Check out the talented Plein Air Artists who participated in the
​Suffolk Plein Air Festival 2022.

Natalia Andreeva

Pamela Betts

Elizabeth Blanchard

Thomas Bradshaw

Betsy Brothers

Coakley Brown

Lisa Burger Lentz

Gina Buzby

Doug Clarke

Lynn Cothern

Huchen Courouleau

Karen Lee Crenshaw

Arlene Daniel

Mary Ann Davis

Steve Doherty

Vlad Duchev

John Eiseman

Catherine Hillis

Pearl Horng

Betty Huang

Greg Johannesen

Rose Kennedy

Brett LaGue

William Lake

Melanie Landrith

Kirk Larsen

Allen Lassiter

John Meyers

Theresa Miller

Brian Murphy

Lynda Mussen

Jim Rehak

Orit Reuben

Elizabeth Rhoades

Tatyana Robberts

Karen Spaulding

Sqeaky Swan

Karen Thuermer

Lyudmila Tomova

Dimitris Voyiazoglou

Carey Woodruff

Terry Wylie

Lori Yates

ARTIST & BIO

Andreeva, Natalia  Tallahassee, Florida Natalia emerged as an artist from the rich and fertile artistic climate of Novosibirsk, in Siberia after graduating from it's most prestigious art college. During her classical education in the canons of European art she was greatly influenced by eastern philosophy. Consequentially, Natalia's work is a harmonious marriage between spontaneous expressions and classical realism.  Among Natalia's favorite themes are exquisite landscapes, depicting the subtlety of nature, still life, where vibrant shapes and internal dynamics are shown in contrast to the commonplace subjects, and finally, figures and portraits brimming with humanity, and giving testament to the beauty and harmony of the human condition.  Natalia holds Signature Membership Status in the American Impressionist Society.  Natalia’s works have been distinguished with honors and fellowships and are featured in multiple public and private collections. Additional information and latest news regarding her work can be found at http://www.andreeva.com.

Betts, Pamela  Silver Spring, Maryland Pamela is a representational painter living in the Washington, DC metro area. She began her early oil painting lessons as a child at a local artist’s farm in rural New Jersey and continued her studies at Moravian, a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania (recently turned University). Through her love of art, she discovered art conservation and undertook the long journey required to become a conservator, eventually earning a Master of Science in Art Conservation from Winterthur Museum/University of Delaware, and now works as a painting conservator in Baltimore.  Pamela is inspired by the close study of the various methods and materials used by centuries of painters and by observing the natural world around her. She paints mostly with oils or gouache, and especially enjoys painting landscapes outdoors ‘en plein air'. She loves the thrill of being immersed in the landscape, observing and recording sensations of light, atmosphere, and mood through paint. Through painting, she has found everything from intrigue and excitement to solace and hope, and she shares these discoveries in hopes of making new and lasting connections with her viewers. https://www.pamelajbetts.com/

Blanchard, Elizabeth  Suffolk, Virginia As a native of the Tidewater area, Beth spent her childhood on the banks of the Elizabeth River from where the family took boat trips up the Chesapeake Bay, spent summers crabbing and fishing on the pier, and visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Since marrying in 1999, she has resided in Suffolk, adding an interest in agricultural subjects, flowers, animals, and children. She pursued the arts through her high school and college years including private painting lessons with local artist Wayne Fulcher.  However, her love of art revived in her adult life in 2011 when she was introduced to painting with oils by a master of oils, Robert LeMasters.  She has taught art classes for students ages four to senior adults, and currently teaches oil painting at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, where she is also a frequent participant in gallery exhibitions.  https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-elizabeth-blanchard

Bradshaw, Thomas  Blackstone, Virginia His loose painterly style allows him to imply detail without overstating it. Using brushwork and a palette knife to create a textural impression which draws the viewer in for a closer look. Utilizing a limited palette, Thomas is able to create shimmering light through temperature and value and bring to life the way in which it illuminates the scene as a single moment in time.   https://www.thomasbradshaw.net/

Brothers, Betsy   Suffolk, Virginia ​Through the years,  I have had the pleasure of taking classes and workshops from several wonderful artist.  I have never had formal training, but I have enjoyed painting for several years.  My problem is finding or taking the time to paint.  I enjoy painting with oils and I primarily paint landscapes.  My paintings reflect my life of growing up on a farm that was surrounded by the Nansemond River and the beautiful marshes. I spend several months of the year in an old oceanfront cottage in Kill Devil Hills, NC, and enjoy painting “our view.” I am in awe of the talent in this plein air event and feel fortunate for the opportunity to join such talented artists!

