Anne Abgott

Anne was born in Canada, married and re-located to Buffalo New York. She now maintains studios in Cortez, Florida and Linville, North Carolina. She was encouraged early on by a high school teacher in Oshawa Ontario and mentored by Alexander Luke of the Canadian Painters Eleven where she was tutored in Oil Painting.

In 1992 she began painting in Watercolor and was immediately captivated. She has studied with master watercolorists in the United States and Canada. She teaches widely giving workshops in many states and Canada. Anne is a versatile artist with a wide variety of subject matters. She uses a technique developed from endless hours of painting, and her passion for color and design are very personal and expressive.

She has been accepted into a number of National shows and won many major prizes, which are very validating. The competition is fierce and these shows get hundreds of entries. These prizes helped establish her name and as a result, she was asked to teach all over North America. Her teaching skills are becoming legend in Florida - the last four classes that were available for sign-up were filled in thirteen minutes and all have waiting lists.

Anne teaches at Art Center Manatee in Bradenton, Florida as well as Art Center Sarasota.  She has also been on the faculty at the Ringling School of Art.  She is a Signature Member of the Florida Watercolor Society as well as NFWS and FLAG and is a member of the National Pen Women of America as well as the Contemporary Women's Art Group. She serves on the Board of Directors of Art Center Manatee in Bradenton, Florida and is chair of their Education Department. Anne was also President of the Florida Watercolor Society in 2006 is currently President of the Florida Sun Coast Watercolor Society.

In 2005, Anne was accepted into the American Watercolor show in New York and won the Lattner Gold Award at the Florida Watercolor Society Exhibition in Sarasota as well as the Millard Sheets Award at the prestigious National Watercolor Society Exhibition in California.  Awards since 2006 include 12 Best of Shows and First prizes and more then 40 other awards.  She has had articles published in International Artist Magazine, Watercolor Magazine, Artist Magazine, Watercolor Magic and several Florida publications.   Also in 2006, Anne won awards with both the Florida Watercolor Society and Philadelphia Watercolor Society Shows.  

In 2007, Anne was once again accepted into the National Watercolor Society Exhibition.  In September, Anne was the winner of the “People’s Choice” Award at the Florida Watercolor Society’s Annual Exhibition and has also won one of the top awards in the Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society’s show, now being held at the Ringling School, Longboat Key, Florida campus.

Anne’s new book, Daring Color, published by North Light Books, is now available at Cheap Joe's Art Stuff.

Don Andrews

Don Andrews is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, and a resident of Fairhope, Alabama. 

Don is an active member and past board director of the American Watercolor Society. His paintings have received numerous awards in national watercolor competitions, including three awards from the American Watercolor Society. 

A nationally known artist and teacher, Don has conducted painting workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe for over 20 years.

Don is the author of the books, Interpreting the Figure in Watercolor, Interpreting the Landscape in Watercolor and Rough Sketches, Short Stories of a Traveling Artist, as well as the DVD Making Watercolor Glow.  He is also featured in the Watson Guptill publication Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Watercolor and has had numerous feature articles published in American Artist magazine, and the Watercolor issue of American Artist.

Don’s website is www.donandrews.net.

Robert Burridge

Robert Burridge is an Industrial Designer who, after 25 years in the business, left the corporate world to be a full time, contemporary painter. Today he is a juror for international exhibits, college and workshop instructor and he currently is the Honorary President of the International Society of Acrylic Painters.

He is a Signature Member of both the Philadelphia Watercolor Society and the International Society of Acrylic Painters.  His honors include the Franklin Mint Award and the prestigious Philadelphia Watercolor Society’s Crest Medal for Achievement in the Arts. The Crest Medal Award was previously awarded to Picasso, John Singer Sargent, and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Robert’s country barn studio is located on California’s central coast in San Luis Obispo County. His work is featured in many books and magazines, on Starbucks Coffee mugs, Pearl Vodka bottles and on eight commercial tapestries. His paintings are sold in galleries worldwide, including San Francisco, Raleigh, Sedona, Maryland and Hawaii. Robert has published two books: Loosen Up: Robert Burridge’s Workshop & Studio Notes and Hot Art Marketing: The Business of Selling Your Art and two best selling DVDs, Start Abstract Painting Today and Loosen Up with Acrylics!

Sean Dye

Award winning artist, Sean Dye, is a multimedia artist who received his MFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. He has taught at The University of Vermont since 1991. He conducts workshops throughout North America on Pastel, Oil Painting and Mixed Media.

His paintings have been exhibited widely and are in numerous private and corporate collections.  They have appeared in The Artists Magazine and International Artist Magazine, Pastel Artist International and The Pastel Journal.

He has been the judge or juror many exhibitions throughout North America.

He is a member of the Pastel Society of America, The Degas Pastel Society and the Sierra Pastel Society. He is the Former President and founder of the Vermont Pastel Society.

