PORT CLINTON – The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council (GPCAAC) is delighted to announce their next exhibit at The Arts Garage (TAG). “In Over My Head” features artists Donna Ebert and Janet Brian-Schardt. The exhibit begins Thursday, Oct. 8, and will run until Sunday, Nov. 1. A reception open to the public will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at TAG, located at 317 W. Perry St. in Port Clinton.

Ebert is no stranger to TAG. As an instructor, she has taught several classes with enthusiastic response. Students appreciate her detailed instruction and personal attention.

“My work is inspired by the dynamic interplay of light and movement in nature,” Ebert said. “Through painting, I seek to capture brief, evocative moments using color, value, and technique. Creativity is a universal trait, and for me, it is expressed through visual arts. My artistic process is rooted in dedication, ongoing practice, and learning from accomplished mentors. Each finished piece reflects both the challenges and the rewards of pursuing excellence in art.”

Ebert lives in Northwest Ohio, and her portfolio includes commissioned pieces and works featured in local galleries and retail shops. Her art includes still life, florals, landscapes, impressionism, and animal portraits, reflecting her commitment to excellence and the ongoing study of light, value, and application. She is inspired by Maya Angelou’s words: You can’t use up creativity, the more you use the more you have.

For Sandusky resident Brian-Schardt, the love of art began at a very young age. When she was just seven years old, her mother became her first teacher and greatest inspiration, teaching her how to draw and paint. Those early lessons sparked a lifelong passion for creating art and observing the beauty found in the world around her. Although Brian-Schardt works in a variety of subjects, flowers are at the heart of much of her artwork. Among all flowers she is especially drawn to irises.

For Brian-Schardt, painting an iris is about more than simply capturing its appearance. She is fascinated by the fleeting nature of its beauty. Once an iris is cut, it can begin to wither within minutes. Through her paintings, Brian-Schardt preserves that moment of perfection—the color, form, and delicate beauty of the flower as she sees it in her mind and through her eyes.

Her art is also deeply connected to her faith. She believes that God created the flowers, plants, trees, and all the beauty found in nature, and that her ability to create art is a gift from God. Painting is her way of honoring that gift and celebrating the beauty of creation.

Brian-Schardt earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University with Honors. She spent 17 years as an art teacher, including nine years in the Huron School System. During the summers, she organized lessons and outings to nature preserves, where she taught students the finer points of drawing and painting while encouraging them to observe and appreciate the natural world around them.

Brian-Schardt’s artwork and prints have been exhibited at Ohio University and Bowling Green State University, and are in private collections. Her work has also been exhibited at the Sandusky Art Cultural Center where she has received several awards for her art.

Through her art, Brian-Schardt continues to preserve moments of beauty that might otherwise disappear – the delicate iris, the changing seasons, or a quiet moment in nature.

“My paintings reflect not only what I see, but also what I feel: gratitude for the beauty of creation and appreciation for the gift of being able to capture it with watercolors,” she said.

TAG is open Thursday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Interested parties can visit our website at gpcaac.org for more information.