Community Showcase 2024

Aden Pacheco is an artist who grew up in Burlington, Connecticut, and always experimented with a variety of artistic techniques and media throughout his life before discovering his passion for digital art after receiving his own school-provided tablet in high school. Since then, Aden has learned how to use a multitude of different art applications and how to recreate different artistic techniques in them.

Using his wild imagination and his unending passion for prehistoric fauna, he tries to bring new ideas or merge them into his pieces, whether it be through a planned canvas, or going with the flow.

Professors: Jacqueline Decker and Kinga Wlodarska

There is something I want and I'm not sure what it is. Is it happiness, success, money, or knowledge? I just know I want more; I want to be more. I just want a life where I can do what I love and become someone of substance. 

Professors: Frances Riddle and Andrae Green

Instagram: @porter_smiley_face 

Clara Koch is a passionate student from Colebrook, CT currently studying Visual Art Design at CT State Community College Northwestern. She is determined to learn as much as possible and build her skills as an artist. In her work, she strives for beauty, technique, and creativity while utilizing her personal experiences to tell a story. Her strengths lie in drawing, painting, graphic design, and sculpture. She is motivated to create meaningful work and connect with others through art. Her professional goals are to excel as a tattoo artist as well as hone in on other artistic avenues that call to her. 

Professors: Courtney Puckett and Deborah Kline

I am Isabella Docchio, an artist currently studying to become an illustrator/graphic artist. I illustrate my current obsessions and creative ideas, using a range of media in my work including – Digital media, gouache, pen etc. My work is based on realism with fantasy elements.

I graduated with an associate degree and plan to continue my studies with a BFA in Illustration and Minor in 2-D Animation. As well as a Minor in Business to further my plans in opening my own online shop in the future. Traditional and non- traditional artists influence my work, including both comic/graphic artists and mangakas alike.

Professors: Jackie Decker and Carianne Garside

Art, for me, is not just a visual experience—it's an emotional and intellectual journey. It serves as a constant companion, offering inspiration during moments of introspection and serving as a catalyst for creative expression. Whether creating art myself or engaging with the works of others, my love for art is a testament to the enduring power of creativity to enrich and enhance the human experience. Art permeates my existence, whether I'm strolling through a museum, exploring a gallery, or simply observing the play of light and shadow in my surroundings. It's a language that transcends verbal communication, allowing me to express emotions, thoughts, and experiences that words may fail to convey.

Professors: Francie Riddle and Jorge Costa

Ivy Altman attends CT State Community College Northwestern. Personal, professional, and academic goals are to build a life in which she has the space and freedom to create, to explore her love of visual art, music performance, aerial lyra, stilt dancing, and take advantage of every learning opportunity she can. Art brings her joy, peace, calm, and self-expression. Visual Art accomplishments include 4 pieces in 2 juried exhibitions at CT State Community College Northwestern and invitations to sell her work at craft shows. She has also had solo aerial performances in the NEA funded circus exhibition, Cirque-opsia, and been an ensemble performer in the world premiere of Ukrainian composer, Hanna Havrylets’ A-corda sinfonietta, and Roksana Smirnova’s Peace Prelude with the professional group Cuatro Puntos.

Professors: Courtney Puckett 

Instagram:  @ivys_real_and_imaginary

“These forms are corroded, warped, and torn from their natural being. The discomfort of a modern lifestyle has bled into the visual representation of my life. Forces imparted on the works are a direct result of forces acting upon my own life, articulated visually. May the work resonate within the viewer, for they reside in this world as well.”

Professors: John Calhoun, Felice Caivano, Margie Rothermich, and Victor Katz

Instagram: @iamgutless

Kai Saucier primarily draws in graphite, charcoal, and oil pastel. She currently lives in Manchester, CT with her mom and younger brother. With a focus on value and line movement, she strives to question identity and present introspection through her artwork.

Professors: Susan Montgomery and Adam Bernard

Lydia Cruz is a Pacific Islander Artist who generalizes in various different mediums. She was originally born in the US Territory of Guam in the Pacific and soon moved to Illinois at the age of 12. Art has been an escape and has always come back to her as a career when changing pathways. Her favorite mediums in particular are ink, marker, acrylic paint, and digital art. She enjoys sharing stories and bringing ideas to life that are inspired by her Chamorro culture. Lydia hopes to become an art director specializing in animation, video games, or film. 

Professors: Sun Choi

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyvii_i/

I have been involved with art throughout most of my life starting from private lessons with the Raymond’s in New Hartford at a young age. I didn’t realize art would impact my life so deeply until my enlistment when expression was not common. I decided when I was out of the Marine Corps in 2014 and left 29 palms I would travel Europe and observe the cultures and arts in each country I visited. I attended a liberal arts college in Gunnison, Colorado for art and psychology in 2015 until becoming ill and having to move back to Connecticut. Since being back in New England I have been expressing myself artistically very commonly and am in pursuit of a professional art career. Currently, I am a student at Springfield Technical Community College and am building credibility so that I may one day become masterful in my craft. 

My name is Nate Mignone, and I am originally from Litchfield, Connecticut. I am currently a full-time student at CT Community College Northwestern, majoring in Art Studies. 

Through my study of art, I explore portraits of people, animals, perspectives on food, and hybrid entities. I also delve into the fascinating and often absurd relationship between our modern society with these subjects. I am captivated by the multifaceted roles these subjects play in our lives, from their cultural significance to their commodification and marketing. I invite viewers to question the complexities and contradictions inherent in our cultural landscape. Drawing inspiration from expressionism to the surreal, my art serves as a lens to highlight the humor, irony, and bizarre realities embedded in our modern culture, not only to entertain but also to provoke contemplation about the societal constructs that shape our perceptions.

I am applying to the exhibition to gain experience in displaying and discussing my art. 

Utilizing primarily acrylics, gouache, graphite pencil, and recently charcoal, I value a minimalistic approach. In this digital age of proliferate information, exaggerated visual and sensory stimuli, I find comfort in stripped-down imagery which portrays subject matter disconnected from the extraneous.

Professor: Courtney Pucket 

Instagram: @_natemignone 

I’m Victoria Docchio, an illustrative artist. Studying to become an illustrator/ graphic novelist. I Illustrate my current and past obsessions, using digital, and mixed media (including, oil paint, markers, pens, etc.…). most of my work is realistic some is abstract or whimsical in nature.

I’ve graduated with my associate degree and plan to continue my studies with a BFA in illustration, I have an interest in having my own online store and selling my artwork, I plan to minor in business to help in that endeavor. Traditional artists heavily influence my style of work, along with mangakas and graphic artists. 

Professors: Jackie Decker and Carianne Garside

My name is Willow Elswyth, I’m a sophomore at CT State Community College Northwestern, majoring in visual arts. I’ve moved around to many different areas around the state growing up, finally landing in Burlington, CT. Creating art has always been something I’ve naturally loved to do, especially drawing and painting with oils and gouache. As of recently, I’ve had the opportunity to explore new media such as resin and digital art, which has been really rewarding. I enjoy talking about and sharing art with like-minded people, I feel it’s important to foster creativity wherever I can!

Professors: Courtney Puckett, Deborah Kline

Instagram: @elswythstudios