Our Featured Artists

Melissa Thurman, Owner

For ten years, Melissa has been the inspiration for artists of all ages who come to study art at Engage. Melissa graduated from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking. Since she was 6 years old, she has been drawing & painting, always knowing she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. Then, Melissa got a job teaching at a studio during college and fell in love! She has been teaching for more than 14 years. Her major bodies of work are paintings and drawings inspired by the figure and anatomy, occasionally mixed with some florals and Nouveau-style curves. She also loves to experiment and work in a variety of styles and mediums and aims to bring that same exploration to class projects in the studio. Her artwork can be found in the front sunroom in the gallery shop, as well as scattered about the gallery!

Gabrielle Hunsberger, Gallery Manager

Happily married to her husband, Ron, as well as a mother and grandmother, Gabe has been in sales for 36 years. She went to Penn State for Interior Design. She loves flowers and plants and has a 20+ year history in the nursery business. She spent creative time for 3 years creating custom wedding toppers. Gabe loves to paint and create custom artwork. She is the creative interior design expert at Engage Artisan Gallery and her arrangements always create delight for coworkers and clients!

Karen Mattice, Pottery Teacher

Mrs. K graduated from Potsdam State with a Degree in Art, focusing on pottery. She has previously worked as a special education teacher. After retiring from teaching, she began working at Engage. For the past three years, Mrs.K has used her extraordinary skills and 30+ years of experience to teach kids and adults pottery, focusing primarily on wheel-throwing. In her free time she enjoys kayaking, reading, and creating pottery pieces which are available in our shop for purchase!

danielle lepore landscape and fox paintings

Danielle LePore, Resident Artist

Danielle Lepore, one of our first sellers at Engage, is a master at painting, crafting, and numerous other talents. From breathtaking landscapes to watercolor animals, she produces stunning paintings inspired by nature that evoke peace in every work. Danielle also refurbishes furniture with chalk paints and transfers to produce unique, original pieces. She makes both original and custom pieces. Danielle is an exceptional and prolific painter.

Aisling Pagnano, Teacher

Aisling graduated from Moravian University with a Studio Art Degree focused on portraiture. Since childhood, she has loved to experiment with a plethora of art mediums and styles. Aisling loves to focus on the details with her timeless graphite drawings. She also draws custom pet portraits in her modern classic style!

Suzan Dise, Studio Assistant

Working with multiple mediums, such as oil, fiber, watercolor, and clay, Suzan draws creative inspiration from the nature that surrounds her. She favors contemporary impressionism, well-balanced composition and color relationships. Suzan studied Graphic Design and Fine Art at Moore College of Art and Design. She runs a design studio, teaches a Digital Arts program at Faith Cristian Academy, and creates original and commissioned fine art out of her home studio.

Cara May, Gallery Associate

Cara is one of our Gallery & Gift Shop Associates! She creates beautiful mosscapes during her free time.