Brown, Coakley  Henrico, Virginia Coakley’s passion for art emerged in early childhood. Drawing from observation skills developed as a science teacher and parent, Coakley delights in exploring light and color while creating joyful expressions of what she sees. Inspired by nature and stories of its relationship to humanity, she strives to produce work that is authentic, but not photographic in detail. There is a balance, she believes, where authenticity is achieved in the choice of details captured or omitted. The search for that balance, arriving at it, and searching again, is paramount to her artistic journey.  https://www.coakleybrown.com/

Burger Lentz, Lisa       Media, Pennsylvania Lisa is a painter and printmaker. Formally working in the design and illustration field, Lisa now concentrates on painting outdoors and traditional printmaking. She participates in juried shows such as "Art on Paper 2019" at MFA in Annapolis, MD and "Small Works, Land & Sea” at the Beauty Gallery in Newtown Square, PA . Lisa enjoys painting in Plein Air Competitions such as Crisfield Plein Air Festival and the Adirondack Festival in Saranac Lake, NY. Lisa won an award at the 2018 Farm to Table Plein Air Event for the Brandywine Conservancy and an Honorable Mention at Paint Ocean City 2018. She also has attended the Publishers Invitational Paint Camp at Paul Smiths College and Fall Colors Invitational at the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. Lisa teaches Monotype at the Community Art Center in Wallingford, PA. She also is a Printshop Shop Assistant at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.  http://www.lisaburgerlentz.com/

Buzby, Gina   Norfolk, Virginia Gina Warren Buzby: BA in Art and Illustration, MA in Education, Graphic Designer, Freelance Graphic Artist, Professional Fine Artist over 40 years. I have enjoyed working as an artist most of my life, either as my main occupation or freelancing. As a military spouse I traveled, and painted, around the world. I enjoy painting plein air most of the year and I also paint in my Norfolk studio as well as offering private instruction for children and adults.  https://ginawarrenbuzby.com/

Clarke, Doug  Norfolk, Virginia Doug is a Plein Air and Studio painter based out of Virginia Beach. He works in oils, creating plein air and studio paintings. Graduating with Honors and Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University, Doug's work has evolved from commercial to fine art. As an active member of the Norfolk Drawing Group, the painter strives for excellence in his figure drawings and paintings. His commitment to life drawing and painting led him outdoors to paint plein air. There he realized his passion for capturing light and nature in his own personal way. Doug was commissioned to paint both Harborfest and Neptune Festival posters for 2014. Plein Air Awards include 1st place in the Plein Air 757 and 1st place in the Historic Fort Monroe Plein Air Event, as well as winning a Merit Award for Cape Charles Plein Air Exhibition. Doug’s work is currently represented by the Harbor Gallery, Ellen Moore Gallery, and Warm Springs Gallery. Doug was been juried into the prestigious Easton Plein Air Juried Competition (2022). Doug is very passionate about capturing the vanishing landscapes of Southeastern Virginia.  https://www.liquidmethod.com/

Cothern, Lynn   Gaithersburg, Maryland Lynn works primarily in oil, but also in watercolor and gouache, both plein air and in the studio. She paints with the NOVA Plein Air Artists and is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association and the American Impressionist Society. Lynn has a B.A. in Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting and drawing and has taken workshops and classes at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia; Pyramid Atlantic; Penland School of Craft; Paper and Book Intensive; and the Corcoran School of Art. She has studied with artist Patrick Lee, Robert Liberace, Teresa Oaxaca, and Susan O’Neill, among others.  https://www.lynncothern.com

Courouleau, Huchen  Ridley Park, Pennsylvania Painting started as a hobby but has become BIG part of Huchen’s life! ​Somewhat new to painting, enrolling in an acrylic painting class at the Philly Art Center in 2019.  After then, he stopped his painting journey shortly until he saw The Heart of the Andes from Metropolitan Museum of Art, motivating him to start oils instead of acrylic. He started oils painting with Stefanie Lieberman in Woodmere Art Museum from April 2019 to March 2020. Although his artistic journey just started not long ago, his painting ranges from still life to landscape/cityscape. He expresses his art in various media such as oils, acrylic and watercolor. He tends to let media dictate where it goes instead of forcing it to a certain way, in that it shows the essence or strength of the medium.  https://www.huchencourouleau.com/

