PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Another month has come and gone. We had a wonderful workshop and demonstration at our October meeting. Sharon Stolzenberger did a great job sharing the secrets of creative play with acrylic paint, transferring images, and using stencils and stamps.  

As indicated last month, the board is discussing an initiative to offer programs in the community at large to expand our membership. Hopefully this also will encourage people to join with us and take part in our offerings. Audrey McGowin is looking into this with the people that have expressed interest. If you have thoughts or ideas about the kinds of programs that we might be able to deliver, please share your thoughts.  At this time we are focusing on programs for adults including college age adults.

Special thanks to Jason Williams for agreeing to be a part of the membership committee. His smiling face will be helping with greeting our members to our monthly meetings. We are still trying to find someone with computer skills to collect the membership data into a spreadsheet to allow us to produce a member roster.

In September I discovered that not everyone is aware that there is a paint-in group that meets in our gallery space every Thursday and Friday morning. Connie Gifford hosts the Thursday Watercolor Group and Billie Dickson hosts the Friday Paint-In (all mediums). Participation is open to everyone. Participants make a $1 donation to the organization for use of the gallery. You are all welcome to stop in and paint with either group.

Lastly, there will not be a demonstration meeting in December but we hope to see you at the Christmas Party on Saturday, December 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. It is a carry in and if you want to participate in the gift exchange there is a $15 limit.

Thanks to all for your help and support. 

Best Regards,

Dave Schneberger

NOVEMBER’S GUEST ARTIST – DR. HYACINTH PAUL

Our guest artist for the November 3 meeting will be Dr. Hyacinth Paul, who will present a demonstration in oil/acrylic/mixed media. Dr. Paul is also an FAA member and her work will be exhibited in the FAA Gallery this month as our Featured Artist of the Month.

Artist Biography

Dr. Hyacinth Paul is a retired scientist and Professor and now a full-time award-winning artist. Her paintings are very colorful because she believes color sparks synesthesia and involuntarily evokes feelings of joy. She completed over 58 works in the 58th year of her life and currently has grown her collection. She has over sixty solo/group exhibitions since 2018. Her paintings have been exhibited in many states around the country and will be exhibited in India this December in a prestigious Art School Santiniketan in Kolkata and a gallery and Kochi, India. She currently showcases her work in Dayton, has a significant online presence and is currently represented by the Viridian Gallery in Chelsea, New York. She was awarded several grants over the past seven years by the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District as well as Cultureworks. She is also a curator and has curated art for sale by local Ohio artists. She is also a podcaster and her show Heart to Heart with Hyacinth airs on Local public TV stations in Dayton and wherever you get your Podcasts. She serves as an Artist in Residence at the Trotwood School District funded by the TeachArtsOhio of the Ohio Arts Council. She completed teaching special needs children at Primary Village North. She works on several Boards and volunteers her time for the benefit of her community in Dayton, OH.

www.hyacinthpaulart.com

937-829-4652

2027 FAA STUDENT FINE ART SHOW

Fairborn Art Association invites college students from nearby communities to enter our first annual juried student art show to be held February 2–21, 2027, at the FAA Gallery, 221 North Central Avenue, Fairborn, OH 45324. This show is open to all student FAA members age 18+ enrolled in an accredited college within 30 miles of Fairborn, OH. This new event reflects our mission to support emerging artists and encourage them to grow through connection with the experience and talent within the FAA membership. Please refer to the forms below for more information.

FAA 2026-2027 Membership Form (print version)

FAA 2026-2027 Membership Form (online version)

2027 FAA Student Fine Art Show Prospectus

MEMBER NEWS

Frank Trick had two pieces accepted into the Sharonville Cultural Art Center’s Westheimer Gallery’s Juried Show, “Release” and “Night Sky on The Fourth of July”. The awards ceremony is Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 pm.

