DAUD AKHRIEV
Fine Artist

Daud Akhriev was born in the former Soviet Union in 1959. He studied classical painting and drawing for 14 years, graduating with honors from the Repin Institute (Russian Academy of Fine Art) with a masters degree in fine art, under the tutelage of the late painter and Academic, Piotr Fomin. In 1991 he emigrated to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Akhriev, now a U.S. citizen, shares a home base in Chattanooga, Tennesee and Andalusia, Spain with his artist wife, Melissa Hefferlin.

Akhriev is internationally sought after as an instructor for figure and landscape painting and for his monumental work. The Four Seasons, his four 9 foot bronze figures completed for the city of Chattanooga, are listed on the national Public Art Registry. Additional public art includes the Erlanger Chapel Mosaic and the Baylor School Mosaic, as well as murals at the Collegedale Seventh-Day Adventist Church and St. Peter's Episcopal.

Daud Akhriev, Stylistic Pluralism was published in 2002 by Common Place publishing. He is also featured in Traditions Rediscovered, the Finley Collection of Russian Art. Akhriev’s drawings are in several books about the Repin Institute, both in Russian language and in Chinese, and in numerous magazines such as Artists Magazine, Pastel Journal, Island Journal, Chattanooga Magazine, Southern Living and American Art Collector.



Awards and Recognition

• Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Juror of Awards, Members Choice Award, Charleston SC, 2023
• Pastel Journal April, 2023, Feature Article
• 24th Annual Pastel 100, Pastel Journal, 24th, Founder’s Award 2022
• The International Portrait Competition, Portrait Society of America, Finalist and winner Southwest Art Award 2021
• Art Renewal Center 15th Salon, Southwest Art Magazine Award, Barcelona 2021
• Portrait Society of America, “Best Non-Commissioned Portrait” Members Only Competition, 2020
• Pastel Journal, Feature article, August 2020
• Pastel Journal, Feature article, August 2020
• 5th Bienale Internacional de Pintura Al Pastel, Hahnemuhle Award Spain 2020
• Oil Painters of America Annual Juried Exhibition, Master Signature Gold Medal USA 2019
• Oil Painters of America Virtuosos Exhibition, Award of Excellence, USA 2018
• Oil Painters of America Annual Juried Exhibition, Most Original Master Signature Division, Award of Excellence, USA 2018
• Spanish Pastel Biennial, Rembrandt Award, Oviedo, Spain 2018
• Most Imaginative Painting, Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Steamboat Springs Museum of Art, Colorado 2018
• Pastel 100, Pastel Journal, 2018
• Pastel 100, Pastel Journal, 2017
• Master Signature Status, Oil Painters of America, 2016
• Silver Medal Winner, Oil Painters of American National Juried Exhibition, 2016
• Grand Prize, Plein Air Magazine, Spring Competition 2016
• Silver Prize, Plein Air Magazine, Spring Competition, 2016
• Grand Prize, Pastel Journal 100, 2015
• Second Portrait Prize, Pastel Journal 100, 2015, Finalist, Salon 2015 ARC, Figurative Work
• Ten Best Mosaics 2015 (one of), Society of American Mosaic Artists, 2015
• Winning Team, Erlanger Hospital Chapel Redesign competition, 2014-15 (with HK Architects)
• Featured Artist, Hunter Museum Invitational Biennial Exhibition II, 2010
• National Registry of Public Art for the Four Seasons, Chattanooga TN 2009
• Best Still Life, Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, 2008
• Best Still Life and Second Place Overall, National Juried Show, Oil Painters of America 2006
• Feature Article, Artists Magazine, Feb 2006

LEE ALBAN
Fine Artist


Lee Alban began drawing as a child and learned basic art techniques from television programs and library books. Throughout his school years his interest intensified and, though encouraged by teachers, chose not to pursue an art career. It was a life choice based on the limited ability of an artist to support a family and other social considerations. Instead, he followed his love of biology and became a secondary school teacher, married, raised two children and eventually retired at age 52. At that time he entered the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, Maryland. The Schuler School is a small traditional atelier that has produced some of the country's premier artists.

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Proficient in many styles of painting, Alban fell in love with realism. He also combines realistic subject matter with impressionistic landscape paintings to produce the "Spirits of the American West" series. His work has garnered numerous awards in every genre, including the prestigious Gold Medal Award from Allied Artists of America and the Excellence in Still Life Award from Oil Painters of America. He has attained signature memberships in the Oil Painters of America and the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. He is also an elected member of the Allied Artists of America and is designated as an Assoc. Living Master by the Art Renewal Society. His work has appeared in major art publications, including Artists Magazine (cover), American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, International Artist, Fine Art Connoisseur, and the quarterly journal of the Center for Railroad Photography and Art.

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Alban is known for portraits of women "steam" workers and for his narrative paintings of Native American heritage, but he also paints landscapes, diners, railroad scenes, figures, and still life. His work is found educational institutions, corporations, and private collections throughout the country.

***

He makes NO COMPROMISES: refusing to follow temporary economic or stylistic trends in exception to the timeless art of contemporary realism.


Exhibitions

2020 Allied Artists of America New York, NY
2020 The Russell Exhibition Auction Great Falls, MT
2020 NOAPS Small Painting Exhibition Annapolis, MD
2019 Southwest Art Of The Heartlands Mena, AR
2019 RJD Gallery, Believe Exhibition The Hamptons, NY
2019 NOAPS Best Of America Exhibition Park City, UT
2019 International Guild Of Realism Alexandria, VA
2018 NOAPS Best Of American Exhibition Cincinnati, OH
2018 International Guild Of Realism Santa Fe, NM
2017 Allied Artists Of America New York, NY
2017 NOAPS Best Of America Fort Wayne, IN
2017 Southwest Art Of The Heartlands Mena, AR
2017 Oil Painters Of America, Eastern Regional St. Simons Island, GA
2017 Mountain Oyster Club Art Show Tucson, AZ
2017 International Guild Of Realism Carmel, CA
2016 Group Exhibition, “The Cauldron” Lovetts Gallery Tulsa, OK
2016 Southwest Art, Art of the Heartland Mena, AR
2016 Oil Painter’s of America National Exhibition Dallas, TX
2015 Traveling The West Show and Sale Dallas, TX
2015 Southwest Art, Art of the Heartland Mena, AR
2015 Masterworks From the International Guild of Realism Traveling Exhibition
2015 Virtuosos at the Salmagundi Club New York, NY
2015 Allied Artists of America National Exhibition New York, NY
2015 NOAPS Spring Signature/Masters Exhibition Beach, MO
2015 Oil Painter’s Of America National Exhibition Augustine, FL
2014 Allied Artists of America 100th Anniversary Exhibition New York, NY
2014 “Black Gold” solo exhibition, East Texas Oil Museum Kilgore, TX
2014 “Black Gold” solo exhibition Fredericksburg, TX
2014 Oil Painter’s Of America National Exhibition Bennington, VT
2014 American Society of Traditional Artists Annual Exhibition Scottsdale, AZ
2013 NOAPS, Best of America Bolivar, MO
2013 International Guild Realism Tempe, AZ
2013 American Society of Traditional Artists Annual Exhibition Scottsdale, AZ
2013 International Salon Exhibition San Antonio, TX
2013 Oil Painter’s of America National Exhibition Fredericksburg, TX
2012 NOAPS, Best of America Bolivar, MO
2012 Oil Painter’s of America Eastern Regional Bennington, VT
2012 Salmagundi Club Non-members Open Exhibition New York, NY
2012 International Guild of Realism Carmel, CA
2012 International Salon Exhibition San Antonio, TX
2012 Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art Scottsdale, AZ
2012 Blossom II (traveling exhibit) OH, IL, LA, AZ, FL, VA
2011 Main Street Gallery Dual Artist Exhibition Annapolis, MD
2011 American Artists Professional League National New York, NY
2011 Oil Painter’s of America Eastern Regional Orleans, MA
2011 International Guild of Realism Santa Fe, NM
2011 Salmagundi Club Non-members Open Exhibition New York, NY


Awards

2020 BoldBrush Painting Competition May, Top 15% FAV (Stephanie, Lady of Steam)
2020 BoldBrush Painting Competition May, Top 15% FAV (Waiting on a Night Train)
2020 NOAPS Small Painting Exhibition, Best Narrative Award
2020 NOAPS Spring Online Exhibition, Merit Award
2019 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Finalist, Figurative
2019 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Finalist, Landscape
2018 International Guild of Realism, Patron's Choice
2018 International Guild of Realism, Best Landscape
2018 BoldBrush Painting Competition June, Top 15% FAV
2018 BoldBrush Painting Competition May, Top 15% FAV
2017 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Finalist, Navajo Heritage
2017 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Finalist, The Break Room
2017 NOAPS On-Line Spring Exhibition, Most Innovative
2017 BoldBrush Painting Competition, Second Place
2017 Art Renewal Center Assoc. Living Master Award
2017 International Artists Magazine, Seascapes River and Streams Finalist
2017 Portrait Society of America, Members Only On-line Exhibition, Out Of The Box 2nd Place
2016 Southwest Art Magazine, Artistic Excellence, Finalist
2016 International Artist Magazine, Rivers, Streams, and Lakes Finalist
2016 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Landscape Finalist
2016 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Portrait Finalist
2016 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Interiors Finalist
2016 NOAPS On-Line Spring Exhibition, Award of Excellence
2015 Artists Magazine All Media Art Competition, Honorable Mention
2015 Southwest Artists, Art of the Heartland, Second Place
2015 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Still Life Finalist
2015 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Landscape Finalist
2015 NOAPS Signature/Masters Exhibition, First Place
2015 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Finalist
2014 Allied Artists of America On0line Competition, Elected Member Award
2014 Allied Artists of America, 100th Anniversary Exhibition, Best Seascape Award
2014 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Landscape, Finalist
2014 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Interior, Finalist
2014 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Still Life Finalist
2013 American Society of Traditional Artists Annual Exhibition, Best Landscape
2013 NOAPS On-Line Exhibition, Award of Merit
2013 NOAPS Best Of America Exhibition, Award of Merit
2013 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Interior, Finalist
2013 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Landscape Finalist
2013 NOAPS Online Exhibition, Most Innovative Painting Award
2013 International Artist Magazine, Landscape Finalist
2012 Artist’s Magazine, Over 60 Competition, First Place
2012 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Still Life, Finalist
2012 Art Renewal Center, ARC Salon Competition, Landscape, Finalist
2011 Flora and Fauna Exhibition, Schuler School of Fine Arts, Second Place
2011 America China Oil Painting Artists League, Finalist
2011 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, Top 50
2011 Blossom II, Art of the Flower, Finalist
2010 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Finalist, Animals
2010 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Finalist, Portraits and Figures
2010 Artists Magazine Annual Competition, Finalist, Landscape
2010 Oil Painters of America 19th National Exhibition, First Place Excellence In Still Life


Selected Publications

2020 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, "The Timeless Appeal of Horses"
2020 Railroad Heritage (CRP&A Journal) 3rd qtr., "Getting The Signal"
2020 International Artist Magazine, "Past and Present"
2020 Western Art Collector Magazine, "Painting The West"
2020 American Art Collector Magazine, Artists Focus "Silk and Steel"
2019 American Art Collector Magazine, "Collector's Focus, Portraits"
2020 American Art Collector Magazine, "Interpreting Life"
2018 American Art Collector Magazine, "Reimagining The West"
2018 Western Art Collector Magazine, "Silk and Steel"
2017 International Artists Magazine, "Know The River Has Its Destination"
2016 Western Art Collector Magazine, “Western Art East Of The Mississippi”
2016 International Artist Magazine “To Touch The Earth Is To Have Harmony . . .”
2016 Book (page): “Incite 4: Relax. Restore. Renew.”
2016 American Art Collector Magazine “Upcoming Show Preview: Silk And Steel”
2016 Southwest Art Magazine “Oil Painters Of America”
2016 American Art Collector Magazine “Spirits Of The American West”
2016 American Art Collector Magazine “Destination Texas”
2015 American Art Collector Magazine “Florida Bound”
2014 American Art Collector Magazine Preview “Black Gold Exhibition”
2014 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine “Off The Walls, Artists and Galleries”
2014 Western Art Collector Magazine “Artist Focus, Americana”
2014 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine “Dining And Wining: An Ageless Theme Endures”
2013 American Art collector Magazine “The Essence Of Form, Collecting Figurative Art”
2013 American Art Collector Magazine “Advancing Realism”
2013 International Artist Magazine “Early Morning Pasture”
2013 American Art Collector Magazine “Enduring Tradition”
2012 Artist Magazine Cover feature
2012 Southwest Art Magazine “A Portfolio Of Winners”
2012 International Artist Magazine “Three Point Linkage”
2012 Southwest Art Magazine “Art Values: Collectibles”
2012 Southwest Art Magazine “Art Values: Research and Development”
2011 April/May International Artist Magazine “Flowers and Gardens”
2011 American Art Collector Magazine “Salon International”
2010 American Art Collector Magazine “American Legacy”
2010 American Art Collector Magazine “San Antonio Salon”
2009 International Artists Magazine “Yellow Hibiscus”
2009 International Artists Magazine “Morning Hustle”
2009 American Art Collector Magazine “Trompe L’Oeil Masters”
2009 American Art Collector Magazine “Places of the Heart”

HEATHER ARENAS
Fine Artist


When Heather Arenas began her professional career, she decided there was no need for formal study because she had many opportunities to paint alongside some world class artists like Kim English and Daniel Sprick in Denver, Colorado. After several years of live study painting figures and landscapes in Colorado, Heather started to incorporate travel to find new subjects to paint such as the rainy streets of Barcelona, the gorse and sheep in Scotland and the colorful people and landscapes in Curacao. After a trip, she would return and paint a series to commemorate the experience.

Heather’s most recent series stems from a trip to see the museums in New York City. Since then she has been exploring the gestures of people viewing the exhibits and how expressive they can be to tell a narrative that goes beyond the walls of the museum. This series changed her attitude toward painting from just representing a subject to also incorporating less tangible ideas into her work. The woman in the yellow dress that appears in many pieces in this series represents her grandmother and other family members who supported her in her artistic career.
Heather’s style is recognizable by her high contrast, extensive use of grays, and bold brush work. She uses a combination of realism and impressionism to illustrate her story. Her goal is for her work to stand out from the crowd.
"My purpose as an artist is to create work that goes beyond 'That's nice' to creating stories with paint. I'm involving the viewer in the scene through experiences and memories of places they've been and people they know. I create multi-figure works that are expressive through gesture and a sense of place."



Recent Awards

• Cover of the FAC 2023 Museum & Gallery Guide
• AIS National Exhibition 2022, ‘Your Move!’, Hon Mention
• Bold Brush June 2022, 'We Are More Than Just ...', Finalist
• Bold Brush Feb 2022, 'Show Me the Monet!', Finalist
• Cover of the FAC 2021 Museum Guide
• Jerry's Artarama, Self Portrait Competition May 2020, 'I've Got This!', Finalist
• Gateway Intl, Oct 2019, 'A Small Offering', Finalist
• WAOW Fall Online 2019, “Left Turn, Clyde”, Best of Show
• Identity Portrait Competition September 2019, “I’ve Got This!”, Grand Prize
• WAOW National Juried Exhibition 2019, "Blush", Pursuit of Beauty award
• Gateway Intl, June 2019, “Moth-Winged Thoughts Carry Me Away”, Finalist
• AWA Spring Online 2019, “I’ve Got This”, Finalist
• Gateway Intl, 2017-2018 Grand Finale, "Red In The Sun", 3rd Place
• WAOW Spring Online 2018 for “Modern Day Venus”, Honorable Mention
• Chosen for AWA 25 in 25 Video Feb 2018, 25 in 25
• Gateway Intl Painting Contest, December 2017 for “Passion”, Finalist
• Gateway Intl Painting Contest, November 2017 for “Red in the Sun”, Finalist
• Sedona Art Prize, August 2017 for "It Takes All Kinds", Finalist
• Sedona Art Prize, June 2017 for "Red in the Sun", Finalist
• Bold Brush, May 2017 For "Oscar and Sharon's Big Day Out", Best of Show
• AWA Spring Online 2017, “Fisherman at Rest”, Finalist
• Sedona Art Prize, May 2017 for "Colorful Subject", Finalist
• WAOW Nat. Juried Exhibition 2016 for "Home on the Range", Art of the West Editor's Choice
• AWA National Juried Exhibition 2016 for "Orange Taffeta", Finalist
• WAOW Hot Summer Nights 2016 for "After the Dance", Best Overall
• WAOW Hot Summer Nights 2016 for "31st and Lexington", Honorable Mention
• OPA Online Showcase Spring 2016 "Belizean Chef", Honorable Mention
• AWA Spring Online Show 2016 for "Margaritas in Tubac", Finalist
• FASO August 2015 Bold Brush for “After the Lunch Rush” Finalist
• Finalist, Bold Brush May 2015 for "Angel in Disguise"
• Honorable Mention, CFAI Figurative show May 2015 for "Lady in Red"
• Finalist, AWA Spring Online Show 2015 for "Farmers Market Flowers"
• 2nd Place, WAOW Spring Online show 2015 for “Farmers Market Flowers”
• 3rd Place, Bold Brush January 2013 for "Ponytail"
• Jury Award Women Artists of the West 43rd National Exhibition 2013 for “Tapestry”
• Best Figurative and Wet Wall Painting of the Day Alla Prima Westcliffe, 2013

OLENA BABAK
Fine Artist

Olena Babak is an award winning, classically trained artist, whose landscapes and figurative works can be found in collections - U.S. and abroad. Some of her selected awards from 2016 include: Best Representation of Rockies National Park, Artist’s Choice Plein Air Richmond, 1st place Quick Draw & People’s Choice Award Finger Lakes Plein Air, Honorable Mention Art Renewal Center Salon, 1st place in Maine Art Show and many others.
Olena was also a recipient of the Hudson River Fellowship, NY and her works appear in numerous publications including two versions of the “Strokes of Genius” series, the “Poet’s and Artist’s: 100 Great Drawings,” and the “Classicist.” Formerly teaching graduate students at the Academy of Classical Design, Olena now offers private workshops and classes in her private studio and residence on the peaceful Great Moose Lake in central Maine.

Education

• Academy of Classical Design; Southern Pines, NC 2008-2011
• Studio Art Classes, University of Maine; Orono, ME 1999-2000
• Apprenticeship with G. Bereshnoi and A. Kylakov; Kharkiv, Ukraine, 1996-1997

• Workshop at Longboat Keys; Longboat Keys, FL 2015
• Workshop at Avondale Gallery; Jacksonville, FL 2015
• Teacher at Olena Babak Studios; Harland, ME 2012-present
• Workshops at Diversified Ink; Bangor, ME 2013-present
• Workshop at Oak Hollow Studios; Carthage, NC 2014
• Assistant Teacher at Academy of Classical Design; Southern Pines, NC 2009-2011

• Best of Show, Tilghman Island, Best of Show, Maritime Museum, Easton Plein Air, Easton, MD 2020
• First Place, Drawing Category, Bold Brush Competition, Online, 2020
• First Place, Hudson Valley Plein Air, Montgomery, NY 2019
• Best Nocturne, Second Place, Adirondack Plein Air Festival, Saranac Lake 2019
• Artist’s Choice & “Spirit of Wilderness” Founder’s Awards, Adirondack Plein Air, Saranac Lake, NY 2018
• People’s Choice Award, Bath County Plein Air, Warm Springs, VA 2018
• SourceTek Award, Richmond Plein Air, Richmond, VA 2018
• JFM Award, Wayne Plein Air, Wayne, PA 2018
• Best Use of Light Award, Solomons Plein Air, Solomons, MD 2017
• Best Marine, Cape Ann Plein Air, Gloucester, MA 2017
• Best Marine, Best Florida, Lighthouse Plein Air, Tequesta, FL 2017
• 2nd Place, Fingerlakes Plein Air, Canandaigua, NY 2017
• First Honorable Mention, Drawing Category, International ARC Salon, Port Reading, NJ 2017
• Charles Partridge Adams Award (Best Representation of Rockies Park), Rockies Plein Air; Estes Park, CO 2016
• Artist’s Choice Award, Richmond Plein Air; Richmond, VA 2016
• 1st Place, Quick Draw, Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival; Canandaigua, NY 2016
• People’s Choice Award, “Granger Homestead” Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival; Canandaigua, NY 2016
• 3rd Place, “Paint the Londontown Gardens” Pain Annapolis Plein Air Festival; Annapolis, MD 2016
• Finalist in Jerry’s Artarama Self Portrait Competition; Raleigh, NC 2016
• 1st Place, Maine Open Juried Art Show; Waterville, ME 2016
• 1st and 2nd Place , Bangor Art Society Open Juried Show; Bangor, ME 2015
• Guest Resident Artist and Lecturer, The Heliker-LaHotan Foundation; Cranberry Island, ME 2014
• 3rd Place , Bangor Art Society Open Juried Show; Bangor, ME 2014
• People’s Choice Award & 2nd Place, Maine Open Juried Art Show; Waterville, ME 2014
• Finalist, International ARC Salon; Port Reading, NJ 2014,2016
• Invitational Artist, Epcot, Disney; Orlando, FL 2014-2016
• Hudson River Fellowship, Grand Central Academy; New York, NY 2013
• Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County Regional Artist Project Grant; Fayetteville, NC 2010
• Zucarro Scholarship, Academy of Classical Design; Southern Pines, NC 2009
• St. Augustine Gallery Scholarship, St Augustine Gallery; St. Augustine, FL 2008
• 1st Place, at the St. Augustine Art Association “Figure Show”; St. Augustine, FL 2006
• Publications and Public Events
• Plein Air Magazine June-July 2019
• Wild Seed Project Magazine; 2016
• The Classicist, NO10; 2014
• Strokes Of Genius 6, 9: The Best of Drawing; 2014, 2016
• Art Renewal Center Salon Catalogue; 2013-2014,2016
• Lecture “Learning How to See”, Bangor Art Association, Bangor Library; Bangor, ME 2013
• Lecture, “Atelier Approach to Drawing”, Art Studio; Pittsfield, ME 2013
• Lecture “Meet the Artist”, The Heliker-LaHotan Foundation, Engine; Cranberry Island, Biddeford, ME 2014

• Plein Air Magazine, Featured Artist, 2019
• Lecture “Roll of Portraiture Through the History,” Bangor Art Association, Bangor Library, Bangor, ME 2019
• Strokes Of Genius 6 & 9, The Best of Drawing, 2014, 2016,2020
• Art Renewal Center Salon Catalogue, 2013-2014,2016, 2019
• The Classicist, NO10, 2014
• Lecture, “Learning How to See,” Bangor Art Association, Bangor Library, Bangor, ME 2013
• Lecture, “Atelier Approach to Drawing,” Art Studio, Pitsfield, ME 2013
• Lecture, “Meet the Artist,” The Heliker-LaHotan Foundation, Engine, Cranberry Island, Biddeford, ME 2014

FRANK BAGGETT
Fine Artist


Artist statement and biography

Frank is a native Tennessean with the passion to capture many of Tennessee's typical scenes of beauty on canvas. Working mainly in oils, the artist renders paintings that are reminders of childhood memories, actual images of old buildings, or perhaps the romance of a large city ...his subject changes daily. He uses unusual techniques which include painting with a palette knife, painting with a small brush...or even a nail! His impasto style is a combination of Impressionism as well as Realism and can be seen done in demonstrations at both his studio which he teaches monthly classes, or when doing demos at a gallery or other venues. "Oftentimes I will walk past a place that I have crossed many times in the past, but this time the sunlight strikes it, and it suddenly becomes an inspiration," Baggett says. He enjoys using light in his cityscapes which can depict the noisy, chaotic lifestyle of urban life which often folks can identify with.


