Meet Our Artists: Shop Their Art!

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Mandy Betz is a passionate self-taught artist from Oelwein Iowa. The story of her artwork is one that resonates with many and has it's roots in depression. Mandy uses her art as a sort of therapy to fight it. Though she works with color pencil, acrylic, oil, she claims watercolor as her favorite. "I just love the way it flows, with it I create more of a whimsical vibe to my paintings."

 Amy Bishop began her creative journey in 1992 when she was given a 35mm Olympus camera. By 2010 she starting combining her passion for form and color to create abstract art from paper, ink, encaustic, paint, plaster and fabric. Kirkwood college has included her work in their permanent collection and she is on display in eastern Iowa, California, Oregon, Ohio, Colorado, and Florida.  

Joan Bourret: "I have been a photographer for over 60 years. You can find some of my photos in my autobiography, "Pictures and People: A Search for Visual Truth and Social Justice." My book was a finalist in the USA "Best books of 2011" and was a top winner in the 2012 Benjamin Franklin Awards. Offered at The Left Bank Shop are books and postcards of my work."

Shop Joan Bourret In Store Only

Kate Brennan Hall is an illustrator and printmaker living in the Midwest. Her work seeks to elevate the ordinary-to showcase the beauty and humor all around us. "I love drawing and printmaking and i love knowing my work hangs in the heart of your homes: your kitchens. Hearing the giggles about my quirky sayings never gets old it is delightful! Thank you."

 Don Briggs, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, enjoys helping people to see everyday things in a different light. Using his amazing wood-working skills, he creates beautiful cutting boards, tables, cribbage boards and wooden banks that make use of old mail boxes and come complete with combinations. All his thoughtfully made artwork make wonderful gifts for that special person, young or old. 

Judy Carlson started throwing pottery in her mid twenties and is completely self taught. "Over the years my art has evolved to include my love of nature and the environment around me. Art for me is a way of life built into the fiber of our lives. It's who we are, how we think and the way we live our lives. Everyone is an artist when we open our eyes to the world around us."  

 Ted Carpenter’s Blue Heron Beadwork, located in Coralville, Iowa, is the home-based studio from which he designs and creates three categories of classic jewelry: strung beads and pearls, chain and wire work, and set gemstones, using semi-precious gemstones and fresh water pearls finished with sterling silver, gold-filled or copper components. He hopes his jewelry is something to wear forever. 

 Donita Doerre creates one-of-a-kind fiber art designs inspired by nature. From her home in Stoddard, Wisconsin, her passion and purpose is to work with natural fleeces and be a part of a heritage culture of handcrafted pieces of Fiber Art. While all of her work is remarkable, her adorable little animals are the hardest to resist. 

 Kathy Doyle of McGregor IA is a skilled photographer who enjoys giving iconic local scenery and culture a voice. "I enjoy photography and the challenges that come with it. It has been a great learning experience for me and teaches both patience and having to think quickly to get the perfect shot." 

 Nate & Hallie Evans own Alamakee Wood-Fired Pottery. "Each pot is hand-thrown by the two of us out of durable stoneware clays. We use as many indigenous materials as we can. Using non commercially made materials offers a wider variety of particle sizes and impurities that give each pot more character and a sense of place."  

 Hans Gill  makes his home in Seneca, Wisconsin. Hans began his art career in the early 1960s and had his first art show while in the Air Force. He went on with his art career as a university instructor, a museum exhibit designer, and, currently, with his own business, Multi-Media, Etc. His amazing multi-media art sculptures are unique and distinctive.

 Judy Gill  is  inspired to create wearable art by the beauty and possibilities she sees in everyday objects. Her jewelry is a combination of found objects, including tokens, deer antlers, and beads, making it fun and unexpected.  She has even made a series of earrings from authentic WWII ration tokens. 

 Steve Goltz from North East Iowa is unique wood carver. One of his specialties is free form wood bowls which he creates as he works with the shapes nature provides. "I love discovering different types of wood and working them into artful and functional forms." 

   Jane Hash resides in Lone Rock WI but her passion for jewelry-making began in Hawaii a few years ago. Though Jane seldom wears jewelry herself, she finds satisfaction is making pieces others enjoy wearing. With materials ranging from jasper to niobium, each offering is unique, whimsical and eye-catching. 

 Donna Horsefield is from our very own McGregor, Iowa. Donna says "I have always liked to draw. I work mainly in graphite, colored pencil and watercolor. I am a retired social worker and continue to work in art therapy in long term care. Art can reflect beauty and also provide social commentary. I am inspired by all the artistic expression and creativity around me!" 

Harold Rosauer is a local Iowa artist. He excels at wood carving and detail. "I

have carved over 993 birds and have spent 900 hours to finish just one. My

most popular items are the wood carved bird feather pins painted with such

life-like precision, you would think a slight breeze would carry them away. I also lathe turned wooden vessels and pendant jewelry.

Helen Rowell has been weaving baskets for over 40 years. "While growing up my family made use of the baskets that my father and grandfather made from willows grown for just that purpose." After being taught by family she then learned weaving techniques from the Amanas, England and Australia. Most weaving is done late fall to early spring. 

Jennifer Scudiero is a midwestern woman at heart. After living in various places around the US, she finally settled back in her hometown of Winona, Minnesota. She enjoys using a variety of media to create her distinctive jewelry and hair clips. She describes her style as, “modern and polished”. 

 Elizabeth Shriver "I work with clay to create an array of graceful, organic forms. Rarely relying on glaze, I use textures, stains and colored clay to add visual and tactile interest. I am drawn toward neutral earth tones, and my work reflects the natural landscape, plant and undersea life that are my inspiration.

A successful piece is one that begs to be touched as well as explored visually."

Bird Skemp, one of our local McGregor artists, has found her creative outlet in stones, wire, metal, paper, plastic, rubber, fabric, wood, leather, and just about anything else she get her hands on to create her beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry. This creativity has made her a local favorite.

 Sandy Stevens “The fall of 1974 was my first visit to Pikes Peak State Park and the town of McGregor.  Thus began my visual love affair with beautiful northeast Iowa.
My photographs consist mainly of images taken in and around McGregor, Pikes Peak and the mighty Mississippi river.  I continue to be amazed at the ever changing environment."

Margaret Stone: I enjoy created finished products from raw materials whether it be reed, fabric, yarn or garden seeds. I am an avid birder, basket weaver, gardener and grandma who juggles these passions with part-time work at the Elkader Hospital. I share the love of outdoors with my husband Larry, a photographer and journalist.