The Western Ohio Watercolor Society is currently showing their 2026 Members’ Fall Art Exhibition: “The Color of Water” at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, 301 W. Main Street, Troy, Ohio, through November 22, 2026. The following FAA members won awards at the show:

First Place: Tessa Kalman, “Flamingo Fracas”

Second Place: Connie Gifford, “Toma Cinco”

Honorable Mentions:

Marsha Elliott, “Mouser”

Yuki Hall, “East Third Street – Dayton”

Toni Laricchiuta Stratton, “shhh, Quiet Reflections”

Several of our FAA members participated in the Fairborn Community Library’s Tiny Art Showcase – Celise McKee, Sharon Benedict, Audrey McGowin, Bonnie Freeman, Dora Lawson, Paula Whittington, Carol Collett, and Tessa Kalman.  Approximately 30 miniature paintings from the community were displayed.

PASSING OF B-W GREENWAY FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bob Jurick, founder and President of the B-W Greenway Community Land Trust, who passed away last month. The Landscapes Art Exhibitions, co-sponsored by the B-W Greenway Community Land Trust and the Fairborn Art Association, have been held for many years to heighten public awareness of local greenspaces, the need to preserve them, and to foster an interest in creating art inspired from nature.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

Please submit your information for the December 2026 newsletter directly to the Corresponding Secretary, April Coppess, via phone call or email by the November 20, 2026, deadline. Please consult your membership directory for contact information.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Summer has gone fast and we are moving into autumn. Time goes so quickly for all of us. We have a great workshop and demo by Sharon Stolzenberger. I hope to see many of you at our October meeting.

As I mentioned at last month’s meeting, we need people to fill positions on the FAA committees. Specifically, right now we need to fill the membership and greeting committees. I would like to see three people move into that committee so that there is a backup as well as continuity. The principal role is to greet members at the monthly meeting. The secondary role is to collect the membership forms and put them into a log so that the membership booklet can be produced each year. If you anticipate attending most of the meetings you are perfect for this role. Please let me or Debbie Cosenza know and we can help you get started.

I am so proud of the talent and creativity of all of our members and want to thank all of you for your past and future participation in making this organization what it is today and can become in the future.

Lastly, I would like to know if there is interest in doing Art education for the community at large. It could be multiple sessions or individual demonstrations where we could try to expand our reach into the community and hopefully, expand membership. Part of the reason is to attempt to bring new and younger members into our club. Please let your wishes and interest known.

Until next month, enjoy, share, and participate.

Regards, 

Your president Dave Schneberger 

OCTOBER’S GUEST ARTIST – SHARON STOLZENBERGER

The Fairborn Art Association is pleased to welcome Sharon Stolzenberger as the guest artist for our October demo and workshop.

Sharon graduated from the School of the Dayton Art Institute and began her career in art with Gibson Greeting Card Co. where she was an illustrator, then an art director. She spent several years in commercial art before going out on her own to sell her paintings at the outdoor art fairs nationally and through other juried exhibitions. Teaching has become a new direction in her career. She teaches mixed media workshops for organizations, and is currently teaching watercolor classes through Sinclair Community College and Rosewood Arts Center in Dayton, OH.

ARTIST STATEMENT: In my work I try to convey the appreciation I have for wildlife and nature along with my passion for watermedia. I love the spontaneity of the loose, wet-in-wet applications of watercolor, but find the experimental, mixed media techniques equally demanding and exciting. Crows and prairies have been themes in my work for some time. They have led to growth in my work by encouraging experimentation with materials and helping me find new ways of interpreting familiar themes. My work is based on onsite drawings, photo references I’ve taken and hands on experiences. I’ve traveled to Peru, Africa, India and Nepal. I was a Volunteer Educator at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Center for Forty years.

SELECTED AWARDS: Jim Brower and Ohio Watercolor Society Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022; Honorable Mention, Acrylic Works, 8 Magazine, Artists’ Magazine; Ohio Watercolor Society Annual Exhibitions, Silver Award, Awards of Distinction; Middletown Art Center’s Regional Art Exhibitions, Best of Show, First Place; Elected Memberships: Ohio Watercolor Society, board of Trustees.

OCTOBER WORKSHOP WITH SHARON STOLZENBERGER

A watermedia and mixed media workshop, “Creative Play” with guest instructor Sharon Stolzenberger, will be held October 5 and 6, 2026, 9:30 am–4:30 pm at the Fairborn Art Gallery, 221 N. Central Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio, 45324.

