River Muse Art Gallery & Studio...
229 John St, Clayton NY.
...where creativity flows.
Meet Our Artists
Digital Art | Photography | Encaustics | Poetry |
I l live in Clayton, NY and am eternally grateful for this life in the Garden of The Great Spirit. I am originally from Canada and have been raising my daughters since the turn of the Millennium in the United States. It is best to honor this ancient land and the ancestors. I derive great inspiration from all lines of my heritage. Irish, Welsh, Dutch, German, First Nation Haudenosaunee – Mohawk – Turtle Clan. I follow a long trail of Peace makers and I stride the red
and purple path in tandem. Blessed are we that find glory in the Bee Niá:wen, Go Raibh Maith Agat, Gratias Tibi
Transcending Ego
Art is about sharing your soul. It is passion, temptation, a storm.
Art is a fountain of adventure.
Rushing water with a welcome fascination.
Art is a vessel within our orbit.
It is devotion, memory,
A new beginning.
Art is nurturing new talent,
It is confidence emerging.
A personal portrait of
Light and life, night and day.
Painting with the camera where Buddha sat.
Art is a bird singing after a storm.
It is looking at you
for renewal of inspiration,
A fine view.
Art is harmony and balance with
just a glimpse of magic.
It is winter; spring, summer and fall,
A stream of unity bridging into the white open.
Art is freedom,
It is blue water of frozen lake,
Sky, unseen and waiting for morning glow and sunrise. Golden beauty of Mary Laughing. Art is love and it transcends ego.
Acrylic Painter Inspired by the St.Lawrence River
My paintings are inspired by the beauty of the St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands, Clayton, N.Y. where I’ve spent a large part of my life. Currently living on Grindstone Island I am awed everyday by the river’s scenery, large ships of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and spectacular sunsets and sunrises.
My first painting was when I was in high school. My art teacher taught me just enough to get started. She wanted to enter my still life in a contest however being young I procrastinated and was too late to enter the contest. My life quickly became consumed with all the activities of a young adult with children and going to college. I am now retired from the healthcare field.
In the year 2000 I graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology. Surprisingly not in painting but in Multimedia Development. I took some courses in drawing, photography and design but no painting classes.
It wasn't until 2014 when I was inspired by a local art student at R.I.T. in Rochester. She was painting over water stained areas on my mother’s 50 year old wall paper. This inspired me to pick up a brush and start painting a picture I had of an island in the Saint Lawrence River. To my surprise I was told by my friends my picture was impressive. I continued to paint and taught myself via some books and videos to paint with acrylic.
From that point on I’ve painted about 6-8 paintings each year, only two of which have been oil. I’ve chosen acrylic due to its fast drying ability and the ease of painting over something I want to change.
I am presently painting in our log house on Grindstone Island. I have so many inspirations from growing up on the river and raising two boys on Grindstone Island I often have a hard time decided what to paint! I also get inspiration from a childhood friend Steve McMahon. A very accomplished wildlife photographer.
I’m a good example of finding a hidden talent later in life. It definitely was a surprise to me. I hope this encourages people to try new things and go with your instinct try something new! You never know.
Photography, Digital Art & Mixed Media
Photography, Digital/Graphic Art, Mixed Media
Suzan’s photography, digital art and mixed media work represents the diversity of medium and the mixing of photography and digital art in her work. She attempts to depict the images she sees in the world around her with a sense of depth, movement and texture; often there is a fanciful and imaginative element to her work. Suzan believes that we all see and interpret the world through the filters of our personal story, and her art is an imaginative exploration of the world she lives in. Suzan is a native of Kingwood, TX, where from an early age she was drawn to any form of creativity be it drawing, acting in the local theater, writing poetry, or taking pictures. Suzan arrived in Upstate New York 20 years ago and was hooked almost at once by the beauty of the area. Bravura Photography came into being in 2008 and was inspired by Suzan’s first image titled “Bravura” to be juried into the Remington Art Museums Members’ Juried Exhibit. Suzan continues to create and show her work in various mediums. Suzan’s award-winning works include Best in Show at the Frederick Remington Museum Member Juried Show in 2015 for her digital art piece titled Urbanization.
Acrylic & Watercolor
Acrylic & Watercolor Paintings
Originally from the Finger Lakes Region of NY, Robert E. Montford has become a valuable art educator and advocate in the 1000 Island and Lake Ontario district.
Bob received his BA at Buffalo State and his Masters at NYU. Bob was a teacher of art at all levels (K- University) for 32 years. During that time he had shows and exhibitions at various locations all around New York State, including the Frederick Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg. Bob finished career at Sackets Harbor Central School. Since retirement from teaching, he has produced many works in his Sackets Harbor, NY home studio. Enjoy a sample of his work pictured and plan to stop and see his work in the gallery.