Artists

Pat Richter has been painting since she was in high school. Pat's first complete paint set was given to her by her husband, Dave, for Valentine's Day. Little did she know where this would take her! Pat started selling her original oil paintings at small local art shows and Dave made the frames for the paintings in the basement of their home from old barn wood. In 1985 Dave quit his full time job and Pat & Dave began traveling across the nation selling Pat's art work. They could be found at art & craft shows from Minneapolis to Long Island and anywhere in between. The long hours worked provided them with the extra money needed to continue printing and to raise their family. Pat's acrylic paintings have been printed into products consisting of framed prints, Christmas cards, note cards, note pads, sticky notes, bags, mugs, pottery and much more. Many of her designs include baskets, floral, snow scenes and snowmen.

As a young man, Tom Henrichsen had two passions, art and music. When he wasn't painting or drawing caricatures, he was learning to play guitar. After studying fine art at Illinois State and the American Academy of Art, Tom decided to pursue his love of music and started to build a career as a musician and teacher. While on vacation in Scottsdale, Az, Tom met a western artist named Harold Lyons and was inspired to begin painting again. When he returned to Chicago, he began studying painting with Dominic Vignola and Frankie Johnson. Tom also counts portrait artist Bill Chambers as a mentor. In 2005, Tom has devoted himself full time to painting. Tom also displays and sells his work at fine art fairs throughout the Midwest and is a member of Oil Painters of America.

Growing up on a farm in northern Illinois, CJ Brown appreciates the land, the lifestyle and people of the rural countryside. Her father raised Angus and Simmental cattle which layed the foundation to develop her interest in painting the cattle which she is so passionate about. Today she lives outside of the village of Lindenwood, Ill. where she is involved in a family partnership herd with her dad, brother and son. She received an art degree from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa and she has completed projects for the American Angus Association, American Shorthorn Association, and the Charolais Association. Most importantly CJ is most grateful to all those who enjoy her work in their homes and give her the opportunity to continue to create her passion of painting.

Susanne Keller is primarily a self-taught artist living and working in Illinois. She was born in Memmingen, Germany and her family emigrated to the United States when she was still a child. She received her primary and secondary education in a rural community in Michigan, after which she attended Michigan State University. Her studies there began as an art major, however, finished her studies with a Baccalaureate Degree in Microbiology and later, her Masters and Ph.D. Despite the change of interest in her formal education and career direction, Susanne remained involved with art in various forms for most of her life. In the early 2000’s she once again turned to life as a professional artist. Since that time she has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, both locally and nationally. Although the majority of her work is in oil, Susanne also creates works in a variety of other media including wood, paper, watercolor, and colored pencil. Susanne takes many of her ideas and subject material from subjects close at hand and is particularly adept at the depiction of animals and people.