May 2023
Member Artist
of the Month
Jen Haskins
Jen Haskins started making hats in 2014 while collaborating with a local fashion designer in order to develop her sewing skills. She was inspired by the hats she saw in historical dramas and started to create hat patterns and made only hand-sewn hats at first. She entered her first hat shop during a trip to St. Augustine, FL which inspired her to research the techniques used to create wool and straw hats out of a single piece of material. She loves learning new things and quickly bought books on how to make hats and invested in a few basic supplies to get her started. Over the years, she has invested in traditional hat-making tools and machinery. As an artist, she loves the sculptural qualities of hat-making. As a designer, she takes pride in finding, creating, and choosing the best color and texture combinations when adding the trimmings and details to each hat. Hat making is the perfect blend of design, sculpture, and functional art. She is inspired by the way art, music, and fashion set trends and create a visual history for each generation. Every hat is unique and is waiting to speak to you and tell your story.
Electric Youth
Pomegranate Sunrise
Pickin' and A-Grinnin'
Blue Skies
March 2023
Member Artist
of the Month
Noreen Jekel
British-born Noreen Jekel has returned to her love of art since moving to beautiful New Bern a few years ago.
She attended Art School in England and went on to obtain her BA in 3-Dimensional Design specializing in Interior Design in Leeds Yorkshire followed by an Art Teacher’s Certificate.
Noreen’s career as a Commercial Designer/ Space Planner in Upstate New York spanned over 35 years.
She particularly enjoys acrylic painting, photography and creating seashell jewelry and decorative ornaments.
Noreen’s paintings are typically bright, colorful and detailed and she often uses her photos as inspiration. Her latest pieces can be seen at the Community Artists Gallery in New Bern and on her website at NoreenCreates.com
January 2023
Member Artist
of the Month
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom
Veronica Campos-Hallstrom is originally from the Midwest. She is an Art Educator with BA degrees in Art/Education, a Master’s degree in Art Education and is an internationally published illustrator of three children’s Japanese language workbooks.
As an important aspect in her creative process, she feels the most important question any person expressing creativity should be asking themselves is, ‘What if?’ She uses this questioning method to problem-solve and generate ideas. Her mantra is: Be Creative Every Day. This goal continues to be reached in some shape or form on a daily basis and it has remained a consistent accomplishment that allows for continued learning, growth and art expression.
Veronica is intrigued with florals and coastal themes. Her two dimensional visual artwork is often on display as painterly alcohol ink art, or mixed media expressions. You will find her stylized art suggesting movement, often with an inclusion of bright colors, incorporating organic shapes with illustrative line qualities.
Also of interest, is the transformation of her ink paintings and drawings into vectorized digital images which in turn, are developed into repeating pattern designs for the textile art industry. Designing art for use on items such as home decor, furniture, office accessories, kitchen, apparel, fabric and other surfaces available online is an opportunity to share art in exciting, easily assessable ways.
Veronica’s art can be found locally in select galleries in North Carolina. Currently, she creates from her home studio referred to as Club Creative Art. It’s her thrill to add to her online e-commerce marketplace presence as a contributing artist for Society6, based in Los Angeles, CA and as a surface pattern designer in the Designer Studios of Raspberry Creek Fabrics, Sandy, UT.
Feel free to view more art at ClubCreativeArt.com Also connect via the following platforms @ClubCreativeArt on: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Society6, Raspberry Creek Fabrics
Trumpet Flowers
Smile
Red Floral
Dogwood Dance
Bursting Blooms
Lily Ruleva-Downes is originally from Bulgaria and recently settled in the New Bern area. She is a self-taught artist. Her greatest passion is painting. She also designs patterns for fair isle sweaters, cardigan, hats, scarfs, head bands, and jewelry. Her paintings are oil landscapes of nature, towns, and favorite people. Lily’s background includes exhibitions, knitting design, vendor markets, and teaching classes in both S. Korea and England. In Korea she was a member of the Daegu International Women’s Association (DIWA). She has met many artists around the world providing her with a wealth of experience that she will treasure forever. She is looking forward to meeting and connecting with fellow artists in the area.
November 2022 - Member Artist of the Month
Lily Ruleva-Downs
Fishing Village
Mostr
On the Seine
Lillies
March 2022- Member Artist of the Month
Ed Macomber
Ed Macomber
Watercolor Painter & Former TRAA President
Ed was born in Greenport, Long Island, NY. Lives and works in New Bern.Ed was the recipient of the 1964 Mary Roebling Foundation Scholarship in Art. He attended both Wagner College on Staten Island, NY, and Parson’s School of Design in Manhattan, majoring in illustration. He is a USMC veteran and was a member of the Marine Corps Artist program (1969-1972). He is the former owner of Art and Materials before selling that business to take up his art as a full-time occupation. He continues to paint professionally as well as finding time to do workshops and operate a successful art restoration and conservation business in New Bern. His studio is in Trent Woods.
Two Amish Brothers by Ed Macomber
Race to the Turn by by Ed Macomber
The Tributary by by Ed Macomber
January 2022- Member Artist of the Month
Sherry Clark
Sherry Clark and her husband now reside in the Crystal Coast area of Eastern North Carolina after being displaced by one of the devastating Northern California fires in 2018. They are extremely happy about the decision to relocate to this beautiful area.
As a previous owner of multiple businesses, over a 50 year period, has led her into many artistic endeavors. To name a few; commercial sign art, graphic design, mural work, photo restoration, carnival industry commercial artwork, watercolors, oils, acrylics, colored pencil portraits, and currently pastel, custom, pet portraits. You can look at her pastel animals by going to Craigslist, Jacksonville, NC, listed under Services, Creative or Pet.
Sherry Clark
Pastel Artist & Vice President of TRAA
Rowdy- Pastel Drawing by Sherry Clark
Field Pony- Pastel Drawing by Sherry Clark
White Kitty- Pastel Drawing by Sherry Clark
Racoon- Pastel Drawing by Sherry Clark