FACULTY

Stefan Lucas Allen is a lifelong traditional and visionary artist. His early years were spent filling sketchbooks with doodles and in high school, he dedicated much of his time to the school’s art department. This passion led to a few semesters at the Maryland Institute College of Art, which opened the doorway to eventually studying at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art (VAVA) in Vienna, Austria, for five years. During this period, he became deeply immersed in Vienna’s rich tradition of classical art as well as in the diverse teachings of many working visionary artists at VAVA. Over time, he became an essential part of the VAVA team, serving as the studio monitor and figure drawing instructor. Nowadays Stefan is a professional jack of all trades. He’s known for his proficiency in figurative art, plein air painting, ink drawing, graphite drawing, traditional draftsmanship, painting dragons, the mischechnik, making comics; and more besides. Stefan currently lives a simple life in Bloomfield, NY, with his, fiancé Alexandra Wendt, beloved cat Rowley and baby girl Kynareth. When he’s not at home with his family, his time is mostly spent in his workspace “Studio Stefan” located just above the Mill Art Center.

Katherine Baca-Bielinis:: A native of San Francisco, Katherine received her B.A in Art, with an emphasis in printmaking from California State University, Long Beach. After completing her M.S. in Art Education from R.I.T., she went on to a long career as an art educator in the Rochester area. Upon retirement, she returned to her love of printmaking - taking workshops and classes to learn newer technologies in non-toxic printmaking. Although interested in all forms of printmaking, she has concentrated on lithography (her first love), etching and silkscreening. Katherine is an active member of the Print Club of Rochester, having served on the Board of Directors since 2013. She is also a member of California Society of Printmakers and Boston Printmakers. Katherine has shown in many numerous local exhibitions as well as several national exhibitions.

Kathryn Bevier:: “I love to share what I have learned, it’s just good energy”. Kathryn earned her BFA at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts.  From 2008 till 2016, Kathryn was the General Manager of Enkaustikos, an artist paint manufacturing company in Rochester, NY. Of her many responsibilities, development of education was an integral part of her position. She is very active in the local Rochester arts community through her involvement in teaching. As of the Fall of 2018 she proudly assumed the role as director of the Mill Art Center and Gallery. Article posted in 55 Plus.

Stu Chait:: Stu Chait is a life-long artist. Influenced by his great-grandfather, architect Charles W. Eldridge, Stu appreciated that art is integral to architecture, and continued to study drawing, pastels, and watercolor, while pursuing his architectural degree. After graduating with High Honors from the School of Architecture at the University of Tennessee in 1979, Stu returned to Rochester with his wife Cindy. While establishing his award winning architectural practice, Stu’s desire to return to fine art continued to grow. Studies with noted art instructor Gail Kellogg further fueled his love of watercolor and a passion to create art. An opportunity to study with internationally renowned abstract artist Steve Carpenter challenged Stu to delve into uncharted subject matter, techniques, and applications. Stu continues to merge artistic and color composition applications with architectural and natural structure. Constant demand for his unique watercolor techniques and intuitive teaching methods led him to being hired as the first adjunct studio faculty of the new Architecture Program at RIT, in addition to teaching several watercolor workshops to fellow artists, architects and art groups around the Rochester region.

Connie Ehindero:: A Rochester native, she has worked in advertising and printing for her career. She received a BFA in printmaking from St Lawrence University and London College of Printing. As a current member of IEA (International Encaustic Artists), she has been juried into several shows including "Vignettes in Wax and Words". She is also a member of the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters. "The encaustic process gave me a language that was dormant in my art toolbox. Making art is a process of slowing down and seeing - absorbing and translating - filtering and creating something out of nothing."

Sari Gaby:: A well known and sought after instructor, Sari has been teaching for over 35 years, specializing in Portraiture. 
Her Portrait commissions include works for Xerox, Eastman School of Music, Strong Memorial hospital, and for several private collections. 
Sari was juried into the most recent Finger Lakes Exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery. 
She says she gets the greatest joy in teaching when she sees that some one GETS it !

