"My name is Sterling Haynes. I am an elementary school intervention specialist, staff technology writer for our town magazine North Canton, Ohio, and a hobbyist cartoonist. I have become more centered and learned more about myself during the pandemic. These pieces of art project my personal growth. My light during the pandemic is feeling confident enough to show my art to others. To see more my art, visit doodleaddicts.com/hobbytoons." - Sterling Haynes . #ohioartsbeacon #graphicdesign #doodleaddicts #Ohioartist #pattern #cosmicswirl 
"It goes without stating: I would not be able to make it through this life if I did not have the privilege of expression through creative and fine arts as a means to communicate when words alone fall short in translation to understanding, knowing, and experiencing life. At times, my crafts are a source of solace for me when the world is too heavy for my heart to bare; creativity through crafts is one way that I have been dealing with life through the medicinal properties of creatively busy hands. . “On the other hand, my more in-depth and formal visual expression has been an exploration of myself, my ancestral roots, and how it continues to be relevant today and in the distant future; my work has encompassed, for over a decade, how much I value uniqueness of culture, while celebrating in that uniqueness. For my Black-rooted works: hair, a leader of the people, and body image are prominent in my images, as they tend to be an embodiment of Black culture that has either been discarded or wrongfully displayed ... and so, it is my responsibility, therefore, to show the world at least a few examples of what and even how I want Blackness to be celebrated, cherished and appreciated in the hopes of one day adding to the list: understanding matched with the strength of belonging." - Erin Smith Glenn (@thescarvinartist) . Image courtesy of Erin Smith Glenn #ohioartsbeacon #coloredpencil #selfportrait #Ohioartist #portrait #strength #love #ancestry #roots #leader #create #artisticprocess 
“Working from home, I am able to make use of this time to create more of my mixed media work. Images of landscapes and nature are relaxing in these difficult times, as well as informing viewers about the world around us. I incorporate my own photographs with acrylic, watercolor, and colored pencil, often using the support as part of the color. Images of my travels are reminders of places we may not be able to visit right now.” – Lynne Dufenetz . Images courtesy of Lynne Dufenetz #ohioartsbeacon #landscapes #oranges #orangetree #duck #duckpond #ducksofinstagram #nature #mixedmedia #watercolor #acrylic #coloredpencil #ohioartist 
TW: Domestic violence · Ohio Domestic Violence Network hotline: 1-800-934-9840 . “This piece means so much to me to illustrate what COVID means to our community. Everyone thinks home is a safe haven … but it’s not for everyone. The dingy walls, broken blinds, and absence of furniture illustrates poverty and threat of eviction. The hole punched in the wall for unseen domestic violence. The laptop for unavoidable screen addiction and crises schooling. The caution-taped park for the disappearance of usual havens many find away from home—in their community, work, school, and even the neighborhood park. Instead, many are forced to hide in their homes of mental anguish behind masks and waving a facade of smiles to the online world. Leaving one to ask, ‘what is safe?’ So be kind! We never know what our neighbors are going through.” – Joleanna Bare (@joleanna_designs) . Image courtesy of Joleanna Bare #OhioArtsBeacon #community #coronaart #OhioArtist #BeKind #InThisTogether 
“I am a pet portrait artist. I love to bring light to people's lives by memorializing a beloved pet. Making people smile with a touching tribute to their pet, both past and present, has helped me get through the stress of this crazy year.” – Melinda Dyson (@Melspetart) . Image courtesy of Melinda Dyson #OhioArtsBeacon #Ohioartist #petportrait #dogsofinstagram #dogart #petart #tribute #handpaintedornament #ornament 
“‘Ebb and Flow’ (no references used). This was a rather freeing piece for me. I tend to think, in the back of my head, if other people will like it or is it too sad? It's nice to let go completely and draw what I want to draw with no boundaries. For a little context, I take medication for a mood disorder among other things and I wanted to try and express the struggle through this drawing. And for all those out there struggling, you are not alone ❤️” – Haley Latture . Image courtesy of Haley Latture #ohioartsbeacon #ebbandflow #drawing #struggle #inthistogetherOhio #whale #Ohioartist 
“I am a public elementary school invention specialist, technology journalist for Our Town magazine North Canton, and a hobbyist cartoonist. Creating art has been a positive way to handle the negativity of pandemic news and struggles. By spending extra time doodling, sketching, and honing my skills, I finally feel confident enough to show and share my art with others.” – Sterling Haynes . View more of Sterling’s art at: doodleaddicts.com/hobbytoons . Images courtesy of Sterling Haynes #ohioartsbeacon #cartoonist #cartoonistsofinstagram #doodles #sketch #patterns #digitalart #xppen #xppenartist #Ohioartist #hobbytoons #red #blue #cosmicfacets 
“I am a wine educator and writer. I write for Boomer & Beyond magazine as a wine columnist. My photography was launched during the pandemic to help diversify the industry with people of color and urban culture. Being happy is a way of life for me with or without the pandemic. Sharing and enlightening others as I ‘glow’ forward.” – Wanda Haynes (@classywineart) . Images courtesy of Wanda Haynes #ohioartsbeacon #photography #photographer #winephotographer #wine #winestagram #wineart #wineeducator #winewriter #glow #photo #OhioArtist #OhioPhotographer #red #confetti 
“The tree frog secure in its leaf, sleeps the day away. The virus has limited my client contacts, but has not interfered with my photography of the great outdoors. I always see the light everywhere as it is constantly changing.” – Daniel Mainzer . Image courtesy of Daniel Mainzer #ohioartsbeacon #frog #treefrog #frogsofinstagram #green #nature #photography #naturephotography #Ohiophotography