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.

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.” 

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 was born in 1977 and his childhood consisted of spending lots of time in the woods of the Uwharrie Mountains and playing in and along the banks of the Uwharrie River in the southwestern portion of Randolph County, NC. He became interested in art at a very early age, winning his first art competition at the age of 6. At age 15, he took his first art class where he was introduced to painting. His love for painting sparked a new change in his life and the beginning of a career was birthed by commissioned portraits and murals from the local community. Through these small art endeavors and apart from formal training, Jeremy was able to begin a professional art career at the age of 19.

Jeremy’s 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. This same year, he and his wife mourned the death of two children. Through this trying time, Jeremy found new inspiration and healing through painting outdoors en plein air. “Painting en plein air has become a means of therapy and release of emotion for me…Here, I can enjoy God’s creation and relish in the beauty He has given us to enjoy in this short life.”

Jeremy’s personal inspirations come mostly from the play of light and atmosphere and their effects on objects and landscapes. His most favorite areas of subject matter are the rolling hills and mountains of North Carolina along with its waterways, and special array of trees and meadows. It’s not uncommon to see Jeremy with his outdoor easel set up on the side of the road or on a river bank somewhere with brush in hand.

Jeremy was a featured artist in the February-March 2017 issue of “Plein Air Magazine“.

Jeremy is currently a member of the North Carolina Plein Air Painters, Triad Outdoor Painters, Charlotte Plein Air Painters and Plein Air Carolina. He is also the founder of the Fellowship of Plein Air Painters.

Jeremy is currently represented by Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC, The Art Shop in Greensboro, NC, and the Warm Springs Gallery in Warm Springs, VA.

Jeremy says: "As a representational artist who works in acrylics, my primary goal is to capture on canvas the wonder and awe of God’s creation along with the scene’s emotional impact. In order to achieve this, it is of utmost importance for me to spend time studying and painting the particular scene on location, en plein air: to experience the sounds, the smells, the cool breeze or the humid air, and the movements of wind and shadows. All of these elements play a role in the emotional reaction we may have to a particular place. I’m most often moved by the dance of light and shadow in a scene along with the varying  color temperatures in the atmosphere that fills the space between the object and myself.

I try with every finished work to maintain the integrity of the scene, while at the same time, breathing life into it. The challenge is often not to recreate every little detail, but to merely offer a suggestion so as to not lose the primary focus. If I can do this and achieve a desired emotional reaction within the viewer, then I consider it a successful painting."

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