An internationally renowned teacher of oil and pastel, Urania enjoys the challenge of capturing the light and color on each new painting.  She considers her love of her adopted state, California, to be the reason for her joy of painting in plein air.  To understand the nuances of the landscape is color and light in it's highest form.  This has become the hallmark of paintings by 'Urania'.

Her art studies began while attending The Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.   She is a Signature and Life Member of the Pastel Society of America; was awarded the IAPS Master Circle in 2005, and is an Artist Member with the prestigious California Art Club. Her work has been featured in The American Artist; The Artist Magazine; International Artist; The Pastel Journal and twelve instructional art books.  She has two pastel instructional DVD's, one which has been featured numerous times on PBS.  Urania is the founder and President of the International Association of Pastel Societies.

http://www.uraniachristytarbet.com

To Liz Thele, a painting is the translation of light, atmosphere and mood to reveal a timeless expression and essence of a landscape. ‘The American west with its diversity and strength of character is my favorite inspiration for painting.  Outside the artist works to capture the excitement of the scene.  In the studio the artist orchestrates the essence of that study to take the viewer back into that scene, to feel and experience.’

Liz has participated and won numerous awards from around Colorado.  She has also participated in the Plein Air Tuscon, Estes Plein Air, Oil Painters of America- National and Regional shows, and International Salon Masters.

http://www.lizthelestudio.com

http://www.zthurmondfineart.com

Ben Watson III (born 1949 in Portsmouth,Virginia) is an American contemporary artist working in graphite, watercolor, drybrush and the demanding medium of egg tempera.

Ben's work is included in many private and corporate collections in the U.S., Europe and Asia. His articles and artwork have appeared in "American Artist", "The Artist Magazine", "Southwest Art", International Artist", "Art Business News", Rockport Publications, and Northlight Books ( Splash 3 & 4). In October '97 Ben was a part of de la Societe International des Beaux Arts exhibition in Paris, France, in which he was one of only twelve Americans selected to exhibit in this show.

Micheal Sorrentino of Gannet Galleries said of Ben's work, "Mr. Watson's paintings, rendered in drybrush watercolor and the difficult medium of egg tempera are visual rhapsodies of realism. They invite the viewer ever closer to be captured into the intimate confines of his work".

http://www.theartofbenwatson3.net

Diane Weintraub has a BA and an MFA. Diane teaches advanced drawing at Cuyamaca College in San Diego, CA. She has also conducted workshops for the San Diego Museum of Art's Museum School and at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library’s Art School. She was awarded Teacher of the Year, 2005 by the faculty and students at Cuyamaca College.

Selected partial exhibitions list of her paintings include: South Bend Museum of Art, Philbrook Museum of Art, Paris Gibson Museum of Art, Holter Museum of Art, and the Carnegie Art Center. She has won numerous exhibition awards.

Diane’s artwork is in many prestigious collections at museums and universities. Selected partial collections list include: The Museum of Modern Art’s Franklin Furnace Collection in New York, The National Museum for Women in The Arts in Washington DC, Brown University, Duke University,, The Minneapolis Athenaeum, and The San Diego Museum of Art.

http://www.JustPleinAir.com

http://www.josephyarnell.com/

Diane Young was born in a small farming community in Waynesburg, Kentucky. As a child she loved to spend hours hiking the country side. She can remember viewing scenes that stopped her in her tracks observing the beauty and taking her breath away.

Diane’s growth and development as a full-time artist has come from a combination of natural ability, years of field observation and carefully studying the masters. Her passion to produce fine art has become her most treasured gift.

Diane spends hours in the field observing nature and painting field studies. She strives to communicate the atmosphere, depth of scene and the essence of the place, without unnecessary details. From these field studies, her studio work re-creates the sense of the outdoors by weaving in colors with the use of brush and  heart. She recalls the feel of the land as she gives birth to the painting.

http://www.dianeyoungstudio.com

Leonardo DaVinci said "Endeavor, painter, to make sure your works draw spectators to stop in admiration and delight."

Every moment I stand in front of my easel is an opportunity to learn more about my own creative process and how best to grow as an artist. I have explored various subjects to paint, and ultimately settled into painting the "western" landscape.  I live in the Willamette valley in northwestern Oregon, and have some of the most beautiful vistas anywhere to draw inspiration from. I prefer Oregon’s high desert area the most since the desert and mountain regions offer the best in dramatic light situations.  I do some plein aire painting to use as field studies as an aid to making a finished studio piece.   I paint slowly, so this method works well for me.  I love nothing better than a pot of coffee, an Arron Copland cd, and my cats lying around to get me going on a painting.

http://www.craigzuger.com