Sean is the Author of Painting with Water-Soluble Oils, (2001) and the Mixed-Media Sourcebook (2004). His work also appears in Caroline Jasper’s book Powercolor (2005). His DVD Palette Knife Landscape was released in 2005 by Creative Catalyst Productions.

He lives and paints in St. George, Vermont.

Sean’s website is www.seandyestudio.com.

Sterling Edwards

Sterling Edwards was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1951. When he was twelve, he was enrolled in art classes at the Nelson Gallery in Kansas City, after his parents noticed that he had a natural ability to draw. Once introduced into the world of art, Sterling began experimenting with every medium at his disposal.

In 1985, Sterling began studying watercolors and was captivated by the versatility and luminosity of the medium. Having spent several years learning from watercolor master Zoltan Szabo and several other prominent watercolor artists, Sterling developed his own unique style of painting with watercolors. Interpretations of natural settings are the subjects of most of Sterling's paintings. Using mostly large brushes, Sterling focuses on the design of the subject and begins a process of conveying his thoughts and interpretations with stylized shapes, bold lights and darks and dramatic color rhythms. The result is an expressive and sometimes abstract painting that allows the viewer to see a small part of the world through Sterling's eyes.

In 1993 Sterling began teaching his style of painting to watercolor artists of all skill levels. As his reputation as a watercolor artist and teacher rapidly grew, he was requested to conduct watercolor workshops throughout the United States and Canada.  He has been a featured artist in the Fall, 2001 issue of Watercolor Magic magazine in an article titled “Ones to Watch” and has been featured in numerous newspaper articles. In 2007, he was elected as a signature member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. Sterling's original paintings are in private and corporate collections worldwide and several galleries represent him. He works from his studio in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Cathy Cranford Futral

Cathy Cranford Futral’s goal is to promote education at all levels and her objective is to develop her skills to create expressive works of art.  Her favorite medium to create with is watercolor, in which she has an immense amount of experience.  Cathy has taught throughout the past 30 years in various regions across the Southeast and is currently a Professor of Art at the South Florida Community College in Avon Park, Florida.  In addition, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe mostly visiting art museums, sketching and painting on location.

Cathy received a Masters of Science in Art Education from Florida State University at Tallahassee, Florida in 1974, followed by a Masters of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina in 1983.  During the past 20 years, she has had the opportunity to study with watercolor artists Alex Powers, Miles Batts, Frank Webb, David Greece, Catherine Lui, Barbara Nechis, Christopher Schink and the very great Joe Miller. 

She was presented the Judges Award for the Sebring Art Show in 2005 and 2007 and the Lake Wales Art Center Museum Purchase Award in 2005.  In addition, Cathy also received the Higher Ed Division-Outstanding Art Teacher of the Year award in 2004 and the 2002-2003 Presidents Award from the SFCC.  Cathy has most recently exhibited at the Lake Wales Art Center in 2005 and 2007.

Cathy’s website is www.lkartworks.com/cathy_cranford_futral.htm.

Catherine “Bonnie” Jones

Bonnie Jones was born and grew up on the coast of Georgia. Her love for nature has inspired her to paint in watercolors. While Bonnie is mostly self taught, she has studied under several well-known artists as well as attended the Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, Florida.

Her beautiful floral paintings are displayed in several galleries and in private collections all over the world.  Bonnie spends much of her time traveling and teaching workshops as well as collecting references for new paintings. You can find her teaching at SeaHorse Arts and Crafts store in Orlando as well as her home studio in Orange City, Florida

Bonnie possesses the unique ability to lure you into her paintings through the use of beautiful warm and cool colors.  She loves to create paintings that spring to life and make the viewer feel as if he is part of the artwork.

Bonnie’s website is www.cbonniejones.com.

Tom Jones

Tom Jones began painting at an early age and has studied under the internationally watercolorists, Tom Lynch and Pablo Sansequndo-Castaneda.  A resident of central Florida, Tom has been commissioned by government agencies, corporations, environmental groups, clubs and private collectors. In answer to popular demand, he typically produces his watercolor landscapes in a series of three or five paintings around a specific theme.

His art can be found internationally in many private and corporate collections, including commissioned paintings displayed in the Florida State Capital Building, Walt Disney World Corporation, Marriott Corporation and the Omni Corporation.  Tom’s work has been featured in many books and on magazine covers as well as posters and brochures.

Tom shares his passion for art and love of nature with students of varying skill levels through nationwide workshops, demonstrations and instructional videos, including his DVD Simplified Watercolor Techniques.  Locally he holds workshops at his studio in Orange City, Florida.

Kristy Kutch

Kristy Kutch is a graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, with a bachelor and masters degree in education as well as a life license in teaching. She has taught over 150 drawing workshops nationwide for students of all ages. Her educational style is friendly, relaxed, enthusiastic, and supportive of the individual student's uniquely personal style. Cultivating the enthusiasm of her students, Kristy tailors her instruction to beginners and accomplished artists alike.

Her instructional book, Drawing and Painting with Colored Pencil, was a summer, 2005 release from Watson-Guptill Publications. It was also the main selection for the North Light Book Club in December 2005.

