NATALIE LAROCQUE

 "I appreciate the inspiration and spiritual beauty of Vermont's land and skies and everything in between. I love Vermont; it's my home. One of my favorite images was taken 2 miles from my home, the title clearly stated in its expressive genuine visual intensity, incredible to believe how fortunate I was to see what looked like the 'Foothills of Heaven.' How could I not be compelled to acknowledge such incredible beauty in each living thing we share our lives in and with. I feel fortunate that I am able to stop, for at least that one moment and see what is there, waiting to be seen. In my gratitude, I am compelled not only to capture the images, but to share them through renderings of images as paintings and photographic prints."

MICHAEL FITZGERALD

Mike has been woodturning only two years now since he fully retired from a nine-to-five life, but already his work is of high quality. He has been experimenting with various woods, including spalted maple (shown here). Other favorite woods include black cherry, black walnut, butternut, and sugar maple. Bowls from these various Vermont woods are currently on display in the AIR Gallery. Letting no moss grow underfoot, Mike is currently taking advanced classes in woodturning from former gallery woodturning veteran, Nick Rosato, and expects to have a new line of bowls on display for the holiday season.

KRISTAN DOOLAN

 "I have lived in Northern Vermont for nearly all of my life and find it an incredibly beautiful place to live. As a farmer and mother of challenging and ever-growing children, I cherish the little time I have to paint every day. I am appreciating all that surrounds me. I spend a lot of time caring for animals, watching them is part of my job, so I find them great subjects for painting and drawing. I love the potential of watercolor. In my work, I try to let the paint maintain its vibrancy and life as I work to protray the beauty of Vermont.