Sharing the Passion – Artists Who Teach
Paula Pitman Brown
Diane Cogliano and
Bette Gagnon
Exhibit at the Chelmsford Library in March 2008
Reception: Saturday, March 8, 2008, 2-4 p.m.
Music by pianist Derek Chang

All three of our March artists teach art at Chelmsford High School.

Paula Pitman Brown
    Before teaching art at CHS, Mrs. Brown taught in the Waltham Public Schools and at the DeCordova Museum School in Lincoln. She has exhibited at Mass College of Art in Boston, The Copley Society on Newbury Street in Boston, Waltham Public Library, DeCordova Art Museum and at the Museum School and at the Sherborn Inn in Sherborn, MA. Much of her work is in private collections.
     "My group of paintings and drawings include the theme of animals. Within this group of artwork, many pieces are derived from animals at the Codman Coimmunity Farm in Lincoln, Massachusetts. This historic small scale farm raises animals in a humane way. Contrary to factory farming, most of these animals are free to roam in outside pens, spend time with their young and have plenty of hay for comfort. Another group of animal paintings are witness to either the beauty of animals or depict animals in story telling dramas. These dramas depict relationships, emotions and animals and their connection to nature. Lastly my most recent animal artworks come from the concept - "The animal's point of view." Through the animals' "eyes" we witness small stories of how animals observe humans and their activites. Also, these pictures address the issue of animals and how they co-exist with people."

Diane Cogliano
     Diane Cogliano grew up in Winchester, MA and knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist. She attended Montserrat College of Art and focused on graphic design and painting. She then worked as a free-lance illustrator and in advertising for Sears and Sheraton Hotels.
     While raising her two sons she resumed her love of painting and began showing her work in several New England galleries, winning awards for her artwork at local art exhibits and shows. She began giving art lessons in her Nashua studio where she discovered a love of teaching. She then enrolled in Rivier College in 1994, for a degree in Art Education, and in 2001, received her Masters of Education from Cambridge College. Upon completing her student teaching at Chelmsford High School and Westlands School she was hired by the Chelmsford Public Schools as an art teacher. "There is nothing more I'd rather do than share my love of art with young people." Diane has been a full time art teacher at Chelmsford High for the past 9 years. She resides in North Andover and continues to sell her work privately.
    "Being an artist has always been a part of who I am. I am constantly trying to challenge myself and paint many different subjects. I enjoy painting landscapes, still life, people and flowers -whatever my mood. My summers are spent in the Gloucester area; this is where I draw inspiration for my landscape paintings. Another favorite subject of mine are children playing on the beach. I prefer working in pastels because they are always readily available and I am able to break them into small peices to achieve the tiniest details."

Bette Gagnon
Bette 'Lee' Gagnon has worked as an art teacher in the Chelmsford Schools since 1987,; she is currently teaching at the High School. She graduated from University of Lowell and received a B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting and an M ed in Art Education. Bette has studied with artists Carlton Plummer and Helen Van Wyk and participated in numerous art programs at the DeCordova Museum, Mass College of Art and the Fitchburg Art Museum.

"I paint a variety of subjects and like to experiment in different medium. The portraits of my daughters are done in pastels, a soft powder-like medium that contributes to their quiet, retrospective mood. I like my portraits to be restful and peaceful. The still lifes of collectable items and the floral arrangements are some of my favorite things to paint; some are done in watercolor, and others are done in mixed media.

My work has a realistic quality. I like to paint with accuracy, and I like the way light falls on a subject. I attempt to paint things that I find beautiful or that are important to me whether it's family, a beautiful floral arrangement or collected still life objects. I always approach my subject the same way, working on developing good composition, well-executed drawings and selecting colors that work best.