Kristy is a contributor to The Best of Colored Pencil 1, 3, and 5; Creative Colored Pencil; Design: Illustration; The Best of Business Card Design 3 and 5; Creating Radiant Flowers in Colored Pencil; Exploring Color (revised edition); Floral Inspirations, and Colored Pencil Explorations. She has also filmed a new instructional DVD, Colored Pencil Landscapes: Beyond the Basics.

Birgit O'Connor

Birgit O’Connor is a self-taught watercolor artist who specializes in florals and landscapes. She sees her watercolor paintings as reflective of nature's voice. Birgit lives in Bolinas of West Marin, California and finds watercolor the most fluid and expressive medium. 

Her award winning work has been recognized and published in over 24 national and international artist publications, including Australian Artist and International Artist Magazine. Birgit contributes regularly to Watercolor Magic, Artist Sketch, Watercolor Basics and Artist Magazine. She has been featured in articles in The San Francisco Chronicle, Marin IJ, Pt. Reyes Light and The New York Times.

Birgit is the author of a new book, Watercolor in Motion: How to Create Powerful Paintings Step-by-Step as well as a watercolor DVD series.

Birgit has shown her work all over the world including a one woman show in Hong Kong. Her art is represented by galleries in Seattle, Washington, Palm Desert and Atherton, California. Her Most recent awards include a 2003 People Choice Award at the Aqua Areas show in Santa Rosa for her landscape "Evening Sky" and the Sailis International Award in New Orleans for her florals.

Her memberships include California Watercolor Society, Northern California Chapter of the Women's Caucus of Art, Marin Art Council, Bolinas Living Artists, Louisiana Watercolor Society, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Women.

Cathy Taylor

Cathy Taylor is an award winning water media artist and national workshop instructor.  Her water media artwork is a celebration of the patterns, textures and color found in the natural environment and reflects the essence and vitality of a subject.  Cathy is known for her ability to interpret a subject in a variety of styles.  From her colorful, detailed alphabetical designs including the Florida “shell-a-bet” to her whimsical collages and multi-dimensional abstracts, Cathy’s work is represented in museums, nature centers, corporate collections and private collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Cathy is an exhibiting artist at Sanibel Art and Frame on Sanibel, FL, The Nature of Art Gallery in St Petersburg, FL, and Main Street Art Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC.  She is a popular workshop instructor, who has studied with well-known artists Mary Todd Beam, Carole Barnes and Frank Webb.  Additionally, Cathy was the 2000 winner of the Robert Rauschenberg award.

Her work was represented by a licensing agent in N.Y. City who secured rights for a fine art print of a collage to be distributed nationwide, and designs by Cathy are currently represented by Window of the Eye for use on garments and gift items.  She has written a column “Art Directions” for local newspapers and her work has been featured in publications such as “Avmor Celebrates the New Millennium.”

She is a member of The High Country Watercolor Society, The National Watercolor Society, The International Society of Experimental Artists and The National Collage Society.

Wes Waugh

Wes Waugh is a Boone, North Carolina artist, workshop instructor and presenter. He has been painting and teaching workshops for over 20 years and is noted as one of the southeast region’s leading landscape watercolorists. Waugh describes his influences as stemming from the translational and design-influenced watercolor landscapes of the late Eliot O’Hara and Edgar Whitney, both prominent mid-20th century American watercolor masters.

Wes's own workshops combine an intensive focus on the principles of design combined with a unique approach to building subject relationships. This is all carried out with humor and fun to lighten the learning process.

Wes has studied with contemporary watercolorists William B. (Skip) Lawrence and Cheng Khee-Chee, both students of Edgar Whitney. He has also studied locally with watercolorist Joe Miller and renowned painter/printmaker Noyes Capehart. Wes’s work is typically dominated by bold color washes and the use of a variety of techniques and surfaces chosen to best reflect the nature of his subjects. His body of work now includes forays into digital media as well as painting and he is a co-founder of Bear Trail Studio Partners, a fine art reproduction and art products company.

Wes works as a product consultant and workshop instructor for Cheap Joes Art Supplies, Inc., in Boone, NC and and is currently in his 21st year as a full-time program director within the Learning Assistance Program at Appalachian State University. 

Being a lifelong outdoor enthusiast greatly contributes to his subject choices as images collected over years of backpacking, canoeing and fishing excursions often form the base from which new paintings evolve. “In spite of our tendency to diminish them, I find comfort in knowing that remote wilderness areas still do exist and I try and draw from my personal experiences in visiting them as new paintings form." Wes has noted inspiration from travels to Maine, Canada, Montana and India as well as from a background in zoology and a fondness for the naturalist artists of earlier eras. Mostly, however, he views his work as that of a regionalist landscape painter of the western North Carolina mountains and sees no end to the possibilities to be expressed in this vein. Wes held his ninth solo exhibition “Evergreen” at Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery in October of 2007.