The Artists

Artist Biographies

We are...

... a dynamic group of artists dedicated to creating original and inspiring works of art. Our community is a vibrant mix of painters, sculptors, photographers, and more, who come together to share their passion for creativity and explore new artistic frontiers. At Lebanon Art Guild, we believe that art is a reflection of the human experience, and we are committed to creating works that inspire, challenge, and move our audience.

Deborah Knufer

Deborah Kufner in her studio.

I enjoy painting all things created by our creator: landscapes, animals, and people. I love color . . . I love how color can move one from one state of emotion to another. I also love light and shadow which plays a big part in most of my work.

Connie Fritz

Connie Fritz

Art runs deep in my family—my great-grandmother, grandmother, dad, myself, and now my daughter and granddaughter have all been drawn to creating. It’s truly a family trait!

I’m a lifelong Missourian, born in a small town near Kansas City, raised in a small town just outside St. Louis, and for the past seven years, I’ve lived on a homestead outside Lebanon, MO. Art has always been a part of my life; I took classes throughout high school and some in college, though my formal studies focused more on business.

I love exploring all mediums—watercolor is my favorite, but I also work in oil, acrylic, charcoal, pencil, oil pastel, and wood burning. My goal with every piece is simple: to make people feel something.

In addition to creating art, I’m an instructor at the Lebanon Art Guild, teaching classes such as Watercolor Techniques, Drawing Foundations, Homeschool Art, Watercolor Card Making, and Art at Ease for Veterans.

I exhibit locally at the Lebanon Art Guild and Gallery and have participated in shows like the 2025 Lebanon Art Guild Recycled Art Show. Beyond creating and teaching, I’m proud to serve as Vice President of the Lebanon Art Guild, helping foster creativity and community for local artists.

Carolyn Simoneau

Carolyn Simoneau

Carolyn Simoneau is a mixed-media artist originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and transplanted from Southwest Florida to Missouri. Inspired by nature, color, and the beauty found in everyday objects, Carolyn creates work that ranges from mosaics and repurposed jewelry art to watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings.

A self-taught artist who proudly credits the “School of Life” as her education, Carolyn approaches art with curiosity and playfulness. Her work often features birds, natural textures, and vibrant color, reflecting both her coastal Florida influences and her love of the natural world. She enjoys transforming found or recycled materials into art, giving them new life and meaning.

Carolyn’s goal is simple: she hopes her work brings viewers a sense of happiness and whimsy. Whether through a colorful painting or a piece of repurposed art, she strives to create pieces that feel uplifting and inviting.

Her work has been exhibited at ReMade in Cape Coral, Florida, Moon Flower in Lebanon, Missouri, and Miss Pearl’s Fleatique in Lebanon. She participated in the Lebanon Art Guild’s Recycled Art Show, where her oyster flower—created from shells she collected in Florida—earned second place.

Carolyn currently serves as Treasurer of the Lebanon Art Guild and enjoys being part of a creative community that encourages artists to share their work and grow together.

Patty Kilson

Patty Kilson

Patricia Kilson (Patty) was born and raised in the state of Alaska but moved to the Lebanon, Missouri area upon retirement.

Her primary artistic interests are in watercolor, pen & ink, pencil drawings and paper-cutting. She is also a writer and author, having published two books. Carina is the story of her family's three-year adventure living aboard a 40' sailboat traveling from Florida, through the Bahamas, Caribbean, across the Gulf of Mexico and through the Panama Canal, then sailing up the west coast of Central American, the United States and eventually making their way back to Alaska. The Song of the Raven is a children's story, written in verse and illustrated. It tells the story of life and death in the Alaskan wilderness. Both books are available through Amazon.

Patty is currently a freelance writer for Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, a local newspaper whose offices are located in Lebanon. She writes stories about farmers, youth, business owners, teachers and others who are involved in agriculture in the Ozarks.

While in Alaska, she taught beginning watercolor classes through Anchorage Re-Made, an organization dedicated to recycling by remaking discarded items into something new. She had two pieces of art made entirely from recycled materials shown at the Anchorage International Art Gallery in 2011. She is now gives free drawing classes at the gallery on Wednesdays and serves as a board member.

Alfred (Al) Bick

Alfred (Al) Bick

Al Bick is originally from upstate New York although he spent 40 years in the St. Louis area. He has lived in Lebanon for the last 8
years.

Al graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Binghamton University, a GIS certificate from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has continued his education with courses in photography in Albany, New York.

Al spent 40 years as a cartographer and considers photography a hobby he has enjoyed for the last 30 years. His photographs depict different subjects from his travels around the world which include landscapes, architecture, faces and activities.

When asked what he wants people to get from his work Al replied, “I want people to experience the different cultures, wild-life and natural beauty I have had the opportunity to enjoy.”

Al does not currently exhibit anywhere other than the Lebanon Art Guild. He takes photographs and participates in the Guild for the interactions it provides him. He also teaches several kids classes at the Guild and serves on the board.

Kathy Gilette

Kathy Gilette

I started by creative journey as a maker of quilt tops. I made my first top in 2008. I have made about 3 dozen tops, and have had about 2 dozen professionally quilted. I wanted to do the whole creative process myself, so I started making small art quilts. This led me to many different types of art applications. Mixed media is my favorite type of expression.

