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Learn about visual arts scholarships offered by Agawam Community Artists & Artisans to support emerging artists in Western Massachusetts. Gloria McLellan Scholarship for the Arts Applications for Scholarships will be accepted: Jan 1- May 1 Sorry, but this form is now closed. Scholarship Form First name* Last name* Address* Email* Phone* High School or College curently attending.* Upload 3 personal works of art.* Upload Letter of recommendation from an art teacher or mentor* Upload File or Scanned Image Scholarship Essay Your essay is a way for the scholarship committee to get to know you and the importance of art in your life. Please limit your response to one page or less. Please include in your essay: Select one piece of art you submitted for this scholarship, describe the inspiration for it and how you went about creating it. Upload your Essay* UploadFile or Scanned Image Disclaimer - I understand that the ACAA has the right to take, edit, copy, exhibit, distribute or make use of any pictures or video taken of me or my art by the ACAA to be used in print or digital format in fundraising, advertisement, letters, social media websites or press releases with payment or other consideration. This authorization will continue indefinitely, unless I revoke it in writing. Submit I agree to the terms and conditions

< Back OCTAVIA ANDERSON Mediums / Interests: Multi Media, Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Wood Next

< Back JOE BESSETTE Mediums / Interests: ACRYLIC, WATERCOLOR, WATERCOLOR PENCIL Joe Bessette is a local Westfield Artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is the owner and Creative Director of Get Set Marketing in Springfield. His wife and children have been supportive in his creative endeavors, even though they haven’t seen the bills for his art supplies. Thanks for stopping by to check out the work of Joe Bessette (josephbessette.com) aka Hambone Picklebottom! (hambonepicklebottom.com) hambonepicklebottom@gmail.com 413-519-6549 Next

< Back MONICA SOBCZYK Mediums / Interests: MIXED MEDIA Next

Junk Journals, Session 1 April 11, 2026 at 2:30:00 PM

< Back Carolyn Maloney As Carolyn Maloney taught a recent acrylic painting class and talked about the importance of caring for brushes, it might have been easy for her to reflect back on the fourth-grade art teacher who caused her to brush back some tears. “Basically, she said my work was not good,” Carolyn said. “And I went home and cried.” Thanks to her Mom, the tears dried quickly. “She told me not to pay attention to it,” Carolyn said. “And I believed my mother.” And, largely thanks to her Mom, Carolyn’s love of artistry grew. “She encouraged me, supported me, and provided me a launching pad from which I could go in any direction I wanted to explore,” Carolyn said. “In her eyes, there was no ceiling.” And there indeed has been no ceiling in Carolyn’s life. Rather, it has been accomplishments, building ever higher to more accomplishments. Her professional career has been wide-ranging, including computer coding, custodian, bus driver, First Aid instructor, substitute teaching, nursing, and emergency medical technician. Throughout that professional path, there has been her art. “It’s always been important to me,” she said. “Even teaching, subbing, we would always find ways to put art in every lesson.” Growing up, “I was timid. I was not gregarious. I was not athletic. But art was a safe little world for me.” That world has immensely grown. She is a freelance artist who for over 40 years has sold her paintings and sketches throughout New England, as well as being commissioned for artwork across the country. She has done custom work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the McGraw-Hill publishing company; she for many years has exhibited locally, including at the Eastern States Exposition; and has provided hand-painted prizes for the Cornish Fair in New Hampshire. She has created murals for Mittineague and Memorial Elementary Schools in West Springfield; has donated her mural work at the West Springfield/Agawam Parish Cupboard; has donated mural work that has appeared both inside and outside Mittineague Congregational Church, including a 35-foot-long castle that acts as an entrance to the Children’s Center; and has organized and run numerous volunteer after-school art programs in West Springfield. Carolyn is a member of the Agawam Community Artists and Artisans Board of Directors, and co-chairs the group’s “Art with a Heart” series of workshops. She is especially proud of her most current project: illustrator for a children’s book, “How the Sky Turned Blue”, by author Addison Elina Dulaney. The book is on track to be published this year. Like many artists, Carolyn works in multiple mediums: they include acrylics, oils, calligraphy, and sketching. And like most artists, she has a favorite. “Acrylic,” she said. “I like acrylic because it’s fixable. You can really get detail into acrylics. And you can fix your mistakes almost immediately. I just … paint. And if I make a mistake, I paint over it. I always want to be free and loose – and acrylic has that for me.” Carolyn resides in West Springfield, with her husband Jim. And while she credits her Mom for nourishing her early love of art, she says Jim and daughters Katie and Sara have greatly contributed to her to flourishing in it. “I’ve been lucky to have Jim and the girls – who encouraged anything … and I mean ANYTHING – I wanted to pursue.” Now, she encourages others, in ways such as that recent class in acrylic art. “I love the teaching part of it,” she said. “I like people reaching potential that they didn’t know they had.” And if that fourth-grade teacher could have somehow seen her that day? “I’d just say, ‘Well, gee, I guess it wasn’t so bad after all.” Artist Profile – written by Don Conkey IMG_1206.jpeg Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Gallery

< Back KIMBERLY CARUSO-POLEY Mediums / Interests: FUSED GLASS, ACRYLIC, WATERCOLOR Kimberly Caruso –Poley Artist Bio I graduated from Central Connecticut State University with Bachelors in Fine Art. My art work is a reflection of nature, light and bright color. The type of paintings that I do are mixed media a combination of recycled materials. The materials can be egg cartons, tissue paper, exotic papers, packing materials, drink containers wall paper and paper clay etc. The subject matter is landscape, flowers, animals, and abstracts. When a subject is chosen I take several photographs and work from that. Texture and dimension are really what makes my paintings different from everyone else. It’s a different way of presentation of common subject matter in painting. When at an art opening people can meet the artist there is always several questions on how the piece was made and always they want to touch the piece. I have numerous awards at juried art shows and show my paintings all over the state of CT and MA. I also do fused glass jewelry and enjoy showing that also. Working in art has always been my passion. When at art shows I love watching the people’s expressions while looking at the art work and enjoying what they see. I also work in fused glass it has been 10 years. I started out with a Microwave kiln graduated to a small jewelry kiln and now I have a larger one. It is a science to learn and you never seize to learn. I will be taking two classes this year one is how to build landscapes with glass frit and powder and the other class I will learn to slump glass and work on larger projects. kimberlycaruso1253@gmail.com Next

< Back LINDA SCHOMER Mediums / Interests: Next

< Back DONNA ROY Mediums / Interests: PASTEL,OIL,MIXED MEDIA, ECO ART Next

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Acrylic Painting Techniques Class January 10, 2026 at 3:30:00 PM

< Back BOB LECLAIR Mediums / Interests: MIXED MEDIA Bob LeClair is a versatile, multi-disciplinary artisan whose creative curiosity knows no bounds. Working in pastels, acrylics, and watercolor, Bob brings color and emotion to every painting he creates. His talents also extend into woodworking, where he enjoys crafting whimsical automata toys, as well as exploring applied fabric arts, gel plate printing, paper flowers, jewelry, and whatever new medium captures his imagination. Now retired, Bob relies on art to keep him inspired, engaged, and joyfully busy. He is an active member of the local art group A.C.A.A., where he values being part of a vibrant and supportive community of fellow artists. Bob continues to embrace each new project with enthusiasm, letting his creative spirit lead the way. ROBCHARLES123@YAHOO.COM Next