Kenn Backhaus is a nationally recognized plein air painter in America. He has taught here before and his workshops are packed full of information and instruction.

As a commercial designer and illustrator, Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York City. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting.

Kenn has been featured in numerous art publications and books. His works have been juried into many shows across the country and his paintings have been bestowed with many honors including the prestigious Best of Show, Collectors Choice and Artists Choices awards. He regularly serves as an Acceptance Juror and Awards Judge for many shows around the country.

In September of 2006 Kenn was filmed, painting up in Alaska as part of a PBS series entitled, "Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape".

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Marla is a sought after workshop instructor and is adept at helping students develop an individual painting style. Baggetta's approach to painting reflects both the formal art education she received at Art Center College of Design and the years of experience that can only be gained from behind the easel. "It's a great honor to work with students to pass on some of the knowledge I've gained from my many great instructors and my own discoveries as a painter. I'm a true believer that the fundamentals of painting combined with our individual voices make painting a uniquely satisfying endeavor. As a teacher, I provide a strong base of the fundamentals of painting to assist every student in reaching their unique artistic intentions in a respectful, nurturing and creative environment."

Among her numerous awards and honors are Arts for the Parks Annual Juried Exhibition IAPS, She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and a Masters Circle Recipient in the International Association of Pastel Societies. She has been featured in the Pastel Journal and is included in Pure Color: The Best of Pastel. She is the author of Step by Step Pastel by Walter Foster Publishing. Her paintings can be found in numerous public and private collections throughout the country.

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What catches Betty Carr's is the effect light has on form in unique situations whether fleeting, spilling over, striking, subtlety changing, etc. IShe challenges herself when painting to capture the essence of the spirit of the light. The spontaneous qualities of watercolor and the quick moving action of the oil brush lends itself perfectly to her impressionistic style of painting when capturing light. She strives for confident, enthusiastic brushwork, the maximizing of color's value and intensity range and a fresh painterly approach, the result appearing effortless. She will teach her workshop emphasizing these qualities.

She has been featured on the front cover of Southwest Art June 2010, features artist in Scottsdale Magazine, 2008, American Artist , workshop Magazine, 2006 and many other publications. She is the author of "Seeing the Light" , North Light books, 2002, author of Watercolor Answer Book, F& W Publishers, Cover, feature, 2008, and many other numerous publications.

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Kenneth DeWaard - (b. 1962) is a representational / impressionistic plein air painter. His love for the arts was apparent at a very early age and through encouragement and early training, he has built his life around the arts. For Ken there is nothing more rewarding and challenging than painting under an open sky, surrounded by the scents and sounds of nature, along with it's ever changing color and harmonies to excite one's creativity.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts with honors, Ken began working in a commercial art studio in Chicago. He continued his studies at the American Academy of Art, where he studied with nationally recognized watercolorist, Irving Shapiro. Upon Irving's recommendation Ken joined the acclaimed Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago, where he soon began studying with Scott Burdick as well as Daniel Gerhartz. It is here that Ken adapted his direct and pure approach as well as his bravura brush style which he achieves by painting from life.

Strongly inspired by John Singer Sargent, William Wendt, Joaquin Sorolla and the Russian Impressionists, Ken finds himself painting an array of subject matter from every day life. The feelings Ken evokes in his paintings are due in part to the excitement and passion he feels while capturing the fleeting effects of light, or the wonderful color nuances and harmonies presented by nature and all of her beauty.

Ken continues to travel throughout the United States, as well as Italy. He has spent many a summer day painting the Italian hillsides, American vistas, and beauty wherever it finds him. This has always been a contributing factor in his work, insight, and inspiration and growth as an artist.

Ken is an instructor at the Kewaunee Academy of Fine Art in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. He currently resides with his wife and four young children in the beautiful driftless area of southwest Wisconsin.

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I have a knack for seeing people, places and things in an idealistic way, but it wasn’t until I discovered painting that I was able to express and interpret this personal view. My art is not always a true rendition of what is actually there but how I wish it could be. If the old white homestead is a bit neglected, then I will just capture it in sunlight to discover its real beauty. If there is only one withered rose on the old trellis then why not one hundred in full bloom?

