Artist Cooperative
Gallerie Aritsts
We are please to present the founding artists of the SAS Gallerie Cooperative
Stephanie McElhaney
Stephanie McElhaney's passion for creative expression developed during her early years as a military child when traveling and experiencing unique cultures. She is a self taught artist with a quiet, imaginative personality finding the visual arts to be liberating in that they allow her to express herself through varieties of color, texture, and media. Her family vividly remembers her construction paper masterpieces, which left colorful paper trails throughout the house as well as on walls and ceilings! Now settled in Bossier City, Louisiana, she explores expressionism and abstraction with acrylic and watercolor to compose pieces reflecting the emotions that originate from life experiences and the beauty of existence. Her collection’s diversity is characterized by intense color, flowing movement, inspiring expressions of joy, and liberating freedom from emotions that bind.
Ralph Laenger
Ralph is a self-taught landscape artist whose work captures the soul of the horizon. Based in Shreveport, Louisiana, he draws inspiration from the nation’s rich natural beauty—rolling pastures, golden sunsets, majestic mountain ranges and the quiet drama of open skies. His paintings, rendered in acrylics and oils, evoke a sense of place and serenity that invites viewers to linger. Ralph has a particular love for painting Louisiana’s bayous, where misty waters, tangled cypress roots, and shifting light offer endless inspiration. These scenes, often infused with the warm glow of sunset, reflect his deep connection to the land and its rhythms. Whether working with bold acrylics or the subtle depth of oils, Ralph brings warmth, texture, and emotion to every canvas. His work resonates with collectors who appreciate the quiet power of nature and the artistry of a Southern sunset.
Betsy Levels
Betsy has always been driven to create artwork. Whether it was painting, sculpture, leathercraft, gardening, crochet, etc. She constantly looks for new skills and techniques to expand her abilities because there is always that look or that feeling she wants to capture. Whether anyone likes what she creates or not, she has to touch that creative process somehow on a daily basis so she can continue to evolve as an artist. She also recently discovered that her art has as a way to express ideas and concepts in a way that she believe works better than words. She relies on her family history and her memories, with occasional mythological or Biblical imagery thrown in. She loves to recreate the incredible color and beauty of outdoor scenes from the Louisiana where she has spent many happy hours. And most recently, she has begun to experiment with color combinations inspired by the calendar (both seasons and holidays) in abstract creations.
Sherri Skrivanos
Sherri came to painting later in life, discovering watercolor unexpectedly and quickly becoming captivated by its luminous, transparent qualities. What began as a new creative pursuit has grown into a passionate artistic journey of exploration and continual learning. She has studied with accomplished artists through regional and national workshops. Watercolor’s fluidity and spontaneity challenge and inspires her, often creating beautiful, unexpected effects that bring energy and life to each painting. Sherri is particularly drawn to the play of light and beauty found in everyday scenes. Through her work, she strives to capture moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her paintings have received awards in juried exhibitions, and she continues to seek artistic expression through studio work, plein air studies, and participation in the watercolor community.
Mary F. Striegel
Mary F. Striegel is a Louisiana-based figurative realist painter and printmaker whose work records resilience, identity, faith, work, and the emotional depth of everyday life. Drawing from personal photographs and direct observation, she creates narrative images that celebrate ordinary people and quiet moments of reflection. Striegel holds a BFA from the University of Louisville and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis. A retired National Park Service preservation scientist, she brings decades of experience studying art, architecture, and cultural heritage to her creative practice. Her work has been exhibited nationally and is based in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller is a mixed media artist and photographer. She is a Roster Artist with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and has exhibited throughout Northwest Louisiana. Her mixed media works have included found objects, glass, metal and other materials. Her photography has focused on the unique images of nature and places in Northwest Louisiana. She has been a featured artist at the Red River Revel Festival and recently was selected by the Live Casino for a juried exhibition. Lisa is also the founder and owner of Lisa's Pot Parties where groups gather to created painted clay pots that will hold various succulent plants.
Gregory Ellis
Gregory Ellis is a self taught photographer from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He resides between Mansfield and Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended Bethel College, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Social Work. Gregory has participated in group and solo exhibitions at Pomajo Art Society, Art Station, Art Space and the SAS Gallerie. He was selected as one of the top photographers the last three years for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation Archives. He participated in the Live Casino Mardi Gras Showcase, Plein Air 100 year Anniversary at the Strand Theater, where two photographs were selected and purchased to be permanently displayed in the theatre. He embellishes being able to capture emotions, highlighting the natural light, texture, shadows, and contrast.