Crenshaw, Karen Lee  Jacksonville, North Carolina A sense of place. That is the goal of Karen’s landscape paintings, for the viewer to "see" what she sees and to feel that is a place they have been or would like to visit. Plein air painting inspires her to capture the quality of the light that sets off that connection. Many of her paintings depict the pinkish-blue tones of early morning light or the amber tones of late afternoon. She loves the contrasts of forms and oblique angles and shapes that occur when the sun is low on the horizon. Her challenge is to capture that moment in time, working quickly and keeping a dynamic abstract pattern with energetic brush strokes.  https://www.karenleecrenshaw.com

Daniel, Arlene  Winston Salem, North Carolina I’ve been painting for over 30 years. I work primarily in oils, pastel and charcoal, but I’ve begun to explore gouache. I paint in plein air and from photo reference. I’m drawn to golden hour paintings, capturing the light affect. I’ve studied with many nationally known artists to improve my painting ability. Some of my mentors have been Scott Burdick and Susan Lyons, Kenn Backhaus, Kim English and Dawn Whitlaw. My studio is in Winston Salem NC, where my husband Russell and I reside. ​As an artist I work hard to develop paintings that speak to me and to others about the beauty that surrounds us. What inspires me is the play of light in a scene. Capturing that drama makes me eager to translate it into a painting to change the ordinary to extraordinary. My subject matter encompasses landscapes and figures and portraits. Once I began taking a few art classes locally I have never stopped. I have acquired a lifelong love for art and painting. I am always trying to challenge myself and work diligently in order to become a more masterful painter. As our skills grow, our standard of excellence grows with them, so our lifetime quest for excellence continues.

Davis, Mary Ann  Indianapolis, Indiana Mary Ann is a signature member of the American Impressionist Society, Colorado Plein Air Painters and the Chicago Pastel Painters Association. She earned her BFA from Herron School of Art in 1976, majoring in lithography, she studied painting under Antonious Raemaekers, Lois Griffel and Carolyn Anderson and enjoys painting and drawing from life each week and regularly paints plein air. Mary Ann was chosen for the books; Painting Indiana II,The Changing Face of Agriculture and Painting Indiana III, Heritage of Place. She has worked as a graphic designer since 1978, and founded Davis Graphic Design, in 1991. Her work can be seen at Gallery Two, Indianapolis, IN, Hoosier Salon in Carmel, IN, and Brown County Art Guild, Nashville, IN, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN and Greenwich House Gallery, OH.  https://www.madavisart.com/

Doherty, Steve   Waynesboro, Virginia Steve was born in New Orleans, raised in Cincinnati, and educated in Illinois and New York. He currently lives with his wife, Sara, in the inspiring landscape of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Knox College and earned a Master of Fine Art degree in printmaking from Cornell University. After teaching art in public schools, a community college, and a private college, Steve became editor of American Artist magazine. During his 31 year tenure, he launched several new art magazines, managed artist conventions, and exhibited his own artwork. In 2010 he became editor of PleinAir magazine and successfully managed that publication until his retirement in 2018. During these years, Steve also wrote a dozen books, including the new book The Art of Plein Air Painting. For more information and a review of Steve’s paintings, visit www.stevedohertyart.com.

Duchev, Vlad  Baltimore, Maryland Vlad  was born in 1965 in a small town in Ukraine. Growing up he was impressed by the art of Russian-Ukrainian impressionist. At the age of 8, he entered the art school in a small town of Bila-Tserkov and started his journey as an artist with the goal to enter the Art Academy of Ukraine. At the age of 14, being under the pressure from his musical family, he decided to take a musical path. He studied at Music College of Zhytomyr, Music Academy of Kharkiv, and National Conservatory of Ukraine in Kyiv with major in classical performance - double bass. But at the same time, he continued studying painting. In1994, due to the unstable situation in Ukraine, he decided to move his family to the United States. In 2015, after the sudden death of his beloved brother and after almost 20 years not holding the brushes, he decided to return to his passion for painting. He dived into the studies and set the rule of painting daily. He loves painting different kinds of subjects, but the landscape is his first and greatest love. Instead of glorifying the creation, he concentrates on glorifying the Creator by just simply rendering His creation. He loves the moments when he is one-on-one with the Creator right before the brush touches the canvas. This is the most precious time for him. The rest is just the techniques one learns by painting daily, he says. His process of painting is very simple - he will only start painting if he can see a complete painting in his mind with all the steps from start to finish. “Paint it in your mind first - then transfer it to the canvas” is his motto.  https://vladduchevart.com/

