Skip Whitcomb - Keynote Speaker

Graduated Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles (Pasadena), California.  His paintings have been included in exhibitions organized by the National Academy of Design, in New York City; Gilcrease the Museum of the Americas, in Tulsa; Prix de West, in Oklahoma City; the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, in Cody, Wyoming; the National Museum of Wildlife Art, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; the Haggin Museum, in Stockton, California; the Salmagundi Club, in New York City; and the Brinton Museum, in Big Horn Wyoming.  He is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America and is represented by Simpson Gallagher Gallery, in Cody, Wyoming and Wood River Fine Arts, in Ketchum ID.  He maintains a studio in Fort Collins, Colorado.     




Greg Barnes

Greg received his formal training at Wake Forest University, receiving a BFA in 1985. Under the guidance of many fine instructors, he learned painting, printmaking, sculpture, and figure drawing.

Following college, Greg entered a career path that included technical illustration, computer graphics, computer-based training, and multimedia programming. Throughout those years, Greg kept his brushes and charcoal close at hand.

After 911 he took a leap of faith, pursuing a full-time fine art career. Greg quickly found portrait work due to his ability to capture a likeness. His versatility shines, having mastered charcoal, pastel and oil. Landscapes are Greg's love. He enjoys painting on location, and as a result of working quickly, the paintings lean towards impressionism. A mix of realistic and impressionistic elements give his pieces a life of their own, while a free and creative use of color accentuates his style.

Maintaining a studio where he teaches and paints in Charlotte, NC, Greg also travels the country exhibiting at outdoor art festivals and teaching plein air workshops. He participates in several top Plein Air invitationals including Florida's Forgotten Coast, Telluride, Aspen, and Maui.



David Boyd, Jr. 

Boyd is a nationally award winning artist whose work can be found in private collections across the globe. He is an avid outdoor painter and describes himself as a southern impressionist painter. Boyd attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, receiving a degree in illustration. He is an active member of several groups including the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (in which he currently serves on the board as Past President), National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society and he is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. He is a founding member of the Society of Seven, a regional band of representational painters.

In 2016 Boyd cofounded The Studio School at Three Hearts Farm outside of Newnan, Georgia where he teaches painting and hosts award winning painters for workshops throughout the year. Boyd also teaches workshops across the southeast. In the fall of 2017 he opened David Boyd Gallery • Studio in historic downtown Newnan, Georgia. Boyd took his teaching online in 2020 starting The Basement Sessions, a live streamed glimpse into his process. Boyd is also a proud husband and father.

His work is available through his gallery, David Boyd Gallery and Studio in Newnan, GA, on his website at www.davidboydjr.com, or though Spalding Nix Fine Art in Atlanta, Hagan Fine Art in Charleston, American Contemporary Art online and Beverly McNeill Gallery in Birmingham, AL.



Anne Blair Brown

Anne Blair Brown was born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and raised in in Nashville, TN where she currently resides. Her work centers on intimate scenes inspired by local surroundings as well as travel in the US and abroad. “My artwork starts in reality and evolves through my imagination. As an impressionist, I believe in a painting process that enables me to tap into my creativity rather than trying to copy and perfect. My goal is to invite you, the viewer, to connect to the painting such that you personalize the experience and use your own imagination to complete the story.” Currently, Anne’s work can be seen at art galleries across America including Provincetown, MA, Kennebunkport, ME, Charleston, SC, Bluffton, SC, and Leipers Fork, TN.




Brienne Brown

Much to her mother’s indignation, Brienne owned little clothing that was not covered in paint.  From a young age, Brienne showed talent in art and music, but wanted to pursue a career in the sciences.  She started her education at the University of Utah as a double major (Art and Chemistry), eventually receiving a BS in Chemistry and finishing with a Master’s degree in 2004.  After graduation, Brienne worked in a Toxicology lab.  Though she painted some by taking an occasional class, as the years wore on, she realized she wanted more art in her life than a career in science would allow.  She was surprised and delighted to find great fulfillment in painting.  In fact, it became a necessity.