Artist's Comments:

"All of my life I have had the pleasure to hunt, fish, see a sunrise, and enjoy nature's
wonders of the world that I live in. I wish very much for my children's children to have the same pleasures from life as I have. The only way this will happen is for us to have concern for preserving what is before us now.. Life is a gift, please do not take it for granted. Painting is the way for me to show what I have witnessed, experienced, and dreamed during my life. To me a blank canvas already has a story to tell, all I have to do is explain it by painting on it. Many of my works are from directly around my studio from which I often hike into the woods, or fish on the Tennessee River. I try and put emotions into many of my works, trying to give feelings to each piece. One of my greatest satisfactions is to see the joy expressed in one of my students eyes when they complete an artwork and are proud of it. I feel that as an artist I have an obligation to show the beauty that we often walk by each day completely ignored and forgotten.
Art is in every individual's life, please take the time to sit down and watch a sunset, because a sunset is "hand painted"....right from God's own easel.


He is an active member of the following organizations:

• Member of the National Oil Painters Society
• Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Inc.
• Member of the Chestnut Group
• Registered in the Metro Nashville Arts Commission

• "It is not the quality of the brush that determines the outcome of the painting...it is the hand holding the brush".
• "To capture the light of nature is great, but to hold it on the canvas is quite unique".

PAUL BATCH
Fine Artist


Paul Batch is a nationally represented contemporary painter best known for his atmospheric landscapes. Paul is a Signature member of Oil Painters of America (OPA) as well as an award-winning member of the Portrait Society of America. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Artist’s Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, American Art Collector, and most recently in Fine Art Connoisseur’s “Three to Watch” (January/February 2021).

Paul received both his B.F.A. and M.F.A. from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford (Connecticut). In addition to being a full time artist, Paul has been teaching art for over ten years and is looking forward to sharing his tips and techniques with you.


EDUCATION

Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT

• MFA, Painting
• BFA, Painting

• 2nd Place Overall, August-September PleinAir Salon, PleinAir Magazine

• Exceptional Merit Award, The Art of the Portrait, International Portrait Competition, Portrait Society of America, Grand Hyatt, Atlanta, GA
• Best Associate Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art Galleries, St. Augustine, FL
• Honorable Mention, 32nd Annual Art Competition, The Artist’s Magazine

• Exceptional Merit Award, The Art of the Portrait, International Portrait Competition, Portrait Society of America, Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, VA

• Salmon Brook Watershed Association Award, Art & Agriculture: Celebrating the Farmington Valley’s Natural Beauty, The Gallery at Lost Acres Vineyard, North Granby, CT

• Steven Brown Memorial Award, Places of Inspiration: Celebrating the Farmington Valley’s Natural Beauty, The Gallery at Lost Acres Vineyard, North Granby, CT

• Before the Masterpiece, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA
• Spring into Art, Susan Powell Fine Art, Madison, CT
• Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX

• Virtuosos of the Oil Painters of America, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art Galleries, St. Augustine, FL
• Landscape Show, Huey’s Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
• Winter in New England, New Works, Susan Powell Fine Art, Madison, CT
• Two Views: The Work of Paul Batch and Jonathan Earle, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA
• The Holiday Show, The Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT

• Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
• Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Light Catchers: The Work of Jonathan Earle and Paul Batch, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA

• Painting New England, The Gallery at Lost Acres Vineyard, North Granby, CT

• Mill House Gallery, Chester, CT

• Whispered Screams, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Silpe Gallery, West Hartford, CT

• Watching the Sun Set, The Gallery of Fine Art at Venetucci Home, Westbrook, CT
• Fleeting Light, Left Bank Gallery, Essex, CT

• “International Realism,” Art Renewal Center, 14th International ARC Salon, 2020
• “Exhibition Preview: Landscape Show,” Southwest Art Magazine, August 2019
• “Winners’ List,” PleinAir Magazine, Volume 9, Issue #4, September 2019
• “The Spirit in Solitary Places,” American Art Collector, February 2018
• “Inspiration in the Solitude of Quiet Seasons,” International Artist Magazine, Issue #122, August/September 2018
• “Master Showcase,” International Artist Magazine, Issue #107, February/March 2016
• The Artist’s Magazine, Volume 32, Issue #10, December 2015
• Fine Art Connoisseur, December 2015
• Journal of the Portrait Society of America, Issue #67, 2015, Color reproduction
• “The Art of the Portrait,” International Artist Magazine, Issue #104, August/September 2015
• Strokes of Genius 6; Value/Lights & Darks, North Light Publishing, Blue Ash, OH, October 23, 2014

MICHELE BYRNE
Fine Artist


Museum Collections

• 2017 Grand Teton National Park Museum, Permanent Collection, Jackson Hole, WY
• 2015 The Mennello Museum of American Art in Orlando, FL – purchased ten of my American Flag paintings for its collection.
• 2012 The Bennington Museum – purchased “Paper Mill Bridge” for it's Permanent Collection, Bennington, VT

• 2023 Oil Painters Of America National Juried Exhibition, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC
• 2022 PAAC (Plein Air Artists of Colorado) Nat’l Juried Show, The Allen Purchase Award & PAAC Board Award, Mary Williams Fine Art, Boulder, CO
• 2022 Plein Air Painters of New Mexico Nat’l Exhibit, Gallery Choice Award, Wild Sage Gallery, Taos, NM
• 2022 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
• 2022 Salmagundi Club, Annual National Juried Members Exhibit, New York, NY
• 2022 American Impressionist Society 6th Annual Small Works Juried Exhibition, Taos, NM
• 2021 Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Gallery Choice Award, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• 2021 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Award of Excellence, Juror Jeremy Goodding
• 2021 Oil Painters of America Convention – Wet Paint Award of Excellence, Juror John Michael Carter
• 2021 Oil Painters of America National Salon Show – OPA – Impressionist Award, Juror Charles Young Walls
• 2021 Jemez Springs Plein Air, NM – PAPNM – 2nd Place Award, Juror Tobi Clement
• 2020 Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Annual Juried Exhibit, Wider Nightingale Fine Art, Taos, NM
• 2020 Plein Air Magazine Cover and eight page featured article December-January issue
• 2019 LILIEDAHL ART INSTUCTION VIDEO released third Instructional Video of my painting process. PALETTE KNIFE PAINTING with Michele Byrne
• 2019 Wayne Plein Air Festival, Rosemary Brushes Award, Wayne, PA
• 2019 Lighthouse Plein Air Invitational, Third Place Award, Quick Draw, Tequesta, FL
• 2019 Faculty Demo Instructor at PACE - PleinAir Magazine Annual Convention & Expo, San Francisco, CA
• 2018 Salmagundi Club, Maureen Hopper SCNYC Award, Fall Auctions, New York, NY
• 2018 President’s Choice Award, American Impressionist Society 19th National Juried Exhibition, The Penninsula School of Art, WI
• 2018 Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, “Renoir” – The Spirit of Atlanta Award, Atlanta GA
• 2018 Salmagundi Club, Landscape Exhibit, Michael Harding Award, New York, NY
• 2017 Reading Hospital 150th Anniversary Commission for Commemorative Painting
• 2017 Salmagundi Club, Thumb-Box Exhibit, Memorial Award, New York, NY
• 2017 Awarded Membership, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP)
• 2017 Honorable Mention, American Impressionist Society 18th National Juried Exhibition, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, Park City ,Utah – Juror Albert Handell
• 2017 LILIEDAHL Art Instructional Videos released an Instructional Video of my painting process. "PAINTING IMPRESSIONISTIC FIGURES with Michele Byrne"
• 2017 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Invitational – Award of Excellence – Jackson Hole, WY – Juror Scott Jones
• 2017 Grand Teton National Park Foundation – Permanent Collection, Moose, WY
• 2017 Wayne Plein Air Festival – Rosemary Brushes Award, Juror Don Demers
• 2017 Lighthouse Arts Festival – Honorable Mention, Jupiter, FL – Juror George Van der Hook
• 2016 PleinAir Magazine Aug/Sept Salon – Second Prize Overall
• 2016 Award of Excellence, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Invitational, Grand Teton Nat’l Park, WY
• 2016 Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit – Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH
• 2016 American Impressionist Society 17th National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2016 Achieved Signature membership status with the American Impressionist Society
• 2015 Jane Impastato Award – Salmagundi Club Fall Auctions – Juror Elizabeth Spencer
• 2015 Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit - Eckert & Ross Gallery, Indianapolis, IN.
• 2015 American Impressionist Society 16th National Juried Exhibition, Trailside Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
• 2015 Macowin Tuttle Memorial Award (second place) - Salmagundi Club - Urban Landscapes Exhibit - Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 2014 American Impressionist Society 15th National Juried Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver,CO
• 2014 Award of Merrit and Randy Higby Award - Just Plein Fun Plein Air Invitational, Juror Jean Stern, Balboa Island, CA
• 2014 Invitational Faculty doing demo’s at PleinAir Magazine Annual Convention, Monterey, CA
• 2013 First Place Award, Just Plein Fun- Debra Huse Gallery Plein Air Invitational – Juror Jean Stern
• 2013 PleinAir Magazine, June/July – 8 Page Feature Article, by Steve Doherty
• 2013 TSKW - The Studios of Key West - 4 Week Artist Residency Fellowship, Key West, FL
• 2012 First Place Award & Peoples’ Choice Awards - Paint the Town, Chestertown, MD
• 2012 Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Juried Exhibit - Bennington, VT
• 2012 Second Place Award - Easton Plein Air Quick Draw, Easton, MD - Juror Tim Newton
• 2012 People’s Choice Award - Aspen Plein Air Invitational, Aspen, CO
• 2012 Third Place Award - Cranford Paint the Town, Cranford, NJ - Juror Joseph McGurl
• 2012 Southwest Art Magazine – September Issue – included in Urban Impressions article
• 2011 American Impressionist Society - National Juried Exhibition, Mountainsong Gallery, Carmel, CA
• 2011 First Place Award of Excellence - Berks Art Alliance 34th Annual Juried Show - Reading Museum, Reading, PA
• 2011 Southwest Art Magazine – September, Editor’s Choice “Artist’s to Watch” section
• 2011 People’s Choice Award – San Luis Obispo Plein Air, San Luis Obisbo Museum of Art, CA
• 2011 First Place Quick Draw Award - Aspen Plein Air Invitational, Aspen, Colorado
• 2010 1st Place Award - Salmagundi Club Winter Exhibition - New York, NY
• 2010 Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival Poster Artist
• 2010 2nd Place - Artists’ Choice Award: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO
• 2010 People’s Choice Award & 3rd Place Award: Cranford Paint the Town, Cranford, NJ
• 2009 Best of Show: Mountain Maryland Plein Air Event, Cumberland, MD - Juror Nancy Tankersley
• 2009 First Place Award: Berks Arts Council's ART OF JAZZ / Berks Jazz Fest, Reading, PA
• 2008 Open Box M Plein Air Award, Chadds Ford Art Festival, Chadds Ford, PA
• 2008 Purchase Award, Berks Art Alliance Juried Exhibition at the GoggleWorks, Reading, PA
• 2007 Peoples Choice Award & Award of Excellence: Paint Annapolis 07, Annapolis MD
• 2007 First Place Award: Rehoboth Beach Paint Out, Rehoboth Art League
• 2006 Second Place Award: Paint Annapolis 2006, Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Assoc.
• 2006 Featured in the February issue of Art Business News Magazine in the Emerging Artist section
• 2006 Published second book titled The Art of Conversation: Manhattan, which includes 39 paintings depicting conversations in the parks, streets and café’s of Manhattan. Introduction by Meredith Lewis, Editor of American Artist Watercolor Magazine. Available at Barnes& Nobles
• 2003 Auction Record established June 2003 at Freeman’s Auction, Philadelphia
• 2002 Published book titled The Art of Conversation, which includes 42 paintings and text explaining my inspirations and thoughts of conversation in modern day culture. Introduction written by Constance U. Battle, M.D., previous executive director of the National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. Available at Barnes & Nobles

• 2019 The Fabric of America – From A Woman’s Perspective, Alvernia University, Reading, PA
• 2019 New Works, Gildea Contemporary Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2019 The Fabric of America From A Woman’s Perspective, Alvernia University, Reading, PA
• 2018 American Travels and Travels Within – The Loft@505, Reading, PA
• 2016 Cuba, Key West & Paris Impressions - Gingerbread Square Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2015 The Art of Conversation, Gingerbread Square Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2014 The Art of Conversation on California’s Central Coast, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, San Luis Obispo, CA
• 2014 Travels Plein Air, Gingerbread Square Gallery, Key West, FL
• 2013 The French Connection, TSKW - The Studios of Key West, Key West, FL
• 2011 The Art of Conversation, American Art Gallery, Snow Hill, MD
• 2011 New Works, The YR Club, Reading, PA
• 2009 Recent Works, Longwood Art Gallery, Kennett Square, PA
• 2009 Plein Air Paintings, American Art Gallery, Snow Hill, MD
• 2008 The Art of Conversation - All Plein Air, Fromm Gallery, JCC of Reading, PA
• 2007 New Works, Uptown Gallery, New York, NY
• 2006 The Art of Conversation: Manhattan, Happy Dog Gallery, Piermont, NY
• 2004 Recent Paintings/The Art of Conversation, Ventures Gallery, Rehoboth Art League, DE
• 2002 The Art of Conversation/Paintings from the Book, Institute of the Arts, Wyomissing, PA

• 2021 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibit, Marks Arts, Wichita, Kansas
• PAPNM National Juried Exhibit, Sorrell Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
• American Impressionist Society 22nd National Juried Exhibit, Gallery 1516, Omaha, Nebraska
• Oil Painters of America National Salon Show – OPA
• Jemez Springs Plein Air, NM – PAPNM
• 2020 American Impressionist Society 21st National Juried Exhibit, Illume Fine Art, St. George, UT
• Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) Juried Annual Exhibit, Wilder Nightingale Art Gallery, Taos, NM
• 2019 Impressionism & Abstraction, Two Person Exhibit, Gildea Contemporary Gallery, Key West, FL
• American Impressionist Society 20th National Juried Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, NYC
• Door County Plein Air Invitational, Door County, WI
• Lighthouse Arts Plein Air Event, Tequesta, FL
• Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, GA
• Wayne Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• 2018 American Impressionist Society 19th National Juried Exhibit, Peninsula School of Art, Fishcreek WI
• Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, GA
• Wayne Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters Plein Air Invitational, Jackson Hole, WY
• Salmagundi Club Landscape Exhibit, New York, NY
• American Impressionist Society Small Works Showcase, Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
• 2017 Salmagundi Club Thumb-Box Exhibit, New York, NY
• Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit – Montgomery Fine Art, Park City, UT
• American Impressionist Society 18th National Juried Exhibit, Mary Anderson Fine Art, GA
• Lighthouse Arts Plein Air Event, Jupiter, FL
• Wayne Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• 2016 American Dreams Exhibit – Eckert & Ross Fine Art Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
• 2016 Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit – HowardMandville Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2016 Lighthouse Arts Plein Air Event, Jupiter, FL
• 2016 Wayne Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• 2016 Sedona Plein Air Invitational, Sedona, AZ
• 2016 Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibit – Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH
• 2016 American Impressionist Society 17th National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 2016 Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• 2013 Burchtree Fine Art - Two Person Show, Wayne, PA
• Laguna Plein Air Invitational – Laguna Beach, CA
• Featured Artist at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Fine Art Show, Villanova, PA
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Aspen Plein Air, Fourth Annual Invitational, Aspen, CO
• Debra Huse Gallery - Just Plein Fun Plein Air Invitational, Balboa Island, CA
• 2012 Juried in the Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Division Exhibit - Bennington, VT
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Aspen Plein Air, Second Annual Invitational, Aspen, CO
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• San Luis Obispo Plein Air Invitational, San Luis Obispo, CA
• 2011 American Impressionist Society Annual Juried Show, Mountainside Galleries, CA
• Easton Plein Air Invitational, Easton, MD
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Aspen Plein Air, Second Annual Invitational, Aspen, CO
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• Rittenhouse Square Art Annual, Philadelphia, PA
• Rehoboth Beach Art Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE
• San Luis Obispo Plein Air Invitational, San Luis Obispo, CA
• 2010 Salmagundi Club, Nocturnes Exhibit, New York, NY
• Salmagundi Club, Winter Exhibit, New York, NY
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Aspen Plein Air, First Annual Invitational, Aspen, CO
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• Paint The Town - Plein Air Exhibit, Cranford, NJ
• Rittenhouse Square Art Annual, Philadelphia, PA
• 2009 Industry and the Landscape Juried Exhibit, The Goggleworks, Reading, PA
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• Rehoboth Beach Art Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE
• 2008 Norfolk Plein Air Exhibit, Norfolk, VA
• Telluride Plein Air Exhibit, Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, CO
• Yellow Springs Art Show, Historic Yellow Springs, PA
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• Rittenhouse Square Art Annual, Philadelphia, PA
• 2007 Uptown Gallery, New York, NY, The Art of Conversation: Manhattan
• Purchase Awards/Berks Art Alliance 30th Annual Juried Art Exhibit, Reading Public
• Museum, Reading, PA
• Immaculata University Art Show, Malvern, PA
• Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Annual, Philadelphia, PA
• Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Event, Wayne, PA
• Rehoboth Beach Art Festival, Rehoboth Beach, DE
• 2006 ArtExpo New York, Jacob Javits Center, NY, NY
• Philadelphia Sketch Club 143rd Annual Juried Exhibition/Small Oil Paintings, Phila, PA
• Washington Square Art Show, New York, NY
• Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Annual, Philadelphia, PA
• Paint Annapolis, Maryland Hall, Annapolis, MD
• Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 110th Annual Juried Exhibit, New York, NY

• 2017 Studied with Carolyn Anderson
• 2015 Studied with CW Mundy in New Harmony, IN
• 2015 Studied with Quang Ho at the Salmagundi Club, NY
• 2011 Studied with artists Quang Ho, Carolyn Anderson and Dan McCaw
• 2009 Studied with artists Richard Schmid, Stuart Shils and Ken Auster
• 2001-2003 Figure and Portraiture classes, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
• 2002 Studied with California artist Robert Burridge at the Institute of the Arts, Wyomissing
• 1977-1981 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Communication Design, minor in Illustration/Painting, Kutztown University, PA

JOHN MICHAEL CARTER
Fine Artist


John Michael Carter was born in Chicago. He showed an interest in drawing at an early age and began his studies at 15 with his father E. L. Carter, a commercial artist and illustrator. After graduation from high school he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago.

In 1970 Carter continued his studies at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. There he studied the major classical schools of drawing and painting with Reynolds Brown, Harry Carmean, and Lorser Feitelson . He received his B.F.A. in 1972. Carter has had many shows in galleries all over the country. His wide range of subject matter covers landscapes, still life, figurative painting, and portraiture. His portraits include senators, governors, university presidents as well as corporate and civic leaders.

In addition to Carter’s love of figurative painting, he enjoys the street scenes and landscapes he discovers in his travels here and abroad.

Mr. Carter has been a frequent guest instructor at art workshops across the country, including the Scottsdale Artist School since 1990, the Dallas Arts League and the Cincinnati Arts Club. His thorough classical training and experience in drawing and painting gives him the technical expertise for superb instruction.

He is a master signature member of Oil Painters of America and serves on the board of directors of that organization.


John Michael Carter is the recipient of numerous awards for his work, including:

• 1988 Arts for the Parks ( Judges Award of Merit)
• 2002 American Society of Portrait Artists International Competition ( First Prize/ People’s Choice )
• 2002 Portrait Society of America International Competition ( Finalist / Honors Award)
• 2003 Portrait Society of America International Competition ( Finalist / Honors Award)
• 2004 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition ( Best of Show )
• 2005 Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition ( Finalist )
• 2007 Indiana Heritage Arts Exhibition ( Best of Show )
• 2012 Scottsdale Salon ( American Art Collector Award for Figurative Art )
• 2012 Hoosier Salon (Best of Show)

• Governor John Y. Brown, Kentucky
• John Gardner, former Secretary of H.E.W.
• U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, Indiana
• U.S. Senator Wendell Ford, Kentucky
• J.B. Duke, British American Tobacco Corp. , London, England
• Peter Goldmark, President of the Rockefeller Foundation
• David Jones, CEO Humana Corp.
• Governor E. Fletcher, Kentucky

JAMES CRANDALL
Fine Artist


After a long career as a concept illustrator in the advertising and motion-picture industry, James Crandall has shifted his focus to traditional easel painting. He finds subject matter in everyday life, and is always looking for an intriguing play of light, or the unstaged gestures of people at work and at play. An ongoing series of paintings depicts life in his maternal grandfather's hometown of Lucca in northern Tuscany, where he regularly visits. Recent work also includes scenes from the rural backroads of California's Gold Country, where he and his wife Nancy make their home.
He is a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society.