Eiseman, John  Hebron, Maryland  John’s work encompasses several genres – Plein Air and studio landscapes, still lifes, and figures: using acrylics, oils, and watercolors. His paintings are surely representational and indeed narrative at times, but the imagery is not about the pictorial. He uses the subject matter (whether it be a farmhouse, tree, cloud, wave, or figure) as elements of design to capture specific natural phenomena, moment in space and time and mood of “event.” John believes that painting is not just the celebration of vision, but rather a quest for experience. In this sense, his paintings and the inherent process is not a recording of facts seen. It is the process of interpreting a fleeting muse. This process is, as a result, in a constant state of emergency. Like dance, painting must change to the beat of the muse. After conceiving a painting in the field, establishing value relationships, coordinating color fields, and bringing forth some detail resolution, John may choose to bring the painting home to the studio and let is “cook” for a while. Removed from the subjective space, the painting requires a life of its own. John is  suspicious of a painting that is resolved too easily. “Pushing and Pulling” an image, adding and subtracting values, adjusting color is what brings a painting together. His work is in many private and public collections. John’s paintings have won numerous awards and have been accepted into many juried exhibitions both regionally and nationally. In 2021 John won: “Best in Show” at the Coastal, Virginia Plein Air Festival, “Artist Choice” at the St. George Island Plein Air Festival, Best “River” painting at the Gloucester, Virginia Arts Festival, 2nd place overall at the New Bern Plein Air Festival and the “Spirit of the Adirondacks” award at their plein air festival. http://johnteiseman.com/

Hillis, Catherine   Locust Grove, Virginia Catherine’s theme is “Preserving A Moment In Time ....traditional art with a twist!”  She  creates light and movement with watercolor paint so that the viewer’s experience is a moment in time. When she sees a scene that tells a story and the light is just right, Catherine has to paint it. She says she often finds herself painting in a place that people pass everyday, but fail to recognize its beauty. Many people tell her that she sees color and light that isn't there, but she contends that she’s observing things the way they really are, at least to her. Whenever possible, Catherine tries to make a statement through her work, employing a playful twist or edge that a viewer can appreciate  https://www.catherinehillis.com/

Horng, Pearl  Midlothian, VA Pearl grew up between Virginia and Maryland and started painting with oils in her mid-20”s.  She didn’t pursue art seriously until her early 30’s, after completing her medical training.  She says she has known since she was a child that art was her true passion and calling, and that she’d always circle back to it and find it again.  She currently works with mentor Robin Caspari, who has taught her to paint more expressively and to use light and shadow to the fullest to create depth and liveliness in her work.  She’s also studied with Derek Penix who inspired her to focus on shape variety, and value and temperature relationships to capture the essence of her subjects.  She was inspired to paint en plein air by Alison Menke, and credits her with instilling in her an interest in abstract impressionism. http://www.horngstudio.com

Huang, Betty  Easton, Maryland The elegant beauty in nature draws Betty to paint as she travels worldwide. She encapsulates the essence of her subjects through her distinctive interplay of color, light and composition; while expressing her feelings and emotions of her worldly encounters. She effortlessly blends western and eastern cultures in her art work. An award winning artist whose paintings don the walls of patrons across four continents, Betty has been described as an artist whose work provides a window into her soul and love of traveling the world. Throughout the year, Betty represents national and international award winning artists, showcasing their work at her Studio B Gallery in Easton Maryland, and organizing painting workshops nationally and internationally.  https://www.bettyartist.com/

Johannesen, Greg   Port Republic, Maryland Greg developed his interest in art at an early age, spurred on by an art award he won at age 6. Greg was born in 1966 in Portsmouth, VA and grew up in Virginia Beach. Having grown up at the beach, the outdoors and nature have always been a major part of his art experience—drawing animals and beach scenes. After grade school, Greg had the honor to study under accomplished artist Suzanne Stevens, where he first experienced painting en plein air. In college, Greg followed his passion for art. He earned an AAS degree from Tidewater Community College for Advertising Design with a minor in Drawing. He then attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he earned a BFA in Illustration. Since college, he has had a successful career in the communications field for nearly three decades. He has designed and illustrated numerous books, and designed hundreds of print materials. Greg was trained as an illustrator but has retained the soul of a fine artist, always allowing himself the freedom and time to paint. He lives in Southern Maryland with his wife, a master public school art teacher, and their two amazingly creative children. In 2006, he opened his own studio and is currently working as a full-time illustrator, graphic designer, and painter. As a fine artist, Greg has returned to one of his earliest influences, nature. His work is influenced by the Chesapeake Bay region — from Annapolis to Solomons Island to Point Lookout where work boats, boat yards, waterways, and grand bay vistas provide ample inspiration for his paintings. Greg currently paints with pastels and oils. He is a signature member of the Maryland Pastel Society, an artist member with the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, and an associate member with the Pastel Society of America.