After leaving her job as a toxicologist to raise her first child in 2008, Brienne had the opportunity to paint more consistently.  Prioritizing painting and taking workshops from artists she admired paid off.  Soon she was not only exhibiting and entering shows regularly, but also winning awards.  Brienne holds signature membership status for the National Watercolor Society, American Impressionist Society, and several other watercolor societies.  Every year, she participates in several national juried and invitational plein air events, teaches workshops all over the country, and holds online courses.  Her work has been published in Splash 17 Best of Watercolor:  Inspired Subjects, PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, and Watercolor Artist Magazine. 

Brienne’s passion is watercolor and plein air painting.  “I especially enjoy painting en plein air, where each painting reminds me of where I was, of the experiences I had, the sounds, smells, and the people I met.  As I try to capture the essence of a scene, my paintings are always more about a moment in time than about a particular location.  I enjoy sharing how I see the world.” 

See more of Brienne's work on her website at www.briennembrown.com 



Roger Dale Brown

Roger Dale Brown grew up in Tennessee, exploring the woods, creeks and fields around his Nashville home, a passionate observer of every aspect of nature since early childhood. He has made it his life’s work to connect deeply to places around the world, incorporating knowledge of their nature, history, architecture and culture in his creative process, and reflecting that knowledge in his painting and writing. To capture the essence of a scene and make viewers feel they can step into a different day and understand its mood and beauty is my goal.”

Roger's oil paintings hang in the permanent collections of Tennessee State Museum and other museums throughout the United States and are held in several prominent galleries around the country. He was given Associate Living Master Status with the Art Renewal Center in 2015, and was awarded Fellowship status in 2019 with the American Society of Marine Artists. In 2018 Roger was awarded Master Status with Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society. His latest honor, in 2020, Roger was asked to join the prominent plein air organization, PAPA (Plein Air Painters of America.)




Joseph Gyurcsak

In 1990 Joe Gyurcsak left a successful illustration career to pursue a fine art path. “I had a born again experience as an artist when I first saw the natural light on subjects in the open air. It changed my way of thinking and creating, I had made the leap into the Plein Air painting experience.” Since then, Joe has participated in the all the top plein air events in the US. He has won numerous awards including Grand Prize at Plein Air Easton. He is also featured in the 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic book.

Joe is a highly regarded instructor who has lectured and demonstrated throughout the US at more than 170 major art Institutions. He is a resident artist for Blick / Utrecht Art Materials as well as a member of the Salmagundi Club, Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, and Signature Artist of American Impressionist Society.          







Vicki Norman

Based in Shropshire, England, Vicki Norman received her BA in Fine Art in 2000 working initially as an illustrator and then a full time fine artist represented by established galleries around the UK. A naturally gifted teacher, Vicki began her classes in 2005, gaining her post graduate certificate specialising in post-16 education in 2009 she values teaching as an integral part of her creative practice.

A lifelong student herself, over the last 10 years, she has studied with master painters and sculptors around the globe, all the time searching for traditional skills and methods which can be applied to paintings of a modern world.

Inspired by both contemporary and past masters, Vicki’s paintings employ an historical skill set with a fresh, personal approach.

My fondness for travelling and painting has naturally led me into the world of Plein Air painting. Working quickly on location to capture the essence of a time and place encourages a looser, more impressionist style of painting. This puts an emphasis on atmosphere rather than detail, and colour is the vehicle through which I seek to capture light.

Her works have won awards in the UK, Europe and the USA, she is a regular contributor to plein air events and competitions on both sides of the Atlantic. Vicki has exhibited with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London and been awarded a prize from the Oil Painters of America.

Her growing reputation as a master of colour has led naturally to a role as ambassador for Michael Harding Paints which allows Vicki indulge her love of colour and ‘nerd out’ about pigments, binders and all things technical with one of the world’s most respected Colourmen.

A popular tutor and demonstrator, Vicki is recognised for her clear communication and boundless enthusiasm.
She has won awards and recognition for both teaching and painting. See more about Vicki at her website https://www.vickinormanstudio.com/


Kathie Odom

After graduating from The University of Tennessee in Art Education and Fine Arts, Kathie received early recognition for pastel works. But it was 2009 when she found a home in painting oils en plein air.

