01/27/2026
January 2026 GCDA Newsletter by Jude Creager
We finished the year with our Christmas Party and look forward to the coming months.
And now, let’s talk about retreat. This is one of the activities that GCDA sponsors to invite others into a new experience in the wonderful world of painting.
The retreat classes have been set, and the teachers named. Check out online what classes the painting group has selected.
We are also featuring our retreat teachers this month and in February and March, with their bios and the classes they are teaching. These ladies are experienced and offer a variety of new projects at our April Retreat. (Have you registered yet?)
The retreat brochure can be found at www.gcdapainters.org or www.facbook.com/GreaterCincimnatiDecorativeArtists
We'll start with Maureen Born, a fantastic teacher in whatever medium she “plays” and tends to wander off-key with a bang! She is a painter and a teacher who loves to wander into reality and the abstract. Take it from me. She does this very well Maureen is teaching one of the first retreat classes on Friday, an Acrylic/Mixed Media Shadow Box, and on Sunday, flowers in Acrylic on a round-brim felt tan hat. This one is worth a look-see. A single comma stroke led her on the path as an artist. In her late twenties, she and her mother took a painting class from Mary Jean Niehaus in a small room at the downtown Cappels store. She loved the adventure and later took watercolor classes from Gayle Laible. She taught kindergarten for 25 years and is now volunteering at the Queen City Book Bank. She was trained in OMA (Opening Minds Through Art), working with persons with dementia. In addition to her regular painting with acrylics and watercolor, she has branched her art into pottery and bookmaking. She and Pam Lape were instrumental in holding the first retreat at Miami University. Maureen also designed the GCDA logo.
I don't have enough space here to tell of her kindness and caring for others, and her talents and patience in teaching. Maureen has been married to Gene for 53 years, and is the mother of five and a grandmother of thirteen who are scattered across the US. Maureen is also a good friend to many, and you can always count on her.
Next is Sandie Tieman, who is teaching two classes at Retreat, “Country Charm” and “It Must be Summer”. I met Sandie many years ago when our children were approaching their teens at the Near Sighted Owl, owned by teacher and owner, Gayle Laible. Sandie later bought the business and moved it to Delhi, where she sold art supplies and taught classes. She and I, among others, all took classes from Gayle. Sandie has been a member in good standing with GCDA and has served in many different positions on the board in the planning of classes, seminars, and retreats, and currently holds the office of President. She has been married to Ed for 50-plus years, has two children, and two granddaughters who are involved in dance teams at Seton High School. Sandie is a caring teacher who strives to teach her students in every class everything she knows for a successful outcome. She also designed the GCDA logo.
In June, Sandie Tieman will be teaching a Beginners Class with a fun and easy introductory project for those who would like to experience and learn more about the fun of painting. Introductory classes are one of the projects the GCDA sponsors to help others begin a journey into painting.
Cindy Moser will be teaching “Frosty” at the retreat on Friday night from 6-10pm. This is a watercolor and pen and ink project. She holds a Master of Arts degree and taught high school seniors as a career. Retiring gave her the freedom to work in oil, watercolors, and acrylics. She has taught at many conventions, as well as travel teaching and Zoom classes. She believes that art is hands-on, messy, meditative, and healing, and says it is her therapy. She grew up in the mountains of Tennessee, and when time allows, she hikes in the Smoky Mountains or gardens. She believes you can continue to learn so many art techniques at any age and adapt them to your own style.
Cindy Sayeedi has been painting for 26 years, teaching for 21 of those. She has a degree in interior design, but decided raising her children was more important. She took a class in decorative painting, which started her journey into other mediums, and discovered the versatility of colored pencil! Cindy had the honor of having an ornament she painted accepted into one of the Smithsonian Museum's collections. She was published in the Decorative Painter magazine in 2021, as well as in an upcoming issue of Painting World magazine. For retreat, Cindy is teaching “The Masked Bandit,” a 9x12” colored pencil of a raccoon on Mi-Teintes paper. This class will not disappoint.
And finally, to me, Jude Creager. I have been a member of GCDA since 1980, and as a student of the late Gayle Laible (more on that later), things went from there. I paint every day and teach classes in my home two days a week. A day for me is not good unless I paint. I am teaching two watercolor classes at the retreat, “Yep, it’s Yupo,” (a forest of trees), and “The Thomas Magnolia”, and a short” make-it-take-it! class.
In February and March, we will introduce you to Pat Hull, chair of this year's retreat, Michelle Grindly, Teri Hostetler, Barb Roestember, Stephanie Hauser, Gini Deaton, and Judy Ribitch.
At the March 8, 2026, meeting, you are welcome to paint "UFOs" (unfinished painting projects), Some of the teacher who taught classes might be available to assist.