Education:

• Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California 1978-1981 (BFA, Awarded with Distinction)
• University of California, Los Angeles, 1975-1977

• 2020 ADI Top 5 Most Awarded Artist Rating (4th)
• 2020 American Impressionist Society 21st National Exhibition
• 2018 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, October (Judge: Carol Marine)
• 2018 Finalist, BoldBrush Art Competition, October (Juror: Robert Lemler)
• 2018 2nd Annual American Impression Society Small Work Showcase, Cincinnati, OH
• 2018 40th Annual Crocker Museum Art Auction, Sacramento, CA
• 2017 Award of Excellence, Master Division, OPA Eastern Regional, St. Simons Island, GA
• 2017 President's Choice Award, American Impressionist Society's National Exhibition
• 2017 Awarded Signature Member status, American Impressionist Society
• 2017 Finalist, BoldBrush Art Competition, June (Juror: David Kassan)
• 2017 2nd Prize, BoldBrush Art Competition, May
• 2017 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, April
• 2017 California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Los Angeles
• 2017 Finalist, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, February
• 2016 1st Place, Master Class, ArtMuse Contest, October
• 2016 Award of Excellence, Masters Division, OPA Western Regional, Scottsdale, AZ
• 2016 Gold Medal, Masters Division, Oil Painters of America's Salon, Fort Wayne, IN
• 2016 Award of Merit, American Impressionist Society National, Kirkland, WA
• 2016 Finalist, Boldbrush Art Competition, January & December
• 2015 Awarded Master Signature status, Oil Painters of America, December 2015
• 2015 2nd Prize, Signature division, Oil Painters of America Online Showcase, Fall 2015
• 2015 Judge, BoldBrush Art Competition, July 2015
• 2015 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (January & February)
• 2014 Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of American Western Regional
• 2014 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (July and October)
• 2014 Award of Excellence, Paso Artsfest, Paso Robles, California (Juror: Quang Ho)
• 2014 Finalist, Boldbrush Competition (April)
• 2013 1st Place, Signature division, Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase
• 2013 Solo Exhibition, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
• 2013 Finalist, RayMar Art Competition (February, August)
• 2013 California Art Club's Gold Medal Exhibition
• 2013 2nd Place, Boldbrush Painting Competition (June)
• 2013 2nd Place, Boldbrush Painting Competition (May)
• 2013 Finalist, RayMar Fine Art Competition, February 2013 (Juror: Nancy Guzik)
• 2012 3rd Prize, Oil Painters of America Spring Online Showcase
• 2012 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas (Jury's Top 50)
• 2012 Finalist, RayMar Art Fine Competition (January, March, September, November)
• 2012 Finalist, Bold Brush Art Competition, (January, September)
• 2012 Judge, BoldBrush Art Competition, December 2011
• 2011 BoldBrush Art Competiton, August 2011, (Best of Show Award)
• 2011 RayMar Art Fine Art Competition, 2010-2011, (Finalist [Top 12 of the Year] Award)
• 2011 Oil Painters of America’s 20th Annual National, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Portraiture Award of Excellence)
• 2011 Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas (Jury's Top Fifty)

STEVEN CURRY
Fine Artist


Origin: Born in Millbrae, California / 1957.

Education: AA / Associate in Arts / College of Marin / 1976- 78- BFA / Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree / Visual Communication California State University, Long Beach 1978 - 82

Professional Work: Graphic Designer / Various Agencies / Los Angeles, CA 1982 - 88.
Owner and Founder of the Curry Design Agency / Santa Monica, CA 1988 - 2003
Partial Clients list: Nissan North America, Mercedes North America, Sony Pictures, the Academy Awards / 1988 to 2003


Shows and Merits:

• 1997: United States' Library of Congress / Selected works
• 1998: United States' Library of Congress / Selected works
• 1999: United States' Library of Congress / Selected works
• 1999: Gold Record / Capitol Records / Design of album exceeding sales of 500,000 copies
• 2007: Sonoma Plein Aire Festival / Sonoma, CA
• 2011: Ventura County Museum of Art / Al Fresco show
• 2012: Napa Festival of the Arts / Napa, CA
• 2015: Ventura County Museum of Art / Featured Artist
• 2017: Santa Paula Museum of Art / CAC California Art Club show
• 2009- 2021: Museum of Natural History/ Featured Artist / Santa Barbara, CA
• 2013- 2023: CAC California Art Club / Gold Medal Shows
• 2022: Sonoma Plein Aire Festival / Sonoma, CA
• 2023: Invited Faculty instructor and Speaker / Plein Air Convention , Denver, CA
• 2023: Sonoma Plein Aire Festival / Sonoma, CA

• 2015: Ojai Quarterly / Spring issue “Art and About article”
• 2017: Southwest Art / June issue, “Magical Moments feature”
• 2018: Art of The West / March / April Issue, “Celebrating God’s Creations”

• 2021: Streamline Publishing / “Finding Your Voice: Painting with Creative Expression”

• 2007- 2024: California Art Club / Artist Member

DMITRI DANISH
Fine Artist


Dmitri Danish was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1966. He was a natural artist from the start, taking his first drawing pencil in hand before he was able to walk or talk. His mother, an artist herself, was the first to discover Dmitri's talent. She saw that he expressed his thoughts, feelings and desires through his creations, and she started communicating with her son via color and shape. Painting became as natural for Danish as breathing, eating, or sleeping. By age 5, Danish was taking his first professional painting lessons; he was already able to paint quality landscapes, portraits, still life's and abstract paintings. At age 13 he was accepted into a gifted children's art school in Kharkiv, and by age 15 he was enrolled at the Kharkiv State Art College.

Danish's favorite genre is the cityscape, he painted cities that he read about in books, cities that he heard about on the radio or in people's conversations, and cities that he saw printed on postage stamps. He created new countries in his mind and painted their cities, streets, canals, doors and windows. Danish liked painting doors and windows most of all because of their symbolic appeal. They let him view and enter into unknown worlds, which he couldn't do in reality. His imagination was able to take him to those unusual and magical worlds that he saw in his dreams. In college Danish became fascinated with Kharkiv, the city where he was born and raised. He painted various buildings, wooden houses and walls, small coffee shops under huge old trees, and again, doors and windows from his Southern city. His paintings portrayed Kharkiv as a warm and cozy place to live.

In 1986 Danish graduated from college and began to teach art. He quickly realized that teaching art was not his ideal career - he wanted to express himself through art, not teach others. Danish went into the army for three years and as soon as he returned, he immediately entered into the department of Fine Art at the Kharkiv States Polytechnic University. He began to paint for a living. After two years he became a member of the prestigious Union of Ukrainian Artists and his paintings were in high demand. His career as a fine artist took off and he began to exhibit in Ukraine, Russia and other Eastern European countries. In 2000 the Kharkiv State Museum of Fine Art conducted a solo exhibition of Danish's works called "Cities and Mountains" and purchased three of his paintings that are now part of their permanent collection. During 2000-2001, the New Jersey Museum of Modern Art also purchased three of Danish's works. In 2003 the Ukrainian government purchased a painting and presented it to the outgoing ambassador of the United States to Ukraine. Danish has traveled most of Europe since the opening of the Russian borders visiting cities and countries he dreamed about as a child. He has spent time in Rome, Venice, Sienna, and in many cities of France, Holland, Hungary, Austria, Greece, and Turkey.

KEN DEWAARD
Fine Artist


For Ken there is nothing more rewarding and challenging than painting under an open sky, surrounded by the scents and sounds of nature, along with it's ever changing color and harmonies to excite one's creativity.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts with honors, Ken began working in a commercial art studio in Chicago. He continued his studies at the American Academy of Art, where he studied with nationally recognized watercolorist, Irving Shapiro. Upon Irving's recommendation Ken joined the acclaimed Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago, where he soon began studying with Scott Burdick as well as Dan Gerhartz.
It is here that Ken adapted his direct and pure approach as well as his bravura brush style, which he achieves by painting directly from life.

Strongly inspired by John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, William Wendt, Edgar Payne, Nicolai Fechin, and the Russian Impressionists, Ken finds himself painting an array of subject matter from everyday life. The feelings Ken evokes in his paintings are due in part to the excitement and passion he feels while capturing the fleeting effects of light, or the wonderful color nuances and harmonies presented by nature and all of her beauty.

Ken continues to travel throughout the United States as well as Italy and China. He has won numerous awards around the country in many of the top Plein Air Competitions including the coveted Artist Choice awards, Best of Show, along with a host of various other awards. He has spent many a summer day painting the Italian hillsides, American vistas, and beauty wherever it finds him. This has always been a contributing factor in his work, insight, and inspiration and growth as an artist.

After spending the last 14 years in the Driftless area of Wisconsin, Ken has recently moved to Maine. After much thought and consideration he and his wife along with their 4 young children decided on Hope ME, which is a neighboring town to Camden, mid coast Maine which is also where the Mountains Meet the Sea. The area is absoluetly gorgeous and full of inspiration, so much to paint!



Education

• 1980 - 1984 Western Illinois University / BA
• 1985 - 1991 American Academy Of Art - Shapiro / Smuskiewicz
• 1992 - 2001 Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
• 1994 -1998 Independent Study / Scott Burdick / Dan Gerhartz

• 1999-2000 Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art, Chicago
• 2007 - 2009- Instructor- Scottsdale Artists School
• 2005 - 2016 - Instructor- Denmark Academy of Fine Art, Denmark, WI

• 2022 Cape Ann Plein Air - Best Nocturne Award - Patrick Saunders- MA
• 2022 Ogunquit Plein Air - 1st Place Award - Eric Jacobson - ME
• 2021 Cape Ann Plein Air - Best Body of Work - Greg LaRock Legacy Award
• 2021 Cape Ann Plein Air - Best Nocturne Award - Kathie Odom- MA
• 2019 Cape Ann Plein Air - First Place Award - Kenn Backhaus - MA
• 2018 Plein Air Easton - Best Hospitality Award - Jill Carver - MD
• 2017 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Artist Choice - Top Honors - FL
• 2017 Cape Ann Plein Air - Charles Movalli Award - Marc Hanson - MA
• 2016 Cape Ann Plein Air - Manchester by the Sea - Ray Hassard - MA
• 2016 Boothbay Plein Air - Best of Show - ME
• 2016 Boothbay Plein Air - Peoples Choice - ME
• 2016 Lighthouse Plein Air - Honorable Mention - Jim McVickers - FL
• 2015 Door County Plein Air- Best of Show - WI
• 2015 Door County Plein Air - Artist Choice - WI
• 2015 Olmsted Invitational Plein Air - Paint Quick Honorable Mention - GA
• 2015 Lighthouse Plein Air - 3rd Place Award - Jupiter FL
• 2014 Plein Air Easton - 3rd Place Award - Juror - Peter Trippi - MD
• 2014 Plein Air Easton Pre Event - Tilghman Island - Artist Choice Award
• 2013 Laguna Beach Invitational- The Strada Award - CA
• 2013 Laguna Beach Invitational- Randy Higbee Gallery Award - CA
• 2013 Plein Air Easton - Artist Choice Award - MD
• 2013 Plein Air Easton - 3rd Place Quick Draw - Juror - Don Demers - MD
• 2013 Easel's of Frederick - Best Architectural Award - Ron Donoughe - MD
• 2013 Richmond Plein Air - Honorable Mention - Juror - Steve Doherty - VA
• 2013 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw -Honorable Mention - FL
• 2012 Sonoma Plein Air - Honorable Mention - CA
• 2012 Easton Plein Air - Quick Draw - Honorable Mention - MD
• 2012 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Artist Choice - Top Honors - FL
• 2012 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw - Top Honors - FL
• 2012 Callaway Gardens Plein Air - Best of Show - Purchase Award - GA
• 2011 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw - Top Honors - FL
• 2010 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Arist Choice Award - FL
• 2010 Florida's Forgotten Coast - Quick Draw - Honorable Mention - FL
• 2009 San Luis Obispo Plein Air - Best of Show - CA
• 2009 Award Plein Air Easton Competition - Best Gardenscape - MD
• 2009 Quick Draw at the Covered Bridge, Zumbrota MN - 2nd Place- MN
• 2008 Plein Air Easton Competition - Honorable Mention - MD
• 2007 Plein Air Easton Competition - Honorable Mention - MD
• 2005 Barns and Farms National Exhibit - Top Place - WI
• 2004 Barns and Farms National Exhibit - Forth Place - WI
• 2003 Odin Gallery - Best of Show - WI
• 1999 Southside Art League Regional XIV - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1999 Palette and Chisel Exhibit - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1998 Charlotte County National Art Exhibit - Second Place - FL
• 1998 Southside Art League Regional XIII - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1997 Harriet Bitterly Show - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1997 Oak Park Art League - Second Place - IL
• 1997 Artscape Smart Museum - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1996 Life and Imagination - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1996 Artscape Smart Museum - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1995 Silver Medal Show - Honorable Mention - IL
• 1995 Harriet Bitterly Show - First Place - IL
• 1994 Holiday Show - Third Place - IL
• 1994 Silver Medal Show - Second Place - IL

LYNNE FRASER
Fine Artist


As a native of Scotland, landscapes and scenery have always been Lynne’s muse. Lynne built her career creating 3D art, sculpting landscape designs for 30 years in Cincinnati, OH. Brushes and oil paints now replace her tracing paper & pencils and her love of outdoor painting now translates the scenery vividly onto canvas with a distinct impressionistic, ‘a la prima’ painting style. Lynne’s light-filled paintings chronicle her travels to Greece, Italy, Key West and ‘The Forgotten Coast’ of old Florida, and now Charleston, SC.

For the past 9 years, Lynne’s increasing fascination with the lowcountry of South Carolina and Florida Pan Handle, has resulted in sophisticated renderings of Shem Creek, Poe’s Tavern, Magnolia Plantation in Charleston and St Vincent Island, Indian Pass and Apalachacola, FL Whether at home in her adopted coastal towns of Port St Joe, Florida and Mt Pleasant, SC, the banks of the Ohio River in Cincinnati or traveling through Europe & the US, Lynne’s adventurous spirit instantly connects with the local views rendering them on canvas with attention to color, light, and detail. Her paintings are in private collections in the U.S. and Europe.

ANN GOBLE
Artist


Ann Goble began her painting career in 1999 and has studied under Daniel Keys, Jill Soukup, Roseta Santiago, David Leffel, Gregg Kreutz and Marc Chatov. Her subjects include equine, figure and still life. She works in oils and is influenced by the fluid, painterly style of masters such as Sargent, Maurer, and Serov. She has participated in many juried shows and has received numerous awards for her work. Her works have been published in national magazines including Fine Art Connoisseur, Southwest Art and Western Art Collector. Her paintings are part of many private collections.

Ann is a Signature Member of The Women Artists of the West, an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America and The American Impressionist Society. Ann paints full time and lives in Georgia.


Awards and Exhibitions

• 2020 38th Annual Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, Juried, Charleston, SC
• 2019 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Birmingham, AL
• 2019 Timpson Creek Callery, Two Person Show, Clayton, GA
• 2019 Women Artists of the West, 49th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Boulder, CO, Awarded Best in Show, Signature Member
• 2019 Solo Show, "Beautiful Creatures", Colquitt Arts Center, Moultrie, GA
• 2018 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD, Award of Excellence
• 2018 Women Artists of the West 48th National Exhibition, Price Tower Arts Center, Bartlesville, OK, Fine Art Connoisseur Award of Excellence
• 2018 Artists of The Blue Angel, Quinlan Visual arts Center, Gainesville, GA
• 2017 Women Artists Of The West, 47th National Juried Exhibition, Annapolis, MD, Award of Excellence
• 2017 American Impressionist Society, 18th National Juried Exhibition, Park City, Utah
• 2016 Women Artists of the West, Juried Show, Fredricksburg, TX
• 2016 Bareback: Symmetry in Motion, Equine Exhibition, Juried Show, Los Angeles, CA
• 2016 Brenau University President's Summer Art Series, Invited Artist, Simmons Gallery
• 2016 Booth Western Museum Artist Guild, Juried Show, Cartersville, GA
• 2015 Two Woman Show, Ranchlands, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2015 Mountain Oyster Show, Juried Show, Tucson, AZ
• 2015 Honorable Mention, National League of American Pen Women, Atlanta Branch, Juried
• 2015 St. Simons Island Glynn County Visual Arts Juried Show, Fine Art and Flowers
• 2015 Women Painters of the Southeast, 2015 Juried Members Exhibition
• 2014 Bright Light Show, Juried by David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw, Scottsdale, AZ
• 2014 Best in Show, Festival of Trees, High Museum of Art, David Brenneman Juror
• 2014 First Place, Georgia Art League, Seth Hopkins Juror
• 2014 The Artists of the Blue Angel, Dawsonville Arts Center
• 2013 Second Place, CCAF in Association with The High Museum of Art
• 2013 Women Artists of the West, Juried Show, Estes Park, Colorado
• 2013 Mothers and Daughters, Two Woman Show, Bowen Center for the Arts
• 2012 First Place, Quinlan Art Center, Juried Show, Dog and Pony Show
• 2012 Creative Catalyst Productions Award, Women Artists of the West, Juried Show, Fredericksburg,
• 2011 Runner-up Director's Award, Art Horse Magazine, Ex Arte Equinus V Competition
• 2011 Second Place, CCAF in Association with The High Museum of Art
• 2011 First Place, Member Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2011 Atlanta Fine Arts League, Juried Exhibition
• 2011 Juried Exhibition, Sound Off, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2011 Third Place and Award of Merit, Women Artists of the West, Juried Show, Rockport, TX
• 2011 Sponsor's Award, Art of Our Mothers, Juried Exhibition, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2010 Atlanta Fine Arts League, National Juried Exhibition
• 2010 Chosen for Cover, Juried Exhibition, Equestrian Art Exhibit, Art School of Sandy Springs
• 2010 Member Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Honorable Mention
• 2009 Generations, 2 Woman Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2009 Juried Exhibition, Equine Art, Atlanta
• 2007 Oil Painters of America, Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition, Naples, FL
• 2007 Member Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Honorable Mention
• 2007 Elements of Light, Juried Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2007 Group Show, The Artists of the Blue Angel, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2007 First Place, Georgia Art League, Juried Exhibition
• 2007 Third Place, Georgia Art League, Juried Exhibition
• 2006 People, Places, Things, Juried Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center
• 2006 Gallery 111 Award, Dalton Arts Guild, Juried Exhibition
• 2006 First Place, Georgia Art League, Juried Exhibition

JEREMY GOODDING
Artist


Jeremy Goodding is an award-winning oil painter and a Master Signature Member of Oil Painters of America.
Drawn to the challenge of creating his own compositions, he primarily focuses on still life, with an emphasis on
light and shadow.

Art has captured Jeremy's interest for as long as he can remember. No matter what stage of life he was in, he
could never escape the desire to create beautiful paintings. Having been raised on an eastern Nebraska farm,
Jeremy has an innate connection to the land and its natural beauty, which often influences the organic look and
mood of his work.

Time at his easel has been Jeremy's most profound educator. In addition, he occasionally studies with other
renowned artists. The works of master painters such as Hovsep Pushman, Rembrandt, and Emil Carlsen have
also significantly influenced Jeremy's work.

Jeremy resides in Lincoln, NE with his wife, Iris, together they have 3 grown children. Jeremy paints daily from
his home and studio.

Artist’s Statement: I strive to create paintings with a captivating visual idea through the abstract beauty of
paint while retaining the essence of reality. The paintings are sensitive, yet dynamic, using the subtle drama
of light, color, and movement. My paintings incorporate subject matter, harmoniously arranged, from
pottery to simple leaves. Each painting should enrich, bless, and evoke a sense of wonder concerning truth,
the natural world, the world of a painter, and life.


Awards and Recognition

2024

• 1st Place, August Bold Brush Painting Competition, online
• Honorable Mention, Artists Magazine, Annual Art Competition
• Honorable Mention, Richeson International Art Competition, Still Life and Floral
• Award of Excellence, NOAPS 2024 Fall International Online Competition
• Award of Merit, NOAPS 2024 Associate Member Online Exhibition

• Best Technique and Handling, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Associate Member Online
• Competition
• Honor Award, Richeson75, Still Life and Floral International Competition, Online
• Still Life Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Salt Lake City, Utah

• Gold Medal, PACE New Masters Art Exhibition and Competition, Council Bluffs, IA
• Purchase Award, PACE New Masters Art Exhibition and Competition, Council Bluffs, IA
• Award of Excellence, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society
• ’s Best of America 2022, Jackson, WY
• Best Signature Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, National Competition, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Best Realism Award, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Best of America Small Works
• Award of Excellence, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Online International Spring Competition
• Best Still Life Award, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Online International Fall Competition

• 1rst Place, OPA 2021 Wet Paint Competition, Santa Fe, NM
• The Bold Brush Award (top award), May Bold Brush Painting Competition, online
• 2nd Place, National Oil and Acrylic Painter Society, Best of America Small works
• Fashion Week San Diego Award, Art Renewal Center, 15th International Salon
• Dual Category Award, Art Renewal Center, 15th International Salon

• Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America, Fall Online Showcase
• Best Still Life, National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, International Fall Competition, Online
• Second Place, Southwest Art Magazine, Artistic Excellence Competition
• Third Place, OPA’s 2020 Virtual Wet Paint Competition, Studio Division
• Still Life Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Virtual and in person in
• St. George, Utah
• Best in Show, Richeson75, Still Life and Floral International Competition, Online

• Still Life Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Santa Fe, NM
• Master Class Finalist, Art Muse Contest, September Online Competition
• Best Still Life, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, International Spring Competition, Online
• Second Place, OPA’s “Southwest Treasures” Wet Paint Competition, Studio Division, Saint George, UT
• First Place, Richeson75, Small Works International Competition, Kimberly, WI
• Emerging Artist Winner, Art Muse Contest, January Online Competition

• Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Boulder, CO
• Realism Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Second Place, OPA Wet Paint Competition, Studio Division, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America, Spring 2018 Online Showcase
• Third Place, Richeson75, Still Life and Floral International Competition, Online

• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Wichita, KS
• Oil Painters of America, Salon, Indianapolis, IN
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Prescott, AZ

• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Charleston, SC
• Oil Painters of America, Masters Show, Philipsburg, MT
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Small Works, Boulder, CO
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Best of America 2023, Alexandria, VA
• New Masters, PACE, Council Bluff, IA
• Gallery 1516, Nebraska Artist Biennial, Omaha, NE
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Salt Lake City, UT

• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Steamboat Spring, CO
• Spirit, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
• New Masters, PACE, Council Bluff, IA
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Best of America 2022, Jackson, WY
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Dallas, TX
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Best of America Small Works, Birmingham, AL

• Museum of Nebraska Art, Solo Exhibition – “Illuminating Form”, Kearney, NE
• Gallery 1516, Nebraska Artist Biennial, Omaha, NE
• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Escondido, CA
• Oil Painters of America, Salon, Gainesville, GA
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Best of America Small Works, Charleston, SC

• National Cowboy Museum, Small Works Great Wonders, Oklahoma City, OK (online and in person)
• Sugarlift at the High Line Nine, STILL, Chelsea, NYC (online and in person)
• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TX (online and in person)
• Oil Painters of America, Salon, Online
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, St. George, UT (online and in person)
• The Collector’s Show, Galerie Kornye West, Ft. Worth, TX (online)
• New Visions, Illume Gallery of Art, St. George, UT (Online auction)
• Spirit, Museum of Nebraska Art, Online
• Richeson75, Small Works International Art Competition, Kimberly, WI

• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional, Santa Fe, NM
• Nebraska Artist Biennial, Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE
• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibition, Saint George, UT
• Richeson 75, Small Works International Art Competition, Kimberly, WI
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Boulder, CO
• Oil Painters of America, Salon Exhibition, Traverse City, MI
• Oil Painters of America, National exhibition, Steamboat Springs, CO
• Spirit, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE
• Richeson 75, Small Works International Art Competition, Kimberly, WI
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, Holiday Small Works Juried Exhibition, Parkville, MO
• Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Juried Exhibition, St. George, UT
• Richeson75, Still Life and Floral International Competition, Online
• Spirit, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE

• 2024, January/February – Artists Magazine, 40th Annual Art Competition
• 2020, December/January- Southwest Art, “Artistic Excellence” Competition
• 2020, November- Southwest Art, “The Still Life, 8 Talented Painters who Capture Beautiful Objects”
• 2020, May- Western Art Collector,“Outstanding Oils” feature on OPA National Exhibition
• 2019, May- American Art Collector, “Treasured Images” feature on OPA National Exhibition
• 2018, October- Southwest Art, “Artists to Watch” feature

ERROL JACOBSON
Artist

Artist statement

I paint exclusively with oil paints and primarily paint on board which provides the rigid surface that suits the manner in which I apply paint. I often apply my paint with a very delicate touch but other times I apply it in a rapid and forceful emotional manner creating an interesting counterpoint of surface texture and broken color. My paintings combine varying degrees of abstraction coupled with representation with my subject matter consisting primarily of cityscapes. I paint both en plein air (in the open air) as well as in my studio with my studio work greatly influenced by the time I spend painting outdoors en plein air. My paint application is based on time tested traditional principles of oil painting which contributes the quality and longevity of my work. Oil paints give me the freedom and flexibility to push and pull the paint in various ways and directions to create the edges, marks, and shapes that contribute to individuality and feel of my paintings. I strive to achieve an atmospheric quality in my pieces and as a result my paintings have a sense of being engulfed in a veil of light and air.

