individual needs.

Sarah graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in May 2020, majoring in animation. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and was awarded first place in Alabama’s annual statewide art competition. Her artistic skills range from animated storytelling to realistic pieces, but her primary focuses are illustration and animation.

My name is Margaret Hague. I grew up in Columbiana and moved back seven years ago with my husband and three daughters. I graduated from the University of Montevallo with a bachelor degree in fine arts  with a concentration in graphic design. I have been doing Stained Glass for the last 22 years. I also taught art for kindergarten through high school at cornerstone Christian school and also do private art lessons. I enjoy all different mediums of art, especially prop design and special effects makeup.

A forger of metals. Not just Aluminum!

As a Painting and Sketching Visual Arts Instructor, Deanna Lawlis is committed to helping children develop a positive sense of self while exploring their innate creativity, improving their artistic skills, and establishing a positive and supportive community in the classroom.
She is the owner of The Artsy Bean Studio located in Clanton, AL, and she travels the surrounding region instructing group paint parties, as well.