Ellie Apland graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Art History in 1999 where she studied drawing, painting, sculpture, and of course, the history of art. She and her family now live, work, and attend church in Champaign. Ellie loves to garden, particularly with native species, cook, study, and spend time with her friends and family. She is excited about painting rain barrels because they are a functional, resource-conserving, public-space surface to create art on. She hopes that rain barrel art will help attract people to the many benefits of conservation.

Ellie's painted Rain Barrel features plants that are native to Illinois many of which are growing in her own backyard. According to Ellie: "Native plants are water savers too, just like rain barrels – they are well adapted to growing in this climate and so never need to be watered or fertilized like non-natives. Plus, they make excellent food for the insects and animals that live around here." The flowers on the her Rain Barrel are: Black Eyed Susan (big yellow on the front), Spiderwort (smaller purple flowers with skinny leaves), Wild Strawberry (smaller white flowers with jagged leaves), Rose Hips (big red round seed pods), Yellow Ladyslipper (yellow alien-creature looking flower), Rattlesnake Master (white and green fluffy/spiky looking things), and Purple Coneflower (big purple flower).

An Illinois native with a concern for preserving our natural resources, Sharon Jackson has made Urbana home for most of her life. Sharon's background and strong interest in fine arts lead her to earn a degree from Parkland College in graphic design. While working as a graphic designer, Sharon's other creative outlets include photography, painting, quilting and fiber arts. She enjoys belly dancing and participates in "Bellies for Life", an annual show and fund raiser for breast cancer assistance. Sharon has been using buckets to catch rainwater for her garden and is looking forward to installing a rain barrel at her house this summer. While in the yard tending the garden, Sharon especially enjoys feeding the bunnies who live in her yard and frequent the garden buffet. :)

Sharon's painted rain barrel is inspired by textile designs of India. Fiber and textile design from around the world has always fascinated Sharon, and these elements often find their way into her art. Rain is a cause for celebration in India where agriculture is a mainstay, just as Central Illinois is also dependent on rain to support its agriculture. "The flowering vines and swirling paisleys painted on my rain barrel are a celebration of the life giving rain."

An Urbana native, Erinn Dady is the Retail Manager and Fused Glass Instructor at Glass FX in Champaign, IL. Prior to working with glass, Erinn studied Art at Parkland College. She enjoys the glass fusing process which involves melting glass in a 1,500 degree kiln. Examples of her work are available for purchase at the store on First Street in Downtown Champaign. Painting on unusual mediums is not new for Erin: growing up she "painted anything that wasn't nailed down including furniture, lamps, picture frames and boxes." Outside of work, Erinn enjoys spending time with her many pets, and she also co-hosts the "Sweet and Savory Blues" show on community radio station WEFT. Erin lives a vegetarian lifestyle and is passionate about the environment and animal welfare.

Errin's painted Rain Barrel is inspired by Vincent van Gough's "Starry Night." Erin likes the fluid flowing lines of "Starry Night" and envisions rain water swirling around inside the Rain Barrel during a summer night storm. Erin is a proponent of Rain Barrels and believes that "no matter how small the contribution to help the environment, when everyone pitches in, it can make a big impact."