As an artist, I do not go after a fully accurate photographic representation of a subject, but work to capture the essence, energy and emotion of it. My paintings are not literal transcriptions of a subject and as a result the viewer has something to discover for themselves when viewing my work as not everything is fully explained to them. I often paint overlooked every day city scenes and locations such as a group of people crossing a busy street, cars traveling down a highway or rain pounding on a car’s windshield, to name a few


Education

2006 – 2014 Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, drawing and painting studies
2006 – 2016 Workshops with master painters including but not limited to: - Scott Tallman Powers, David Leffel, Michael Workman, Ken Auster, Carolyn Anderson, Rose Frantzen, Mary Qian and Steven Assael


Exhibitions

Solo and featured artist

2013 – CITY…Solo exhibit of cityscape paintings, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL
2014 - CITY 2 …. Solo exhibit of cityscape paintings at Zygman Voss Gallery, Chicago, IL
2016 - The Urban Landscape… Solo exhibit of cityscape paintings at Zygman Voss Gallery, Chicago, IL
2017 - Urban Landscapes….Solo exhibit of cityscape paintings at Weiler House of Fine Art, Fort Worth, TX.
2017 - Featured artist, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, S.C.
2017 - Featured artist, Weiler House of Fine Art, Fort Worth Texas
2017 Featured artist, Proud Fox Gallery, Geneva, IL
2018 Inside / Outside, two person show, Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
2018 Featured artist, Reinert Fine Art Gallery, Charelston, S.C.
2019 - Duality two persons show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art


Group

2020 Best Of America Artists National Show, National Oil Acrylic Painters NOAPS, St Augustine, Fl
2019 Randy Higbee 6 x 6 Show, Costa, Mesa, Ca
2019 Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL , plein air exhibition
2019 Faculty Show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art, Chicago, IL
2018 Jackson Junge Gallery – Accepted into The Red Show
2018 Accepted into the National Oil Painters Of American Show, Steamboat Springs, CO.
2018 Northbrook Plein Air Event
2018 Faculty Show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, IL
2018 Portrait Show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Art, Chicago, IL
2017 Randy Higbee Gallery, 6 x 6 Show, Costa Mesa, CA
2017 In The Hood, Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago
2017 Shades of Plein Air, Evanston , IL
2017 Northbrook Plein Air Event
2017 Accepted into the Nation American Impressionist Society Exhibit, Costa Mesa, California
2016 Accepted into the Randy Higbee 6 x 6 Show, Costa Mesa, CA
2015 Acceptance into the OPA Salon Exhibition, Birmingham, Al
2015 Acceptance into the OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition, Indianapolis, Ind
2015 Acceptance into the National American Impressionist Society Exhibition
2015 Acceptance into the National OPA Show held in St Augustine, Fl.
2015 Accepted in the Cedarburg, Wisconsin Plein Air Event
2014 Plein Air Painters of Chicago annual show at the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art.
2013 Chicago Architectural Foundation Open House Exhibit at Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts
2006-2018 Plein Air Painters of Chicago Annual Exhibit
2013 Admiral At The Lake, Chicago - Plein Air Exhibit
2012 The Palmer House Hotel Invitational, Chicago – One of ten artists invited to paint for the key investors of The Palmer House Hotel
2007-2015 Edgewater Historical Society, Chicago
2010-2018 Gold Medal Show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago
2010 Eight Artist Eight Visions, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago
2011-2016 Portrait Show, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
2010-2016 Faculty Show , Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
2009 McCord Gallery, Palos Park, IL
2008 Old Town Triangle Gallery, Chicago, IL
2007 The First Blush of Spring Plein Air Paint Out, New Harmony, Indiana



Awards

2018 Winner of the Silver Medal, / Palette and Chisel Gold Medal Show
2018 Honorable Mention, Plein Air Festival Main Event, Northbrook, IL
2048 Honorable Mention, Bold Brush National Competiton
2017 Honorable Mention, Bold Brush National Competition
2016 Winner and Recipient of the Scott Tallman Powers award for meritorious achievement in plein air painting.
2015 Winner of the Gold Medal / Palette and Chisels Gold Medal Show, Chicago, IL
2015 Artist Choice / 3rd Place, Cedarburg Plein Air Event
2015 Honorable Mention Cederburg Plein Air Event
2014 Honorable Mention in OPA’a on line show case.
2014 Winner one of the top three awards in The Randy Higbee Gallery 6 x 6 Show
2014 Winner of the Gold Medal / Palette and Chisel’s Gold Medal Show, Chicago, Il
2014 Winner and Recipient of the Scott Tallman Powers award for meritorious achievement in plein air painting.
2013 Winner Silver Medal / Palette and Chisels Gold Medal Show
2012 Winner Bronze Medal / Palette and Chisel Gold Medal Show
2013 Honorable Mention / Palette and Chisels Gold Medal Show
2007 Honorable Mention / Indiana Plein Air Painters



Media

2018 Fine Art Connoisseur, painting “Warm” featured in issue on cityscapes.
2013 Bucktown – Wicker Park Patch, “Award Winning Artist celebrated at Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts’
2013 This Old Palette BlogSpot by New City art critic Chris Miller featuring paintings by Errol Jacobson exhibited in the Palette and Chisels Faculty Show

2013 This Old Palette BlogSpot by New City art critic Chris Miller featuring paintings by Errol Jacobson in the Plein Air Painters of Chicago Annual Show
2012 This Old Palette BlogSpot by New City art critic Chris Miller featuring paintings by Errol Jacobson
2009 New City Art, review of Plein Air Painters mentioning that Errol Jacobson had some of the best paintings in the show
2008 Artist Magazine - article on the Plein Air Painters of Chicago, “Pumpkin Field” painting by Errol Jacobson published
2008 WTTW, Chicago Tonight- Feature segment on the Plein Air Painters of Chicago with Errol Jacobson as key interviewee


Teaching / lecturing

2016 - 2019 Plein Air Painters of Chicago - Plein air / demonstrator. lecturing
2009 - 2019 Plein Air Painting Instructor, Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts
2013 Diane Rath Scholarship Fundraiser / featured topic speaker on painting


Organizations

• Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art - full artist member, instructor and board member.
• Plein Air Painters of Chicago
• American Impressionists Society
• Oil Painters of America

RALPH GRADY JAMES
Artist


Ralph’s original inspiration came from his father, Eugene James, who was an artist as well as an architect and structural engineer. Mr. James seemed to capture images on canvas or paper with little effort at all; Ralph began to wrestle with capturing his own images even as a young boy.

Local seminars and the encouragement of other artists have impacted Ralph’s art as well. One pivotal seminar was led by Heiner Hertling, which introduced Ralph to oil painting; others have been led by John and Suzie Seerey-Lester. For several years, the encouragement (and challenge) of working with local artists in the weekly drawing group with Scott Burdick and Susan Lyon has inspired Ralph to continue to stretch his ability.

Ralph lived most of his life in the Piedmont of North Carolina. He attended N.C. School of the Arts in high school and later Indiana University to major in music. Although deeply committed to his study of music at the time, Ralph's passion for the visual arts resurfaced after he returned home and settled into life with his family.

He has always felt fortunate to be close to both the Appalachian mountains and the Atlantic coast. In 2022, he relocated to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia where natural beauty abounds. He has always believed that our connection with nature enriches our health—both mental and physical. His art attempts to represent that connection.


Artist's Statement

In some way, our identity in life is determined by what and how we communicate with our world. Painting is one of those ways I use to reflect what is within me and also interact with and touch those around me. It is a way I seek to be understood by others and also to understand myself. Whether we express ourselves through painting, writing, speaking, or other methods, we all have an innate need to communicate who we are and what is important to us. It is how we express our passion, our love, our fear, our hope, our humor. Indeed, my art contains all of these — some readily apparent, others intentionally hidden. Georgia O’Keeffe spoke for me when she said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way — things I had no words for.”

My desire is to communicate the beauty of God's creation in my paintings. I want to show to others what I see and feel: the majesty, the awe-inspiring beauty of creation and, vicariously, the One who created it. My desire is to ask questions of myself and the viewer, knowing that we will not like all of the answers. My desire is for us to find a bit more peace and contentment in our lives through this process and to remember to thank God that you and I are not in charge. I want the viewer of my art to become a participant in the scene: to smell, to feel, to seek, to remember, and to take another step forward in a sometimes uncertain life.

And yet, I strive and struggle trying to carefully keep this wonderful art thing in perspective. Like so many things we are passionate about, there is the tendency to let my love for art control my life instead of enhancing my life. I like the way Scott Christensen puts it when he says, "...painting is not the aim or focus of life, but instead painting contributes to the art of living." For me, that means painting falls somewhere behind my faith and my family in priority though the balance is always difficult. I strive to hold it loosely so that God can make it work.


Collections

• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, Wausau, WI
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
• Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC

• “Voyages into the Sublime — Ralph Grady James Captures the Movement of the Natural World”, Southwest Art, June 2017
• Finalist - Animal/Wildlife category —The Artist Magazine 32nd Annual Art Competition, December 2015 Issue
• “Artists to Watch — Ralph Grady James, A Slice of Heaven,” Southwest Art, September 2014
• “Germanton Gallery Miniature Showcase,” American Art Collector, December 2013
• “Petite Perspectives, Collecting Small Works & Miniatures,” American Art Collector, November 2012
• “2012 Howard Mandville Anniversary Show,” Southwest Art, June 2012
• “An Artistic Journey,” Winston-Salem Monthly, July 2011

• American Audubon Society, 2019 Hog Island Audubon Camp — Seabird Restoration Program. Selected for Artist Residency Program.

• 2017 National Juried Exhibition, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, Park City, Utah
• 2016 National Juried Exhibition, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
• 2010 National Juried Exhibition

• 2023 National Exhibition, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC
• 2018 National Exhibition, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• 2017 Eastern Regional, Anderson Fine Art, Saint Simons Island, Georgia
• 2016 Eastern Regional, Elise Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio

• 2023 Birds in Art, September 2023
• 2022 Birds in Art, September 2022 (including selection for the 2022 national tour)
• 2021 Birds in Art, September 2021
• 2020 Birds in Art, September 2020 (including selection for the 2020 national tour)
• 2019 Birds in Art, September 2019 (including selection for the 2019 national tour)
• 2018 Birds in Art, September 2018 (including selection for the 2018 national tour)
• 2017 Birds in Art, September 2017 (including selection for the 2017 national tour)
• 2015 Birds in Art, September 2015 (including selection for the 2015 national tour)
• 2014 Birds in Art, September 2014 (including selection for the 2015 national tour and the acquisition of my painting for the museum’s permanent collection).
• 2013 Birds in Art, September 2013 (including selection for the 2014 national tour)
• 2012 Birds in Art, September 2012 (including selection for the 2013 national tour and the acquisition of my painting for the museum’s permanent collection).
• 2011 Birds in Art, September 2011 (including selection for the 2012 national tour)
• 2009 Birds in Art, September 2009 (including selection for the 2010 national tour and the acquisition of my painting for the museum’s permanent collection

• Salon International (2007 through 2011, 2013)

• 2011 Laumeister Fine Art Competition, Honorable Mention, Top Five Viewer Choice Award

• 2010 Top 100 artist, juried exhibition and national tour

• 2015 Art of the Animal Kingdom XX

• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, Wausau, WI (Group show) Beyond Artworks: Artists & Their Stories, March–June 2021
• Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC — Featured artist for December French Quarter Art Walk, December 7, 2018
• Bath County Plein Air Festival — Warm Springs, VA, October 1–7, 2018
• Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival — Blowing Rock, NC, July 13–14, 2018
• North Carolina Open Plein Air — Mooresville, NC (Artist Choice Award) June 5–10, 2018
• North Carolina Open Plein Air — Mooresville, NC (Second Place) August 25–27, 2017
• Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC (Solo Show) Sanctuary, May 5, 2017
• Azalea Festival Plein Air Paint Out, Wilmington, NC (First Place), April 7–9, 2017
• Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC (Solo Show) The Calling,October 2, 2015
• Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum, Wausau, WI (Group show) Shoreline Symphony, June 2015
• Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA (Group show) Anniversary Show, 2012–2016
• Saks Gallery, Denver, CO (Group show) Spring, Summer, and Fall exhibits 2013–2015. Winter Holiday Shows 2013–2015.
• Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA (Group show) Annual Invitational Small Works Show, 2011–2015
• Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC (Two-person show with artist Bill Farnsworth) Crossing Paths, October 2014
• Germanton Gallery, Germanton, NC (Group show) Southeast Invitational Miniature show (2004 through 2016), 2016 Peoples Choice Award, Painting North Carolina Invitational Plein Air Show (2004 through 2015)
• Planet Bronze Gallery, Bozeman, MT (Group show) Holiday Miniature Show, November 2010–2012
• Germanton Gallery, Germanton, NC (Featured Artist) 2012 Southeast Invitational Miniature Show
• Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC (Solo show) A Broader Perspective, May 2011
• Edward Dare Gallery, Charleston, SC (Group show) Marsh Madness, March 2012
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Science – Nature Art Gallery Raleigh, NC (Solo show) Sanctuary: Coastal Birds and their Fragile Habitat (second installment), February 2011
• 16 Patton Gallery, Asheville, NC (Solo show) Sanctuary: Coastal Birds and their Fragile Habitat, July 2010

DR. KENNETH HANGER
Fine Artist


I have painted and drawn almost all of my life and enjoy painting the lowcountry scenes.  I have studied with numerous artists including Rhett Thurman, Charles Reid, Kim English and Mary Whyte. I initially pursued watercolors, but now paint with oil also. My techniques includes using the palette knife on some of my oils.  My interests include landscapes, still life and portraits . Plein air and alla prima pieces add spontaneity as well.

MELISSA HEFFERLIN
Fine Artist


Melisssa Hefferlin’s foray into the world of Fine Art began at a young age when she studied violin. Moving to Russia with her parents as a preteen (from ages 10 thru 13) cemented her devotion to the arts as she used her new found independence via public transit to explore Russia itself through travel, museums, and cultural sights. High school saw her return to America, but Russia was in her blood. At age 20, she spent her junior year of college abroad, studying at the elite Russian School of Art where a Bachelor of Fine Arts was composed of twice as many studio credit hours versus the similar degree in the West. Her passion for a high-level atelier meant she was only the second American to ever gain entry to study at the Russian School of Art… the first was none other than America’s own James Abbott McNeill Whistler!

During this time of study, figurative work was the predominant subject, and her comfort with that genre is seen in her many portraits and figurative studies in ink wash. The idea of still life followed later and is now a substantial and significant avenue in her oeuvre. Her current series of still life creations were heavily influenced by a three-day trip to Venice last year to celebrate her husband’s birthday (acclaimed Russian Master, Daud Akhriev). These originals emanate from the perfect setting for an artist. Lit by the Spanish sun via a skylight installed by her devoted Daud, these paintings are illuminated and influenced by a far reaching and arching beam of natural light which travels throughout the course of the day circuitously around her studio. There is a ledge set into one of those pale white washed walls upon which Melissa assembles her beloved treasure horde into the compositional excellence of her paintings. These objects repeat themselves in a singular fascination for those who love playfulness and a good story. These little pieces of pleasure are, for Melissa, part of her days in the studio. They move, change, and manifest the memories of the moments they were joyfully acquired ...the studio is an intricate part of their beautiful life in Spain.

Melissa, during a delightful and invigorating recent video call with all of our Art Consultants, discussed in depth and detail many stories and deep emotions behind these new works. She made sure that we understood she is not always or immediately aware of the painting’s message, but instead waits for the story to be told as presented by the assemblage of treasured inanimate friends. We loved it! These previously unknown aspects as related by Melissa are carried by vivid memories for art collectors thirsting for that painting which seems to be … “exactly what I’m looking for!”

Melissa is a member of Oil Painters of America, the Union of Russian Artists St. Petersburg Russia, and the Association of Pastel Painters of Spain. She is a Signature member of Pastel Society of America. She’s won awards for excellence at NYC’s Salmagundi Club, Pastel Society of America, Salon International, Association of Women Artists, and many others. Her work has been published widely, including Artists Magazine and American Art Collector Magazine. Hefferlin has exhibited in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, London, Zurich, and throughout the Southeastern United States. In 1999, she co-authored a coffee table book about Russian painting titled “Traditions Rediscovered, the Finley Collection of Russian Art,” and in February 2002, the Hunter Museum of American Art presented a solo show of her work. Her art hangs in the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Semens Corporation art collection, the museum of the Russian Academy of Art and Southern University to name a few.

Hefferlin’s preferred media are oil painting, pastel painting, ink wash and relief printing. She teaches workshops around the Southeastern United States and in Spain. She speaks English, Russian and Spanish. She now spends her time in Andalusia, Spain and Tennessee, USA with her artist husband, Daud Akhriev.

“It’s part of my life’s philosophy that order can be made, can be perceived, and in 16 by 20 inches I can make something orderly and, to me, beautiful. It is like an act of meditation, and very soothing to me.” - Melissa Hefferlin



AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS

• Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Artists Painting Artists Feature, Dec 2023
• Still Life Award Of Excellence, Oil Painters Of American National Convention, Steamboat Museum 2022
• Guest Artist Pastels Du Monde Au Féminin, Montluçon, France 2022
• Best Non-Commissioned Portrait, Portrait Society Of America, Members Only Competition 2021
• Artists Magazine Annual Competition Second Place Award For “Fish Out Of Water” 2021
• Caran D'ache Award Spanish National Pastel Biennial Oviendo, Spain 2018
• Great American Painting Award Pastel Society Of America National Juried Exhibition NYC 2017
• Selected Artist Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Exhibition 2017
• Selected Artist Pastel Society Of America National Juried Exhibition NYC 2017
• Signature Status Pastel Society Of America 2016
• Salmagundi Club Non-Member National Competition 2016
• Member With Distinction American Women Artists 2016
• Finalist, American Women Artists Spring Exhibition Online 2016
• Finalist, Artist Magazine Annual International Competition, 2016
• National Purchase Prize, City Of Olvera, Andalusia, Spain 2013
• American Artist, Feature Article, June, 2009
• Salmagundi Award Of Excellence At The National Juried Pastel Society Of America Nyc 2008
• 21st Century Waterfront Monumental Mural, Winner Of The All-State Competition
• Popular Choice, National Exhibition Oil Painters Of America Still Life 2003
• Artist In Residence Robert M. Macnamara Foundation, Westport, Maine 2003

• Hunter Museum Of American Art, USA
• Academy Of Fine Art Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
• Seimens Collection, USA
• Memorial Hospital, USA
• Southern Adventist University, USA
• Unum Provident Life Insurance Corporation, USA University Of Tennessee Chattanooga, USA Southern Adventist University Church, Tn USA
• Siskin Children’s Hospital USA
• Mask Cotton, Memphis Tennessee USA
• City Hall, City Of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee USA
• City Hall (Ayuntamiento), Olvera, Spain
• City Hall (Ayuntamiento) Ronda, Spain

• American Women Artists, Member With Distinction
• Oil Painters Of America
• Pastel Society Of America - Signature Member
• Aspas (Association Of Spanish Pastel Painters)
• Union Of Russian Fine Artists Full Member
• Co-Founder, Co-Designer Serithea Silk Scarves

OLGA KRIMON
Artist



Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Olga Krimon received academic art education in Kazan, Russia. Growing up she was (and still is) largely influenced by Repin, Serov, Brullov, Levitan, Kramskoy, Fechin and other Russian titans. She then discovered Sargent, Zorn, Sorolla and Cecilia Beaux, and to this day she examines the movement, the bold brushstrokes and the value arrangements in their pieces.

She continued to grow and develop her skills later in America, through drawing classes with Glen Orbik and painting classes with Jeremy Lipking. Olga also holds a BA in Art History, and she credits it with providing her the rich visual vocabulary that is instrumental for defining her path as an artist. She also later received MBA, making her well-grounded in the business side of an artistic career.

Olga continues to refine her craft through independent studies and daily practice. Over time, she developed her own style grounded in fundamental principles of academic realism, sensitivity to subtle value and color transitions, and yet bold energy of movement and expressive brushstrokes. Olga’s Figurative and Still Life Paintings are recognized by the Portrait Society of America PSoA (International Competition 1st Place Drawing 2016 and 3rd Honor Award 2014, Certificates of Excellence 2011, 2015 and 2018, Members Only 3rd Merit 2015 and Honorable Mention 2014) and American Art Collector Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America (OPA) Western Regional Competition 2014. She is also a finalist in 2015 and 2016 Art Renewal Center (ARC) International Salon Competition.



ARTIST STATEMENT

I take reality. I absorb it through the mill of my experiences and schooling. And then I produce a new carefully designed reality that evokes feelings and memories. This reality takes abstraction of strokes, edges, values and color relationships, and morphs them into a world that I imagined, that affects a viewer on a level deeper than words.



