Julie Hanson Workshop and membership demo-Coming soon!

Twin Boats, by Julie Hanson

Please join us on Monday evening, May 10th, at 7 pm. Julie Hanson will be giving an artist demo at the NPAC for the general membership meeting. Julie is regularly featured on Florida television and she is an award-winning plein air artist. You won't want to miss the opportunity to be part of this special evening!

In addition, please be sure to register for her One Day workshop to also be held on Monday, May 10th from 9:30 to 4Pm. This will be Julie's last workshop of the spring season, so don't miss this opportunity to paint a landscape in vibrant color! In the photo below, Julie can be seen giving a classroom critique during a recent North Port Workshop. Participants painted a beautiful mountain scene and were given valuable critiques throughout the day...



Please see the flyer below for additional details, or call the art center at (941)423-6460 to register for the workshop.

Workshop for artists who love color!

Julie Hanson Workshop- The vibrant painting above was painted by contemporary impressionist, Julie Hanson. Julie will be teaching a one day workshop on using vibrant colors this coming Monday, April 12th, from 9:30 to 4. The cost of the workshop is $75 for the day. Bring a bagged lunch and your paints and a palette knife and prepare for a fun-filled day of color!

Julie Hanson is an award-winning plein air artist and educator who has captivated collectors and students alike with her lusciously colored landscapes, created after the style of beloved colorists Charles Hawthorne and Henry Hensche at the Cape Cod School of Art. Don't miss this opportunity to learn her secrets in this workshop.

To see more of Julie's art , please visit her website at Julie Hanson-fine art.

Don't miss the opportunity to study with this amazing contemporary impressionist! Call the art center TODAY at (941) 423-6460 to register!

Attention watercolor enthusiasts and animal lovers!

Hurry! Don't miss this Saturday, March 20th at The North Port Art Center and the "Splish- Splash Watercolor Workshop" with award winning artist and animal rescue activist, Nancy Colby. The workshop will be conducted from 10 to 4 so bring your paints and lunch and look forward to a wet and wild adventure into creating beautiful watercolor paintings using Nancy's unique and effectively successful approach!

This workshop will introduce you to a whole new way to express yourself, even if you have never used watercolor paints before. Learn how to apply water and pigment to your paper and let it do it's own thing-that's when the magic begins! Then learn how to create something unique out of what developed-usually by accident! All skill levels are invited and the class fee is only $45, so call the art center today at 941-423-6460 to register. Members may also register online at the center's official website by clicking here.

In addition to being an award-winning watercolor artist, Nancy is also a dedicated animal activist and has been honored to provide organizations like EARS with quality paintings for auction and donation to help achieve their goals. EARS is a non-profit organization which dedicates itself to realistic care-for-life goals for animals. If you would like to learn more about Nancy, please visit her website at Cats by Colby.

Learn to Weave -2 day workshop

Did you know that weaving on a loom is an ancient time-honored craft that has been past down through the centuries by master artisans?



You don't have to have the luck of the Irish in order to learn the time-honored craft of weaving!


Next Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day, and The North Port Art Center wants to insure your luck, whether you're Irish or not! Have you ever yearned to learn an ancient time-honored craft, the craft of weaving that has allowed artisans over the centuries to create the most lovely rugs, blankets, sweaters and wall-hangings imaginable?

Well, this two-day workshop is your chance to have the hands- on experience of learning to use a loom and yarns, through instructor and master weaver Laura Arena, assisted by fellow weaver Michele Edwards. The lovely blanket that you see above on the left was created by Laura, and there is no better satisfaction than creating your own hand-crafted work of art!

The workshop will be held March 17th and 18th (Wednesday and Thursday), from 9:30 to 4:00PM , and in this two -day workshop the instructors will present an introduction to weaving and attaining experience working on a loom. The workshop will be balanced between lecture, lessons, and hands-on weaving. Looms, yarns and an instruction manual are included in the workshop price, so what are you waiting for?Just bring a ruler, scissors, tape measure, and some paper and pencils along with your enthusiasm, and begin to learn this wonderful time-honored historic craft! Fee for the 2 day workshop is only $90 for members and $100 for non-members. Any questions, please email Laura at raku9@yahoo.com, or call (941)475-5054.

Workshop is LIMITED to only 4, so sign up today to ensure that you will not be disappointed! Call the North Port Art Center at (941)423-6460 to register, or members may register online at our website by clicking here.

Julie Hanson one-day workshop in palette knife painting

"The Arbor at Spanish Point", 12x16

This painting was painted en plein air by Julie Hanson at last week's 5th annual "Paint-out in Paradise" sponsored by the Venice Art Center, and featuring the top plein air artists from around the area. Julie's painting took the red ribbon at the gala opening of the exhibit and reception on Friday night, with judge Jane Chapin commenting on the dynamic composition of the piece,which stood out from across the room, and also commenting that one could feel the passion of the artist expressed in that tree! The painting was done in cool color notes, demonstrating the harshly cold, and windy weather conditions, which persisted throughout the course of the paint-out. In spite of the inclement weather, Julie's painting demonstrates a clear expertise in plein air painting, color, composition and edgework, and was well-deserving of the second place ribbon.

The North Port Art Center is very pleased that Julie will be conducting a workshop at the art center next week!

Julie Hanson is an award-winning plein air artist and educator who has captivated collectors and students alike with her lusciously colored landscapes, created after the style of beloved colorists Charles Hawthorne and Henry Hensche at the Cape Cod School of Art. Don't miss this opportunity to learn her secrets in a one-day workshop which will be offered on Monday, March 15th at the Art Center, from 9:30 to 4PM. The fee for the workshop will be $75 and although Julie demonstrates with oils, both acrylics and watercolors are welcome as well.

