Two artists are being featured in August at Dragonfly Art Gallery in Harrisville.

Kathryn Cubalo is Dragonfly Art Gallery’s artist of the month. The gallery held a reception for her at 116 E. Main Street on Aug. 3. Cubalo has been a member of the gallery since its inception, and this month is the gallery’s 10th anniversary.

Corky Gates is the gallery’s visiting artist for the month of August. A reception is not planned for her, but her artwork will be on display at the gallery all month.

Kathryn Cubalo

Corky Gates

Cubalo studied art at Schoolcraft College with Dr. Robert DuFort and Lincoln Loa, and at art workshops with nationally-known artists Helga Flowers, Brigit Austin, Robert Salo and Roland Roycroft.

“Art has always been a part of my life,” Cubalo said. “As my family responsibilities have lessened, my involvement with art has grown. This has been enhanced by my association with artist friends and the opportunity to participate in classes and workshops.”

Her professional memberships include the Northeast Michigan Artists’ Guild, the East Shore Art Guild and the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. She exhibits at the Dragonfly Gallery in Harrisville, and has been a member since its inception 10 years ago.

“The medium I like best is pastel, but have enjoyed classes in oil painting and watercolor,” Cubalo said. “I particularly like watercolor for more experimental work, so I try not to limit myself to any one means of expression.”

Many of her paintings are serene, focusing on nature.

“Most of my paintings reflect the peace and tranquility of landscapes or flowers,” Cubalo said. “I also like to paint objects of historical significance, especially lighthouses. As an avid environmentalist, my current project involves a series of mixed-media collages with the endangered Monarch butterfly as the subject.”

She works in her own studio in Lincoln.

“I welcome opportunities to explore new dimensions in art and to share my vision of the beauty of Northern Michigan and this wonderful community,” Cubalo said.

A native of Spruce, Cubalo graduated from Alpena High School, attended Central Michigan University and obtained a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University. She and her husband Lloyd were raised in Alcona County, but left to live in the Detroit area where they raised four children before moving back to Lincoln in 1984.

She taught elementary school for several years, but has spent most of her life as a homemaker and volunteer for church and community.

“Faith, family and friends are my treasures, but I also enjoy gardening, exercise, reading and travel as well as art,” Cubalo said.

Corky Gates

“I have always been a somewhat hyperactive and creative person, which has caused me to be quite exploratory in the art field,” Gates said.

She has dabbled in oils, acrylics, ceramics, painting on furniture and old windows through the years.

“I finally took some classes with two very accomplished artists, Joy Skiba and Kerrie Miller,” Gates said. “I found watercolor to be creative and most challenging. This is where I learned, and continue to learn, my impressionistic style of painting. I’ve also tried to incorporate the ‘slow down and be patient’ thing which watercolor requires, into my life.”

Her motto is “Let’s paint and have fun!”

Experimenting with alcohol inks is her favorite, which she calls, “A distinctly unique and challenging new style to learn.”

She said alcohol inks are formulated to use on non-porous surfaces like tile, glass, metal, plastic and a slick paper called “Yupo.” They can be painted, dropped, drawn or splattered.

“You can also use different tools such as sponges, brushes, cotton swabs or a straw to blow various colored inks around so they react with each other,” Gates explained. “They dry quickly because of the alcohol, but you can spray rubbing alcohol on the surface to move the inks around.”

Gates has recently discovered resin and hardener as a new sealant for the trivets she makes, and an epoxy sealant for the alcohol inks.

“It can withstand heat and creates a beautiful finish,” she said.

Her abstract style lends itself to hours of fun.

“If you like abstract, you will have fun with alcohol inks.”