SELECTED AWARDS

• 1st Place, Drawing, Portrait Society of America (PSoA) 18th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2016
• 4th Place, Portrait Society of America (PSoA), 22nd Annual International Portrait Competition, 2021 (approx. 3,000 entries)
• 3rd Honor Award, Portrait Society of America (PSoA) 16th International Portrait Competition 2014
• Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America (PSoA), 21st Annual International Portrait Competition, 2019
• Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America (PSoA), 20th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2018
• Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America (PSoA), 17th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2015
• Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America (PSoA), 13th Annual International Portrait Competition, 2011
• 3rd Merit Award, Portrait Society of America (PS0A) Members Only Competition 2015, Outside The Box Category
• 5th Honorable Mention, Portrait Society of America (PSoA) Members Only Competition 2014, Still Life Category
• Finalist, Portrait Society of America (PSoA) Members Only Competition 2020, Commissioned Portrait and Outside The Box Categories
• Winner, Strokes of Genius 9: Creative Discoveries North Light Books' 2016 Drawing Competition
• Finalist, Art Renewal Center (ARC) International Salon Competition 2016
• Finalist, Art Renewal Center (ARC) International Salon Competition 2019
• Finalist, Art Renewal Center (ARC) International Salon Competition 2015
• American Art Collector Magazine Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America (OPA) Western Regional Juried Exhibition, 2013
• 4 Finalist places, The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competitions, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 (Figurative/Portrait and Still Life Categories)

• Arcadia Contemporary Gallery “Male Of The Species” International Invitational, New York, NY, June 16 - July 11, 2021
• Contemporary Figuration, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, January 23 - February 20, 2021
• 30th Annual Miniature Works Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, December 10, 2020 -January 5, 2021
• Fine Art and Fashion Exhibition, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), October 24 - November 30, 2020
• Likeness Exhibition, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), January 11, 2020
• The Hunt Exhibition, Patrons Gallery at the Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), September 19-23, 2019
• Dacia Gallery Nine-Year Anniversary Group Exhibition, New York, NY, September 16-28, 2019
• Virtuosos of the OPA Exhibition, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art, St Augustine, FL, March 1-31, 2019
• 5 And Under, Arcadia Contemporary Group Exhibition, Pasadena, CA, August 18, 2018
• Fine Art and Fashion Exhibition, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, September 29 - October 3, 2018
• 28th Annual Miniature Exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, November 3-24, 2018
• VRFA Americans in Paris, Group Exhibition #1, Arcadia Contemporary, Culver City, CA, May 12-30, 2018
• VRFA Americans in Paris, Group Exhibition #2, Galerie L'Oeil du Prince, Paris, France, May 24-June 12, 2018
• VRFA Realism Without Borders, Group Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, April 19-22, 2018
• VRFA Realism Without Borders, Group Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, December 5-10, 2017
• Solo Exhibition, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC, December 1- 31, 2017
• Solo Exhibition, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), Laguna Beach, CA, October 1 - 30, 2017
• American Impressionist Society (AIS) 18th National Juried Exhibition, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art Gallery, Park City, Utah, September 28 - October 29, 2017
• Equestrian Group Show, Vanessa Rothe Fine Art (VRFA), Laguna Beach, CA, August 1 - 30th, 2017
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) 26th National Juried Exhibition, Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH, May 12 - June 10, 2017
• "AIS Impressions: Small Works Showcase", American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA, March 11-25, 2017
• The 26th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO, December 2-31, 2016
• VRFA Realism Without Borders, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA (through Vanessa Rother Fine Art), Opening Reception November 5, 2016
• Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC exhibition, opening reception September 2, 2016
• "Contemporary Figuration" exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, May 13 - June 4, 2016
• Oil Painters of America 25th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Southwest Galleries, Dallas, TX, May 13 - June 15, 2016
• VRFA "Impression" exhibition, Abend Gallery, Denver, March 11-30, 2016
• VRFA "Making an Impression" exhibition, Forest and Ocean Gallery, Laguna Beach, December 4-27, 2015
• Oil Painters of America 2015 Salon Juried Exhibition, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL, October 8 - November 6, 2015
• 16th Annual American Impressionist Society (AIS) National Juried Exhibition, Trailside Galleries, Scottsdale Arizona, October 1 - 29, 2015
• Oil Painters of America 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Cutter & Cutter Fine Art, St Augustine, FL, May 1-25, 2015
• Art of the Portrait Conference, Portrait Society of America, Reston, VA, April 24-27, 2014
• Women Painting Women, Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC, Sept 5 – Sept 30, 2014
• Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition 2014, Mountainsong Galleries, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA, Aug 30-Sept 30, 2014
• American Women Artists Annual National Juried Exhibition, Addison Art Gallery, Orleans, MA, August 15-Sept 15, 2014
• Legacy Gallery Annual Small Works Show, Legacy Gallery of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ, December 2014
• Oil Painters of America 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Bennington, VT, June 7-July 27, 2014
• Annual Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, Nov-Dec 2013
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) Annual Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Southwind Art Gallery, Topeka, KS, Sept-Oct 2013
• American Impressionist Society Annual Show, M Gallery of Fine Art, Charleston, SC, October 2013
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) Annual Salon, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI, June-August 2013
• Solo Show “Reflections”, M Gallery of Fine Art, Charleston, SC, July 2011
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) 20th Annual National Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur D’Alene, ID, 2011
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Mountain Trails Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY, 2010
• 2 Legacy Gallery of Fine Art Small Works Shows, Scottsdale, AZ, 2010 and 2011
• Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art Annual Salon, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, 2011
• “Russian/Ukrainian Impressionism” Group Exhibition, Silvana Gallery, Glendale, CA, 2011
• Richeson75 Figurative/Portrait Juried Competition, Kimberly, WI, 2010
• American Women Artists National Show, Dallas, TX, 2010
• Laumeister Fine Art Juried Show, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT, 2010
• California Art Club, California Heritage Exhibition, Pasadena, CA, 2010

• Portrait Society of America (PSoA) Signature Status
• Oil Painters of America (OPA) Signature Member

• Works featured in
• Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine April 2019, December 2018, June 2018 (Something New In Realism article), April 2016
• International Artist Magazine June 2016
• American Art Collector Magazine January 2014
• Western Art & Architecture Magazine September 2016
• Nashville Arts Magazine June 2018
• Skarno Italy interview - My approach to composing, published in Realism Today - Article about my work in the Nashville Arts Magazine, 2018. An older article in the Beach Reporter (before I was a full time artist) - https://tbrnews.com/news/hermosa_beach/hermosa-beach-mom-tech-manager-by-day-fine-artist-by/article_247a5a78-1d4d-11e6-ba72-a3d4561b47b9.html

YELENA LAMM
Artist



Yelena Lamm was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she received her formal art training from the N. K. Roerich Fine Arts School. Since 1995, she lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Yelena is painting primarily in oil. She is known for her portraits of pets and animals, in which she reflects on her subjects’ characters and personalities, as well as for her lively and colorful floral compositions. Yelena is a Signature member of Society of Animal Artists (SAA) and National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS). Yelena’s works were selected for and won awards in juried regional and national shows. She became a finalist in the 15th and 17th ARC Salons, and semi-finalist in the 16th ARC Salon. Her list of awards includes Most Original Award of Excellence in OPA 2023 Eastern Regional Exhibition, Outstanding Achievement Animals in AWA 2023 Annual Online Juried Show, and SAA 63rd Art & the Animal Exhibition Purchase Award. Britain’s most popular magazine for practicing artists, Artists and Illustrators, featured Yelena’s animal portraits in a 6-page article and on the cover of their June 2023 issue.



Recent Juried Exhibitions and Awards

2025

• Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE)

• Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition - First Place, Animals as the Subject
• The Almenara Art Prize - Finalist
• 17th ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center - Finalist
• NOAPS Best of America 2024
• OPA 2024 Eastern Regional Exhibition
• 25th Annual AIS National Exhibition
• NOAPS Best of America Small Works 2024
• Society of Animal Artists 64th Art & the Animal Exhibition
• 2024 Westmoreland Art Nationals - Committee's Choice Award, Mocha and Latte
• AIS 8th Annual Impressions: Small Works Showcase
• OPA 33rd Annual National Juried Exhibition
• Society of Animal Artists Wildlife Wonders Exhibition, The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
• Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE)

• NOAPS Fall International Online Exhibition
• AWA Annual Online Juried Show, Outstanding Achievement Animals
• OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition, Most Original Award of Excellence
• Society of Animal Artists 63rd Art & the Animal Exhibition: Driftless Glen Purchase Award; SAA Newcomer Award
• NOAPS Best of America
• NOAPS Best of America Plein Air Competition, Fourth Place
• 24th Annual AIS National Exhibition
• AIS 2023 Paintout, Honorable Mention
• Westmoreland Art Nationals, Curator’s Choice Award
• NOAPS Best of America Small Works
• 16th ARC Salon, Semi-Finalist

• OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition
• NOAPS Best of America
• Westmoreland Art Nationals, Best in Show
• NOAPS Best of America Small Works
• NOAPS Best of America Small Works Plein Air Competition, First Place

• OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition
• NOAPS Best of America, Merit Award
• OPA 30th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
• OPA Wet Paint Plein Air Competition, Award of Excellence
• Westmoreland Art Nationals, Painting Award in two exhibitions
• 15th ARC Salon, Finalist

• OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition
• Westmoreland Art Nationals, Executive Director’s Choice Award and Painting Award

• Artists and Illustrators Magazine, 6-page feature article & front cover, June 2023
• Southwest Art, Women In Art feature article, October/November 2022

AMY LAY
Fine Artist


Vibrancy, a sense of looseness and a comfortable nontraditional style are all ways in which Amy’s Paintings have been described.

Residing in and drawing inspiration from mountain hideaways in Wyoming and the Wallowa Mountains of Northeastern Oregon, Amy fosters an intimate love and fascination for the animals, wildlife and ecology surrounding her. Primarily self-taught but grateful for her Art Degree from Eastern Oregon University, Amy’s career has evolved from childhood dream to strong reality.

She renders her creations primarily with oil pigment and the organic and confident presence of graphite and charcoal. A bold use of color, powerful yet simple design and an ephemeral quality in her use of medium influenced by years of painting strictly in watercolor has given Amy’s work a highly recognizable and unique signature quality. A unique distinction in the genre as well, is her limited use of reference, relying on memory and creative gesture in her subjects gives her animals a very distinct non-photographic brand. Her work dances across the often thick line between realism and abstraction, traditional and contemporary and because of this, appeals to a very broad clientele and appeals to both the established “old guard” of wildlife art, and the growing contemporary genre.

Amy’s work can now be found in homes and private collections across the United States and can be obtained exclusively through several Fine Galleries and select Art Shows.

BAYLY LAY
Fine Artist


Like looking into a dream, Bayly Lay’s work is as fiercely free as it is tenderly intimate. 
 
Bayly’s paintings thrum with the history of her homeland, the rocky mountains of the West, the foundation upon which the most delicate creature can make its gesture. She was raised on her family’s fifth generation ranch in the foothills of Oregon’s Eagle Cap Wilderness by her mother, renowned artist Amy Lay, and her herd of semi-wild horses. It is this harmony between patient roots and the fierce break of a horse let loose that grant such complex spirit to her distinctive style; both bravehearted and deeply grounded. 
 
Bayly’s work speaks in memory and mirage, immersing the beholder in a sense of surreal familiarity. Inherited with her mother’s bad eyes, she devotes her impressionistic style to her innate love for a good blur.

CALVIN LIANG
Fine Artist


Calvin Liang was born in Canton, China. He began painting in high school and completed his art education at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, recognized as one of China’s most prestigious and competitive art academies. In China, his skills as a fine artist were applied to the theatrical industry where he designed and created sets for operas and musical dramas for the Canton Opera Institute. Liang moved to the United States in 1987 and continued his profession as a full-time artist. He had a long and successful career creating visual art for the entertainment industry in animation, which included the Walt Disney Studios and Nickelodeon Studio where he worked for the Little Mermaid and Spongebob Squarepants. However he decided to quit working for the studios to pursue a full-time career as a fine artist, painting themes of his choosing. Since leaving his animation career in early 2002, Liang has definitely been noticed.

His accomplishments include winning several top awards in important exhibitions including Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape in California Art Club 104th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition 2015, Artist Award in Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale 2015, Juror’s Best of Show-38th Annual C.M. Russell 2006, “Art-Talk Award of Excellence” Oil Painters of America Juried Exhibition 2005, “People’s Choice Award” 6th  Annual Laguna Plein Air Painting Event in Bowers Museum 2002, “Best of the Show” American Impressionist Society’s 4th Annual Juried Exhibition 2002. Thus assuring his position as one of the nation’s leading artist. National art magazines also took notice. In 2004, Liang’s work graced the cover of Art of the West’s special 16th Anniversary Edition; and in 2006, 2007, and 2008 three years he had a full feature article in American Art Collector Magazine. Also he received a full feature article in Southwest Magazine in 2005, American Artist Magazine in 2005, American Artist Workshop Magazine in 2007, and American Artist Magazine in 2010. Again, he had a full feature article in Art of the West Magazine in 2012 and 2014. In 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 he was selected into the Masters of the American West Fine Art Exhibition and Sale, which was at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.

Calvin Liang is a Master Member of Oil Painters of America and American Impressionist Society, and a Signature Member of California Art Club and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association

BART LINDSTROM
Fine Artist


Born in Riverside, California, Bart Lindstrom was raised to appreciate the outdoors and art. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in business marketing, and then went on to study at the Art Center in Pasadena.

He is a nationally recognized artist, conference speaker, former board member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and helped found the Portrait Society of America.

Bart’s career started with watercolors and moved into oils. He quickly started to specialize in portraiture.
Bart has taught in the graduate studies program at the University of Texas, lectured and demonstrated with Daniel Greene and Nelson Shanks at the American Society of Portrait Artists Portrait Art Festival, taught at John Howard Sanden’s Master class at the Art Students League in New York City, and at the National Portrait Seminar.

His paintings hang in State Capitals and Federal courtrooms. His prominent collectors include United States senators William Armstrong and Jesse Helms, Tennessee Governor Ned McWherter, Roots author Alex Haley, pro-golfers Nancy Lopez, Tom Weiskopf, Larry Nelson, Vice-president Dan Quayle, and Secretary of State, General Colin Powell, and Morgan Freeman.
As well as having work in many private and corporate collections, Bart has exhibited in solo and group shows in galleries and museums across the United States and Canada.

His paintings have appeared in various publications, including Southwest Art, Prints Magazine, Art Voice/South, American Artist magazine, and International Artist magazine. He was featured author in the Spring 2008 Folio publication of the Portrait Society of Atlanta.

Bart Lindstrom is an artist who exhibits a rare quality in revealing the inner essence of his subjects. He seems to have exploited the medium to its utmost possibilities. – Southwest Art

PATRICE LOCKWOOD
Fine Artist


Lifelong Michigan resident, Patrice Lockwood is a painter drawn to the quiet language of observation- the curve of a cheekbone, the flicker of light across a silver vessel, the steady gaze of an animal who seems to know more than we do. Her work is rooted in the classical European academic tradition, which she has studied and practiced for many years as both a student and a founding member of the Atelier School of Art in Southeast Michigan. Under the guidance of master artist Todd Burroughs, she has refined not just her technique, but also her understanding of the discipline, patience, and reverence that great painting demands.

Before devoting herself fully to painting, she spent many years as a dentist-a career that deeply sharpened her powers of observation, precision, and touch. These skills, once directed toward the care of patients, now find new expression in her life-long love of art. The transition from clinical science to creative practice has been both natural and transformative.

Her subjects range from portraiture and still life to animals, each chosen with intention and care. While her body of work is diverse, she is consistently drawn to what feels timeless- moments of stillness, soulful expressions, and the interplay of beauty and vulnerability.

Patrice feels art is both a discipline and a meditation- an ongoing conversation between the hand, the heart, and the world.

Member of The Birmingham Society of Women Painters


Exhibits:

• The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
• Our Town Art Show, Birmingham, MI
• Atelier School of Art, Royal Oak, MI
• Faces of Our Daughters International Art Exhibit, Ferndale, MI

STEPHANIE MARZELLA
Contemporary Realist


Exhibitions

2024 Associate Member Juried Show, National Oil & Acrylics Painters (Moonshadow 18x 18)
2024 Spring International Online Exhibition, National Oil & Acrylics Painters (Storyteller12x12 )
2024 Annual Online Juried Show, American Women Artists (Moonshadow 18 x 18 )
2023 Fall International Show, National Oil & Acrylics Painters (Golden Moment 12 x24)
2023 7th Annual Animal International Show, Tervarna (the Courtship 30 x 40)
2023 Southeastern Wildlife Expo, Charleston, SC
2023 Associate Member Juried Show, National Oil & Acrylics Painters (the courtship 30 x 40 )
2021 2nd Annual All Members Juried Show, American Impressionist Soc (Storyteller12x12)
2020 Spring Juried Show, American Women Artists (Sublime 36 x 48)
2020 Plein Air Painters of the Southeast, Booth Western At Museum, Atlanta , GA
2019 Spring Online Juried Show, American Women Artists (Beckoning 24 x 48)
2018 Small Works Showcase, American Impressionist Society, Cincinnati, OH (Dusk 12 x 12)


Awards & Honors

2024 Best Modern Interpretation, Magnolia Cemetery Historical Site. Preserving A Picturesque America
2024 Finalist May 2024 Boldbrush Painting Competition
2023 7th Annual Animal International Show, Tervarna, Honorable Mention


Affiliations

• American Women Artists Signature Member
• National Oil & Acrylics Painters Society
• Oil Painters of America
• American Impressionist Society
• Salmagundi Club, NYC
• Plein Air Painters of the Southeast

• Fine Art Connoisseur - April 2025 “Collectors Profile: Stephanie Marzella”
• Charleston Living Magazine - September 2024 “Layered Landscapes”
• PleinAir Magazine - September 2024 “Creating A Tribe, Reaping the Benefits”
• Fine Art Connoisseur - December 2023 “Artists Who Collect Art”
• Canvas Rebel Magazine- January 2023 “Meet Stephanie Marzella”
• Outdoor Painter Magazine January 2021 “What is Tonalism in Art”
• PleinAir Magazine-February 2019 “A Unique Approach to Tonalism”
• Outdoor Painter Magazine December 2019 “ Six Inspirational Quotes for Artists”
• Outdoor Painter MagazineDecember 2018 “Overcoming Fear: How to Enter Your First Plein Air Event and Survive”
• Fine Art Connoisseur - December 2023 “Artists Who Collect Art”
• Canvas Rebel Magazine- January 2023 “Meet Stephanie Marzella”
• Outdoor Painter Magazine January 2021 “What is Tonalism in Art”
• Plein Air Magazine-February 2019 “A Unique Approach to Tonalism”
• Outdoor Painter Magazine December 2019 “ Six Inspirational Quotes for Artists”
• Outdoor Painter MagazineDecember 2018 “Overcoming Fear: How to Enter Your First Plein Air Event and Survive”
• The Post and Courier-September 2017 “Make Plans for the Sizable Artwalk

JILL McGANNON
Fine Artist


Jill Schultz McGannon completed her BFA and MFA from the University of Georgia in 1985 and 1988, and has worked full-time as an artist for 36 years. Her plein air and large-scale studio paintings can be seen at Reinert Fine Art in Charleston, SC, Four Corners Gallery in Bluffton, SC, and Martin House Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC. She paints in oils in a painterly realistic style, preferring to work from life whenever possible. She started painting plein air in Cortona, Italy in 1995 when she was Artist in Residence on the UGA Studies Abroad Program. Upon returning home, she continued painting plein air in coastal SC and GA. Her family owned a condo on Hilton Head Island, SC for 35 years, and Pinkney Island National Wildlife Refuge, between Hilton Head and Bluffton, has become one of her favorite places to paint over the last 10 years.

She has won a first place award at six plein air events since 2021, and was an invited artist to Olmsted Plein Air for the last three years. She is a Signature Member of OPA (Oil Painters of America), NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) and AWA (American Women Artists). Her paintings were accepted into six National NOAPS shows (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) since 2021. She won 2nd place at the NOAPS plein air event at Sugarman Petersen Gallery in Santa Fe in July of 2024, and Honorable Mention in their Best of America Small Works Show. Jill has had paintings accepted into seven OPA shows since 2019. She has won three awards in the Plein Air magazine Salon since 2021 (Best Water, Best Sunset or Nocturne, and Best Sky), and was featured in International Artist Magazine in January of 2023 in their Best Landscapes contest.

PATRICK McGANNON
Fine Artist


Patrick has lived and worked in Atlanta since 1997 after relocating from his home town of Chicago. He received a BFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago in 1989 and a MFA from Indiana University in 1991 in Drawing and Painting. While at Indiana University Patrick made two trips to Florence, Italy with IU, one trip as a student and one trip as a teacher’s assistant. These experiences began for him a love of antiquity and a life long endeavor to study the masters of the past and develop his skills as an artist. After receiving his MFA, Patrick taught drawing and painting at Southwest Missouri State University.
 
In addition to studying fine art at The Art Institute of Chicago, Patrick was a conservation assistant in the Ryerson Library of the museum. This work and experience has developed into a career over the last 25 years as a fine art conservator of paper artifacts. Working intimately with antique artifacts of the past centuries as well as contemporary artists has contributed greatly to his understanding of artists' working processes and materials.
 
Patrick has continued to paint and attends drawing sessions weekly, where he works from a live model.  He has shown at Mason Fine Art (formerly Mason Murer) and Addington Gallery in Chicago, Illinois for the last twenty years.  Patrick has had paintings accepted into several national shows recently, including Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition of 2017 and OPA’s National Exhibition in 2015.



Recent Awards

2022

• Best in Show, Annual Member's Exhibition. Quinlan Arts Center, Gainesville, Georgia. 
• 2nd Place, Plein Air Event, Blue Ridge Mountain Art Center, Blue Ridge Georgia.
• Best in Show, Being Human Exhibition, Atlanta Artist's Center, Atlanta, Georgia.

• Best Portrait or Figure, NOAPS (National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society) Best Of America, Dana Gallery, Missoula, Montana, September 2021.
• 1st Place, NOAPS Plein Air event, Principle Gallery, Charleston, South Carolina, May 2021.

• NOAPS, Best of America, Wilcox Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming.
• OPA (Oil Painters of America) Eastern Regional Exhibition, Ross Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana.

• OPA (Oil Painters of America) 32nd Annual National Exhibition, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC

SHERRIE McGRAW
Fine Artist


Sherrie McGraw has been at the forefront of the American Art scene for over thirty years. As a young woman in Oklahoma City in 1978, she was urged by her teachers Richard and Edith Goetz to move to New York to study at the famed Art Students League where they had studied within the lineage of Robert Brackman and George Bridgeman. In her initial years at the League she studied primarily with legendary artist, David Leffel, but also learned anatomy through Robert Beverly Hale and Jon Zahourek at the New York Academy.After just a few years in New York, she was already proceeding to make her own way as an exceptional artist and began exhibiting and winning awards in shows at the Salmagundi Club, the National Arts Club, the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, the Pastel Society, the Hudson Valley Art Association, and more. By the time she was thirty, she was teaching classes at the Art Students League, having been asked to take over those of Thomas Fogarty and Gustav Rehberger, as well as conduct her own. 

