The opening of Creative Spirit Art Studio in downtown Dover, NH was inspired by Caryn Lynn Duncan's desire to teach art and share her love of the process of making art.
- My creative journey began as a child in western Massachusetts, I saw art as an outlet to express my vision of things that brought me joy and peace. It was nurtured by my parents who were both teachers and provided many creative experiences such as going to art fairs at the U MASS Amherst campus, taking art classes, and supplying many wonderful materials to explore and create with. I graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Westfield State College. After the birth of my daughter in 1996, I opened a home based studio where I taught private art classes to children. I continued to create my own artwork, often inspired by the beauty in nature that surrounded me in the foothills of the Berkshires. After moving to NH I enrolled in the art education graduate program at UNH. I graduated with a MED and I am certified in NH to teach visual arts K-12. To nurture my artistic development I have attended a variety of artist workshops. In 2007 Mixed Media at Art Stream with Susan Schwake-Larochelle. In 2008 at Sanctuary Arts with watercolorist Dustan Knight. In 2009 at the Art Nest in Utah with mixed media artist Kelly Rae Roberts, layered painting with Mati McDonogh, and jewelry making class with Jane Wynn. At the Art Escope Studios in Portland, ME a Collage Discovery Workshop with Claudine Hellmuth.
As an artist I view my creative process as a conversation with my self. It a form of expression for me to convey my feelings, views, hopes, and dreams with optimism and love. The mixed media paintings I create have developed around my passion for color ,pattern, and imagery that is whimsical and fun. My artwork has been on exhibit in shows at the Kittery Art Association, The One Washington Galleries, The Dover Public Library, and is currently on exhibit at the Art and Soul Gallery in Ogunquit, ME and Lucy's Art Emporium in Dover, NH.
I opened Creative Spirit Art Studio in 2007 with the hope to enrich my artistic career by combining my love of teaching while still finding time to create my own artwork. I believe that creativity is more than making a picture. Art begins with an idea or interpretation of a subject and it conveys our hopes, dreams and views of what we see in the world. At Creative Spirit Art Studio we learn from hands on experiences to shape concepts into choice- based projects that incorporate the elements of art and principles of design. Small group classes provide individualized instruction to allow students develop their ideas and create unique artwork, this allows me to teach to the individual not to the group. My teaching style seeks a balance between student’s natural creativity and technical discipline that is necessary for development of artistic expression. I believe we all have creative potential, if you trust in your artistic voice and allow that to be explored and expressed you will find your creative spirit!
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