We are so thankful that Susan Nash will speak with us this week, filling in for Christie Younger who is ill.

This will be a super interesting evening! Susan will speak about her valuable perspective as an interior designer, educator and artist.

How her experience as an interior designer influences her choices of art for her clients.

How she educates and encourage her design students to understand and appreciate collecting original art.

How she uses art in her design practice.

How her work as an interior designer influences her own artwork.

See examples of her work in both interior design and art on her website.

We are excited to announce that Brian Rutenberg will speak to us in March! Brian transforms the landscapes of his youth into paintings with an impasto surface that is vibrant and lush. He earned a BFA from the College of Charleston and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

You may be familiar with his popular YouTube Series

See Brian's awesome work on his website

We are excited that Greg Barnes will come speak to us in February. "I've been a full time artist since 2002. Most of my work is in the impressionistic style and done with pastel or oil. I accept commissions and sell paintings created either on location or in my studio. Workshops are another form of income and I love sharing whatever I can with those who want to learn more"

See Greg's work on his website

Help protect yourself! Brian's presentation will cover the FBI's approach to cyber crime to better prepare us as sole proprietors to manage potential fraud and scammers. Come with your questions and experiences to receive expert advice.

For nearly three decades, Jerry McJunkins has been sitting inside courtrooms in Charlotte, moving his hands quickly over a large white poster board with his colored pencils and pastels.

He's a professional courtroom sketch artist – perhaps the only one in Charlotte and we are excited that Jerry has agreed to come speak to us.

Read more about Jerry on his Facebook Page.

Join us for a talk by renowned art conservator Massoud Shiraz and his daughter Arianna Shiraz. They will discuss the materials and equipment used to ensure the highest level of quality repairs and conservation work, as well as the challenges of identifying forgeries in the art market. Website

We are super thrilled to announce that our Fall programming will begin with the renowned sculptor, Peter Rubino! 

His visual presentation will include a number of poster boards with photos of his work, watching 1 or 2 of his brief youtube videos and 2 sculptures for display. He will talk about the creative and technical journey associated with the evolution of his work. The discussion will explore the nature of 3D art and delve into his experiences with major commissions, becoming an author, presenting workshops throughout the US and originating his Extreme Sculpting performances.

Website

Brooke will introduce the Artist Statement and its uses in the art world. She will share examples of strong versus weak artist statements, and talk about past work she has done with individual artists, an artist-run gallery in Brooklyn, and editing the Point Suite Art Book.

Read more about Brooke on her website

Susan will share how she uses Oil Paint/Pigment sticks and Mixed Media Gel sticks in her creations. She will show the versatility and fun of these mediums that she uses in her work from impressionist to abstract and mixed media paintings.

See her work on Instagram

June will talk about the process of building an artist website using SquareSpace, demonstrating the ease and versatility of the platform for creating a professional online presence.

June is a digital abstract painter. See her works on her website

Vanessa will talk about her love of watercolor and share her tips and tricks in creating beautiful works with this rather temperamental and unforgiving medium. She will also talk about the importance of painting a subject or style that speaks to the artist and how to identify what that may be.

See Vanessa's work on her website

Sybil Godwin will share tips on becoming a gallery artist, including how to prepare for gallery representation and what to do (and not do) when seeking consideration. Don't miss this enlightening discussion. Mark your calendars and visit the Shain Gallery website to learn more.

Join us for an exciting talk with Joyce Vukela-Mayer, abstract artist and owner of Art By Vukela. Joyce creates stunning reactive paintings on steel, and in this session, she'll share both her artwork and her artistic journey. Her inspiring story is sure to encourage fellow artists. Plus, don't miss the live demo, where Joyce will showcase the techniques she uses to create designs on a "steel canvas." This is an event you won't want to miss! See more of her work here.

Join us for an inspiring session with Teri Fridley, a talented collage and paper sculptor. Teri will share her artistic journey, including how she became passionate about working almost exclusively with paper, and showcase some of her techniques. Following her talk, Teri will lead a hands-on workshop on creating quick-collages that will invigorate your art practice, regardless of the medium you use. So grab your favorite pair of scissors and get ready to have some fun! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true paper art master.

We're thrilled to announce that Brian will be joining us in January to share his expertise on color in painting. In this session, Brian will delve into the full potential of the color wheel and discuss various topics, such as the history of the color wheel, color temperature, mixing complements, and the importance of value in color. He'll also share valuable tips and tricks to help you make more informed color choices, and provide a glimpse into his own thought process when mixing colors on his palette. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a true master and engage in a lively discussion. This promises to be a fantastic evening of learning and inspiration!