The focus of this workshop will be a creative play approach to painting, playing with color, shapes, texture and surface enrichment. We’ll begin by making marks without a preconceived idea of what the finished pieces will be, and progress through the combination of various techniques and materials. These will include building layers and visual textures with paint, gesso, crayons, oil pastels, collage, stencils, stamps and image transfers. The workshop will be devoted to demos, experimenting with the materials and techniques, creating as many starts for potential paintings as time allows, as well as discussions concerning design, composition and content.

A few spots are still available for this workshop. The registration form is available in the gallery and on our website Homepage under Forms.

MEMBER EXHIBITS IN THE FAA GALLERY

In October, we will enjoy an exhibit by member Joyce McCartney. November will feature art by Hyacinth Paul. December is available if anyone would like to showcase a personal art show, either solo or a group show. Contact Carol Collett for details.

FAA GALLERY

FEATURED ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Artist Statement 2026

Joyce McCartney

Painting always brings me peace and a feeling of appreciating the beauty of life on our living planet. It gives me freedom from the conflict and drama of much of society these days. I have been painting for years, and I set myself an improvement goal each year. My goal this year was to capture the mood or emotional environment of a scene and experiment with tiny additions of watercolor pencil and pastels. So, I purposely go places early or late in the day to capture the slanting light, the rising mist as a rain or the settling fog of a hot day turns dusty pink and photograph or paint them on site. Then I carefully study the scene from my photos, looking for the subtle changes of warm or cool colors, a little darker here or a little lighter there. Then I sketch the scene to make decisions about composition and proportions. Lastly, I do a careful drawing because the gentle curve of a leaf or the twisting bark of an ancient tree is important and leads the viewer into the story of the time and place. 

Then, as every watercolorist knows, the application of water and color becomes an intricate interaction that is never under complete control but always lead us into new opportunities of expression. As Homer Hacker used to say: “Watercolor is an impetuous medium, so stay alert.” I feel that watercolor is the only medium that talks back to me, surprising and disappointing, pleasing and challenging me to my core. And, as we all know, the thrill is in the chase of light, form, value and color and even if we don’t win each time, we really enjoy the presence of the place, the freedom from conflict and fearful thoughts and the delightful surprises we never imagined we would see.

And so, it is my pleasure to be able to exhibit a year’s worth of painting my world for you to enjoy. I value your comments and love your friendship and good humor. Thank you, Joyce McCartney

MEMBER NEWS

Yuki Hall received the “Best in Show” award for her painting, “Church of St. Philip Neri – Barcelona” at this year’s Piqua Arts Council Annual Fine Art Exhibition. Yuki also received the “Blick Art Materials Award” for her painting, “Ponte Sant Angelo” at this year’s Ohio Watercolor Society 49th Annual Juried Exhibition.

Additional awards received by our members at the Piqua Fine Art Exhibition are listed below:

Jan Lendino – Third Place in Miscellaneous for “Psst… Mom’s Home… Treats!!!”

Phillip Erbaugh – First Place in Oil and Acrylic for “After Hours”

Francis J. Trick – Honorable Mention in Oil and Acrylic for “The Tree to The Elements of Life”

Yuki Hall – Honorable Mention in Water Media for “In The Shadow of the Cathedral”

Connie Gifford, Shirlee Bauer, Carol Edsall, and Dave Schneberger all got honorable mentions at the Joyce Young Center at the 5th Annual Centerville Washington Township Rec Center Adult Art Exhibition. Over 100 pieces will be on display through October 18 at the McEwen Road facility, RecPlex West.

Diana Hoke’s husband Kent passed away on Friday, September 25, after battling liver disease for several months. No other information available at this time. Please keep Diana and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

LANDSCAPES2027 JURIED ART HIKE

An Art Hike for the Landscapes2027 Juried Art Exhibition will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 11:00 am. The most accessible starting point for artists is the Leadingham Prairie entrance parking lot at 3656 Spangler Rd, Medway, Ohio. The featured landscape will be the Mad River as it passes through the B-W Greenway.

The B-W Greenway Community Land Trust & the Fairborn Art Association’s Landscapes Art Exhibition was established in 2009 to heighten public awareness of local greenspaces, the need to preserve them, and to foster an interest in creating art inspired from nature. More information about the 2027 exhibition will be forthcoming.

