Our Team

Amber Nicole Cannan (She/Her, They/Them) is our founder, leader, muse, web designer, lesson and grant writer. She is a biomedical artist, science and art teacher and general community member. Professor. She serves on a Sub Committee at the SEE Science Center and is an actual exhibit at the same institution. She is also the former president of The New Hampshire Creative Club, New Hampshire’s oldest professional arts organization.

Please view her freelance company’s website, and professional portfolio at www.bioscicreative.com

Brenda Noiseux (She/Her) is one of our teachers. She owns her own consulting company and follows her creative pursuits involving photography, mixed media, tinkering and anything that gets her hands dirty. With over a decade experience in the tech industry, she loves combining science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) with art.

Chadwick Howard (Him, he, himself) is an Instructor. He feels an instinctual need to explore, and experiment with a variety of media. Chad is inspired by biomimicry, and the properties of light; working with light as an artform itself.

While studying art education at NHIA, he felt that classrooms should be intriguing, informative, and a fun, safe environment for students to express their thoughts and beliefs which enabled students to grow into strong individuals.

Melanie Watanabe (She/Her) is a video editor and graphic designer who is a recent graduate from the New Hampshire Institute of Art. She strives to provide a comfortable space for viewers through her video and print work. She wants her work to bring people joy, relief, representation, and an overall appreciation for art. She uses flat colors, geometric shapes, and typography most heavily in her work, preferring to stick to a limited color palette to give a clean look. She has been creating ever since she was a child, and will likely continue for the rest of her life. melaniewatanabe.com

Avery Roy (She/Her) is a Manufacturing Engineer and Machinist in Manchester. She has a passion for troubleshooting and design and seeks to apply her experience working in industry to more community focused efforts. Her time in manufacturing and academia has shown her that no concept is too complex with the right approach and a bit of patience!

Avery has earned her BS in Manufacturing Systems and her AS in Machine Tool Technologies. She loves creative writing and has produced several works of short fiction and roleplaying game stories. She is also working to contribute to local LGBTQ+ groups and a community greenhouse initiative.

Susan Earnshaw (she/her) is a Substitute Teaching Assistant and loves everything about art, so she pursued it, gaining an Associates in Art from Northern Essex Community College. She also loves teaching, so she leads Sunday School at The First Church Congregational in Methuen. Her favorite parts were crafts, games, recess and snack time…. Well, all of it!

She works full time in early education and development, so is only available to us sometimes, but her heart makes her a valuable resource so we bring her around whenever we can.

In her free time, she strives to catch the most spontaneous and priceless moments for people to remember. In addition to her volunteer work with First Church Congregational in Methuen, she works with the elderly in their Activities Program at the Methuen Senior Center.

Susan just loves making art, observing artist and helping others find their way in the many paths of art.

Amara (she/her) is an energetic creative and local musician in the New Hampshire area known mostly for her equally colorful curls and personality. With over 10 years of experience in music, she is no stranger to the local arts community, and is deeply involved in growing and expanding the web of artists in the Granite State! Amara’s visual art medium of choice is photography, in which she loves to shoot bands and local concerts as well as candid photography. She also loves to play and explore in hands-on arts and crafts projects. When not playing shows with her band Cozy Throne, she is often working in the community helping to coordinate and run concerts and events for the Derry based non-profit the Jason R Flood Memorial Foundation, as well as running a youth art program at the Waypoint Youth Center in Manchester.

Hi! My name is Austin (he/him/his) and I am an artist, entrepreneur, educator, husband, and father to a very spoiled French Bulldog named Ziggy. I have over 30 years of experience painting, 15 years experience in printmaking and photography, and am also proficient in digital design. I enjoy ceramics, hiking, art house films, and all genres of music. I am new to New Hampshire, I recently moved from Santa Barbara to be nearer to my Niece and Nephew so I could be around to enjoy them growing up. Family and community are very important to me and I hope to find my place in this community.

Rhi Palmariello (she/her) is a recent ASU English graduate and current Substitute Teacher in southern New Hampshire. Her paintbrush of choice is a pen; she is passionate about all things writing, from poetry and prose to novels and manuscripts. During her time as a student Rhi was involved in a program that provided tutoring and mentorships to incarcerated youth in the Nevada corrections system, and she is a steadfast advocate for making art and literature readily available for all children. When she isn’t working Rhi can be found baking, forcing her cat Willow into pictures, reading in local coffee shops, and whittling away towards her dream of becoming an author.

Meet Alicia Gibson (She/Her), a Fine Arts student working towards her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. Alicia is also an ultra runner and life coach, a passionate advocate of helping individuals cultivate their own creative process. Alicia believes that utilizing art therapy techniques is an essential tool in cultivating one’s creative process and learning self-discovery. Through her unique combination of artistic talent and dedication to personal growth, she inspires others to unlock their creativity and embrace their true potential.

My name is Lindy Snell (She/Her) and I’m a substitute teacher, paraprofessional and local musician! I enjoy crocheting, adventuring, journaling, and taking care of my gecko.

My name is Seana McDuffie. I live in Southern New Hampshire and love movies, music, cartoons, traveling, and hanging with my two Puggles, Lex and Lea. I love to laugh and have a great time, and I can’t wait to learn alongside all of you.

Emery (they/them) is a teaching assistant, mixed media artist, and dog mom to their ESA, who Emery acts as Emotional Support Person to. They explore themes of disability, queerness, connection, and community in their pieces. Emery loves the freedom of combining whatever materials are at their disposal to make their vision come to life. As a recovering perfectionist they enjoy pushing themselves to try new mediums and techniques, trying to allow space for “failures” and unexpected outcomes.

Emery is mostly self-taught artist, receiving some formal training while obtaining their associates degree in General Studies. In addition to their work as an artist they have been involved in community organizing since age 12 and continue to be a passionate advocate in their community by sharing stories and partnering with local organizations. As a wheelchair user, Emery is eager to create spaces that are accessible to everyone, no matter their abilities or needs, physical or otherwise. They can usually be found reading a good horror book, hyperfixating on yet another art project, or telling too many bad jokes. Like laughter, they believe that art is a way to connect with others and provide a sense of catharsis and joy. Emery looks forward to sharing their love of learning and the joy they’ve found in art with you!