Currently, McGraw teaches workshops throughout the country. She gives lectures and demonstrations for art institutions such as the Portrait Society of America, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Brigham Young University, the Art Students League of New York, the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and the Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. Her work has been shown in major institutions including the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Gilcrease Museum, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Tucson Museum, as well as numerous prestigious collections, such as that of Senator John Warner, the Mellon family, the Forbes family, John Geraghty, Forest Fenn, Howard Terpning, John Mellencamp, George Carlson, Scott Christensen, and musicians Ida Kavafian, Steve Tenenbom, and Peter Wiley. She was the Vice-President of American Women Artists.McGraw is the author of the highly acclaimed book, The Language of Drawing, which has been drawing worldwide attention and can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art bookstore in New York City. She edited and wrote a foreword to The Drawings of Nicolai Fechin by Russia’s famed author Galina Tuluzakova, and worked on an initial edit of Tuluzakova’s new book on Fechin’s paintings, coming out later this year. Her work will be included in a book on drawing by Juliette Aristides, also to be published this year. She is presently writing a book on painting. 

The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, celebrated its 81st spring commencement in May 2010. Sherrie McGraw was selected to receive an Honorary Doctorate degree and presented a brief speech along with a slide show of her work at the event.

LEONARD MIZEREK
Fine Artist


LEONARD MIZEREK Fellow, ASMA, nurtured his artistic love of nature while growing up and painting in the Brandywine Valley and countryside of nearby Pennsylvania. His early influence was with the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Brandywine  School.
 
He participated in several invitational Plein Air events including  Mystic, Cape Ann, 13 years in Easton Md.,where he won 3 top awards juried by CEO of the Metropolitan Museum. He was featured painting live on TV France3 at a major boat festival. His painting was recently purchased by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. In 2006, 2011 and 201he was awarded Artist in Residence at the Museum Yvonne Jean-Haffen in Dinan, France and three of his paintings were made part of the museum collection. He was one of 15 artists selected to paint at the Forbes Colorado Ranch and exhibited at the Forbes Museum in New York and made part of the permanent collection. He exhibited with 23 nationally recognized marine artists at, the Newport Art Museum, Maine Maritime Museum and Connecticut River Museum.He was featured on the cover of American Artist Magazine. He was featured in recent 2021/22 issues of magazines: American Art Collector Magazine,American Art Review Feb, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Fine Art Today,and Sea History.
 
Known for his colorful, luminous seascapes and expressive brushwork, Leonard paints on site deriving inspiration from  harbors throughout the world. A central theme throughout Leonard’s work is his use of light. In Mizerek’s words, “ Light alters the color of all objects and touches those nearby. It sets a mood and evokes emotion, which I strive to portray in my work. I often explore various methods to interpret the way I view nature. I prefer marine subjects because I enjoy the way water reflects the floating objects, as well as the sky and time of day. It mirrors shapes and intensifies light. I paint outdoors to capture the light first hand and bring out all its color and luminosity.”
 
Recently he has won numerous Plein Air Salon awards along with the Salzman Award for Excellence in Painting in the 112th Annual Exhibiting Artist Members’ Exhibition of the National Arts Club in New York City. He received the Iron Man Award from the American Society of Marine Artists for distinguished achievement and a Merit Award at the Coos Art Museum in the state of Washington. In 2020 he won  2nd Place Plein Air in OPA Wet Paint Competition  and Salmagundis 2020 Open Exhibition Seascape award.
 
Past exhibitions have included: Over 50 Featured Artist and Solo Shows. The American Society of Marine Artists Exhibitions at the Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Chase Riverfront Arts Center, Wilmington, DE, the Delaware Art Museum, The Frye Museum of Art, Seattle, WA, The Mariner’s Museum, Norfolk, VA, The Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL, San Diego Maritime Museum, The Mystic Seaport Museum. He has exhibited in the Annual Mystic International and Modern Marine Masters Exhibitions since 1988 and two exhibitions at the National Academy of Design in New York. He graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University and studied at The New York Art Students League with Max Ginsburg and Nelson Shanks and at the National Academy of Design with Raymond Kinstler. Leonard is an Officer and one of 27 Fellows of the American Society of Marine Artists and one of 70 elected members of the prestigious Guild of Boston Artists. He is a member of the New England Plein Air Painters, Signature Artist Member of the New England Watercolor Society, and the International Society of Marine Painters.
 
Leonard was selected for Painting Ships, Shores, & the Sea, a book showcasing America’s top marine artists by North Light Books. He was chosen as a finalist in The Artist Magazine’s Competition. He was included in several magazine articles in Maine Boats & Harbors, Sea History, Marine Art Quarterly, American Artist Magazine, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Review, Soundings,  and Watercolor Magazine. Len is also featured in the book, Splash 3, as well as Gallery of Marine Art, Rockport Publishers & Bound for Blue Water by Greenwich Workshop Press and Best of Worldwide LandscapeHe had a major eight page article in the September Issue of Vero Beach Magazine.

• OPA –Nat’l 2021/22 /23; E.Regional 2013,2020,2022; Salon Show 2016/,2018 ; Plein Air Contest 2020 2nd Place Plein Air Division
• NOAPS 2020 /22 Online Int’l, 2021/22 BOASmall Nat’l,BOA2022
• Salmagundi 2020Annual Open, 2021 Figurative Show
• Featured Artist Show, JMStringer ,VeroBeach,FLJan2021,23,24,25
• Nat’l Maritime Historical Society,DCInvitational 2018,19,20,21,22,23,24
• Rockport Art Association &Museum 2020 Nat’l Show
• Cape Ann Plein Air Juried Event,Mass 2016, 2020,2021
• Solo Show-JM Stringer Gallery VB, Fl 2014/16/18/20/22
• Guild of Boston Artists Annual Members Exhibit, 04 thru 22
• Plein Air Easton Juried, Easton, MD July 09 thru 2022,24
• Mystic International, Mystic, CT 1988 thru 2019
• Modern Marine Masters Exhibition, Mystic, CT’95 thru 2019
• Solo Show- Shaw Gallery,Naples,FL 04/07/09/11/13/15/19/22
• National Arts Club Exhibiting Artists Annual 2009 thru 2021
• Guild of Boston Artists Two Man Show ,April 2018
• ASMA 19th Nat’l Exhibition to 2 museums 2023-2024
• ASMA Invitational 2018 Principle Gallery,Charleston
• ASMA 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18th National Museum Shows
• Solo Show-JM Stringer Gallery,Bernardsville,NJ 2011,12,13,14,15
• Artist in Residence, Musee-Yvonne-Jean Haffen, France 06,11,16
• Marine Paintings Exhibition, Newman Gallery,Pa 05,06,07,09,10
• National Academy of Design Annual Exhibition 92/94
• France TV 3- Live painting performance-July 09
• National Arts Club, 2000Roundtable Exhibition April 09 thru 2015
• Wet Paint 2000-2019, Mystic Seaport Gallery,Mystic,Ct
• American Impressionist Society Annual 2013,Charleston,SC
• Solo Show- Admiralty Gallery, Vero Beach, FL 1999-2011
• Two Artist Show, JM Stringer Gallery, NJ 05,06,07,08,09,10
• New York Yacht Club Exhibition, Newport, RI 2009,10,11,12
• ASMA- 30th Anniv. Exhibition- traveling to 5 museums ¬ 2008-09
• ASMA- Regional Exhibition-traveling to 3 museums May 08
• Krasl Museum Great Lakes Exhibition, MI, June 07
• ISMP Ventura County Maritime Museum, CA Feb 06
• ASMA Cold Spring Harbor Museum, NY April 06
• Coos Bay Museum of Fine Art, July 04, 06,07
• ASMA Exhibition, Cape Museum of Fine Arts 04
• The Everlasting Sea: Marine Artist Past &Present- 23 artists Invitational, 3 Museum Show 2003-04
• ASMA 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18th National Museum Shows
• Forbes Museum Invitational, New York City
• ASMAFryeMuseum, Seattle, WA-Cummer Museum, FL 97
• ASMA - San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, CA 95
• Int’l Society of Marine Painters Annual 1991-2008

• Bell Helicopter, Griswold, Encore Bank,AmericanYachtClub,Tauck Tours, Lexmark Int’l,Deloitte Touche,Forge Oak Farms KY
• Vanderbilt Home Furnishings, Former Governor of Virginia
• National Maritime Historical Society Chairman
• Barclay Intercontinental Penthouse NYC, Berwind,Fedex

• Museum Yvonne-Jean Haffen, Dinan, France
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum,Forbes Museum, NYc

• Plein  Air Salon 2024 Semi Fialist
• Plein Air Easton 2021-3 Top Awards Juried by Met Museum CEO
• Plein Air Salon Winner 2022; March,May,June ,Sept,Oct
• Plein Air Salon Winner 2023, April,May,June,July,Sept,Nov
• Quick Draw-2nd Place 09,Honorable 2015 Plein Air Easton
• Salmagundi 2020 Open Exhibition Seascape Award
• OPA Wet Paint Competition 2020- Plein Air 2nd Place
• Cape Ann Plein Air 2016 Artists Spirit Award
• National Arts Club- Award for Excellence in Painting 2011
• National Arts Club Online Show-People’s Choice Award -2009
• Paint Annapolis- Hon. Mention Dueling Brushes-20 09
• ASMA Ironman Award 2008 /Coos Bay Museum Merit Award 06
• Sea Heritage Marine Art Exhibition, New York/ First Place
• Artist Invitational, Forbes Ranch, CO ,Noaps 2022 Best Use of Values
• Artist’s Magazine 95 , 97, 2000, 02 Competition Finalist
• Virginia Commonwealth University, Graduate Art Award
• Northeast Watercolor Society / Napa Honor Award

• Oil Painters of America- Signature Artist
• American Society of Marine Artists, Fellow,
• The National Arts Club- Exhibiting Artist Member
• The Guild of Boston Artists, Elected Artist
• New England Watercolor Society, Signature Artist Member
• NorthEast Watercolor Society, Signature Artist Member

• Art Student’s League, NYC Nelson Shanks,Max Ginsburg
• Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA /BFA
• National Academy of Design, NYC Everett Raymond Kinstler

• Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine-1/10/07,5/08, 6/13,7/16,1/18,5/24
• AmericanArtCollector1/9,2/11,2/14,1/2/7/15 ,10/16, 6/7/17,6/7/20/21/22 
• Marine Art Qtly- 01,05,08,09,10, American Art Review 2/2020
• Bound for Blue Water,Greenwich Press:,American Art Review 2/2020
• A Gallery of Marine Art, Rockport Publishers
• Painting Ships, Shores, and the Sea , Northlight Books
• Plein Aor Magazine 7/9/22, 9/11/12/2023,1/2024
•  Sea History Spring 2017/18/19/20/21/22/23/24
• Vero Beach Magazine, 8/2015,1/2016,1/11/2020, Sept 2023 Feature

GEORGE NETHERTON
Fine Artist


After having built and sold a successful Software and Data Services Company, George Netherton left the business world behind and focused on a lifelong love of art and painting. George’s primary medium is oil, and his subject matter is primarily the landscape of the southeastern coast. Although very much an outdoor painter, George now spends about half his time in the studio developing work originated in the field. He has been very active in both national and local art organizations, including: OPA, Jekyll Island Art Association, Glynn Visual Arts, Georgia Coastal Artists Guild (where he is currently President). His website is: georgenetherton.com.
Recent activities include:

2018

• One Man Show – Golden Isles Welcome Center – June 2018
• Co-founder and Coordinator of the “Albert Fendig – Hofwyl Plantation Plein Air Event,” and Traveling Exhibit -- Currently in it’s Sixth Consecutive Year.
• Jekyll Island Art Assoc. Annual Art Festival, " Jekyll Island, GA -- March 2018 -- Honorable Mention.

• "Plantation Wildlife Art Festival"-- Thomasville, GA -- Juried Artist, November 2017
• Goodyear Cottage -- Month Long Show -- Jekyll Island, GA -- October 2017.
• "Spring Into Art" Turner Center for the Arts, Valdosta, GA -- May 2017 -- Colson Calendar Award.
• "Jekyll Island Art Assoc. Annual Art Festival, " Jekyll Island, GA -- March 2017 -- Second Place, Third Place, Honorable Mention.

• "Plantation Wildlife Art Festival"-- Thomasville, GA -- Juried Artist, November 2016
• Georgia State Fair (October 2016) -- Mr. and Mrs. Larry E. Garrett Merit Award.
• Invited to participate in the "Art of Georgia" exhibit. with two paintings that have been selected to hang in the executive offices at the State Capitol.
• Solo Show -- McIntosh Art Association ("Old Jail'), Darien, GA -- August through September 2016
• "St. Mary's Plein Air Paint Out," St. Mary's, GA -- May 2016, Honorable Mention
• "Jekyll Island Art Assoc. Annual Art Festival," Jekyll Island, GA -- March 2016, Honorable Mention

• "Plantation Wildlife Art Festival"-- Thomasville, GA -- Juried Artist, November 2015
• Solo Show -- The Horton Gallery -- Southeast Georgia Health System, Brunswick, GA -- July 2015
• "St. Mary's Plein Air Paint Out," St. Mary's, GA -- May 2015 Second Place
• "Piney Woods Plein Air Event,' Thomasville, GA -- April 2015 Third Place and Honorable Mention
• "Jekyll Island Art Assoc. Annual Art Festival," Jekyll Island, GA -- March 2015 Second Place.

• "Solomon Island Plein Air Festival" Juried plein air event, Solomon Island, Maryland -- September 2014
• "Vistas and Visions" -- Three Person Show -- Glynn Art, St. Simons Island, GA -- June 2013
• Solo Show -- Brunswick Library, Brunswick, GA -- February, March 2014

• "Paint the Town" juried plein air event, Cranford, New Jersey -- June 2013, People's Choice Award
• "St. Mary's Plein Air PaintOut," St. Mary's, Ga. -- May 2013, Honorable Mention
• "Hilton Head Art League Biennale," juried exhibit, Hilton Head, SC -- May 2013
• "Coastal National," juried exhibit, St. Simons Island, GA -- May 2013, Honorable Mention
• "Callaway Gardens Plein Air Event," juried event, Pine Mountain, GA -- April 2013, Honorable Mention, Quick Draw
• "Jekyll Island Art Association Annual Art Festival," Jekyll Island, GA -- March 2013, Second Place.

• "Artist of the Month" -- Okeefenokee Heritage Center, Waycross, GA -- August 2012
• "Paint the Town" Juried, plein air event, Cranford, New Jersey -- June 2012
• "Solomon Island Plein Air Festival" Juried plein air event, Solomon Island, Maryland -- June 2012
• "Plein Air Affair" Juried plein air event, St. Simons Island, Ga -- April 2012 (2011, 2010, 2009)
• "Jekyll Island Art Association Spring Show" -- 2 paintings received "Honorable Mention" -- March 2012; Second Prize -- 2008
• "Coastal National Juried Exhibit" -- 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
• Two Man Show "Oil and Metal" -- Goodyear Cottage, Jekyll Island Art Association -- May 2010
• Three Man Show "Vistas and Visions" -- Glynn Art Association, St. Simons Island, GA -- March 2008

• College of Coastal Georgia , President's Conference Room, Brunswick, GA
• Westin Hotel and Resorts, Savannah, GA

JACKI NEWELL
Fine Artist


Jacki Newell has been painting since her teen years in Omaha, Nebraska after taking weekly art lessons from a neighbor. The lessons were a good foundation and she has continued her education through reading art books, and magazines, and online forums. Throughout the years while raising three children, Jacki painted every chance she could get, with hopes she could do it professionally someday. That time has come. She now enjoys painting everyday in her studio at the White Whale Studios in Greenville, SC. 

Jacki and her husband Dave, moved to upstate South Carolina six years ago, where she has been busy painting the gorgeous scenery of this area. Still lifes of florals are also a common subject for her that she enjoys very much.

Light and atmosphere are what inspires Jacki to paint a particular scene. She attempts to capture the light and the “feel” of the subject. She tries to convey to the viewer, the beauty of the moment that captured her attention. The challenge is to remain focused on what attracted her to that scene in the first place while working out the complexities of the subject, whether the subject is a single flower, cityscape or marsh scene.

KATHIE ODOM
Oil Painter


Kathie Odom is proud to be from the great state of Tennessee, and especially proud to live in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains.

“It’s hard to ignore beauty when it happens”, Kathie is fond of saying. So she keeps her car packed with all the painting supplies needed for the road. Kathie has received several awards over the last few years from plein air events across the nation.


Artist Statement

There is something magical about creating beauty! Maybe it’s because the magic originates from some place deep within me, or maybe I was simply shaped to be this way. No matter what, it feels like a new-found love, or an old love, rediscovered.


Publications

• Plein Air Magazine, Feature Article, May, 2024
• Let the Art Speak, Book, released October, 2022
• City View Magazine, Feature Article, January, 2023
• Artists Magazine, Cover and Feature Article, July, 2020
• Plein Air Magazine, Published Article, June, 2020
• Western Art & Architecture Magazine, Article, January, 2020
• Southwest Art Magazine, Cover and Feature Article, June, 2019
• VoyageATL, Online Magazine, Interview, October, 2018
• Southwest Art Magazine, Artists to Watch, June, 2016
• Plein Air Magazine, Feature Article, August, 2015

• Faculty and Demonstrator, 11th Annual Plein Air Convention, Cherokee, NC, May, 2024
• Judge, Fine Art Studio Online’s Boldbrush Art Contest, March, 2024
• Judge, Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, June, 2023
• Judge, Renaissance on Main Plein Air, Adamsville, Tennessee, October, 2022
• Faculty and Demonstrator, 9th Annual Plein Air Convention, Santa Fe, NM, May, 2022
• Judge, Cape Ann Plein Air Event, Gloucester, Massachusetts, October, 2021
• Interview, Podcast with Eric Rhoads, Publisher of Plein Air Magazine, June, 2021
• Juror of Awards, Oil Painters of America East Regionals, Charleston, SC, October, 2020
• Bold Brushwork, Instructional Video, Liliedahl Art Videos, released May, 2020
• Faculty, Realism Live, Online Global Virtual Art Conference, July, 2020
• Interview, Podcast with Carl Olson, The Artful Painter, November, 2019
• Faculty and Demonstrator, 7th Annual Plein Air Convention, Santa Fe, NM, May, 2018
• Judge, Paint the Town Plein Air Event, Lexington, Kentucky, July, 2017

• PAST PRESIDENTS’ AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, OPA National Show, Charleston, SC
• AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, OPA National Show Wet Paint Competition, Charleston, SC
• AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, AIS Small Work Showcase, Knoxville, TN
• SECOND PLACE, Artists on Location Plein Air Event, Knoxville, TN
• Oil Painters of America, Invitational Masters Show, Illume Gallery, Philipsburg, MT
• BEST OUTDOOR BUILDING, Plein Air Salon, May
• BEST OUTDOOR WATER, Plein Air Salon, May
• ARTISTS CHOICE AWARD, Plein Air Smokies, Great Smokey Mountains national Park
• FINALIST, FASO Boldbrush Painting Competition, October

• BEST OUTDOOR STILL LIFE, Plein Air Salon, January
• HONORABLE MENTION, Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc. 18th Annual Best of Plein Air
• BEST IN SHOW, The Forgotten Coast Plein Air Event, Port St. Joe, Florida
• FINALIST, FASO Boldbrush Painting Competition, February
• HONORABLE MENTION, Wayne Art Center's 14th Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• THIRD PLACE, Overall, 11th Annual Plein Air Salon (11,000+ entries)
• BEST PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE, Plein Air Salon, April
• HONORABLE MENTION, BEST PLEIN AIR LANDSCAPE, Plein Air Salon, June

• BEST IN SHOW, The Forgotten Coast Plein Air Event, Port St. Joe, Florida
• HONORABLE MENTION, AIS Small Work Showcase, Charleston, South Carolina
• Oil Painters of America 30th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Escondido, California
• SECOND PLACE, Plein Air Salon, May
• BEST FLORAL, Plein Air Salon, July
• BEST OUTDOOR STILL LIFE, Plein Air Salon, July
• Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Bradenton, Florida
• BEST OIL, Plein Air Salon, September
• HONORABLE MENTION, OPA Fall Online Showcase, Signature Division

• American Impressionist Society Small Work Showcase • Fredericksburg, Texas
• SECOND PLACE • Plein Air Salon • April
• BEST FLORAL • Plein Air Salon • July
• AWARD OF EXCELLENCE • Oil Painters of America • Wet Paint Competition
• American Impressionists Society 21st Annual Juried Exhibition • St. George, Utah
• FINALIST for Two Paintings • Art Renewal Center’s 15th International Competition
• BEST OUTDOOR STILL LIFE • Plein Air Salon • December

• SECOND PLACE • Town and Country Art Show • Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
• MASTER CLASS FINALIST • Art Muse Contest • January
• HONORABLE MENTION • Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc. 15th Annual Best of Plein Air
• Oil Painters of America 28th Annual National Juried Exhibition • St. George, Utah
• WETPAINT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE • OPA National Juried Exhibition • St. George, Utah
• MATISSE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE • Olmsted Plein Air Invitational • Atlanta, Georgia
• FINALIST • Boldbrush Painting Competition • May
• QuickDraw HONORABLE MENTION, ARTISTS CHOICE and MERIT AWARD • Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Event, Michigan
• Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition • Birmingham, Alabama
• BEST ARCHITECTURE AWARD, Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational • Laguna Beach, CA
• BEST PLEIN AIR • Plein Air Salon • August/September

• American Impressionist Society Small Work Showcase, Cincinnati, Ohio
• MASTER CLASS FINALIST, Art Muse Contest, March
• BEST IN SHOW, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, Georgia
• JUDGE’S AWARD, Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, Atlanta, Georgia
• Oil Painters of America 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Steamboat Springs, CO
• HONORABLE MENTION, Wayne Art Center's 12th Plein Air Festival, Wayne, PA
• American Impressionists Society 19th Annual Juried Exhibition, Fish Creek, Wisconsin
• BEST IN SHOW, AIS Paintout at Juried Exhibition, Fish Creek, Wisconsin
• TWO DIMENSIONAL MERIT AWARD, 50th Open Show, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
• The EDWARD BOSEKER AWARD, Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Beach, CA
• Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition, Annapolis, MD
• MASTER CLASS FINALIST, Art Muse Contest, November
• SECOND PLACE, Boldbrush Painting Competition, December

• Bachelor of Arts, Art Education
• The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Graduation, December, 1981

• Oil Painters of America (OPA), Attained Signature membership, May, 2019
• American Impressionist Society (AIS), Attained Signature membership, October, 2018
• Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, Attained Signature membership, October, 2017
• Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE)
• Arts and Culture Alliance of Knoxville, Tennessee

NEIL PATTERSON
OPA Master, SFCA, ASA, RMPAP, SCA

“I paint what I love and see around me, scenes that speak to me, places I want to explore. I try to capture moments of light, colour and atmosphere which spark my imagination. I want to create my own personal version of reality and entice the viewer to share it with me.”