MIDDLETOWN ARTS CENTER ANNUAL AREA ART EXHIBITION

The Middletown Arts Center Annual Area Art Exhibition will be held November 6–December 10, 2026. Artists must be 18 years of age or older and living within a 50-mile radius of Middletown, Ohio. Submit work on October 26–October 29 during posted times. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.middletownartscenter.com/

FREE BATHROOM VANITY

Recently we had to replace the vanity in the bathroom so that we were in compliance with the American Disabilities Act. That has been completed by Roger Browning. Special thanks to Roger for his efforts. 

As a result of that we have a 48-inch vanity and sink that needs to find a new home. If you have interest, please let us know and we can make arrangements to make that happen. I would like to see it out of the gallery in the next couple of weeks. If no one needs it, we will have to transport it to that Habitat Resource store.

Dave Schneberger

SUBMITTING ARTICLES FOR NEWSLETTER

Please submit your information for the November 2026 newsletter directly to the Corresponding Secretary, April Coppess, via phone call or email by the October 20, 2026, deadline. Please consult your membership directory for contact information.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Well, here we are, summer is ending, the new year is beginning for the Fairborn Art Association. Much has happened over the last few months. The B-W Greenway show was held with nearly 70 pieces entered. Down from previous years but still a successful show.

The July 4 parade for the 250th anniversary of Independence Day for the United States of America was held with a float with a fantastic array of corn stalks, promoting the Sweet Corn Festival. Who can forget the special hat worn by Roger Browning. So much work by our Sweet Corn Festival committee members Jerry Red, Jane Trame, Paula Whittington, Susan Fosnot, Sheryl Scott, Roger Browning, Warren Brown, and so many others. Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped during the actual event. I would like to take this opportunity to explain why we spend so much time and effort on this event. We sponsor this event annually along with the Fairborn Lions Club. Proceeds from this event help to keep our member fees so low. In other words, it pays the rent on our gallery space. I can’t say enough about the effort, every month of the year, that the committee members expend for all of our benefit. Thank them and if you can please volunteer support for the committee and the actual event if you are able to.

August 15 and 16 Sweet Corn Festival. I hope that all of you had time to attend and participate. This event was the culmination of a yearlong effort as mentioned above.

In the coming months we have many wonderful programs and demos planned and look forward to your participation. In addition to attendance, we need members to fill positions as committee and board members. It is my hope that each of the committees have multiple members to help share the load and ensure that no one gets burnt out. A list of the current committee chairs will be included with this letter. If you have ideas or thoughts about the future and what form that you want this club to take, please share them.

As time passes other projects will be introduced and shared.

This club is phenomenal, the talent, the creativity, the willingness to share your knowledge and experience is exceptional. I thank you all for what you have done and what you will do in the future for the betterment of all of us. Thank you for the vote of confidence and I will strive to do my best to promote and support this organization in the coming year.

Sincerely yours,

Dave Schneberger

SEPTEMBER’S GUEST ARTIST – MARYBETH KARAUS

The Fairborn Art Association is pleased to welcome MaryBeth Karaus, Oil Painters of America (OPA) member, as our guest demo artist at the September 1 meeting.  

In her floral still lifes, MaryBeth is fascinated by capturing the fleeting beauty that painting from life offers. In all her work, composition remains at the core of her aesthetic. 

MaryBeth Karaus is a graduate of the DAAP program of the University of Cincinnati. After concentrating for some time in the medium of watercolor, she began studying oil painting, beginning with a workshop with respected artist Dan Gerhartz in 2004. In 2006, she won the Top Award of Excellence from the juried exhibition of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati. In 2012 she took an intensive study of classical drawing and painting with artist David Mueller. A member of the Oil Painters of America since 2008, Karaus was awarded Signature member status in 2015. She received the 2018 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists and the Members’ Choice Honorable Mention Award in the Associate & Signature Division at the 27th National Juried Exhibition of the OPA for the painting “Orange Romance.” Most recently, in 2024, Judge Sherrie McGraw awarded MaryBeth the Gold Medal in the Associate and Signature division for her painting “Center of Attention” at the OPA’s 33rd National Convention. Karaus also has been a Finalist in the Art Renewal Center’s International ARC Salon Competitions in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022. And just recently at the OPA National Convention in 2025, Karaus received the designation of Master Signature Member. Karaus is an active member of the Cincinnati Art Club, founded in 1890. In the 2021 Cincinnati Art Club’s Viewpoint Show, she was awarded First Place by judge John Michael Carter.