I call myself a “Nostalgic Impressionist” as a way of identifying the subjects and style of painting that interest me most. No matter which part of America I paint, I am really passionate about plein air and allow myself to get lost in the wonderful process of it all!

Kathie resides with her husband and maintains a studio in the mountains of East Tennessee. She travels extensively exhibiting in fine art shows throughout the nation, teaching workshops and participating in plein air events. Kathie’s original works have sold internationally and she is quite proud of her gallery representation.



Jeremy Sams

Jeremy Sams is an award winning representational artist residing in Archdale, NC. He has been a professional artist for over 25 years and his primary subject matter is landscapes while working in acrylics. He also loves the challenge of portraits and his work varies in size from just a few sq. inches to murals measuring upward of 40’x60′.

His artistic growth took on a new form in 2011 when he was introduced to painting en plein air. Since then, he has won many awards for his plein air work and been a featured artist in Plein Air Magazine.

Jeremy's style of painting has been called soft impressionism or impressionistic realism. His personal inspirations come mostly from the play of light and atmosphere and their effects on objects and landscapes. "As an artist, I am in constant pursuit of defining and capturing the nature and essence of beauty. As a visual storyteller, my goal is to do all that I can to enhance my visual vocabulary in order to better communicate a message of hope and peace."

See more at Jeremy Sams Art – Art and Murals from North Carolina Artist, Jeremy Sams



Richie N.Vios SLPAPA, AIS, SWS

Born and raised in Cebu City, Philippines, Richie N. Vios hails from an artistic family Studying architecture, in 1995 he graduated with a bachelor's architecture degree and University faculty member, teaching architectural design and presentation. In 2004 they decided to leave the Philippines in hopes of a better future in America, For the next five years, he worked closely as an architectural designer at a local architectural firm in Clearwater, Florida until his family decided to move to again in Baltimore, Maryland. Seeking to introduce more western architectural concepts in Southeast Asia, Richie returned to the Philippines by himself to share, develop, and construct many of the things he had learned from America. During the next five years there, in his spare time, he refined and honed down a unique mastery of watercolor painting evident in all of his art to this day. In the summer of 2017, his family would move back down to south Texas and after being away from them so long he made sure to be there for them in Victoria, Texas. that's where he knew he could passionately chase the American dream again not as an Architect but as a watercolor impressionist and Pleinair artist. Currently, he lives in Austin Texas but travels most of the time to compete Pleinair events all over the United States and conduct watercolor workshops along the way.


Artist Statement: 

I believe that the mark of a good artist is to be able to capture the different facets of life in his painting, the mode, ambiance, etc. In a sense, not just illustrating or recording what exsees but expressing what he feels. The subject in front of me is my inspiration, Complement with my imagination, Charged with my passion and a personal artistic impression embodied in my watercolor works.



Dawn Whitelaw

Dawn Whitelaw is one of the artists in residence at On Track Studios in Franklin, Tennessee.  The opportunity to paint “en plein air” with her artist colleagues adds richness and honesty to her studio work.  Most of her formal instruction came from a long-term mentorship with New York painter, Everett Raymond Kinstler.

Ms. Whitelaw is currently on the faculty of the Portrait Society of America, where she holds the office of Vice Chairman.  She is a frequent instructor for Plein Air South and the Plein Air Convention.  For over 25 years she taught painting as an adjunct instructor at David Lipscomb University.  She continues to teach throughout the country by conducting workshops in oil painting principles and drawing.  Dawn received 2nd place awards in the Door County Plein Air Festival in both 2014 and 2015.  In recent years, she has won awards in The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, the Piedmont Plein Air Paint Out and in Plein Air Richmond.

In 2012, 2013, and 2015, Plein Air Magazine included her work in feature articles.  She was honored by The American Impressionist Society in 2016 when she was elected to Master status.  Whitelaw was one of ten American women artists invited to exhibit in “Inspiring Figures” at the Butler Institute of American Art in 2010. She recently had a painting accepted into the permanent collection of the Rahr-West Art Museum. 



Facilitated by Franklin's Promise Coalition 

pleinairsouth@gmail.com

60 Island Drive Eastpoint, FL 32328
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software