Joyce Hunt

As a child, I always loved to draw and color.  That was followed by a long hiatus.  I did not take any art courses in high school or college. This was followed by busy years raising three children and running a family vineyard and winery with my husband, Art.  Years ago I had a brief foray into watercolor painting.  Watercolor was not a favored medium and life was still very busy with other pursuits so it fell by the wayside.  A few years ago I took a course at the Arts Center in pastel for beginners taught by Pat Jackson.  I loved the medium.  At around the same time Eileen O’Rielly and I got together and she helped me learn the medium.  Then I got to know another pastelist, Lana Grauer.  The four of us decided to get together and paint.  We now meet on Monday mornings in the tasting room at Hunt Country Vineyards. I put the coffee on and we paint and talk.  My three muses have been incredibly helpful and encouraging.  My favorite subject is landscape painting.  I love the beauty and variety of nature.

I have been involved with the Arts Council for years but only recently as an artist.  I was on the board of directors when the arts center was on Elm Street.  We then moved to Main Street and the name was changed from the Yates County Arts Center to the Arts Center of Yates County.  I worked with Sandy Murrin and others to acquire Sunny Point.  After much time spent on the board it is wonderful to be painting.  The other day friend, Faith Benedict, was at the Arts Center as a docent and texted me to tell me how much she liked my painting of the vineyard in the mist hanging in the most recent show (which I consider a high compliment coming from a fellow artist).  Faith said “Your hard work has paid off.”  Hard work is what I used to do- painting is fun!

Michael Collins

I have been working in oils, my preferred medium, since 2022. I started with plein air landscapes, and have now added still life efforts and hopefully figures in the future. My association with the Arts Council extends over this same time period. I have always been very interested in art history and dabbled occasionally with drawing and watercolor. Now that I have retired from the practice of medicine, I am devoting more time to improving my art skills and sensibilities.

Carolyn Scroggins

The beauty of nature serves as the inspiration for many of Carolyn Scroggins’ paintings.  Scenes from New York’s Finger Lakes region, coastal Maine, the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama, to the rural splendor of Ontario, Canada are depicted in her work—including, but not limited to– landscapes and interesting individuals and animals.  Carolyn works mostly with oils, but also enjoys all media–watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, & has a newfound appreciation of sculpting!   

A love of the visual arts extends throughout Carolyn’s life.  Although career choices led to paths in nursing and teaching, there were art classes at every juncture!  Carolyn graduated with a BSN from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio; and obtained her MSN from The University of Cincinnati—but is extremely fortunate to have also been taught by wonderful artists in Ohio, Kentucky, Canada, and New York. 

Carolyn Scroggins moved to Hammondsport in 2023, and has been a member of the Arts Center of Yates County since then. 

Don Sottile

It seems that in our nature we humans innately, consciously or unconsciously, communicate to one another with our bodies, through body language or even just body image. We take pleasure in adorning our bodies for others to enjoy. How often in a crowded public space have we heard ourselves say, “What a great place to people watch.” We delight in watching others dance, the musical notes abstract, yet emotion is conveyed. There is integrity in the human form. My figurative art is an exercise in exploring and celebrating our humanity.

In my work with the human form I have been conscious of how line and mass and form describe my subjects. Recently I have been exploring these various elements in more abstract works, experimenting with the way shape and rhythm and color can create an emotional response. I will be showing abstract works at Finger Lakes Community College Gallery 34 from February 5 through March 6, 2026.

Regina Doi

Regina Doi‘s art flows from her Eurasian culture, a love of animals, and a belief in kami or spirit… the notion that all persons, animals, places, or things have being.

Regina creates in a variety of media and styles. A professional sculptor, jeweler, painter, and art educator with over 40 years of experience working in metal, stone, clay, paint, paper, and wax, Regina divides her time between her art school in coastal Alabama, Saratoga, and the Finger Lakes, NY.

Regina currently teaches sculpting and painting at the Arts Center of Yates County (ACYC) and is an active member of the ACYC exhibit committee.