She currently displays her work at Eisele Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio and Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, Texas.

ART SUPPLIES SALE

Our Art Supplies Sale will be held on September 1 from 5:30–6:30 pm (simultaneously with our board meeting). Prior registration is not required. If you have art supplies that you wish to sell, you may bring them to the FAA Gallery for set up between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. The doors will be open and a table will be provided. If weather permits, some tables may be set up outside. Set up and all sales transactions are your responsibility so make sure you bring enough money to make change. Final cleanup of all items is also yours to do; nothing is to be left in the gallery or outside.

THIS MONTH IN THE FAA GALLERY

FAA president Dave Schneberger will exhibit his artwork in the FAA Gallery, 221 N. Central Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio, during the month of September 2026.

Dave Schneberger is a lifelong resident of the Dayton, Ohio area. He attended technical school and studied Graphic Arts and Printing. While principally self taught, he has studied with a number of very creative people over the years and appreciates their willingness to share their knowledge. His artwork varies from representational or impressionistic to abstract in watercolor, ink, or acrylic. He sometimes works with collage, wire art. He enjoys the outdoors, nature and wildlife and these are frequently themes in his work.

The over powering goal is to create, often experimenting with a variety of techniques and tools. The Gallery will be open to the public on the following days and times:

LANDSCAPES2026 AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to the artists who won awards at the B-W Greenway Community Land Trust and the Fairborn Art Association’s Landscapes2026 Juried Art Exhibition held in July 2026 (Bold denotes FAA members):

First Place: “Hiding in Plain Sight” by Susan Scott

Second Place: “Early Morning Reflection” by Connie Gifford

Third Place: “Spring Sentinels” by Rose Schultz

Judge’s Merit Award: “The Morning of Green Land” by Sherry Li Cai

Judge’s Merit Award: “Beauty Conserved” by Connie Gifford

Judge’s Merit Award: “Foggy Morning Creek” by Celise McKee

Judge’s Merit Award: “Grace in Motion” by David Riel

Judge’s Merit Award: “Path to Wander” by Connie Weber

People’s Choice: “Bee Tree” by Carol Culbertson

MEMBER NEWS

Pat Higgins had two different photos selected in juried art competitions. One photo was selected for the annual Photography and Digital Art Exhibition at the Middletown Arts Center and another photo was selected for a “Poolside” juried show at the JAG Gallery, Key West, Florida.

Billie Dickson, Tessa Kalman, and Rose Schultz each received Signature status with the Ohio Watercolor Society.

Connie Gifford’s painting “Wheels and Spokes” was chosen to receive an Ohio Watercolor Society Award of Merit by the juror for Watercolor Ohio 2026, Ratindra Das.

The following FAA members won awards at the Miamisburg Art Gallery Juried Art Show held in August 2026:

Second Place in Drawing: “In the Woods II” by Tom Kinarney

First Place in Water Media: “Sunset and Steel” by Tessa Kalman

Second Place in Water Media: “Winter Solstice” by David Schneberger

Honorable Mention in Water Media: “Amaryllis and Glass Profusion” by Lori Hollenbeck

First Place in Mixed Media: “Spring Sentinels” by Rose Schultz

Honorable Mention in Mixed Media: “Gardners Forever” by Nancy Dankof

Third Place in Three Dimensional Works: “Goldstone Sun” by Darci Salinas

Frank Trick will exhibit at the London Arts Center, London Visual Arts Guild, 121 East 1st Street, London, Ohio 43140. The show runs during their regular operating hours through the month of September. An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, September 5, from 2:00–5:00 pm. Frank will teach a jewelry class at the same location on Saturday, September 12 from 1:00–3:00 pm. Frank will also have a show at the Yellow Springs Art Council, 111 Cory Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio from October 5 through October 31 during regular operating hours with an Opening Reception on Friday, October 9 from 5:00–8:00 pm.

