2023 ARTISTS

John Thomas Eiseman

Hebron, MD

I had a long successful career in sales and marketing for the Paint and Coatings industry – I sold paint for a living. It paid for houses, cars, kid’s college and family times. I have always been frugal. Also, I have always painted on the weekends and evenings… sometimes to the chagrin of my wife and my kid’s little league schedule. Four years ago – in an empty nest –my wife said…”go – retire early and get out and paint…we are fine…” I did. Now I participate in about 10 – 12 plein air events a year.

Karen Lee Crenshaw

Jacksonville, NC

A sense of place. That is the goal of my landscape paintings, for the viewer to “see” what I am seeing and to feel that is a place they have been or would like to visit. Plein air painting inspires me to capture the quality of the light that sets off that connection. Many of my paintings depict the pinkish-blue tones of early morning light or the amber tones of late afternoon. I also enjoy painting nocturnes, and I was happily awarded “Best Waterfront” last year at Suffolk Plein Air.

KATIE DOBSON-CUNDIFF

Sarasota, FL

Inspired by Spanish painter, Jouquin Sorolla and Russian painter, Sergei Bongart, my passion is drawing and painting from life. I enjoy being outdoors painting places and subjects revealing the essence of everyday life. I was fortunate to have a father who was a successful illustrator teach me the basics of how to draw and paint, sharing his knowledge and love of the fine arts with me. I find it important and fulfilling to also share this knowledge and everything I have learned throughout my artistic journey, as well as my art, with others.

Larry Smith

Peachtree Corners, GA

My “Briar Patch” is a stimulating location, paint brushes, canvases, palette knives, bug spray and a sturdy easel. I introduce them to tubes of colors longing to be set free. This is my “Happy Place” where I can explore beyond what is there. I baptize the entire canvas with a warm color. Then begin to bring it to life with large brushes, and darker paint, to yield simple shapes and values. Soon thick strokes of color begin to overtake the canvas, and I am tempted to give my palette knives and fingers permission to join in on the fun.

Lyudmila Tomova

Cary, NC

I jokingly call my approach “create-destroycreate” for this is exactly how I paint – an ever-continuing rhythm of gestures. My love of painting figures also translates in my plein air work where I almost always add figures in their natural environment. Some of my recent awards include Best in Show for the 2022 Suffolk VA Plein Air, an International Artist magazine feature with a 6-page article and many others. I started painting en plein air at age 13 as a student in the Special School of Fine Arts in Bulgaria where I’m from originally.

Martin Geiger

Staunton, VA

Martin Geiger is a figurative painter and draftsman. He attended art school in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Words that describe his work might include light, geometry, space and activity. He is constantly chasing implied grandeur and action, compelling him to explore constantly to find the most invigorating subjects in his immediate area. While he tends to return to oil painting, his curiosity often lures him into other mediums like graphite, charcoal and watercolors.