Lori Putnam - Keynote Speaker
Lori Putnam, OPAM, a celebrated contemporary artist, embarked on her journey when, at a young age, she displayed a keen interest in drawing and painting. Born in 1962, Putnam lived in the Tennessee countryside with no introduction to fine art or the art world. Her natural passion, however, would eventually flourish into a successful career marked by creativity and accolades.
Putnam's artistic education began in her mid-30s when she left her career as a graphic designer to pursue fine art. She honed her skills through workshops and intense study and solidified her commitment to pursuing a fine art career. Her exposure to various styles and techniques significantly influenced her artistic development, allowing her to carve out a unique niche in the art world.
Featured in numerous exhibitions, galleries, and museums, Putnam has earned a well-deserved reputation as a contemporary master. She is a member of and has received awards and recognition from prestigious art organizations and competitions across the U.S. and Europe. Putnam received her Master Signature Member status in the Oil Painters of America and Signature Member status in the California Art Club in 2024. In 2025, she became a Master Signature member in the International Plein Air Painters association. She serves as Vice President of Art Ambassador for a Colorful World, an organization founded by Kevin Macpherson that brings joy and hope through art to communities in challenging parts of the world.
Traveling to paint, lecture, and teach, the artist has worked in almost 30 countries. Exposure to other lives and geographic locations has been her best teacher. Her work continues to inspire and captivate audiences, reminding us of the extraordinary beauty that can be found in the world when viewed through the lens of an artist.
For a deeper understanding of Lori Putnam's art and career, visit loriputnam.com. You can also stay updated on her latest works and activities by following her on @loriputnamart.
Greg Barnes
Greg Barnes got his formal training at Wake Forest University, receiving a BFA in 1985. Under the tutelage 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 always kept his brushes and charcoal close at hand. After 911, he and his wife Janet decided to take a leap of faith, pursuing a fine art career full time. Greg quickly found portrait work, due to his ability to capture a remarkable likeness. His versatility shines with abilities in charcoal, pastel, and oil.
Landscapes are Greg’s love. He enjoys painting on location, and as a result of working quickly, leans towards impressionism. A mix of realistic and impressionistic elements give his pieces a life of their own, while a free a creative use of color punctuates 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 is currently represented by Coconut Grove Gallery, Miami FL and Karis Gallery in Hilton Head, SC.
Carla Bosch
“I love when art reflects the heart of the artist. The result will be a unique representation as we all see and observe life differently."
Carla Bosch’s life of bold color began in 1976 in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria – and the city’s famous annual carpet of purple jacaranda blossoms no doubt inspired the bold impressionism that would years later entrance art-lovers around the world.
Although she studied interior design, her major artistic talent would not be denied. “I grew up in a very creative environment,” she says. “My dad was a pharmacist by day and an artist by night. His love for life and all things beautiful spilled over.”
By 1998, with her giving personality shining through in her liberal use of bright colors, the warmth and cheerfulness of her landscapes, coastal and street scenes caught the eye of top South African art galleries. Local and international, casual and seasoned art collectors started snapping up her work. It was only a matter of time before her work was recognized and welcomed on the international stage.
Carla loves painting en plein air, but is equally at home in her studio, where she enjoys creating her impression of the subject matter without referencing pictures too much. She mostly paints with professional acrylics on stretched canvas.
Other artists have also noticed her talent and have wished to learn from her. Carla teaches
workshops to established artists and novices alike.
She has won numerous international awards and is represented by leading galleries in South Africa, UK, France, and the USA, where she now resides.
www.carlabosch.com
Joe 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 as 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.
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Michelle Held Much like a pink spoonbill soaring through the dusky evening
twilight, Michelle brings with her a splash of vibrancy, a flutter of unique
perspective, and the beautiful song of nature in its truest form. Plein air has set flight to many paint outs, the real victory however, has come with her love of teaching. There were so many who encouraged her, Michelle finds that paying it forward is the best way to fulfill the soul.
Laurie Meyer is a professional artist based in Charleston, SC. With over 25 years of oil and water media painting experience, she has also taught many students to become artists in their own right. Laurie has passionately shared her expertise in her private studio and through travel workshops in Italy, Portugal, Mexico, and Croatia. As co-owner of the Meyer Vogl Galleries in Charleston and Daniel Island, Laurie has not only showcased her work but also contributed to the vibrant art community. Recognized for her skill creating light, she has received multiple awards in national and regional competitions for her paintings. A proud member of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast, Laurie is inspired by the magic of spectral colors and the challenge of creating the illusion of light on subjects, bringing her artistic vision to life. Laurie and her husband Steve reside on a lovely marsh creek with a long dock and abundant nature to inspire.  |
Laurie Meyer
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/
Emily Olson
Emily Olson is a Colorado-based watercolor artist who began her full-time art career in 2019 with the launch of her YouTube channel, Emily Olson Art, where she shares in-depth watercolor tutorials, product reviews, and painting tips with a growing community of art lovers around the world. She also founded Watercolor Mastery, an online school with over 3,000 members, offering high-quality, real-time instruction with weekly lessons designed to build confidence and skill.