Brittney La Trace Hazelton
Brittney Hazelton is a self-taught fantasy surrealist mixed-media artist, art journalist, and gallery curator of After Dark Art Gallery, from Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2015 they discovered the art culture in their city and became immersed in the art community after being selected as a roster artist with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. They have participated actively with multiple organizations, including SRAC, Bossier Arts Council (BAC), The Agora Borealis, Lab Rat Arts, and even helped form a nonprofit called NWLA Makerspace. They have been part of many multi-artist exhibitions and have had their own solo exhibitions, "The Art of Sysica" at Sleepy Hollow, and "Imaginarium By Sysica | Characters & Personalities" at the BAC. In 2022, Hazelton joined the staff at KSLA News 12 as a digital content producer, covering all news but took a special focus on art culture in the ArkLaTex. Due to their knowledge of the area's art culture, they were given a podcast called ArkLaTex Artistry, where they conducted in-depth monthly mini documentary-style interviews with artists. Hazelton has also won multiple awards, including Boom or Bust Byway awards from the National Endowment for the Arts through SRAC and the Community Trailblazer award through Speak Poetry Fest.
Jake Dement
Jake Dement is an abstract artist born in Shreveport Louisiana, 1978. His art journey started at a young age along side his love for the outdoors. His work is highly inspired by things like train car graffiti, album covers, skateboard graphics and Louisiana swamps. Jake is a mixed media abstract artist who has been showing art in the area since 2001. This artist is a father, a farmer and a boxing coach. Currently Jake Dement is showing his work in a few galleries around town and working on a new series of (Shattered Faces) which is coming out this fall.
Gavin Bridges
Gavin Bridges is a Louisiana artist and educator from Covington, Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in psychology from Louisiana State University at Alexandria, where he served as President of the Art League and as a member of the College of Liberal Art's Dean's Advosory Countil. He later earned a Master of Fine Arts from Jacksonville University. Bridge's work explores the connections between art, psychology, and social advocacy. Passionate about inspiring creativity and fostering meaningful conversations, he views art as a way to connect people, encourage reflection, and provide an outlet from the challenges of everyday life. Through his creative practice he seeks to make a positive impact, while remaining open to new experiences and artistic opportunities.
Erica Branch
Even though it can be a fickle medium, Erica predominantly works with watercolor and gouache. She loves using rich and vibrant colors in her work. For her subjects, she draws inspiration from nature and pop culture genres like anime. She seeks to express a childlike joy and sense of peace and happiness while also imbuing a slight tension in the areas of shadows. She recently was the featured artist at Art Station
Penny Warner
Pemny was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. For approximately 20 years, she lived close to Lake Bistineau where she raised two brilliant boys. The lake wild life is a constantly fascinates her. She is a self-taught artist, and the talent runs deep in her family. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration as well as a real estate license. She is married and lives in Bossier City, LA with two dogs, a few gold fish and six chickens. Each of her paintings are signed with her signature “cent symbol” to convey her first name and brand. Sales of her work began to take off, now thousands of happy customers have purchased her art. This includes sales abroad in other countries. Local sales are enjoyable because she likes to see the reaction when unwrapping their new hand painted commission. Creating art is very rewarding and the raw emotion it produces can be passed on to many.
Craig Watson
Craig Watson is a self-taught woodturning artist who transforms salvaged wood into one-of-a-kind bowls and vessels. Since discovering woodturning in 2016, what began as a hobby, now has grown into a passion with a dedicated studio practice focused on revealing the natural beauty within each piece of timber. Watson’s work is influenced by global travel and a community of woodturners around the world. Visits to Beijing’s historic Forbidden City constructed almost entirely of wood in the early 1400s and seeing King Tutankhamun’s 3,300 old wooden sarcophagus while on tour in Los Angeles deepened his appreciation for wood as a material that can endure for centuries. Unlike other art-forms, Watson’s creations can never be duplicated, no two pieces of wood are ever the same. Working exclusively with reclaimed and discarded wood, Watson allows the grain, color and character of the timber to guide the final form. Each piece is carefully turned, shaped, dried, sanded and finished to highlight the tree’s natural story-ensuring no two works are ever the same.