Maran Gallery

The artist's studio is in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA.

The following text is attached at the back of the "Back yards" watercolor by the artist himself.

“T.Nicholas Phakos, New England watercolorist, is a graduate of VESPER GEORGE ART SCHOOL, Boston, MA. He is a commercial artist and teaches watercolor painting at THE WISTARIAHURST MUSEUM in Holyoke, MA and THE GREEK CULTURAL CENTER in Springfield, MA. His memberships include:

THE ACADEMIC ART ASSOCIATION, Springfield, MA (Vice-Pres)
THE BERKSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION, Pittsfield, MA
THE COPLEY SOCIETY, Boston, MA
THE SALAMAGUNDIN CLUB, New York, NY
THE SPRINGFIELD ART LEAGUE, Springfield, MA
THE HUDSON VALLEY ART LEAGUE, White Plains, NY

Phakos has received numerous awards from all of these organizations, as well as the three Best in Shows and a Merit Award at THE ANNUAL NATIONAL GREEK ART EXHIBITION at THE GREEK CULTURAL CENTER, and Best in Show, Best in Fine Arts and Best in Watercolor at THE WESTFEST, Westfield, MA.

Phakos has had many one man shows and has been a member of numerous group shows, including a two person show at THE COPLEY SOCIETY, Boston, MA and a one man show at THE MALIOTOS CENTER in Brookline, MA in 1988. His paintings are in many private collections including THE BANK O BOSTON, MASS MUTUAL, THE BANK OF NEW ENGLAND and NORTH ADAMS STATE COLLEGE. He has done wildlife paintings for THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION.

Phakos is represented in galleries in Ogunquit, Maine; Manchester, Vermont; and Lenox and Stockbridge, MA. Phakos also has painting in the Sales & Rental Gallery at THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS in Springfield, MA.”

A much shorter, but slightly more up to date biography on the painter may be accessed online, at .

Since 1999, when the above biography was composed, Phakos's works were exhibited in numerous art galleries and exhibitions, and more awards were added to his already long list (a brief search in the internet may attest to this).

ASPASIA ARVANITIS

ACRYLIC, OIL AND PASTEL PAINTING ARTIST
AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS


Aspasia Arvanitis is a New England artist, born in Springfield Massachusetts. The mediums she works with are: oil, acrylic and pastel.

Since adolescence Aspasia had a strong inclination for painting and was attracted by the works of all major Renaissance Masters. Her earliest oil painting instructors were Donald Forge, Evelyn King and Thomas Crowley, who taught evening classes at Springfield Putnam High School, in the early 1970’s.

In the mid 1970’s, she attended painting classes (oil painting) at the Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, instructed by Mario Vincentti and Mrs Larry Slezak.

In the 1980’s she received a degree in General Studies at Springfield Technical Community College, and during that time she won a Humanities Award for Excellence in Fine Arts Painting. Her professors were Larry Slezak, Edith Wilson and Elise Howell.

In the 1990’s, she attended private lessons in pastel with Barbara Cohen in Agawam, Massachusetts. At about the same time, Aspasia continued oil painting lessons, at Agawam High School, taught by Ann Mueller.

In the early 2000’s, she took a highly specialized course with Frank Covino in Florida. The course involved learning the oil painting techniques of the Renaissance Masters.

Aspasia enjoys experimenting with new techniques and styles in oil and pastel painting. In order to broaden her horizons she is presently studying in the studio of Debra Murphy in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Her works comprise of portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still life, abstract and surrealistic paintings. Two of her paintings are currently in a private collection in Germany.

Her favourite subject matter is water reflections.