Don't miss the opportunity to study with this amazing contemporary impressionist! Call the art center TODAY at (941) 423-6460 to register! To see more of Julie's art , please visit her website at Julie Hanson-fine art.

Denise Dinsmore workshop this Saturday!

This Saturday, come join Denise Dinsmore for a fun-filled 4 hour workshop on painting on silk. The workshop will be held from 11 to 3 PM, and all supplies for the workshop are included in the low price of only $65!

You will leave the workshop happy, as you will have created your own wearable silk art in this fun-tastic workshop! In addition to the satisfaction of creating your own beautiful silk design, Denise is a bubbly, positive and totally enthusiastic teacher that makes the experience one to be remembered and enjoyed! No skill or past experience is necessary and coming home with your own hand-painted scarf, poncho or dog kerchief is just too much fun to even imagine at this great price.

Oil artist Maryanne Jacobsen had never tried silk painting before, but she recently took Denise's Valentine's Day workshop, and could not say enough wonderful things about the experience! She left the workshop with four totally different and totally gorgeous scarves for not only herself, but also one for her daughter-in-law Meredith and Meredith's dog, Desi!

Below are pictures of Meredith and Desi modeling their new scarves!

If you would like to learn more about internationally known silk artist, Denise Dinsmore, please visit her website here, and to sign up for the workshop, please call 941-423-6460.

Hurry and get your space in the workshop TODAY!

Margaret Egli-Thomson Workshop Coming Soon!

Painting of Italian Landscape - from Margaret Egli-Thomson's 2009 trip to Italy

If you love beautiful , luscious color, then you'll love Margaret Egli-Thomson.

Margaret's lasting impressions of the beautiful places in which she has lived and painted have been transmitted to the canvas in her very own neo-impressionist style that is both uplifting, engaging and ultimately inspiring.

Born in Ireland to a Scotch father and no-nonsense Irish mother, the artist's first lasting impression of a landscape was at five years old, while she was living in Wales. Here she created her first works of art using the primary colors and applying paint with matchsticks and any paper that could be found. Her life experiences in Wales, Ireland, Italy and Canada all brought new light temperatures and new opportunities to paint the changing landscape en plein air- a challenge that Margaret welcomed and embraced. A move to the Sunshine state brought Margaret to Florida in 2000, and of all the countries in which she has lived and painted, Margaret claims that nothing can compare to the light quality in Florida!

"Dearborne Street", Englewood Florida-Painted en plein air

Margaret will be teaching a workshop on how to paint in the neo-impressionist style at the North Port Art Center on Friday, March 26th and Friday, April 2nd from 9 to 3:30PM. Bring your lunch and leave the workshop with a completed heirloom painting that you will proudly hang in your home and cherish for years to come!

The North Port Art Center is very pleased to welcome Margaret! Please call (941)423-6460 to sign up for either or both workshops. The fee for one workshop is $50, or sign up for both and pay only $85. Class size is limited , so secure your place now and learn the joy of painting in Margaret's passionate, energetic neo-impressionistic style!

To see more samples of Margaret Egli-Thomson's work, please visit her website here.


Self Portrait- Margaret Egli-Thomson

Peg Furlin Watercolor Canvas workshop this Wednesday!

Hurry! Time is running out to sign up now for Peg Furlin's Watercolor Workshop to be held on February24th from 10 to 3!

This is an incredible opportunity to sign up for a one day workshop with popular outstanding watercolor artist, Peg Furlin at the low workshop price of only $35!

Primarily a self taught watercolorist, Peg divides her time between Wisconsin and Florida and likes to attend at least one workshop a year to help with inspiration and motivation. In the past she has studied with Zoltan Szabo, Tom Francesconi, Barbara Nechis, and Ratindra Das among others, and is a member of the Wisconsin Watercolor Society,the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspersons as well as the Lake Mills Art Alliance. . Over the years, she has developed a style that is loose, colorful and boldly unique! All of Peggy's original work is now done on watercolor canvas, as she loves the effects it helps her produce and the freedom it provides. The best part is that it requires no matting or glass...even framing is optional!

Peg likes to call it..."Watercolor...Outside the Lines".

The Workshop will be held Wednesday, February 24th at The North Port Art Center. The cost of the Workshop is only $35, and the hours will be from 10 to 3PM. Please call (941) 423-6460 to register.

Welcome to The North Port Art Center

From left to right, Nancy Colby, Pat Mumper and Maryanne Jacobsen at a recent gallery reception

Welcome to the North Port Art Center's blog!

Here you'll find the latest news about the most current classes and workshops offered at the North Port Art Center, located in North Port, Florida (near Venice, Englewood, Punta Gorda and Sarasota in Southwest Florida). Stop by this blog often for the latest buzz on exhibits, local artist news, gift shop offerings and much more!

You'll also find interesting information about the neighboring community, as well as special events, Art Center news and the latest on the very special artists, teachers and members who comprise the very heart of the Center. Please feel free to comment and don't forget to visit our official website here!

Featured above are the first, second and third place winners in the Art Center's most recent exhibit, "Wide World of Animals", which runs through February 26th. Watercolor artist Nancy Colby took the first place ribbon, followed by multi-media artist Pat Mumper and oil painter Maryanne Jacobsen respectively. In addition to an incredibly diverse exhibit of animals, at the opening reception, viewers were also treated to the fabulous landscapes of internationally recognized award-winning local artist, Ron Sanders. On display at the reception was Ron's award-winning painting "Triple Self Portrait", which won first place in the portrait/figurative division of The Artist's Magazine's 2009 competition! Ron can be seen below after being introduced by Director Carol Neagles at the recent opening reception.

For more information about classes, workshops and exhibit opportunities at the North Port Art Center, please call (941)423-6460 .