2025-2026 Meetings & Programs
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2025-26 Program Summary
Scroll down for program details
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Meetings are usually held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Avenue, Henrico, VA 23229, beginning at 11:00 AM and going to about 1:00 PM, unless otherwise specified. |
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Friday, Sept. 19
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Richard Harding, Textile Artist
Textile artist Richard Harding will discuss his findings as a new and rising contemporary artist within the galleries in the Richmond area. Harding will explain the branding, techniques, and marketing aspects of the business while sharing his own work. Using traditional basket making techniques, he creates soft sculptures that mirror nature. He will discuss his creative and unique take on the humble materials of thread, twine, and rope. "Richard Harding is a contemporary American artist whose work is deeply inspired by the reflective patterns found in nature. He draws influence from the recurring forms in living organisms, such as coral, lichen, fungus, and even the internal systems of the human body." Learn more about him at www.artmajeur.com/richard-harding.
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Friday, Oct. 17
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Kristopher Battles, National Museum of the Marine Corps Artist in Residence
Kris Battles will be talking about his combat art and career with both the Navy and Marine Corps Art Programs, and also showing us his current work. He will also lead a drawing mini-workshop, with a quick demo on how to do reportage sketching; members can then apply what they learn and do a quick reportage sketch. To participate in this sketching demo, bring sketching materials (paper, pen or pencil). Kristopher Battles is a contemporary fine artist, with a BFA in Painting and MFA in Illustration. He became a Marine combat artist in 2006, and in 2014, began serving as a civilian combat artist for the Navy. He is currently the Marine Corps Artist in Residence at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Learn more about Kris at www.usmcmuseum.com/kris-battles.
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Friday, Nov. 21
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Susan Nicholas, Pastel and Plein Air Artist
Join professional artist and instructor, Susan Nicholas Gephart, for a colorful landscape demonstration on, "How to use Plein Air Studies for a Studio Painting". In Susan’s pastel demo she will use examples of plein air oil and pastel works in progress to help inspire the painting she will create. Curiosity, questions, and all mediums are welcome. Susan Nicholas developed a deep appreciation of the earth and its relationship to art when she was a young child. Her passion to explore the landscape is expressed through a unique use of color, texture, and atmosphere, capturing the emotion of a moment with spontaneity and directness. Susan has been professionally exhibiting and painting award-winning pastel and oil landscapes for over fifty years. Her colorful, impressionistic studio and plein air paintings make her a sought after instructor whose teaching philosophy is to "Connect, Inspire, Support". Susan was PACE23 faculty for the 4th time, including the Pre-Convention for PACE18 Beginners Track Pastel. In 2021 she was international faculty for PleinAir magazine’s virtual event, Pastel Live, and is invited faculty for Pastel Live 2025. Susan has been organizing the Hameau Artist Retreats for 28 years, is an associate member of the Pastel Society of America, and a signature member and president of the Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society. As a pastel artist Susan has multiple S.Nicholas Signature sets of Jack Richeson Hand-Rolled Soft Pastels. Learn more about Susan at www.snicholasart.com.
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Friday, Dec. 5
11 AM - 1 PM |
Holiday Luncheon
Members and their guests will gather in Trinity Hall at Trinity United Methodist Church for a festive holiday lunch. Members may invite a guest; the cost is $20/person. Our fun buffet will be catered by Maribelle's, and we will have an artist's card exchange for those who want to participate. Click here to find out more about this fun event and to reserve your spot and get payment instructions! |
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Friday, Jan. 16
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Field trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Details coming later! Note: there will not be a business meeting & program at Trinity UMC this month. |
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Thursday, Jan. 22
to Friday, Jan. 23 *Snow dates Jan. 29-30 (tentative) |
Special Event: Painting Workshop with Jeremy Sams
Montpelier Center for the Arts 17205 Mountain Rd, Montpelier, VA 23192 Landscape painting workshop with Jeremy Sams, using Open acrylic medium, but acrylic, oil or watercolor can also be used. Participation will be limited to 12 participants and the cost for 2 days is $150. Participants will bring their own art supplies and easels. JRAL Members: Click the link below to sign up for the lottery from which participants will be randomly chosen. Jeremy Sams is an award-winning representational artist residing in Archdale, North Carolina. His primary subject matter is landscapes while working in acrylics. He also loves the challenge of portraits and his work varies in size from just a few square inches to murals measuring upward of 40’x60′. Find out more about Jeremy at jeremysams.com. Jeremy did a Zoom painting demo for JRAL in Feb. 2024; members can view the demo on our For Members Only page.
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Friday, Feb. 20
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Friday, Mar. 20
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Member Share: Tips, Tricks & Techniques
Five of our members will share their art tips, tricks, and techniques. More details coming later! |
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Friday, April 17
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Members Annual Art Challenge: Theme "Idioms" ; Doug Mock, guest critiquer
This year's challenge theme is "Idioms". Think "raining cats and dogs," "hit the nail on the head," "let the cat out of the bag," and sure to be interesting...."costs an arm and a leg." That's only a start to what you can work with. Now start painting and have fun! 
Our guest critiquer for the challenge is Doug Mock. Doug was our guest critiquer for our 2022 art challenge and is back by popular demand; he was also our judge for our Annual Members Judged Exhibit in 2023. Find out more about Doug at his website DougMockFineArt.com.
Click here for more information on our theme of "Idioms" and on our guest critiquer, Doug Mock, and his art. |
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Friday, May 15
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JRAL Annual Meeting &
Whitney Knapp Bowditch, Artist Talk and Painting Demo Whitney Knapp Bowditch's demo will focus on a landscape painting with a heavy emphasis on sky. Working in oils and using brushes and a knife, she will discuss the merits of incorporating both tools into her practice. She will also talk about her journey as a painter, from working with galleries to teaching art, to framing, and everything else relevant in between. Whitney earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Denison University, and her Master of Fine Arts Degree from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Whitney's work has been exhibited nationally and featured in various publications. Her pieces are in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and abroad. She is represented by Jessie Edwards' Studio (Block Island) and Eisenhauer Gallery, (Edgartown). She currently teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts and Brightpoint Community College. Learn more about Whitney at www.whitneyknapp.com or @whitneyknappbowditchstudio. We will also wrap up our fiscal year with our Annual Meeting.
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Ongoing Focus Group
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