Kennedy, Rose   Hope Mills, North Carolina A lifelong resident of NC, Rose previously worked as a graphic designer. She also worked for 18 years with an art publisher/licensing agency creating water color/mixed media paintings in the juvenile genre. Rose now creates oil paintings in her home studio and at Cape Fear Studios in Fayetteville, NC. Her work has been juried into international, national and regional events, garnering awards along the way. Most recently her work received an honorable mention in the AIS All Member Online Exhibit. Rose participates in several plein air events each year. In addition to painting she enjoys teaching others through workshops and private lessons.  Rose Kennedy Fine Art (lilarosekennedy.com

LaGue, Brett  Fincastle, Virginia Born in Indiana, Brett grew up in Florida, spending countless hours wandering through woods, fields, along riverbanks and beaches. Wearing out several pairs of flip-flops while attending Ringling School of Art & Design (Now Ringling College of Art + Design) in Sarasota Florida, Brett graduated with honors in graphic design & illustration.  While looking for his first job, Brett discovered the beauty of Virginia. Twenty-five plus years of pursuing a career in advertising eventually led to a career as a full-time artist. He never tires of telling people “I love my job!”  Brett has exhibited in numerous solo/group presentations, art festivals, galleries and plein air competitions. His work can be found in business and private collections across the United States as well as in England and France. He is a recipient of a professional fellowship grant from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. https://www.brettlague.com

Lake, William   Charlottesville, Virginia William grew up in Rhode Island and moved to Virginia in 1990. He is mostly self-taught, drawing influences from artists such as Sargent and Caravaggio. He is grateful to have studied with Margaret Meade in Centreville, VA and with Mark Carder in Austin, TX.  His preference is to paint with oil, using a direct, wet-into-wet process, on linen.  He also uses a limited palette that helps unify the colors. Whether it’s painting outdoors or in the studio in Charlottesville, he loves the process of making a scene take form on the canvas. Recently, he has focused on subjects that emerge from shadows, with rich, subtle darks and vibrant, realistic light.  https://williamlakeart.co

Landrith, Melanie  Media, Pennsylvania Melanie first experienced Plein Air Painting at a summer course at the University of New Hampshire in 2000. In 2017, she left her corporate career and started painting on a daily basis.  Prior to COVID, she was asked to travel to Mexico and create a series of paintings for Urban Mosaico at their respite center near Mexico City.  Melanie has also traveled to Israel and Australia in addition to numerous European countries.  She has drawn inspiration from many of these locations, and some of the images appear on her website.  She received first place in the White Marsh Plein Air in 2019 and has recently received additional awards from Wayne Art and Wallingford Art Center.  In addition to White Marsh, Melanie has participated in Plein Air competitions in Easton, Maryland; Annapolis, Maryland; West Reading, PA ; Hudson River Valley; and Falls Church, Virginia within the last five years.  http://melanielandrithart.com/

Larsen, Kirk  Hicksville, New York A painter of the sea, sailboats, people, portraits, still life, animals and abstracts, Kirk is most passionate about plein air landscapes and maritime subjects. He brings his lifetime of experience outdoors in nature and on the water to his art. Kirk grew up around the Atlantic coast; fishing, scuba diving, kayaking and sailing. He is an avid sailor and racer of classic and modern boats. Honored with over 130 awards since 1994 for oils, acrylics, watercolors, photography, graphite, pen & Ink, mixed media, sculpture and ice carving, his awards include multiple best in shows, 1st places and awards of excellence. “When painting, I have the feeling that all is right with world...” – Kirk Larsen  https://www.kirklarsenfineart.com/

Lassiter, Allen   Elizabeth City, North Carolina Allen Lassiter learned the basics of drawing and oil painting years ago as a college student from Maxine Sweeney, a wonderful artist and teacher based in the Elizabeth City area. More recently, Allen was introduced to the wonders of watercolor by Ms. Betty Anglin, a fine arts teacher at the Peninsula fine arts center.  Allen has just retired from a career in lighting and electrical system design.  He finally has the time to keep a promise that he made to himself when he was 12 years old--that when he grew up, he was going to become an artist.  Allen is endlessly fascinated by the story and vision of the Impressionists, and sees the interplay of light with color as the very essence of art.

