Hey there, Subscriber!
I hope your year is off to a wonderful start. Mine has come out of the gate with some exciting momentum, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with you.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been accepted as an elected member of the American Artists Professional League (AAPL)! The application process was no small feat: pages of details and six recent paintings submitted for review—followed by a vote from the AAPL Board of Directors. Being elected at this level opens the door to expanded exhibition opportunities, and I’m pretty jazzed about what’s ahead.
What drew me to AAPL in the first place is their commitment to advancing traditional realism in American fine art. It’s an approach deeply rooted in the lessons of the masters - lessons that were, for a time, overshadowed as abstract art dominated many art schools. Seeing that tradition being thoughtfully rebuilt here in the U.S. feels meaningful, and I’m honored to be part of it.
The painting shown above (along with three others) was juried into the next round of Masters at Mayton, on view now through July 13. Hosted by the Fine Arts League of Cary, the exhibition features nationally recognized artists and is set in a charming downtown Cary inn. It’s a truly lovely show in a lovely space. The Mayton welcomes visitors just for the art, and if you get hungry, their restaurant serves everything from drinks to dinner. If you stop by, be sure to explore the second and third floors as well. Nothing compares to seeing original artwork in person, but if you’d like a preview, you can view the online Master's exhibition here.
On the teaching front, my first workshop of the year sold out - with a waiting list! Because of that enthusiasm, The Centerpiece has added a second offering of the Fundamentals I workshop, along with two follow-up Fundamentals sessions in March and April. You can find details for all three workshops on my website here, or directly on The Centerpiece’s website here.
And in March, I’ll be heading south to Apalachicola, Florida for Plein Air South, where I’ll paint alongside fellow plein air artists and learn from several masters whose work I deeply admire. My husband and I spent a couple of days there last year, and I completely fell in love with the tiny historic fishing village. I can’t wait to paint those quaint coastal scenes—and let’s be honest, it’s also a perfect excuse to kick off spring a little early.
As always, please feel free to reach out if there’s anything I can help you with. Until next time—be good… and if you can’t be good, be good at it!
Warmly,