Donna Gustina:: Donna grew up in Corning NY and attended Nazareth University (BS Art and Art History) and Rochester Institute of Technology (MST Art Education and Printmaking). She taught art at elementary and high school levels in Naveda MO and Rochester NY. Most of her career was dedicated to linguistic research and teaching American Sign Language at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT. For several years, Donna’s focus was photography (before digital) exhibiting her works in different places in the US and garnered awards and recognitions for her work. Currently, she volunteers and occasionally teaches at the Mill. Donna enjoys drawing and painting with pastel, watercolor and acrylics. Collages (mixed media), Gelli printing and weaving are her other interests.

Denise Heischman:: Denise earned her BFA at Miami U. Oxford OH and her MFA in Printmaking and Painting at RIT. She has been Adjunct Professor at RIT, Nazareth, U of R, SUNY Geneseo, Brockport, and Monroe Community College. She enjoys traveling the world for art and cultural experiences that enrich and inform her artwork. Denise is a founder of the Mill Art Center and Gallery and enjoys teaching adults and children. She will continue to teach workshops in Painting and Drawing and Design. Denise lives in and maintains her studio in Honeoye Falls.

Stephanie Kelly:: After retiring from her career in the art supply industry, Stephanie is now a full-time artist, working in mixed-media, fiber/fabric and digital art.  She teaches classes that emphasize trusting your artistic intuition and allowing yourself to play with materials in new and unfamiliar ways.  Stephanie has an extensive knowledge of art media/supplies and shares this knowledge generously with her students.   Her classes are designed so that students with all levels of art experience can learn and enjoy the intuitive process of making art. 

Tarie Minchak:: Tarie is a ceramic & encaustic artist and instructor in Rochester, NY. With a focus on exploring color, texture, and the melding of tactile experiences clay and encaustic offer, she aims to create a unique approach to artistic expression.

Lanna Pejovic:: Lanna was born in Belgrade, Serbia and emigrated with her family as a child to Rochester, NY.  She received her MFA in painting from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, in Philadelphia.  Her studies included a year each in Florence and Rome, Italy.  She has taught painting and drawing extensively in the Rochester region and is currently an adjunct professor of drawing and painting in the School of Art, College of Imaging Arts and Sciences of the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Lanna lives in and maintains a studio in Honeoye Falls, NY. 

Jill Spagnolo:: Jill is a multimedia artist whose work blends whimsy, nature, and a touch of fairy folklore magic. After settling in Honeoye Falls this summer with her husband, she continues to cultivate her creative practice, rooted in her Master’s in Art Education and her love for crafting fantastical clay creatures. Jill also teaches Fiber Arts at the Community Arts Center in Rochester, NY, where she loves sharing her creativity, curiosity, and multi-disciplinary skills with her students.

Jean Stephens:: A Rochester, NY native, Jean K Stephens received a BFA and MA in Art Education from Rochester Institute of Technology.  Jean’s artwork is often inspired by nature’s sensuous, curvilinear forms, and richly textured surfaces.  Using oil and encaustic paint, graphite drawing, printmaking, and collage, her art work conveys a narrative which complements her journey of personal and spiritual growth. Jean’s pieces have been selected for national juried exhibitions and are included in private and corporate collections.  She has taught classes and workshops in drawing and oil painting and maintains a studio in her home. You can view her work at www.instagram.com/jeankstephens

Zazie Welden:: In 2023, Zazie earned associate degrees from Monroe Community College in both Fine Art and Illustration, and in 2025, she earned her Bachelor's in Fine Arts from SUNY Brockport. In the future, Zazie has expressed great interest in working as an illustrator, especially in children's books. In turn, she likes to approach much of her artwork as if it could be used as a spread in a storybook. Recurring motifs in her work include her pet cat and other anthropomorphized creatures, her friends and family, and finely rendered household products to contextualize her fantastical scenes. Zazie works in a variety of media, such as colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, photography, ink, acrylic, marker, cut paper, and occasionally printmaking. You check out a mural she painted at Bookeater in the South Clinton area and one she just finished at Monroe Community College in the student lounge.

Our mission is to provide opportunities for people of diverse ages, ability, and skill level, to engage in creative development and artistic expression through adult, teen and children’s classes, workshops, lectures, and art exhibitions.

~ We support area artists with exhibition and sales opportunities.