If an artist has a website it is indicated by their name being the color red. Each of these fascinating sites will open in a new window in your browser. Check it out!
Bell Chevigny, New York, NY Bell has been named an Honorary Lifetime Participant. This unique honor comes to her by her own merit; sharing the plein air concept with us, guiding the process and supporting the festival financially. When Bell retired from teaching literature, she took up painting. She has come north all of her life to a cabin that her grandfather built in 1914, and has recently begun to paint there.
Tina Yannotti Burgess, Geneva, NY After attending Plein Air Painting classes in 2006, I discovered that painting with oil was my passion. Being able to mix paint on the canvas, and the fact that it didn't dry right away, I could discover more colors and could move the paint around with more freedom.
Jan Romeiser, Clifton Springs, NY. In 2012, I discovered Plein Air painting. I love being outside painting God's beautiful creations, bridges, barns and other old buildings.
Kathy Morris, Canandaigua, NY. Kathy Ann Morris, a retired English teacher of 33 years, always was an "art wannabe." Taking some workshops and classes fueled this desire to broaden her experience, in oil and watercolor, always seeking to improve and become more painterly.
Chrissy Pahucki, New Hampton, NY. I love gardening, canoeing, hiking and rock hunting. Plein air painting is a change of pace for me. Painting gives me a great excuse to find a beautiful location and really soak in my surroundings.
Mark Keller, Norwood, NY. Mark is a artist living in the fertile crescent between the Adirondack Mountains, the Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence Seaway regions, which all provide inspiration and occasion to enjoy the outdoors and plein air painting. " "In painting I aim to preserve a moment and memory through encounter with place and atmosphere while inspiring others to enjoy the view.
Grant Lounsbury, Geneva, NY. I have spent a large part of my art career in the field of 2-D traditional animation working in television and animated feature films. I have been fortunate to travel the world in this field, working with 20th Century Fox, Cartoon Network, Nelvana Animation and numerous European Studios. Unfortunately, 2-D animation has become somewhat of a dying art. I began painting several years ago as I explored new mediums for my artistic expression. In my paintings I enjoy embracing a loose style that is quite different from animation. I find that it feels more alive to me, and reveals to the viewer the movement, energy and compassion that I feel as an artist. Having success as a landscape and wildlife artist, painting with oils has allowed me to explore my artistic vision with greater freedom and enthusiasm, and has given me more opportunities as a fine artist.
Amy Forgit, Watertown, NY. Amy grew up in the North Country spending summers on the St. Lawrence River. "The River is a special place for me where I feel connected to nature and it helps me feel relaxed and grounded. I studied Political Science and minored in Art at SUNY Cortland.
William Christopherson, Watertown, NY. a plein-air landscape artist from Watertown, N.Y. who has received award recognition at many regional contemporary art showings. He has traveled to destinations including the Maine coast, Florida, and Europe/ Mediterranian to create his unique artworks on location.
the viewer into the picture and strive to create peace and joy.
Drina Kay, Cape Vincent, NY After retirement as a theatre teacher/director in Virginia, Drina Connors Kay, welcomed the opportunity to travel, write, and paint. Her love of set design & decor inspired her to take watercolor classes. Later she accepted house sitting assignments all over the US and Canada, and eventually settled in Cape Vincent, NY, telling friends and family that the Thousand Islands is the perfect spot to write and paint.
Cathy Whitehead, Glen Gardner, NJ. In 2016 she received the Artists' Choice Award and Honorable Mention in the Morristown Plein Air Festival. She also won a 3rd place award in Morristown in 2015. She was granted two artist residencies this year, one in Maine and one in Illinois and presented a solo show at each. Her paintings are done primarily outdoors. She says plein air painting gives her the ability to truly experience with all her senses the beauty she is painting. Catherine also loves the connection with community, the people she meets and many stories she is told along the way. She says "I can't resist the urge to paint in nature. The experience of translating it's energy into my work is exhilarating".
Diane Leifheit, Paul Smiths, NY. It is the spirit in landscape – the feel of the sun, the riffle of breeze. I work hard to paint what I see, fair witness to what the land is telling me at that moment.To capture the essence, to create resonance in the image. That is the goal.
Drayton Jones, Fayetteville, NY. I sketch/paint everyday.Really enjoy the plein air experience and work in transparent watercolor.Have achieved signature membership in Watercolor West , an international watercolor society , and have won three awards in their annual competitions. Also,a signature member of the Central NY Watercolor Society.
Robert Hedden, Wellesley Island, NY Robert lives on the St Lawrence River near the US Bridge Span to Canada on Wellesley Island NY. He finds much inspiration for his Thousand Islands paintings along the River on Wellesley Island NY and the Canadian shoreline along the Thousand Islands Parkway. Robert has received many awards for his paintings, the most recent from the 2017 Spring Show of the Arts Association on Northern NY (AANNY), Sackets Harbor, where he was awarded First Place Oil and also Outstanding North Country Theme (a watercolor).
Janet Marie Yeates, Northville, NY explores new regions and makes new friends while creating oil paintings on location. "I've observed so many exquisite sights that challenge me to think fast and work fast. Although I've enjoyed life as an artist and designer, plein air painting provides the most excitement and personal rewards. Plein air festivals build community pride and afford people an opportunity to meet artists and see works unfold."
Susan Beadle, Queensbury, NY. I am a social historian at heart. The combination of history, people and the events that bind them into a compelling story have been my passion. When I stopped teaching I needed a way to examine history anew and art became my medium.
Ruth Crotty, Saratoga Springs, NY. Observing nature and painting have been essential to Ruth since childhood, Plein Air has been her focus for the past 5 years. Her art education includes a BFA in painting from Tyler School of Art, 1969, Skidmore Summer Six courses, 1971-1992, national artist workshops and private study. She belongs to many art associations and taught art at Shenendehowa Central Schools 1971 - 1978.
Lisa Hackett, Baltimore, MD. Lisa is a Program Coordinator at Oak Crest Village. Over the years she has illustrated various projects for the Charlottesville Peace Center, for businesses and commissioned portraits. She has been an annual exhibitor at the National Arts Program at Johns Hopkins.
Sue Benedict, Rush, NY. Plein Air Painting is the frosting on my creative cake. It combines my love of the natural environment with my training as a graphic designer. My undergraduate work was done at RIT in graphic design. My graduate work was in art education. My career was at Archer Advertising where I did technical writing and created camera-ready material for construction related industries. Now I have the luxury of enjoying the natural world thru watercolor painting and it is a joy.
Jerry Merrill, Rodman, NY. Jerry Merrill has been painting since he was old enough to hold a brush. He enjoys all art forms, including snow sculpting. But he is happiest when painting in his beloved Adirondacks. Jerry is a member of the Arts Association of Northern New York and exhibits at the Sackets Harbor Art Center.
Faye Ingerson, Clayton, NY. Faye is a lifelong resident of Clayton, NY, an attribute that inspires each of her paintings. From the river to the forest, her use of color is a trademark feature that quickly captivates the eye.