Meyers, John  Norfolk, Virginia John is a Plein Air artist who lives in the small coastal community on the Chesapeake Bay called East Beach (Norfolk, VA).  His paintings often depict the rhythmic movement of water, ever changing reflections of light and color, and the feelings of a salty atmosphere and effortless wellbeing.  A native of the Mission San Jose district of California, and a frequent traveler to the Georgia O’Keeffe area of Northern New Mexico, John’s paintings also reflect the sentient nature of structures and landscapes, with particular awareness brought to bear in his meaningful cloud formations.  Picturesque marine and seascapes, tranquil morning haze, contemplative reflections, and endless skies are all brought to life with a narrative that tends to draw one into his experience.  http://www.johnmeyersart.com/home.html ​

Miller, Theresa  Vienna, Virginia Theresa creates watercolors and oil paintings. She finds it most satisfying to paint en plein air whenever and wherever she can.  She looks forward to weekly painting sessions with a local plein air painting group, in private gardens and at public parks, in the greater Washington DC area. She also enjoys painting from life in her home studio in Northern Virginia and at the Artists' Atelier in Great Falls, VA. Moreover, she is a copyist in the Copyist Program of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. It gives her great pleasure to spend one day a week copying the masters and interacting with people from all over the world.  https://www.theresamillerfinearts.com/

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Murphy, Brian  Newport News, Virginia  As a Plein Air painter, Brian has committed himself to capturing on canvas the scenic environment through the United States, Europe, and Asia.  The same majestic landscapes and seascapes that inspired early California Plein Air Painters such as Edgar Payne, Hanson Puthuff, and William Wendt provide audience to the artist’s unrestrained style.  Further afield, extensive travels to exotic locales including China, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hawaii, and Alaska have resulted in impressive collections of oil paintings while fostering the artist’s creativity and global awareness.  Brian was the 2021 Suffolk Plein Air QuickDraw award winner. https://bmurphy.net/

Mussen, Lynda  Peru, New York Linda started painting in earnest when she retired from public school teaching on Long Island in 2016 and relocated to Peru, NY with her husband, Alan and little love-mutt, Pedro. She happily lives in the same town as her daughter, Allie and son-in-law, Nick.  Alan’s family grew up in AuSable Forks and Keeseville, so they have many relatives nearby and a family camp at Fern Lake. She holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Theatrical Design, and Professional Teaching Certificate in TESOL. More recently, she spent several years taking courses in Painting from Rick Mikkelson, emeritus, and Peter Russom, at SUNY Plattsburgh. She is a member of numerous arts associations in the North Country and exhibits in their galleries. If she’s not creating in her studio, she is attending workshops led by professional artists. http://lyndamussen.com/

Rehak, Jim  Seaford, Delaware Jim captures the seasonal changes of the mid-Atlantic through his landscape paintings. His enthusiasm for Plein Air landscape takes him outside to paint fields, marshes, farms, rivers and bays. Jim’s interest in art started with comic book illustration at an early age. It was while studying for a BFA at Maryland Institute College of Art that an interest in oil painting emerged. Art has always been a vocation; as a portrait and caricature artist in Ocean City, MD during college, art director at a sign company, teacher and freelance court illustrator.  https://www.jimrehak.com/

Reuben, Orit  Orlando, Florida Award-winning artist Orit Reuben, is an impressionist landscape and figurative pastel painter. Orit likes sunny day painting and is inspired by light effects. She is based in Florida and is inspired by nature, and loves painting outdoors. Her favorite locations include a combination of architecture and nature. Her innate instinct for color results in playful and colorful interpretations of nature. Born in Israel to a family of artists, Orit is greatly influenced by her grandfather, who was an impressionist painter. As a child, she painted at the side of her mother, who is also an artist. Orit immigrated to the United States as a teen with her family and settled in Minneapolis. There she attended the University of Minnesota and embarked on a full-time career as a licensed interior designer. Orit’s medium of choice is pastels. A resident of Orlando, Orit finds beautiful scenes throughout the region and regularly displays her work in galleries and shows. Orit is represented by Passport Fine Art Gallery and Be On Park in Winter Park, Florida. She is a signature member of The Florida Painters. a member of Pastel Society of America, Pastel Society of Central Florida, American Impressionist Society, and a Member of Excellence of the Southeastern Pastel Society.  Orit was the Best in Show award winner at the 2021 Suffolk Plein Air Festival.  www.oritreuben.com

