Artistic Roots Welcomes New Visiting Artists

Benjamin Barnes ~ Painter
Born in Burlington, Vermont, Ben Barnes grew up surrounded by the art of his parents and their eclectic collection of other artwork.  Ben began drawing and painting at an early age.  He attended Mass College of Art in Boston earning a BFA.  Upon graduation, he returned to Vermont to be close to family and took a variety of jobs to support himself while he continued to paint.  His sense of realism has lead him to portray outbuildings, clouds, derelicts, and swamps.  He chooses to paint anything that seems beautiful but would go unnoticed.

Cam Sinclair ~ Painter
Cam Sinclair resides in New Hampshire and retired in 2006 after a thirty-five year career in public education as a guidance counselor, wrestling and soccer coach.  He is still active as a coach and referee.  Cam’s first love is painting and retirement has allowed him to devote more time to continue his journey as an artist. 
Sinclair specializes in landscapes and works in oils and oil pastels.  He is a self-taught artist.  Cam took up painting after he graduated from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts with a Masters Degree in Psychology in 1971.
Cam’s love of the rural New England landscape is evident in his artwork as he strives to capture the different moods and lighting of the ever-changing mountains, fields, streams, and lakes.  His paintings have won “Best in Show” awards at numerous art shows over the years. Cam’s artwork caught the eye of an art critic from the Boston Globe Newspaper who described his smaller paintings as “Impressionistic Jewels.”
Cam was born in Shanghai, China and spent most of his youth growing up in Mumbai, India.  He is married and has three grown children.  Cam continues to enjoy his retirement years and exploring new subject matter.

Lane Thomas ~ Quilter
Lane Thomas lives in Sanbornton, NH with her high-school sweetheart Kevin and their dog, Charmin.  She is a self-taught quilter, practicing her craft for over 45 years.  She has designed wall hangings that have placed in local fairs.  She enjoys donating her quilts and wall hangings to different charitable events.  Her gift for putting colors together she believes comes from her faith in God.

Edward Van Dorn ~ Painter
I grew up in a very urban environment in Northern New Jersey.  Even as a child I was drawn to the outdoor life and natural environments. I was captivated by the peace and serenity of natural world and felt at home there.  Eventually, I followed my heart and for the past 30 years I have lived in the New Hampshire White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire.  I am especially drawn to the ever-changing light at the end of the day where I find an inspirational tranquility in those transition times…inspired by the American Tonalist painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I study and learn from their work and am humbled by those who have gone before me.  Perhaps the best known of these painters is George Inness, who started out in the Hudson River School style of natural realism but evolved into a more expressive artist and in his later years stating in paint the deeper values of nature rather than simply copying scenes.  I strive imperfectly to express  those ideas in my paintings 

Kay Olivia ~ Mosaics
is currently a resident of Ashland, NH. Her mosaic pieces use delicate pieces of eggshells that she has dyed to reflect the color needed for her piece. Her work is precise. Kazuko, known by friends as Kay, enjoys taking art classes and is frequently found taking classes at Artistic Roots where she expresses herself in a variety of other medium.