OCTOBER 2026 WORKSHOP WITH SHARON STOLZENBERGER

Sharon Stolzenberger will be the guest instructor for a mixed media workshop to be held October 5 and 6, 2026, 9:30 am–4:30 pm at the Fairborn Art Gallery.

Sharon graduated from the School of the Dayton Art Institute and began her career in art with Gibson Greeting Card Co. where she was an illustrator, then an art director. She spent several years in commercial art before going out on her own to sell her paintings at the outdoor art fairs nationally and through other juried exhibitions.

Teaching has become a new direction in her career. She teaches mixed media workshops for organizations, and is currently teaching watercolor classes through Sinclair Community College and Rosewood Arts Center in Dayton, OH.

More details will be forthcoming.

34TH ANNUAL PIQUA FINE ART EXHIBITION

The Piqua Arts Council will hold its 34th Annual Piqua Fine Art Exhibition in September 2026. The Awards Reception will be held on September 3. The show will be open to the public September 4–25 at the Apple Tree Gallery, 405 N. Main St., Piqua, OH 45356. For more information, visit their website: https://piquaartscouncil.org/annual-art-show

WATERCOLOR OHIO 2026

The Ohio Watercolor Society Annual Juried Exhibition, Watercolor Ohio 2026, will be held at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, Findlay, Ohio from September 26 through October 23, 2026.

SUBMITTING ARTICLES FOR NEWSLETTER

Please submit your information for the October 2026 newsletter directly to the Corresponding Secretary, April Coppess, via phone call or email by the September 20, 2026, deadline. Please consult your membership directory for contact information.

2026-2027 FAA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

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THE JUNE SOCIAL

The Fairborn Art Association’s annual Social was held Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the FAA gallery. Along with good food and fun, the Popular Choice recipients were voted on and awarded, the 2026 Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival King and Queen were introduced, the 2026 FAA scholarship students were announced and awarded their scholarship checks, new and returning officers were installed, and board members, committee chairs and the outgoing president were recognized for their service.

2026 POPULAR CHOICE AWARDS

Congratulations to the following members who won Popular Choice Awards at our June Social:

2026 FAIRBORN SWEET CORN FESTIVAL KING AND QUEEN

This year’s Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival King and Queen, Alan Meade and Dorothy Meade, were introduced at the June Social.

Alan Meade has spent a lifetime defined by service, commitment, and integrity. Since retiring in 2014, Alan has continued his commitment to service through volunteer work with the Fairborn FISH Food Pantry and previously with St. Vincent DePaul. He is also an active member of numerous civic and conservation organizations, including the Knights of Columbus, Fairborn Lions Club, Greene County Fish and Game, Ohio Big Bucks Club and several national wildlife conservation groups dedicated to protecting wildlife and habitat.

Dorothy “Dottie” Meade has spent her life proving that one person’s dedication can transform communities, empower generations, and inspire service far beyond the walls of any classroom. Across decades of teaching, mentoring, leading, and serving, Dottie Meade has created a legacy defined not by titles, but by impact. Her work continues to ripple outward — in classrooms, in communities, in Rotary clubs, and in the lives of countless people who were encouraged, uplifted, or inspired by her belief in them. Her story is a reminder that when service is rooted in heart, its influence becomes timeless.

2026 FAA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

We are pleased to announce this year’s Fairborn Art Association Scholarship winners: Charlotte Fanjoy from Stivers School for the Arts, Halle Thomas from Beavercreek High School and Taryn Franz from Cedarville High School each received a $1,000 scholarship award. We wish them the best in their art careers!

Charlotte Fanjoy lives in Dayton and attended Stivers School for the Arts, and plans on attending Columbus College of Arts and Design. She earned multiple gold, silver and honorable mention prizes, as well as a Portfolio award in the annual Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition in both visual and creative writing. She received a glowing recommendation from her Visual Arts Director who lauded her upstanding character, creativity and willingness to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

Halle Thomas attended Beavercreek High School and plans on attending Indiana University’s Herron School of Art and Design. She is a thriving artist in the Dayton area and is obsessed with everything art, including sketching, painting on canvases, and using Adobe Photoshop and illustrator. She also enjoys creative writing, sewing, and playing her clarinet.