I started making my own felt in March of 2021. I feel like I am home. I love the wool. I have had to learn to "let it go" working on the felt pieces that I do, as I can't always manipulate the fiber as I would like.

I hope you enjoy my work.

(Currently serving as a board member.)

Joy Thompson

Joy Thompson

I was born here in Lebanon, Missouri, and my art education began with my mom, Vera Harrill. Along the way, we always had mom's paintings in our home and had many opportunities to visit museums and take art classes.

My first lessons were at Nell's Studio in Independence, Kansas, at the age of 11, where I started painting with oils. My charcoal drawings were features in the art window at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska in 1974, and I sold a drawing to my teacher for $5. I furthered my education at the University of Alaska, earning a Bachelor of Education degree, with a minor in Art.

Traveling to and from Lebanon to visit relatives gave me a unique opportunity to meet many artist at the Lebanon Art Guild, while I was living full time in Alaska. My home is still in Alaska, but I currently live in southern Arkansas and come to Lebanon often.

I enjoy a variety of mediums - oils, acrylics, pastels, and watercolor. I enjoy taking classes and learning from other artists. I enjoy painting nature, especially flowers.

Deanna Stuckey

Deanna Stuckey

I have been involved in art all my life - drawing, coloring, and, later, painting with water colors, chalk, and oils. In high school, I designed and made most of my clothes. In college, I majored in Art with a minor in Design, with an emphasis on Fashion Design. As an adult, I got into crafts, decorative art, and designing doll clothes. After I married, we farmed in Mercer County in Northern Missouri, and I didn’t have much time to paint, especially after adopting three kids in 1969-70. In 1979, we moved to Dallas County and living near Bennett Spring become a favorite place for me to go for peace, quiet, and inspiration. I have done many paintings of the different land marks along the spring branch.

To me there is nothing more quieting to the soul than being out in nature and listening to the gurgle and splash of a waterfall. I studied water and painted 13 waterfall and rippling streams in 2012 and 2013. I wanted to portray the actual feeling water stirred in me. As I enter my senior years, I enjoy painting nature, flowers, water, and landscapes. Right now I am painting animals and barns.

I enjoy teaching others. I taught K-12 in two public schools in Northern Missouri. I taught decorative painting, oil, and watercolor classes at my own studio - Painters Retreat. I exhibited at the Ozark Empire Fair and won several first place prizes and grand champion in 2014, 2015, and 2022. I have had paintings selected for the Juried Senior Show in Springfield, MO. I have also taught art classes to 4-H members and art workshops at State 4-H events.

C.J. (Judy) Patterson-McKinley

Claire Judith Patterson-McKinley

Claire Judith Patterson-McKinley is originally from Arlington Virginia where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia School of Nursing in 1965.

Judy has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She took oil painting classes as a child and has sewn and done embroidery forever. She has been a basket-maker for over 25 years and a wood carver for at least 22 years. Her main medium is basketry with reed and wood carving (pyrography) primarily on basswood.

She says, “I want people to enjoy baskets that are useful and beautiful. I want them to get enjoyment from looking at my carvings.”

Judy exhibits artwork across Missouri; in Camdenton, Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City. She has entered exhibitions in the Laclede County Fair, Ozark Empire Fair, Lake of the Ozarks Woodcarving Show, and the Missouri Basketweavers Convention. She has received many ribbons and the honor of Best of Show at the Laclede County Fair.

Verna Sherrer

Verna Sherrer

Verna has lived most of her life in the Lebanon, Missouri area. In addition to completing her GED, Verna feels her greatest accomplishment is making a home for her children. Most of her adult life has been as a stay-at-home-mom.

She has been a creator of arts and crafts most of her life, even as a child. She enjoys painting in acrylics, but also will do flower-arranging and other crafts. She hopes people get a sense of enjoyment and looking at her work brings a smile to their face.

Verna often participates in local craft shows and art fairs. She continues her education by continually taking classes and workshops.

Maureen Darby

Mauren Darby

Maureen Darby, nee O'Reilly, is an artist who lives in the Ozarks of rural Laclede County, Missouri. Her interest in art dates back as far as she remembers. She has experimented with various art forms including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, fine art embroidery, cut paper, and others.

Darby attended California College of Arts and Crafts (now California College of the Arts) in Oakland, California. While there she studied with Arthur Okamura, an American artist who worked in screen printing, drawing, and painting. She also studies with other artists who were faculty at CCAC. Darby studied lithographic printing with Garo Antreasian at the University of Mexico.

Inspired by the paper-cutting of Dan Paulos, Darby taught herself how to create images with paper. After practicing with preprinted designs, she began to create her own images. Darby creates images of rural children and whimsical floral designs that hearken back to life in simpler times.

Darby's work has been published in the Guild of American Papercutters' magazine, Frist Cut. One of her designs was features as the cover on the quarterly magazine.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." - Thomas Merton.

Darby designed the new logo for the Lebanon Art Guild.

Non-profit arts organization in Lebanon, Missouri

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