Creativity on display at Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's fall art show

By Liz Ramos
| 7:52 p.m. November 17, 2024

Lakewood Ranch's Benisa Jones combines her passions for writing and journals to design her own journals.

East County
Neighbors

Lakewood Ranch's Benise Jones has a passion for two things — journals and writing.

So Jones decided to combine the two and turn it into a creative project. She started designing journals.

"I thought it would be fun and creative way to take a regular journal and make it more artsy, more creative based on people's interests," Jones said.

Jones sold journals for people interested in music, bikes, golf, polo, flowers, butterflies and more during the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's fall art show Nov. 16 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

At least 15 local artists shared their talents in the show as people perused for pieces that would spark their interest.

Lakewood Ranch's Kim Longhitano was looking in awe at a resin tray Lake Club's Lisa Sweeney created.

"These make great gifts because they're one-of-a-kind," Longhitano said of the artwork.

Lakewood Ranch's Carolyn Gilbert attended the art show because she wanted to support local artists. She was browsing a collection of paintings created by Lakewood Ranch's Stacey Lipton.

Lakewood Ranch's Cosette Kosiba, a pastel painter new to the association, said the members of the association have been wonderful and supportive. The fall art show was the second show she has participated in with the association.

"It makes you feel like you have another family," Kosiba said of the association.

Lakewood Ranch's Carolyn Gilbert browses Lakewood Ranch's Stacey Lipton's paintings. "It's really nice to support local artists who are working hard," Gilbert says.

Lakewood Ranch's Benise Jones designs journals to match a variety of interests.

Lakewood Ranch's Mary Litle says showing her work at the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's fall art show is always fun.

Lake Club's Lisa Sweeney talks about her resin trays with Lakewood Ranch's Kim Longhitano. "(The art pieces) here make great gifts because they're one-of-a-kind," Longhitano says.

Lakewood Ranch pastel painter Cosette Kosiba says being with the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch is like being with family. She's able to showcase her original pastels at the association's fall art show.

Palma Ranch's Barby Comins says there has been a great turnout at the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's fall art show.

Mill Creek's Wilma Kroese adds pumpkins to her works of art this year. She has become known for using horse hair and feathers in her pottery.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.