“A photograph is what it is; a painting is what you want it to be.”

Born 1947 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.


EDUCATION

1969-1972 University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
Charles Movalli Workshop
The Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
Ted Goerschner Master Class, CA



SOLO EXHIBITIONS

• 2016 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2014 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 2014 The Artym Gallery, Invermere, BC
• 2013 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2013 The University Club, New York, NY
• 2012 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 2011 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2010 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 2009 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2008 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 2001-2007 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2005-2006 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 2004-2006 West End Gallery, Edmonton, AB
• 2002 West End Gallery, Edmonton, AB
• 2001 Adele Campbell Fine Art, Whistler BC
• 2000 Pacific Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
• 1999-2003 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1999 Buffalo Trails, Big Fork, MT
• 1999 Scott Gallery, Edmonton, AB
• 1998-1999 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 1997 Tutt Street Gallery, Kelowna, BC
• 1995-1997 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1995 Medicine Hat Museum, Medicine Hat, AB
• 1993 Master’s Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1987 Wallace Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1983 Kiln Gallery, Bragg Creek, AB
• 1982 Renaissance Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1979 Quest Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1979 Walsh Gallery, Red Deer, AB
• 1978 Muttart Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1978 Sequoia Gallery, Edmonton, AB
• 1975 Canadian Guild of Crafts, Toronto, ON
• 1975 History of Ceramics in Alberta, Calgary & Edmonton, AB
• 1974 Rubiyat Gallery, Calgary, AB

• 2018 Gu Yuan Art Museum, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
• 2018 The Artym Gallery, Invermere, BC
• 2016-2017 Reinert Fine Art Gallery, SC
• 2016 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2016 The Artym Gallery, Invermere, BC
• 2016 Shaoguan City Art Academy, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
• 2016 Danxiashan Exhibition, Danxia Mountains, Guangdong, China
• 2015 Zhiwei Tu Art Museum, Wengyuan County, Guangdong, China
• 2014 Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 2014 Zhiwei Tu Art Museum, Wengyuan County, Guangdong, China
• 2014 Shaoguan Art Exhibition Hall, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
• 2014 Shenzhen University Museum, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
• 2000-2014 Oil Painters of America
• 2012-2014 Western Art Show, Calgary, AB
• 1994-2013 CM Russell, Great Falls, MT
• 2012-2013 Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1999-2012 Alicat Gallery, Bragg Creek, AB
• 2011 Desheng International Canvas Week Exhibition, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong, China
• 2011 Kwan Wu Sculpture Art Museum, Nanhai, Guangdong, China
• 2011 Wengshan Institute of Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting, Longxian, Guangdong, China
• 2011 Shaoguan Art Exhibition Hall, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
• 2010 Western Art Show, Calgary, AB
• 2008-2009 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters
• 2006 Longxian Art Exhibition, Longxian, Guangdong, China
• 2006 Shaoguan Museum Exhibition, Shaoguan, Guangdong, China
• 2005-2006 Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
• 2005 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2004-2005 Snow Fire, Estes Park, CO
• 2004-2005 West End Gallery, Edmonton, AB
• 2004-2005 Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters
• 2001-2003 Canada House Gallery, Banff, AB
• 2000-2001 Adele Campbell Fine Art, Whistler, BC
• 2000 Western Art Show, Calgary, AB
• 2000 Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1999 Plein Air Invitational, Carmel, CA
• 1999 Pacific Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
• 1999 Arts for the Parks
• 1998 Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1998 Tutt Street Gallery, Kelowna, BC
• 1998 Adele Campbell Fine Art, Whistler, BC
• 1998 Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 1997-1998 Oil Painters of America
• 1997-1998 Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
• 1997-1998 Western Art Show, Calgary, AB
• 1995-1997 Arts for the Parks
• 1997 Hillcrest International Exhibition, CA
• 1996 Hammond Galleries, OH
• 1994-1995 Oil Painters of America
• 1993-1994 Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 1992-1994 Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ
• 1991-1993 Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1992 Oil Painters of America
• 1990 Alberta College of Art, Calgary, AB
• 1990 IBM, Banff, AB
• 1989-1990 State of the Arts Beaver House, Edmonton, AB
• 1987-1990 Sunshine Village, Banff, AB
• 1988-1990 Alberta Society of Artists
• 1985-1986 Alberta Society of Artists
• 1983-1990 Leighton Centre, Calgary, AB
• 1988 Olympic Organizing Committee, Calgary, AB
• 1983 Western Art Show, Calgary, AB
• 1981 Muttart Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1978-1980 Bragg Creek Artisans, Bragg Creek, AB
• 1977 Annex Gallery, Calgary, AB
• 1976 Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB
• Best of Plein Air Laguna Plein Air Painters

• Alberta Art Foundation
• Alberta Government Telephones
• Alberta Housing Corporation
• Alberta Treasury Branch
• Alberta Wheat Pool
• Amoco Canada
• ATCO Enterprises
• Black & Company
• Canada Utilities
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
• CJ Campbell
• Coles Nikiforuk Pennel
• CP Rail
• Donghua Buddhist Temple
• Esso Resources
• Government of Longxian
• Government of Shaoguan
• Government of Guangdong
• Gruman, Brown & Crossfield
• Heritage Hotels
• Heritage Savings and Trust
• Home Oil
• Howard Mackie
• Mcleod Dixon
• Milner Fenerty
• Northern Telecom
• Olympic Organizing Committee 1988
• Ogilvie & Company
• Pioneer Oil & Gas
• Royal Bank of Canada
• Shaoguan Art Museum
• Shaoguan University
• Stanford Perrott
• Sunshine Village
• University of Calgary
• Wengshan Institute of Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting
• Zhiwei Tu Art Museum

• 2018 Painting Demonstration, Gu Yuan Art Museum, Zhuhai, China
• 2017 Visiting Professor and Painting Demonstration, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan, China
• 2015 Golden Brush Award, Oil Painters of America
• 2008-2014 President, Oil Painters of America
• 2002-2014 Member, Board of Directors, Oil Painters of America
• 2013 Honorary Membership, Society of Canadian Artists
• 2013 Painting Demonstration, Zhiwei Tu Art Museum, Wengyuan, China
• 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, Federation of Canadian Artists
• 2006-2007 Vice-President, Oil Painters of America
• 2002 Award of Excellence Second Place, Everett Raymond Kinstler
• 2001 Juror of Awards, Oil Painters of America, Springville, UT
• 2000 Awarded Master Signature Member, Oil Painters of America
• 1999 Top 100, Art for the Parks
• 1996-1998 Top 200, Art for the Parks
• 1995 Top 100, Art for the Parks
• 1993 Elected Artist Member, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 1993 Non-member Show, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• 1993 Signature Member, Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1992 Premier National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Chicago, IL
• 1991 Finalist, Artist Magazine Landscape Competition
• 1991 Robert Genn Award, Federation of Canadian Artists
• 1987-1989 Sunshine Village Purchase Awards
• 1988 Gifts for Dignitaries, Olympic Organizing Committee
• 1984 Membership, Alberta Society of Artists
• 1978 Mural Commission, Petro-Chemical Plant, Joffrey, AB
• Co-chair Exhibitions, Oil Painters of America
• Signature Advisory Board Chair, Oil Painters of America
• First Canadian awarded Signature Member, Oil Painters of America
• Signature Membership, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters
• Honorary Advisor, Wengshan Institute of Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting, Longxian, China

• 2013-2018 Zhiwei Tu Art Museum Publications
• 2006 The Artist’s Magazine, December
• 2006 Art of the West
• 2005 Art Avenue Magazine - City Television
• 2005 100 Ways to Paint Still Life & Florals
• 2001 Art Avenue Magazine
• 2000 Report News Magazine, July
• 2000 CFCN Television
• 1999 International Artist Magazine
• 1995 The Best of Flower Painting: North Light Books, Cincinnati
• 1993 Access Television Network
• 1991 The Artist’s Magazine, December
• 1990 Signature Magazine Cover, Edmonton
• 1990 ATCO Enterprises, Christmas Card
• 1985 CTV Network News
• 1985 CFCN Television
• 1982 The Calgary Herald
• 1975 The History of Ceramics in Alberta
• 1975 Red Deer Advocate
• 1975 Mountaineer, Rocky Mountain House
• 1973 Tactile Magazine, March/April
• 1962 Observer Magazine
• Art of the West Magazine USA
• Southwest Art USA
• Plein Air Magazine USA
• Connoisseur Magazine USA
• Cowboys and Indians Magazine USA
• Liliedahl Video Productions (3 DVD’s)
• Design and Composition: Secrets of Professional Artists

• Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
• Master Signature Member, Oil Painters of America (OPA)
• Signature Member, Alberta Society of Artists (ASA)
• Signature Member, Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA)
• Honorary Member, Society of Canadian Artists
• Signature Member, Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters (RMPAP)
• Tucson Plein Air Painters
• Laguna Plein Air Painters
• California Club
• Plein Air Painters of Alberta
• National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER
Fine Artist


William A. Schneider’s work has evolved since he finished his studies at the American Academy of Art.

Workshops with Carolyn Anderson, Dan Gerhartz, Scott Burdick, Harley Brown, Scott Christensen, Huihan Liu, David Leffel, and Richard Schmid among others solidified his understanding of the basics. But he credits the many hours he spent studying and copying masterworks by Nicolai Fechin with loosening up his brushwork and approach to edges.

He also describes four days of intense study at an exhibit of the works of f J.W. Waterhouse in Montreal as an “epiphany” in his understanding of composition. William commented, “The wonderful thing about art is that you can always get better. I view myself as a perpetual student!”

Bill was awarded Master Signature status in Oil Painters of America (OPA) and in the National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society (NOAPS). In addition the Pastel Society of America has recognized him as a "Master Pastelist," IAPS (The International Association of Pastel Societies) has named him to the Masters’ Circle and recognized him as an Eminent Pastelist, their highest honor! AIS made him a Master Signature Member (AISM).


Magazine Publications:

• Capturing Emotion, American Artist Magazine, February 2001
• Art Values, Southwest Art Magazine, November 2003
• It’s About Meaning, Art of the West Magazine, November 2004
• International Showcase of Master Pastel Painters, International Artist Magazine, Oct. 2004
• Master Portrait Artists’ Showcase, International Artist Magazine, February 2005
• William A. Schneider, The Pastel Journal, February 2005
• Start Your Collection, Southwest Art Magazine, April 2005
• Self-Portraits: Journey Through The Looking Glass, Art-Talk Magazine April 2005
• 2007 Guidebook of Art, (Cover image) Art of the West Magazine 2007
• The Eyes Have It, The Pastel Journal, January 2008
• Painting the Mouth, American Artist Magazine, March 2008
• The Studio of William Schneider, Art of the West Magazine, July 2009
• Competition Spotlight, The Artist’s Magazine, April 2010
• Strategies to Organize the Elements of Your Paintings, Workshop Magazine, Fall 2010
• The Good Guys – Masculine portraits from six talented artists, Southwest Art Magazine, January 2011
• A Portrait Demonstration by William A. Schneider, OPA, PSA, International Artist Magazine, June / July 2012
• Painting With Light, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, September – October 2013
• Brushing Up, The Artists Magazine, June 2014
• Capturing Emotions, International Artist Magazine, June-July 2015
• To Blend or not to Blend, The Pastel Journal, Oct 2017
• Artistic Excellence, Southwest Art Magazine November 2018
• Reignite Your Creativity, The Pastel Journal October 2019
• Painting and Music: The mystical Connection, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, March 2020
• Copy from the Best, The Artists Magazine, February 2020
• Life is an Adventure, Art of the West, January/February 2021
• Snow Days, Plein Air Magazine, February-March 2022
• The Long Game, The Artists Magazine, March/April 2022

• Easton Studio & School, Easton, MD
• Fredericksburg Artists’ School, Fredericksburg, TX
• Palette and Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL
• Peninsula Art School, Door County, WI
• Richeson Art School, Kimberly, WI
• Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale AZ
• IAPS Convention 2015
• Portrait Society of America Convention
• Plein Air Convention and Expo (PACE)

• Oil Landscapes, Schneider, Hampton, Obermeyer, & Short, Walter Foster Publishing 2002
• The Art of Oil Painting, Walter Foster Publishing 2003
• Pastel II, William Schneider, Walter Foster Publishing 2004
• How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint People & Figures, International Artist Publishing, 2005
• Pure Color: The Best of Pastel, North Light Books, 2005

• Princess – Composition in Warm Light
• Design Secrets of the Masters; The key to a Successful Painting
• Teaching the Limited Palette Techniques of Anders Zorn
• Inner Flame --Composing Multiple Figures in Low, Warm Light
• Nicolai Fechin Painting Secrets
• Pastel Painting Secrets with William A. Schneider

BILLY SOLITARIO
Fine Artist


Billy Solitario finds beauty among the sand dunes, coastal savannas, and barrier islands along the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast. Solitario was born March 19, 1972, in Manhattan Beach, California, where his father worked on the Apollo space program. While he was still a child, the family moved to Gautier, Mississippi, near Ocean Springs. There he spent his childhood enjoying the sea, beaches, open skies, and all the Gulf Coast had to offer a young boy.

After graduating in 1994 from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a Bachelor of Arts, Solitario moved to New Orleans and worked a brief time for an advertising firm. From 1995 to 1998, he studied painting at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art. In 2005, he began teaching landscape and portrait painting at the Academy. In 2003, Solitario received a Master of Fine Arts from Tulane University in New Orleans, where he taught beginner’s drawing and painting from 2001 to 2003.

Solitario, who refers to himself as a “classic realist”, explores various subjects, including landscapes, portraits and still life paintings. As a landscape painter, Solitario says he is most inspired by cumulonimbus clouds and the Mississippi River. He emphasizes the magnitude of the sky and clouds above small slivers of land below. Billy Solitario’s still life works honor the rainbow of colors found in the crabs, oysters, and crawfish native to the Gulf Coast. Billy paints with a “wet on wet” technique and uses value to bring his signature depth to the pieces.


Education

• 2001-2003 MFA Tulane
• 1995-1998 New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts
• 1990-1994 BA University of South Florida

• 2005-Present New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, Landscape Painting, Portrait Painting
• 2002-2003 Tulane Beginning Drawing, Beginning Painting
• 2001-2002 Tulane TA Beginning Drawing

• 2019 “New Skies & Seascapes”,Sophiella Gallery, Mobile, AL
• 2019 “Nocturnal New Orleans”, Billy Solitario Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2018 “12th Night”, Billy Solitario Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2017 “Slivers Of Land” , LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2015 “From Our Shallow Waters, Still-Lives from the Coast of New Orleans” Lemieux Galleries, LA
• 2014 “New Work” Brown’s Fine Art, Jackson, MS
• 2013 “Recent Works”, LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2010 “Landscapes and Still Lifes” Gallery 119, Jackson, MS
• 2009 “The Ocean” L2 Gallery, Sea Side, FL
• 2009 “Oh La Mare” LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2006 “Landscapes and Still Lifes” L2 Gallery, Sea Side, FL
• 2006 “New Paintings” LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2005 “The Sky above Us” L2 Gallery, Sea Side, FL
• 2004 “New Work” LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2003 “Landscapes” Chris Inglis Stebly Gallery, Ocean Springs MS
• 2003 “M.F.A Thesis Show” Carroll Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
• 2002 “New Works” LeMieux Galleries, New Orleans, LA
• 2001 “The Gulf Coast” Art Depot, Pascagoula, MS
• 2001 “Still Lifes” Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA
• 2000 “New Landscapes” Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA
• 1999 “Along the Gulf Coast” The Academy Gallery, New Orleans, LA
• 1998 “Landscapes” White Linen Night, Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA
• 1998 “Landscapes and Still Lifes” The Gallery, Natchez, MS
• 1998 “Views of Horn Island” George Ohr Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS
• 1997 “New Paintings” Art Depot, Pascagoula, MS
• 1997 “Landscapes” Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA

• 2018 "The Art of Food" , WLPB and Ann Connelly Fine Art, Baton Rouge, LA
• 2018 “One Evening Only”, 24th annual Poydras Home Art Exhibition, New Orleans, LA
• 2017 “Artists in the Park”, New Orleans Botanical Gardens, New Orleans, LA
• 2016 "Expressions of Place: The Southeastern Louisiana Landscape”, Miriam Barranger Gallery, Covington, LA
• 2014 “The Annual En Plein Air Exhibition”, Abita Springs Trailhead Museum, Abita Springs,LA
• 2013 “Self Portrait Invitational” New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2009 “The Annual Miniature Exhibition” New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2006 “20x20x20 Compact Competition” LSU Union Art Galley, Baton Rouge, LA
• 2006 “A Response to Katrina” New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2005 “Looking at Katrina” LSU Union Art Galley, Baton Rouge, LA
• 2003 “Self Portrait Invitational” New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2002 “Peep Show” Carroll Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
• 2002 “New American Paintings” Juried Exhibition in Print, #40
• 2001 “The Annual Miniature Exhibition” New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
• 2001 “Arts for the Parks” National Exhibition of Landscapes, Jackson, WY
• 2000 “New Orleans Art Association Annul Show“ New Orleans, LA
• 1999 “Introductions” Sylvia Schmidt Gallery, New Orleans, LA
• 1998 “Culture Shock” Mississippi Gulf Coast Jr. College, Gautier, MS
• 1997 “U.S. Navy Commissioning” Pascagoula, MS
• 1997 “International Paper, Views of Nature” Moss Point, LA
• 1997 “Fall Festival” George Ohr Museum, Biloxi, MS

• 2004 21st Annual Artist’s Magazine’s Art Competition, Landscape Finalist
• 2002 “South Western Art Magazine” “21 under 31” “Meet 21 young artists with promising careers. September Issue
• 2001 Top 100 Finalist “Arts for the Parks” National Exhibition of Landscapes
• 1999 Best of Show, Ocean Springs Art Show
• 1998 Emerging Artist Award, George Ohr Fall Show
• 1997 Gwendolyn Ozols Scholarship Award, New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts
• 1997 Best of Show, Singing River Art Association
• 1997 “Toast of the Coast”
• 1996 Best of Show, Ocean Springs Art Show

• “On The Coast: Mississippi Tales and Recipes”, Pelican Publishing, 2016
• Art Galleries and Artists of the South
• Expressions of Place, The Contemporary Louisiana Landscape, 2016
• Plein Air Magazine, Painting on Horn Island Mississippi, March 2015
• Boat U.S. Magazine, So Close Yet a World Away from Shore, June/July 2014
• Mississippi Magazine, Journey to the Islands, June 2014
• Plein Air Magazine, Anatomy of a Cloud Painting, July 2013
• A Unique Slant of Light,The Bicentennial History of Art in Louisiana, 2012
• Gulfscapes, Finer Gulf Coast Living, June 2011
• St. Charles Avenue Magazine, October 2009
• Country Roads, July 2009
• New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles, August 2008
• New Orleans Magazine, February 2008
• Beach Blvd Magazine. August 2008
• Art New Orleans, Winter 2007
• Louisianan Life Magazine. Spring 2006
• The Southern Review, Summer 2005
• New Orleans Magazine, 6/04
• Gambit Weekly, 7/26/04
• National Public Radio, New Orleans, 5/9/02
• New American Paintings, 2002 Issue #40
• Arts for the Parks 2001
• South West Artist Magazine, “21 Under 31, Meet 21 young artist with promising careers.” 9/02
• Times-Picayune, “Artist emerges through skillful landscapes”8/7/98; 12/26/00; “Shifting sands of time.” 8/11/00
• The New Orleans Art Review, 3/03; 9/00; 5/99; 8/00; 2011/2012
• The Sun Herald, 8/16/03; 9/29/02; 5/14/99; 1/10/98
• Mississippi Press, 9/29/02
• Gautier Independent, 8/23/03
• Gambit Weekly, 6/8/04; 5/21/02; 7/31/98

• Ogden Museum of Southern Art
• The Roosevelt Hotel
• Whitney National Bank
• Northrop Grumming
• New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts
• Astor Crown Plaza Hotel
• South West Artist Magazine
• Emeril Lagasse
• Harry Shearer
• International Paper

DR. JIM SPANN
Fine Artist


I was born and raised in Dothan, Alabama. Painters and architects run in my family. Both parents taught us to appreciate the natural beauty of ordinary things such as red bud trees in blossom or morning mists rising in a fishing pond as well as the spiritual concept that “all this beauty did not happen by chance”.

Expressing this beauty and concept by painting while also becoming a doctor developed as my two childhood goals. Medical training and then working in academic medicine postponed my painting for many years. However, learning to be a painter was always in my plans.

Medical school at Atlanta’s Emory University required four years of full time effort. The following two years of medical internship and residency at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital was also intense. However, it provided a bit more free time and access to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Whenever possible, I spent time studying and enjoying the paintings there.

The next three years of fellowship in clinical and research cardiology at the National Heart Institute in Bethesda provided more free time and access to the nearby National Gallery of Art to study and enjoy paintings. The paintings of the Impressionists, especially those of Monet became my favorites. While in Bethesda I read the first of many art instruction books and painted my first oil painting – a still life.

Most of the next fifty years were spent working as a practicing academic cardiologist, teacher and researcher. For twenty-five of those years I was busy as Chief of Cardiology first at Temple University School of Medicine and then at the Medical University of South Carolina. During most of this time I continued to read art instruction books and to paint with oil as an intermittent hobby.

In 2013 I retired from medicine and begin to concentrate intensively on my painting and education as a painter. Up to this time my painting had been self-taught. I am now very fortunate to have Rick Reinert as a wonderful mentor and advisor in painting. Following Rick’s advice I have been studying and painting regularly under Joyce Hall since 2013. She is a well-known accomplished painter and teacher. She is devoted to seeing that her students learn the principles, tools, technique and concepts of oil painting. Her classes, workshops and constructive critiques are outstanding.

I have also traveled to eleven museums to intensively study paintings of the masters. Where permitted, I have taken detailed, high resolution, close-up photographs of these paintings to study the techniques of the masters at leisure. The museums included are: The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Louvre, the D’Orsay, the Marmottan Monet and the Orangerie in Paris, the Uffizi in Florence, the Art institute of Chicago, Philadelphia’s Barnes Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Joyce Hall instructed me to paint copies of three of Monet’s paintings using the photographs taken in the museums. This was a remarkable learning experience.