Taryn Franz attended Cedarville High School and plans on attending Cedarville University majoring in Fine Arts and Visual Communications. In 2025, she was awarded Art Student of the Year, has received multiple awards and recognition through the Greene County Domestic Violence Awareness Calendar Competition, and exhibited her work at the OMEA Fine Arts Festival. She has worked in many mediums such as charcoal, watercolor, printmaking and ceramics. (photo not available)

MEMBER NEWS

The following FAA members won awards at the Western Ohio Watercolor Society (WOWS) Spring Fine Art Show held in June at the Champaign County Arts Council Gallery in Urbana, Ohio:

First Place: Mary Jo White “Stand still – the forest knows where you are”

Third Place: Tessa Kalman “Art Reception at Tohono Chul”

Honorable Mention:  Christy Powell “Printmaking- Studio Still Life”

Honorable Mention: Carol Collett “Ready to Roll”

Honorable Mention: Carol Edsall “Tranquility”

Honorable Mention: Marsha Elliot “Winter Stroll”

Hyacinth Paul is currently competing in the national People’s Artist Competition, presented by Johnny Depp and The Art of Elysium. She has advanced through multiple rounds. Public voting determines who advances, and each person can vote once every 24 hours for free or choose to contribute a tax-deductible amount to the charity. The competition concludes on July 9 and she would be honored to have your support. If she is fortunate enough to win the award, she plans to expand artist-led workshops in hospitals, schools, libraries, and community spaces, using art to promote emotional expression, healing, and connection while creating more opportunities for local artists. Here is the link to vote: https://peoplesartist.org/2026/hyacinth-paul-SHpd

Hyacinth’s exhibition, “Udaan – Stories That Rise,” was on display in June at the Springboro Performing Arts Center. The work explored memory, migration, belonging, and resilience through art inspired by the stories of immigrant women in our community.

LANDSCAPES2026 ART EXHIBITION IN JULY

Enjoy beautiful art inspired by nature at the B-W Greenway Community Land Trust & the Fairborn Art Association’s Landscapes2026 Juried Art Exhibition. This year’s juror is Sean Wilkinson, an accomplished photographer and educator from Dayton, Ohio. The exhibition will be held in the FAA Gallery, 221 N. Central Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio, on July 12 from1:00–3:00 pm (Opening Reception and Awards), July 19 from 1:00–3:00 pm, and July 26 from 1:00–2:00 pm with art pickup from 2:00–3:00 pm.

MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR FAIRBORN SWEET CORN FESTIVAL

More volunteers are needed for the Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival! This is our major fundraiser for the year and supports our mission to promote and encourage the appreciation and development of art in various forms, sponsor art classes, workshops and programs, and provide community service.

Please consider signing up soon using this online link: Sweet Corn Festival-Sign Up Genius

If you already signed up and can help a little bit more, please add your hours on Sign Up Genius and Thank you!

Note: When arriving to help at the festival, volunteers can enter through the Vendor entrance and park in the designated Volunteer parking lot.

CALL FOR ARTISTS – ANNUAL FINE ART SHOWS

Artists are invited to participate in the 19th Annual Fine Art Show at the Hoffman Global Methodist Church, 201 S. Main Street, West Milton, Ohio, 45383 on August 7–9, 2026. Applications must be received by Hoffman by July 15, with artwork drop-off on August 6 from 5:00–7:00 pm. The Opening Night Reception will be on August 7 from 6:30–8:00 pm. The show will continue August 8 from 10:00 am–4:00 pm and August 9 from 11:00 am–2:45 pm. Visit their website for more information: https://www.hoffmangmc.org/

Registration is now open for the 34th Annual Piqua Fine Art Exhibition. Artists 16 years of age and older from across the region are invited. This is a non-juried exhibition and artists are encouraged to register early since space is limited to 180 works of art. Drop-off dates are August 15, 17 and 20. The awards reception will be held on September 3. The exhibition will be on display at Apple Tree Gallery from September 4–25, 2026. For more information and online registration, use this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/34th-annual-fine-art-exhibition-artist-registration

SUBMITTING ARTICLES FOR NEWSLETTER

Please submit your information for the September 2026 newsletter directly to the Corresponding Secretary, April Coppess, via phone call or email by the August 20, 2026, deadline. Please consult your membership directory for contact information.

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