Scott Rolfs

Scott Rolfs received his BFA in illustration from the College of Visual Arts. He’s worked for design studios creating kid friendly character art for package designs, graphic novels and children’s publication and freelance clients. he especially enjoys working on his own graphic novels and coloring books. Scott also presents drawing classes for young aspiring artists on character creation. Last but not least he enjoys drawing monsters.

Sushila Anderson

Sushila has an Associates degree in Graphic Design from Hennepin Technical College and a Bachelors of Elective Studies from St. Cloud State University.

She is a stained glass artist and owner of Dynamic Glass Design. She has been working in glass for over 15 years. She started working in mosaics in 2020 and then displayed and sold several mosaics with the Minnesota Mosaic Guild art shows.

Her most recent accomplishment is the “Chris Cornell,” glass on glass mosaic accepted into the MN State Fair 2023 Fine Arts building. She was awarded with the “Maple Grove Arts Center Award,” and “Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative Award.”

Her artistic expression is a contemporary take on art nouveau that integrates bold colors, high contrast, and dynamic visual movements in stained glass. Many pieces that she creates are nature inspired, incorporating animals and flowers from Minnesota.

Barbara Lance Alldaffer

Barbara Lance Alldaffer is a local Maple Grove Artist, Entertainer and Business owner, she owns and operates, Rainbow Party Arts.
She started painting when she was inspired at age 10, when she saw a "new" movie called "Star Wars". She has been painting, drawing and creating makeup designs ever since. Barbara loves to create art with both children and adults. As human beings, art is our common inheritance, I love to bring everyone together to create!
Barbara travels all over the Twin Cities and beyond to teach. She has a AA in Fine Arts from Tidewater Community College VA Beach. Studied Fine Art, Anthropology and Photography at Central Michigan University, University of Minnesota and participated in museum and art exhibits through various internships as well.

Katie Walters

Katie Walters is an artist and educator in the twin cities. She graduated with a B.S. from University of Northwestern St. Paul with a double major in visual arts and art education in 2013. She currently teaches art in the Bloomington school district during the school year. “I teach because it give me great joy to see students achieve that light bulb moment in their work. I love to help others express their ideas and emotions through art!”

Amanda Wirig

Amanda Wirig’s paintings and mixed media work utilize pop culture and humor to address social and political issues in a meaningful and forthright manner. In addition to her art, she is a musician, teaching artist, and the owner of 119 North Weatherly art gallery in Minneapolis. From 2018-2019 she served as a fine arts juror as part of the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars. Wirig received a BFA in Art and a BA in Music from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and later received a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the same university. She has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Midwest, including the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in Dayton, OH, and the David Leonardis Gallery and 33 Contemporary Gallery in Chicago, IL., as well as at Blue Line Arts in Roseville, CA, Las Laguna Art Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA, and the Jen Tough Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. She recently acquired representation with TRiCERA contemporary art gallery in Tokyo, Japan. She is the recipient of grants and fellowships from the Jerome Foundation, Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council/McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, INFUSE Artists on Main Street, and the Split Rock Arts Program.

Natalie Anderson

Natalie is a Graphic Designer who studied Art at the Art Institutes International in Minneapolis. She works as a freelance artist and helps local design firms and businesses, with their creative and digital art.

She loves using color and texture in her acrylic and watercolor compositions and has exhibited her work at local art fairs and art galleries. In addition to drawing and painting, Natalie works with a wide array of other media, including glass, jewelry, beading, wire sculpture, floral arranging, photography, and digital drawing. She is also an aspiring children’s book illustrator.  

Her positive attitude allows her to work well with both children and adults, in a fun and creative environment. Natalie enjoys participating in community events and is active with the Maple Grove Arts Center (MGAC).

“I try to live artistically, and weave creativity into the everyday tasks of cooking and playing, because as a mom of two younger-aged boys, I can’t go to my studio and paint everyday. So, my creativity shines through in all aspects of my life, and in all of the little things.”

Nancy Larson

Nancy grew up on a farm in east central Minnesota where her creative adventures started at an early age. After receiving a B.S. Degree in Art Education from St. Cloud State, she taught art to all grade levels in the public schools.

Nancy is a painter who works primarily in watercolor. She also paints in oil, acrylic, gouache, pastel, and ink sketching with watercolor. She is a realist with a major interest in landscapes. She has a fascination with old barns and houses. Nancy has taught painting in several senior long-term care facilities in the Twin Cities. She has also taught at the Blaine Community Center and the Rum River Art Center in Anoka. Since 2019, she has taught at the Maple Grove Art Center. Nancy is a member of the Northstar Watermedia Society where she has exhibited her art, helped put up and take down art shows, and served as a board member.

“My watercolor classes provide an opportunity to discover the spontaneity and flexibility of the medium while learning design elements to enhance the work. This especially includes learning how to use values because ‘value does all the work’ in a painting while ‘color gets the credit’. The greatest success in watercolor painting, though, is learning how to manage the water. In each class we learn a different skill to practice design structure while learning water control. My classes are small so my students receive the attention and direction they may need. My patience and sensitivity to my students encourages exploration, risk, and growth.

I have a passion for teaching and consider myself a life-long student in painting, American history, nature, and life.”

Anwesha Guha

Anwesha grew up in the eastern part of India, learning painting, classical music and yoga as a vital part of her culture from a very early age. She continued to educate herself in many mediums and obtained her diploma in Fine Arts. Using her qualification in art and her Masters in Business Administration, worked in IT consulting before moving to the US in 2015 to continue her artistic adventure.

Her venture Think Art, started during the pandemic when she created different groups with kids, teenagers, and adults who loved art. The belief that “anyone who can put a dot on a paper is an artist has grown into a viable arts based business.

Beginning in 2022, she has participated in many art shows and festivals.

“We are born from nature, so living within nature gives us a life full of happiness. When I paint I find myself very close to nature in total harmony. Always wanted to interact with birds, mountains, rivers, oceans and painting is the medium that gives me the opportunity to feel them up close. Painting gives the eternal peace which in turn helps in creating a piece of art.”

Rachel Arntson

Mosaics have intrigued me for years, but I was hooked when I saw the ceiling to floor mosaics at San Marco's Cathedral in Venice, Italy. I have created mosaics for the last 15 years and especially focus on photos I have taken on my many travels. I use stained glass, rocks, beads, dishes, metal, Italian glass called smalti, and any other material that I feel will create my desired effect.  

My Mosaic Breaks occur about 3 times a year.  At these 2-3 day events, I teach others how to make their own mosaic. If you are interested in learning this art form,  look for my classes on the Maple Grove Art Center website or contact me at Rachel@TalkItRockIt.com.