I have been a member of Charleston’s Artist Guild since 2013 and was juried in as an exhibiting member. I was selected to show a painting at the Guild’s 2015 Juried Signature Exhibition.

My learning curve is steep and I have far to go. But what a joy the trip is! It is a wonderful privilege to perceive the beauty around me and paint forms, colors, light, shadows, values and edges to show this beauty and to express the feeling that “all this beauty did not just happen by chance”. Painting is a passion, a joy and an absorbing pleasure that I need and love. I am honored to join the artists who exhibit in the Rick Reinert Fine Art Gallery.

JAMES SWANSON
Fine Artist


Signature Member American Impressionists Society
Signature Member Oil Painters of America
Signature Member National Oil & Acrylic Society
Member Portrait Society of America
Member Society of Animal Artists

I'm originally from Beloit, Wisconsin and went to college to be a Forest Ranger, but I soon discovered that my real talent was painting trees rather than identifying them. That realization prompted me to transfer to The Columbus College of Art and Design, where I found my passion for illustration.

After college, I worked as an Art Director for an advertising agency before transitioning to the illustration world, where I created and illustrated posters, ads, book and magazine covers for major brands like Budweiser, ESPN, US Tennis Open, McDonald's, Kraft, and Soap Box Derby, among others.

I've since shifted my focus to fine art and have been fortunate enough to be represented by a few galleries around the United States. I'm proud to be a Signature Artist member of The National Oil & Acrylic Society, The American Impressionists Society, and The Oil Painters of America, having had my paintings repeatedly accepted into their highly competitive National Juried exhibitions. I'm also now a signature member of the Society of Animal Artists.

I've won numerous painting awards, including the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship Award and the Most Original Award of Excellence at the Oil Painters of America's 2023 National Exhibit.

In 2022, I was awarded the Artist in Residence of Mackinac Island Historical State Park, where I spent two weeks creating 13 pieces of art and immersing myself in the island's rich culture and history.

Southwest Art Magazine featured me as one to collect in their October/November 2021 issue.

I'm also a sought-after painting instructor, having taught over 150 online classes and videos in the past three years. I'm known for my good sense of humor and positive teaching style, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion for art with aspiring artists.

He is also a Rembrandt Oil Paint Ambassador.



Exhibitions

• 2023 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition - Reinert Fine Art Charleston, SC
• Awarded The Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship Award & The Most Original Award of Excellence
• "A Brighter Day" oil painting won an Honorable Mention in the Water Category in Pleinair magazines Art Competition
• "These Boots" oil painting was an Finalist Award Winner in the January 2023 Bold Brush Painting competition
• 2022 Awarded 3rd place in MVIS National impressionists show at the Cathy Kline Gallery, Kansas City, MO
• 2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small works show National Exhibition at The Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
• 2022 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best National Exhibition at Wilcox Gallery, Jackson Hole, WY
• 2022 American Impressionists Society, National Exhibition at Mary Williams’s Fine Art Gallery, Boulder, CO
• 2022 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, Taos, NM
• 2021 Oil Painters of America National Salon Exhibition at Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
• 2021 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition at California Center for the Arts Museum Escondido CA
• 2021 Yosemite Renaissance 36 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
• 2021 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at Reinert Gallery Charleston, SC
• 2021 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
• 2020 The 75th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, IN
• 2020 Water Show at the McCord Gallery in Palos IL
• 2020 Mackinac Island Art Exhibition at The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum in Mackinac Island MI
• 2020 Oil Painters of America, National Salon Show held online
• 2020 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD
• 2020 Yosemite Renaissance 35 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
• 2019 American Impressionists Society, Small Works National Exhibition at the Crooked Tree Art Gallery in Petoskey, Michigan
• 2019 Arkansas Territory Bicentennial Art Exhibition
• 2019 The Emerald Isle Show at the McCord Gallery Palos IL - Won Best of Show
• 2019 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best Small Works National Exhibition at the RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX
• 2019 The 74th Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum in Terra Haute, IN
• 2019 Virtuosos of the Oil Painters of America at the Cutter & Cutter Fine Art in St. Augustine, FL
• 2019 Yosemite Renaissance 34 at the Yosemite Museum Gallery in Yosemite, CA
• 2018 Oil Painters of America Eastern Regional Exhibition at the McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD
• 2018 Mackinac Island Art Exhibition at The Richard and Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum in Mackinac Island MI
• 2018 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, America’s Best National Exhibition at the Richland Art Gallery in Nashville TN
• 2019 American Impressionists Society, National Exhibition at the Peninsula School of Art - Guenzel Gallery in Fish Creek, WI
• 2018 The 73rd Annual Wabash Valley Exhibition at the Swope Art Museum Terra Haute, IN
• 2018 Oil Painters of America National Exhibition at the Steamboat Springs Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, CO.

ANGELA TROTTA THOMAS
Fine Artist

Angela Trotta Thomas is a renowned realist painter with a career spanning decades. She earned her Master of Studio Art from Marywood University, Scranton, PA, through the prestigious "Get Your Master’s with the Masters" program. This experience profoundly shaped her artistic journey, allowing her to work alongside top illustrators in New York City.

Angela began her career in freelance illustration, later working in-house at a design firm specializing in heat transfer printing. Her time there, collaborating with other creatives, honed her artistic skills and set the foundation for her future endeavors. After a decade of freelance work while raising her children, she pursued her master’s degree, which became a turning point in her career.

Her thesis, featuring paintings of Lionel Toy Train memories, led to a licensing agreement with Lionel Trains. For over 33 years, Angela has created cherished works that evoke nostalgia, with her paintings and limited-edition prints collected worldwide.

In the past two decades, she transitioned into fine art, becoming a recognized artist represented by Reinert Fine Art in Charleston, SC. Her work now explores Charleston’s rich history, iconic cityscapes, and evocative bar scenes in Charleston, New York, and beyond. These paintings have gained international recognition, and Reinert Fine Art will host a special exhibition featuring Angela and fellow artist Stephanie Marzella in October 2025.

Angela’s work deeply resonates with viewers, often evoking emotional responses. Collectors frequently share personal stories of childhood memories and meaningful connections sparked by her paintings. One collector, who had been searching for the perfect artwork for years told Angela she had experienced a visceral reaction upon seeing one of Angela’s pieces—a testament to the profound impact of her art. She now has that painting in her collection.



Exhibitions & Recognition
Angela has participated in numerous juried shows and her paintings have been shown in the following galleries and museums.

• Juried into 2024 NOAPS Best of America Small Works, Santa Fe, NM
• Juried into 2024 NOAPS Spring International On-Line Exhibition
• Juried into 2023 NOAPS Fall International On-Line Exhibition
• Juried in American Women Artists "PUSHING FORWARD, REACHING BACK" MUSEUM EXHIBITION 2023
• NOAPS award of Excellence 2022
• Juried into16th ARC SALON International Competition
• Juried into OPA 2022 Eastern Regional Exhibit
• Juried into Best of America 2022 NOAPS Exhibition, Jackson Hole WY
• Juried into NOAPS 2022 Spring International Online Exhibit
• Juried into NOAPS Best f America National Exhibition
• Juried into 2021 NOAPS On-line Exhibition Spring International
• Juried into American Women Artists- 2021 Juried Show
• Juried into Portrait Society of Atlanta 2021 Spring Exhibition
• Juried into NOAPS 2021 Member Juried Exhibition
• Juried into 2021 Best of American NOAPS Small Works show. Principle Gallery, Charleston SC
• Juried into American Women Artists -National 2021 "Lifting the Sky"
• Juried into Salmagundi Club Spring Auction NYC 2021
• Juried into 15th ARC SALON Semi- Finalists 2021
• Juried into OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition 2020, Reinert Fine art, Charleston SC
• Juried into OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA 2020 Salon Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
• ARC, Art Renewal Center 2020 Annual Salon Show- Semi Finalist
• Juried into SALMAGUNDI "View Outside my Window" On-line Exhibition 2020
• Juried into the famed 2019 PLEIN AIR EASTON event in Easton MD
• Juried into SALMAGUNDI Figurative Show 2020
• Finalist -RICHESON75 Figure/Portrait Exhibition 2019
• Finalist- RICHESON75 Still Life and Floral Exhibition 2019
• Juried into NOAPS Spring International Exhibition 2019
• OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA- Eastern Regional 2020, Reinert Fine Art.
• OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA- Eastern Regional 2017, Anderson Fine Art, St. Simons, GA
• OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA- National Convention 2018, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
• OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA- Eastern Regional 2018, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
• SMITHSONIAN, Washington DC
• EVERHART Museum, Scranton PA-, Retrospective – Grif Teller and Angela Trotta Thomas, two-person show.
• COLUMBUS Museum, Columbus GA
• STEAMBOAT Museum, Steamboat CO
• LIONEL TRAIN Museum, Charlotte NC
• TOY TRAIN COLLECTORS Museum, Strasburg PA

• Hall's Chophouse
• Slightly North Of Broad (SNOB)
• Neil Young (Singer)
• Richard Kughn (Former Lionel Trains Owner)
• Otis Chandler (Former LA Times Owner)
• MBNA Bank
• Quest Health Care
• Chrysler
• Arrow Fastener Corporation

• Oil Painters of America
• Portrait Society
• American Railroad Society
• Salmagundi Club
• NOAPS
• American Women Artists

JENNIFER WILLIAMS
Fine Artist



Jennifer Williams is a contemporary oil painter originally from Australia, now living in New York city . Her artwork is a vibrant celebration of landscapes, cityscapes, figures, and abstract ideas. Drawing inspiration from a rich history that spans from ancient art and impressionism to modern styles, her paintings evoke joy and enlightenment. Through the use of gesture, line, and form, she conveys the beauty and dynamism she perceives in landscapes, full of movement and illumination.

Jennifer masterfully blends reality with fantasy in her work. Stepping into her studio offers an invitation to immerse oneself in her creations. She captures the enchanting allure of city streets bathed in moonlight, the elongated shadows of lower Manhattan, the cozy glow of Parisian cafes, and the vibrant energy of Times Square. Her painting techniques, including texturing, glazing, and working on metal, allow viewers to experience the lively energy of her landscapes.

Her botanical paintings skillfully reflect the essence of unfettered growth. In her compositions, familiar plants coexist with imaginative botanical designs. The perspective places the viewer right among the plant life, akin to an insect’s viewpoint, surrounded by oversized, exuberant flowers and intricate vines that seem to extend beyond the canvas’s borders. Jennifer keenly observes the patterns and rhythms of nature.

Williams holds a B.A. in business and has studied fine arts at The Art Students League of New York, Parsons School of Design in New York, Rowayton Arts Center, and Silvermine School of Art in Connecticut. Her award-winning artworks are part of collections across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Caribbean. Her cityscape paintings were recently showcased in a national juried exhibition at the Salmagundi Club in New York.

Her paintings are currently on display in Paris, New York, Charleston, South Carolina, and Greenwich, Connecticut. Jennifer is represented by Reinert Fine Art Gallery, Charleston, SC, Sorokin Gallery in Greenwich, CT, Galerie DDG in Paris, France, and Art Blend, CT. She is a member of the Artists Collective of Westport, Greenwich Art Society, and the Rowayton Artists Collective. Jennifer is the great niece of renowned Australian artist Moya Dyring, whose work is part of the Australian National Gallery's collection.


Recent shows and Press

• April 2025, ARTEXPO , New York city, represented by Artavita.
• February 2025, Group Show , The Art Students League of NY
• October 2024, Representation and exhibit, ArtBlend, CT
• June 2024, CCNS art show, Norwalk CT
• May 2024: SOLO SHOW, Sorokin Gallery, Greenwich CT
• April 2024: ART EXPO NEW YORK, solo
• March 2024: Rowayton Arts Center, Member Show
• March 2024: Westport Arts Collective, Members Show, Westport CT
• December 2023: Spectrum Miami, Miami Art Week and Art Basel. Miami. USA
• August 2023 Group Show “Reviving Inner Rhythms”, Flinn Gallery, Greenwich CT. Juried by Clare Davis, curator, The
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
• April 2023: “Transcendence”, Solo Show. Sorokin Gallery, Greenwich CT.
• March 2023: In the Garden Member Show. RAC.
• December 2022: Solo Show “Night and Day… a study in contrast”, RPAC Gallery, Ridgefield CT.
• March 2022: Solo Show - “Emergence”, Figurative and Cityscape series, Sorokin Gallery, Greenwich, CT
• February 2022: Member Show - “In the Garden”, Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• December 2022: Group Show - Artists Collective of Westport, Westport, CT
• October 2021: Autumn Juried Show - Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• July 2021: Group Show - “New Perspectives”, Sorokin Gallery, Greenwich, CT
• June 2021: Juried Show - “Open Cityscapes Exhibition” Salmagundi, New York, NY
• June 2021: Juried Show - Rowayton Arts Center, “In the City”, Norwalk, CT
• March 2021: Spring Juried All Media Show - 1st place award “Love Story”, Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• February 2021: Group Show - “Gardens”, Honorable Mention, Rowayton Arts Center Member, Norwalk, CT
• February 2021: Group Show - Milford Arts Council, Milford, CT
• January 2021: Group Show - Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• November 2020-January 2021: Solo Show - “Places We Love”, Sorokin Gallery, Greenwich, CT
• October-November 2020: Autumn Juried Show - Honorable Mention, Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• October-November 2020: Juried Show - “Story of Women”, Milford Arts Council, Milford, CT
• August-September 2020: Group Show - “Art About Town”, Artists Collective of Westport, Westport, CT
• August 2020: Group Show - “Art on Washington Street in Sono”, Artists Collective of Westport, Norwalk, CT
• July-August 2020: Group Show - Community Awards Show, Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• May-June 2020: Juried Spring Show - Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• March-May 2020: Group Home Show - Honorable Mention, Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
• March-October 2020: Solo Show - Featured Artist, Aspetuck Valley Club, Fairfield, CT
• January-April 2020: Solo Show - “Cities of Love”, Pearl Gallery, Westport, CT
• December 2019: Group Show - Artists Collective of Westport, Westport, CT
• October 2019: Group Show - SPAG Studios, Norwalk, CT
• July 2019: Juried Solo Show - “Wild and Free”, Curtis Gallery, New Canaan, CT
• May 2019: Group Show - Guest Artist, SPAG Annual Exhibit, Norwalk, CT
• April 2019: Juried Show - “Color Blends” Exhibit, Bridgeport, CT
• February 2019: Solo Show - Rene Soto Gallery, Norwalk, CT
• January 2019: Group Show - DDG Galerie, Paris, France
• January 2019: Group Show - Rene Soto Gallery, Norwalk CT
• December 2018: Pop Up Show - Artists Collective of Westport, Westport, CT
• November 2018: Group Show - The Art Studio, Southington, CT
• October 2018: Group Show - DDG Galerie, Paris, France
• September 2018: Group Show - Raymor Flannigan Design Store, Norwalk, CT
• September 2018: Group Show - Rene Soto Gallery, Norwalk, CT
• June 2-30 2018: Juried Show - Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT
• April 2018: Long-Term Exhibit - Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NYSpring 2018: Magazine Cover - Art 1340, Selected Cover Artist
• March-May 2018: Solo Show - Gallery at Pearl, Westport, CT
• 2018: Group Show - Island Cork, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
• 2017: Juried Show - Silvermine Galleries, New Canaan, CT
• 2017: Group Show - Island Cork, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
• 2016: Juried Show - Silvermine Galleries, Honorable Mention, New Canaan, CT
• 2015: Juried Show - Silvermine Galleries, Best in Show-Watercolor Award, New Canaan, CT

CHRISTOPHER ZHANG
Fine Artist


I was born in Shanghai, China, received BFA in 1984. I came to UAS in 1990, received MFA in 1993. I am the members of the following artist organizations:

• Master Signature member of Oil Painters of America, 2014
• Copley Master of Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA since 2005
• Artist member of Salmagundi Club, New York, NY since 2006
• Elected Artist member of Connecticut Academy of Fine Art since 1998 and board member from 2010 to 2013.
• Elected Artist Member of Lyme Art Association, Lyme, CT since 1999
• Member of the Board of the Trustees of The Griffis International Art center since 2002

• Figurative Award of Excellence OPA 23rd National Exhibition, 2014
• Figurative Award of Excellence OPA Eastern Region Exhibition, 2014
• Outstanding Work Prize Salmagundi Club 130th Annual Exhibition New York, NY 2014
• Best in Show Academic Artists Association 62nd Annual Show, Springfield, MA 2012
• Outstanding Work Prize Salmagundi Club 127th Annual Exhibition New York, NY 2010. The painting was selected as the permanent collection of the SCNY
• Outstanding Work Prize Salmagundi Club Fall ExhibitionNew York, NY 2011
• Best of Show Connecticut Academy of Fine Art 99th Annual Show, Mystic, CT 2010
• First Prize Copley Society of Art Member Show Boston, MA 2009
• Best of Show Connecticut Academy of Fine Art 94th Annual Show, Slate Museum, CT 2006
• First Prize Copley Society of Art Member Show Boston, MA 2006
• First Jurors’ Choice Copley Society of Art Spring Show, Boston, MA 2005

• 2002 Images of Tibet
• 2000 Royal Bee
• 1998 Moon Festival

NI ZHU
Fine Artist


Ni Zhu grew up in a small town in southern China. She studied law in Beijing University and came to North America for graduate studies. While still on a career path to become a law professor, Ni encountered the passion of her life, painting. A career change had to happen as she devoted more and more time and energy in art. She started taking classes at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco as well as workshops with master painters such as Huihan Liu, Zhaoming Wu, and Daniel Gerhartz. She earned her MFA degree in 2020.

Ni always finds herself intrigued by a certain light, a certain mood, or simply a certain moment in life. Naturally she paints people doing their thing in their own world, trying to recreate the mood or feeling that once moved her. Having grown up in China, lived in North America for 20 years and travelled extensively across the globe, Ni is constantly touched and inspired by interesting moments of life in various contexts and situations.

Ni holds signature membership in the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. She is also a member of the California Art Club and the Women Artists of the West. Recent recognitions include First Place in the Landscape category of the 37th Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition in 2020, the In Pursuit of Beauty Special Award at Women Artists of the West 50th National Exhibition in 2020, the Outstanding Composition and Technique Award of Excellence at the 2017 OPA annual National Exhibition, and the director’s choice award at the 2016 Spring Show of the Academy of Art University.


Education

• 2020 Master of Fine Arts in Painting, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California
• 2000-06 Doctoral Candidate, University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 1999 Master of Laws, cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 1998 Bachelor of Laws, Beijing University School of Law, Beijing, China

• Signature Member, Oil Painters of America
• Signature Member, American Impressionist Society
• Artist Member, California Art Club
• Artist Member, Women Artists of the West

• Kim Agricola, “Ni Zhu: Where passion meets precision”, Southwest Art Magazine, September 2018 Issue, page 20

• 2022 Venessa in Plein Air, Award of Merit, Best Portriat/Figurative, Women Artists of the West 52nd National Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
• 2022 Once upon a Time in Egypt, Award of Excellence, NOAPS Best of America, Wilcox Gallery, Jackson, WY
• 2021 Buying Vegetables in Venice, Honorable Mention, American Impressionist Society 5th Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina
• 2020 Under the Shade Sails No.2, First Place in the Landscape category, 37th Artist Magazine Annual Art Competition
• 2020 Golden, 2D Award of Merit and In Pursuit of Beauty Special Award, Women Artists of the West 50th National Exhibition
• 2017 The Light, Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Outstanding Composition and Technique Award of Excellence
• 2017 Face It, Colonel George J.Morales Memorial Award, American Artists Professional League 89th Grand National Exhibition
• 2016 Leaving for Work, Director’s Choice Award, Academy of Art University Spring Show

• 2020 Allegretto Vineyard Resort, Paso Robles, California

• 2023 American Impressionist Society 5th Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, the District Gallery, Knoxville, TN
• 2023 California Art Club 112nd Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA
• 2022 Women Artists of the West 52nd National Exhibition, McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD
• 2022 NOAPS Best of America, Wilcox Gallery, Jackson, WY
• 2022 MORE THAN: EXPANDING IDENTITIES OF ARTISTS FROM THE AMERICAN WEST, Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona
• 2022 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
• 2022 California Art Club 111th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA
• 2021 American Impressionist Society 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Gallery 1516, Omaha, Nebraska
• 2021 Oil Painters of America 30th National Juried Exhibition, California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, Escondido, CA
• 2021 American Impressionist Society 5th Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina
• 2021 Women Artists of the West 51st National Exhibition 2021, The Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, Texas
• 2020 Allied Artists of America 107th Annual Exhibition
• 2020 American Impressionist Society 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition, Illume Gallery, St. George, Utah
• 2020 Oil Painters of America 2020 Salon Show
• 2020 National Association of Women Artists, Small Works and Beyond
• 2020 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas
• 2020 California Art Club 109th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University, Orange, California
• 2020 American Impressionist Society 4th Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, Texas
• 2020 Women Artists of the West 50th National Exhibition Jubilee Celebration, Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, Arizona (Golden No.1, 2D Award of Merit and In Pursuit of Beauty Special Award)
• 2019 Favell Museum Art Show and Sale, Klamath Falls, Oregon
• 2019 American Impressionist Society 3rd Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, Michigan
• 2019 California Art Club 108th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Pasadena, California
• 2018 Salon at the Triton: Statewide 2D Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, California
• 2018 American Impressionist Society 19th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Peninsula School of Art - Guenzel Gallery, Fish Creek, Wisconsin
• 2018 Pacific Art League, the Human Form, Palo Alto, California (Simone, Second Place)
• 2018 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• 2017 American Artists Professional League 89th Grand National Exhibition, New York,New York
• 2017 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, Utah
• 2017 Oil Painters of America Spring Online Showcase (The Tibetan Monk Ngawang, honorable mention)
• 2017 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Eisele Fine Art Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
• 2016 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Marshall Gallery of fine Art, Scottsdale, Arizona
• 2016 American Women Artists National Juried Exhibition & Annual Members Show, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont
• 2016 Academy of Art University Spring Show, San Francisco, California
• 2016 St. Mary Museum of Art, Reflections in Water, Moraga, California
• 2015 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Wild Horse Gallery, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
• 2014 Academy of Art University Spring Show, San Francisco, California (Venice No.3, Italy Award)
• 2014 An Italian Sojourn 2, the Italian Cultural Institute, San Francisco
• 2013 Academy of Art University Fine Art Italy Program Group Show, Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy
• 2012 Sanchez Art Center annual 50-50 Show, Pacifica, California