Emily is especially passionate about plein air painting—capturing the fleeting beauty of the natural world with brush and pigment in hand. From alpine lakes to desert canyons, she finds endless inspiration in painting on location, where the elements add both challenge and spontaneity to the creative process.
Her work is deeply influenced by the late Steve Hanks, whose strong compositions and emotional depth in watercolor continue to inspire her. Emily is a perpetual student of the medium, always experimenting with new paints, papers, and techniques, and encouraging her students to stay curious and adventurous in their own work.
Whether in the studio or under a wide-open sky, Emily paints with a spirit of exploration and a desire to connect people more deeply to art and nature.
Jerrod Partridge
Jerrod is a full-time studio artist, educator, and curator on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has exhibited his work in Japan, Italy, and across the United States. Jerrod and his wife Jessie own Palmette, a flower shop and art gallery located in downtown Ocean Springs, MS.
He leads Visual Explorations trips to Europe each summer, and also organizes Art Space 86 projects which utilize events to provide opportunities for artists and enrich communities through art. Jerrod’s work can be seen at Palmette or by appointment at his studio in Ocean Springs; Fischer Galleries in Jackson, MS; Southside Gallery in Oxford, MS; Claire Elizabeth Gallery in New Orleans, LA; and various temporary locations through Art Space 86. Jerrod earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the New York Academy of Art in 2004.
During his undergraduate years studying graphic design at Mississippi College he also spent a semester in London, England studying art history. Jerrod is a 2011 recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission, and was named distinguished Alumnus of the Year for the Mississippi College Department of Art in 2017. His website is www.jerrodpartridge.com and his Instagram page is @jerrodpartridge.
Steve Puttrich
Steve Puttrich is an accomplished, award-winning fine artist and passionate instructor known for capturing the beauty and mood of the landscape in his paintings. After a successful 35-year career as an artist and designer with Parsons Corporation, Steve transitioned to full-time fine art and teaching. He specializes in both oil and watercolor, creating expressive scenes filled with compelling stories, vibrant colors, and masterful design.
Steve is the inventor of the Fairview Finder™, an innovative compositional tool that helps artists simplify complex scenes. Alongside his wife Bobbie, also a talented artist, Steve actively leads workshops, classes, and painting retreats across the country and internationally, inspiring artists of all levels.
Steve believes deeply in the power of art to connect, enrich, and transform. At Plein Air South 2026, he's excited to share practical insights, encourage fellow artists, and celebrate the joy of painting outdoors. More can be found at www.StevePuttrich.com or www.FairviewFinder.com
Carol Roark
Artist Carol Roark received her Bachelors of Fine Art from Mississippi State University in 1991 and has been a full time artist and instructor since that time.
Being an avid equestrian it was only natural that her art career start in the direction of equine portraiture and illustration. She worked freelance, designing covers for The Chronicle of the Horse, logos and ads for the Quarter Horse Journal and was the official artist and program designer for the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show for 10 years. She was also fortunate early on to be represented by Ford’s Gallery and Nunnery’s Gallery in Jackson, as well as L Bar Western Art in Stephenville, Texas.
As much as she loved the horses, Carol was always drawn to the landscape. In 1997, she had an opportunity to study with famed Mississippi artist Sammy Britt. She studied with Britt off and on for the next 10 years focusing on the Henry Hensche colorist method of seeing color and light key and gradually her work shifted to the genre of landscape painting. She is captivated by the beauty of the landscape in the South, which she feels has a beauty and magic all its own.
Throughout all of her career Carol has remained an avid teacher, teaching locally, as well as nationally with organizations such as Jerry’s Art of the Carolinas and Plein Air South. In the fall of 2020, she was able to build her dream teaching studio where she now hosts weekly classes and 3 day workshops throughout the year.
Carol is very involved in the arts of Mississippi and surrounding areas. She has been the Executive Director of the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort in Charleston, Mississippi and served as the President of the Memphis Germantown Art League. She also holds memberships with the Mississippi Oil Painters Association, Oil Painters of America, The National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, The American Academy of Equine Art and is a founding member of the Mississippi Plein Air Painters. She is currently represented by - Treehouse Gallery in Oxford, Caron Gallery South in Laurel, Pacesetter Gallery in Flowood, Rooster Tail Gallery in Iuka and Wild Cat Western Art in San Antonio, TX.
You can learn more about Carol on her website at www.carolroark.com or on social media under Roark Studios.
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