Rhoades, Elizabeth    Belle Haven, VA Elizabeth Rhoades (b. 1955) is an award winning and internationally acclaimed American Impressionist landscape painter. Her work is characterized by vibrant color and sensitivity to the natural forms and light in the landscape. She began her painting career in 1973 as a watercolorist. In 2001 she switched to pastels, and in 2020 she took up oils. A lifetime of plein air painting has provided her with a foundation to accurately depict the elements of the landscape, while in her own romantic and delicate brushwork. Her keen observation and thorough knowledge of the landscape is evident in her award-winning paintings. There is an emotional quality to her work that brings peace and tranquility to the viewer, while at the same time having a distinct vitality through her use of color.  Her preference is in painting nature, undisturbed by human intervention.  Elizabeth holds elected or signature memberships in fourteen national professional art organizations as well as memberships in OPA, NOAPS and AIS. Her work has been featured repeatedly in PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur, and has been juried into well over a hundred national exhibitions. She has won over fifty awards for her landscapes.   https://www.elizabethrhoades.com/

Robberts, Tatyana  O’Fallon, Illinois Tat got her formal education in fine art and interior design in Russia.  From ages 11 to 15, she attended the Children's art school in addition to regular school classes. It was four hours of classes every day except weekends. After Art school at age 15, she left home and passed the exam to enter Art College . The next four years were hard, but very interesting in her life. She learned a lot more about art and for the first time visited the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she saw the Impressionists’ works for herself.  She fell in love with some of the work of Claude Monet and August Renoir, Degas and Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh and Cezanne. And, of course, she was influenced by Russian masters such as: Surikov, Repin, Shishkin, Serebryakova, Kystodiev, Vrubel and many more.   At age 19, she earned her bachelor’s degree in fine art and interior design. She worked for 20 years as a designer full time, raised two boys in marriage, and always wanted to paint but didn't really have time for it. In 2000, her second marriage brought her to the United States.  After some time, she began to participate in juried art festivals national wide .  She is an award winner in numerous plein air events and art shows. ​

Spaulding, Karen  Hampton, Virginia Karen’s passion for watercolor began as a child, admiring her uncle who painted beautiful landscapes of Lake Huron, where her family spent summer vacations. He was the first one to teach her how to run a wash as they painted together on the beach when the sun was coming up. She was filling sketch books from a very early age, and was fortunate to be able to continue her studies at art school. Painting became an important therapy for her after her father died, and Karen has tried to pass along this facet of painting to as many people as possible. A few years ago, she was lucky to be able to join a group of botanical painters while living on the Gulf Coast, and re-learned her dry brush watercolor skills. While Karen still loves painting in all media, she always comes back to watercolor, perhaps because it was her first love, or because it is so easy to pack up for a trip, a boat ride, a hike. Karen loves the luminosity that can be created, layering/glazing with multiple layers of color. All the artists she admires were masters at watercolor: Turner, Homer, Monet, Degas, Sorolla, VanGogh, Wyeth. Karen’s favorite subjects to paint are whatever is in front of her in nature, as well as whoever is sitting across from her. ​

​Swan, Sqeaky (Norma)   Norfolk, Virginia The studio is outside encompassed by the sounds and fragrances of nature. Inspiration comes from the beauty of God’s creation. Drawing since childhood, this journey began about 12 years ago before retiring as a draftsman. Taking art classes and painting in a dedicated art space led to a desire to be outside immersed in the subject and to study the effects of light and color.

Thuermer, Karen  Alexandria, Virginia Karen is a Virginia-based painter who has sustained a dual career as an artist and a journalist her entire working life. She holds a BA and MA degree.  Her assignments both home and abroad have provided her with countless material to paint.  She has studied painting most of her life. She is a regular student at the Art League School of Art in Alexandria, VA. She has studied art in London as well at the Wayne Art Center in Wayne, PA, and Great Falls School of Art in Great Falls, VA.  Her work is accepted frequently in juried shows at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria, VA, where she has won several awards. Her work has also appeared in juried shows in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  She works both big and small. Besides her affiliations with Alexandria’s Art League Gallery, where her work is also represented for sale in its Gallery 75, she is a member of the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center (Virginia) and the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society (MPSGS) of Washington, DC. Karen is a realist artist. Her primary medium is oil, although she also works in watercolor, graphite, pastel, and engraving. She is also an award-winning photographer.  Karen works from her own reference photos as well as plein air.  She is an accomplished landscape painter and is equally skilled at still life and figurative compositions.  Her love for travel, people and nature brings to life her unique artistic perspective of complex subjects. She is fascinated by colors and shapes, positive and negative space, complimentary and uncomplimentary colors, sunlight and shadows, lightness and darkness, and atmospheric effects. She is also interested in capturing the mood one feels in a particular place and its essence. ​

