Welcome to Cotuit Center for the Arts

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.

After decades of teaching drawing and painting to children and adults it is her conviction that thinking you have no ability or so-called “talent” can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Creativity can be learned and this is one of the premises of her classes, to dispel all the misconceptions about art. Her focus is to relax, inspire confidence, encourage and minimize inhibitions while enjoying the journey of creating.

Before moving to Cape Cod she taught painting in her home studio in Millis, Ma. Conducted workshops and classes at Boston Public Library, Copley Society of Boston, art guilds, schools and libraries on Cape Cod, in Rhode Island, the North Shore and New Hampshire.

She was the founder/director of the Stoney Brook Arts Guild at the Stoney Brook Nature Center in Norfolk, Ma. Since moving to the Cape she has taught at Falmouth Arts Guild, Sandwich Arts Alliance, Cape Cod Arts Assoc. Upper Cape Tech. H.S. and Cotuit Center for the Arts where she loves being a part of for the past several years.

Nicole is a certified meditation instructor, sound practitioner, reiki master, and author of A Life Suspended: A Mother and Son’s Story of Autism, Extinction Bursts, and Living a Resilient Life. You can find her work at nhdwrites.com, or for current offerings follow her on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Léonie Little-Lex is a fine artist and illustrator from Cape Cod, MA. She graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a BFA in Illustration, then went on to complete her Masters of Arts in Teaching. She shows her work in galleries and art shows on Cape Cod and in the greater Boston area, and has also exhibited nationally in Oregon, New York, and North Carolina. She works in a variety of mediums with an emphasis on painting and pen-and-ink drawings. She recently illustrated her first children's book, "A is for Always: An Adoption Alphabet", published in August 2022. In addition to her work as an artist, Léonie has been an instructor in drawing and painting for over 10 years, both in private and community settings.

Mary Shea is an experienced educator and artist with a Bachelor of Science from Murray State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Bridgewater State University. She has taught for over 25 years in various studio and classroom environments, including Mansfield Public Schools, Mt. Ida College, Hunakai School of Fine Arts, and the McGraw Ceramic Studio. After retiring from Mansfield Public Schools in June 2021, she moved to Sandwich with her husband in October 2021. When she is not teaching, Mary enjoys hiking and teaching her granddaughters how to paint.Mary Shea is an experienced educator and artist with a BS from Murray State University and a MAT from Bridgewater State University. She has taught for over 25 years in various studio and classroom settings, including Mansfield Public Schools, Mt Ida College, Hunakai School of Fine Arts, and the McGraw Ceramic Studio. Mary retired from Mansfield Public Schools in June 2021 and moved to Sandwich with her husband in October 2021. When not teaching, she enjoys hiking and teaching her granddaughters to paint.

Chelsey is a licensed independent clinical social worker in private practice who loves using holistic and expressive techniques like art in her healing work. As a talk therapist, Chelsey has learned the value of nonverbal healing techniques (art, movement, play, and energy work) so SoulCollage® has been the perfect fit for her both in her professional healing work and in her own spiritual growth. After renting office space from a SoulCollage® facilitator and diving into the creation of her own SoulCollage® deck, Chelsey completed her facilitator training in May of 2024. It is her joy to hold space where people can deepen their relationships with their inner selves, their community, and their higher power. Chelsey is trained in trauma and attachment informed techniques and provides individual therapy to adults seeking to heal their inner child. To learn more about her clinical work you can find her at www.primaveralcounseling.com

Melanie Gillis is an artist and art teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Boston University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Visual Art from Bridgewater State University. She enjoys teaching a variety of mediums that include drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, and clay. She has taught at The Danforth Art Museum at Framingham State University and currently teaches in public school and at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Melanie loves to teach students of all ages and to encourage them to explore, take chances and develop their creative voice. When Melanie is not teaching art she is engaged in making artworks in a variety of mediums; photography, printmaking, clay, and fiber art.