Frequent travel allows me to see and define what my heart is drawn to. Not in the grand or extraordinary but in simple unassuming beauty. Painting gives me the opportunity to unite visual images with a montage of personal memories stored over a life time. In an attempt to translate my feelings for a subject I use interesting brush strokes, strong contrasts, sunlight and shadow in colors both soft and bold. These elements combine in a personal way providing a visual invitation to tempt others into my world.

My purpose is to uplift the human spirit and my hope is that my paintings will inspire others to join me as I continue my artistic journey. I enjoy entering competitions, teaching workshops and presenting painting demonstrations. I’m a member of numerous societies and past President of the Central Texas Watercolor Society.

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Trisha Adams was a graphic designer before turning her focus to fine art in 2001. Since then, her bold use of color and lively brushwork have evolved into a recognizable and celebrated style.

Known for still lifes and landscapes, Trisha complements studio work with working en plein air. One of her favorite locations is Provence where she paints the lavender fields and perched villages each summer. She's earned awards in regional plein air competitions. Her plein air painting, Wash Line, was accepted into the Oil Painters of America 2009 regional show.

Other honors include a residency by the Ora Lerman Charitable Trust and a purchase award by the town of Leesburg, VA which made her painting, "Rockland Farm," the first painting in the town's permanent art collection.

In print, her artwork has been featured in American Art Collector magazine and Best of America: Oil Artists & Artisans.

Her works can be found in numerous private and public collections including that of the Virginia State Senate, Loudoun County, Virginia government, the Ritz Carlton, the president of James Madison University, and the Byrd family.

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John is a signature member of numerous art societies, including the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, The Watercolor USA Honor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Allied Artist and Watercolor West. He has been honored with Master Status in TWSA and inclusion in the American Watercolor Society's Dolphin Fellowship. He is an honorary member of the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute in China.

John has won more than 195 awards in national and international exhibitions, including the AWS Gold Medal in both 2006 and 2010 and the Silver Star in the National Watercolor Society Exhibition in both 2005 and 2011

John is a frequent juror of national shows. He has served as Juror of Selection for both the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society and as Awards Judge for the American Watercolor Society Exhibition. He served as Judge of Awards for the Annual Competitions of The Artist's Magazine and Watercolor Magic in the landscape and experimental categories. John was the chairperson for the American Watercolor Society's committee of judges for the 2011 Exhibition

John's work has been featured in many national and international magazines and books, most recently in the French book L'Art de L'Aquarelle Le Livre and in the current Splash. He is listed in Who's Who in American Art and in Who's Who in America.

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Tom spent his earlier years as a nationally known figurative illustrator. Tom is now a full time Fine Artist. Among many other recognitions, Tom has been juried into American Watercolor Society Show in New York, featured in Artist's Magazine 3 times, won "Best of Show" Cedarburg Plein Air Competition 2006 & 2011, "Best of Show" Milwaukee's Plein Air Event in 2008, and "First Place" Peninsula Plein Air Festival in 2008 and Third Place in 2011. He was accepted into Oil Painters of America National Show & OPA's recent Eastern Regional Show. He was published in "Best Oil Painters of America" in 2010. Tom is represented by Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek, & Katie Gingrass Gallery, Milwaukee.

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Lois has taught painting workshops throughout the United States and Europe and has had many sold out shows in New England. The recipient of numerous awards, her book Painting The Impressionist Landscape, published by Watson-Guptill, is considered the exemplary source on seeing color and light. Her first book has been translated into four languages including Chinese, and she recently finished her second book, Painting Impressionist Color.

She has been featured in articles in The Artist's Magazine, The Boston Globe, American Art Review and the New York Times. She has authored articles for American Artist Magazine which includes a supplemental magazine called "Color for the Oil Painter." As one of the featured artists, this issue was the second time that her painting graced an American Artist cover.

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