Tomova, Lyudmila  Raleigh, North Carolina Lyudmila is an award-winning artist, well-recognized nationally and internationally for her unique impressionist style. Currently, she paints figures, portraits, murals and landscapes in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Inspired by nature, her work has also been highly recognized in numerous plein air paint-out events. She merges abstract and realistic elements together to create mood, movement and an impression of the world around and within us. Her painting style adds spontaneity, boldness and elegance all at once telling magical stories and evoking complex emotions. Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Lyudmila immigrated to the US in 1990 and lived in New York City working as a full-time painter, editorial illustrator and designer, exhibiting nationally and abroad. Her strong education in Classical realism from the Sofia’s Academy of Fine Arts in Bulgaria and later from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York where she earned a BFA degree in Illustration, as well as her diverse artistic experience has established her as one of the most versatile and prolific artists in the Triangle. Recently, she received 2 awards at the International Watercolor Masters contest 2022 - Award of Merit and Top Rising Star Award. She’s been featured in the International Artist magazine with a 6-page article, Walter magazine, Splash books, North Light Books’ drawing competition Strokes of Genius 8: Expressive Texture and many others. Her work has been selected for thePleinAir Salon, ArtFields, RFAS, WFWS, NWS, and many more. She was nominated as an Emerging Woman 2016 by the EWNC and was personally recognized at the NC Museum of Art where the first of her “Butterfly Women” series was unveiled. Lyudmila is also a Signature member of the Watercolor Societies of NC, Georgia, Louisiana and the Southwestern Watercolor Society. Lyudmila resides in Cary and teaches watercolor, oil, acrylic and drawing workshop in various locations in North Carolina and exhibits nationally and abroad.  https://www.tomovafineart.com/

Voyiazoglou, Dimitris  Rijswijk, The Netherlands Dimitris was born in Athens Greece and lived in the USA from 1983-1988.  He went to graduate school at Michigan State University to specialize in synthetic methodology (Chemistry).  After a year in the Greek Army, he began working at the European Patent Office, but it was a trip to Holland, the country of the Old Masters and Vincent Van Gogh, that he felt a mysterious energy to paint.  He attended various prestigious art schools to learn the drawing and painting techniques of the masters he so admired.  A trip to France to study the impressionists introduced him to others with whom he traveled extensively throughout Europe to paint. His first solo exhibit was in 1998 and he has since had 18 exhibits in Greece, Holland, Belgium, and France.  Dimitris’ work is usually alla prima and done in large squares when finding a scene that captures his eye.  He loves to travel in new countries to find new inspiration and new challenges. https://www.dimitrisvoyiazoglou.com/

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Woodruff, Carey  Suffolk, Virginia Since childhood, Carey always loved art and was drawn to creating. Her mother painted and always encouraged her to paint. She attended Marymount University and completed a Bachelors of Arts in Fashion Design. After four years, she knew she wanted to focus on painting, so she moved to Aix-en-Provence, France to attend the The Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing. During her time in France, she became alive with capturing the essence of her experiences in nature. The light and beauty of the landscape was so captivating it changed the way she saw the world. After that time, all she wanted to do was bring expression through brush strokes to help others see nature in a new and vibrant way. She was greatly influenced by the impressionists as she painted in the towns that were so familiar to Cezanne and Van Gogh. Over twenty-five years of painting and she is still striving to capture the dance of what is essential and true in all of nature.

Wylie, Terry  Norfolk, Virginia Terry is a fine artist from San Antonio Texas who has spent 30 years in the Navy, sailing the seas and oceans of the world. His art career started while still in school doing portraits and landscapes in pencil. He then took a job as a commercial artist, doing art for newspaper, books, magazines and other media. His commercial work includes projects for the Houston Rockets and Coastal Oil Corp.  As Terry moved into his military career, his artwork evolved into fine art pursuits, where he produced a variety of work in watercolor, oil, acrylics, pencil, pen and ink. His focus has primarily been nautical but he still enjoys mixing it up with Plein Air, Portraits, Figures, Landscapes, Seascapes and Westerns.  He currently resides in Norfolk, Virginia and continues close ties to the Navy. He produces fine art for sale, including limited addition prints and commission pieces.

Yates, Lori  Easton, Maryland Lori lives on the eastern shore of Maryland, where the abundance of water, marshland and endless skies inspires her work in oils. The plein air movement pulled Lori from many years as a portrait artist, to start painting outdoors. After a career in nonprofit management, she is now painting full time. She has participated in numerous painting workshops, events and group shows in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, and while travelling to visit family in California and Colorado. A member of the American Impressionist Society, Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters, and Plein Air Painters of the Chesapeake Bay, Lori enjoys the camaraderie of her fellow painters and strives to continually become a better observer of our beautiful natural world while painting. www.loriyatesart.com