The St. Michaels Art League has announced the winners of the 2025 Martha Hudson Awards for excellence in watercolor. 

Martha Hudson was well-known in the community for her watercolors depicting scenes of Eastern Shore Life.  As a young art student, Martha was given a grant to use for the continuation of her studies. In return, she generously left an endowment for an award to be given each year by the St. Michaels Art League to deserving watercolor artists. The accepted media includes watercolor and gouache.  

The judge for this year’s exhibit was Linda Luke, an internationally recognized fine arts professional. Linda was raised in Delaware County, PA but has lived in many states.  She had her first solo exhibit at the age of 21 at the Widener Museum of Art.  Linda’s realistic watercolors and oils reflect the “Brandywine Tradition,” focusing on landscapes, but also including people, animals, flowers, and still life. She has been commissioned by clients like Hershey Trust, Hilton, Franklin Mint and Sterling Vineyards, with work in collections worldwide.   

First place was awarded to Caryl Ersenkal for her painting “Closing Time,” Second Place went to Camille Woodbury for “Catbird in the Cattails” and third place to Deborah Wolfe for “Little Bird.” 

The exhibit can be viewed during the month of December at the St. Michaels Community Center located at 103 Railroad Ave., hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.  Art for sale through the artist.  

For more information about the St. Michaels Art League and its activities, visit smartleague.org.

The St. Michaels Art League has announced the winners of the 2025 Martha Hudson Awards for excellence in watercolor. 

Martha Hudson was well-known in the community for her watercolors depicting scenes of Eastern Shore Life.  As a young art student, Martha was given a grant to use for the continuation of her studies. In return, she generously left an endowment for an award to be given each year by the St. Michaels Art League to deserving watercolor artists. The accepted media includes watercolor and gouache.  

The judge for this year’s exhibit was Linda Luke, an internationally recognized fine arts professional. Linda was raised in Delaware County, PA but has lived in many states.  She had her first solo exhibit at the age of 21 at the Widener Museum of Art.  Linda’s realistic watercolors and oils reflect the “Brandywine Tradition,” focusing on landscapes, but also including people, animals, flowers, and still life. She has been commissioned by clients like Hershey Trust, Hilton, Franklin Mint and Sterling Vineyards, with work in collections worldwide.   

First place was awarded to Caryl Ersenkal for her painting “Closing Time,” Second Place went to Camille Woodbury for “Catbird in the Cattails” and third place to Deborah Wolfe for “Little Bird.” 

Carpe Diem Arts proudly presents another concert as part of the popular Arts Alive! lunchtime concert series presented at Brookletts Place in Easton (400 Brookletts Ave.) in partnership with the Talbot County Senior Center and with funding support from Talbot Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, Dock Street Foundation, and Upper Shore Aging ℅ Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

The lunchtime concerts are free and open to the public, and are welcoming of all ages. Performances are scheduled on the Second Tuesdays of the month–September through May.

Featured on December 9th, 12:15-1:00pm will be OCEAN: Song of Solstice. 

Celtic Revelries for the Holiday Season–with Jennifer Cutting, Stephen Winick, and Chris Noyes. 

Experience a jubilant program of traditional carols, folk ballads, and original seasonal compositions infused with contemporary energy.  Drawing from their acclaimed recordings, OCEAN’s performances shine with rich harmonies and joyful spirit – inviting everyone to revel in the warmth and magic of this festive time of year.  

The OCEAN trio—Jennifer Cutting (button accordion, keyboard), Christine Noyes (vocals, guitars), and Steve Winick (vocals, percussion)—will transport you to the Yuletide celebrations of yore in a program featuring time-honored carols, 19th century broadside songs, traditional Celtic tunes, original seasonal compositions, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers plays! With their soaring vocals and stately Celtic instrumentals, OCEAN is known for marrying lighthearted exuberance with great spiritual depth in a program that appeals to all faiths and wisdom traditions. Come in good voice, as you’ll be invited to sing along!

A favorite at regional venues and festivals—including Strathmore Mansion, the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, and Riverfront Concerts at Washington College—OCEAN is celebrated for deep musical scholarship, sharp artistry, and a spirited sense of humor. The OCEAN trio offers a uniquely compelling concert experience—Celtic music for ancient moderns.

EVENT DETAILS

When: Second Tuesdays through May 2026 | 12:15–1:00pm

Where: Brookletts Place – Talbot County Senior Center, 400 Brookletts Ave., Easton, MD

ABOUT OCEAN 

Led by composer and ethnomusicologist JENNIFER CUTTING (accordion and keyboards), a Washington Area Music Association “Musician of the Year” and “Songwriter of the Year,” OCEAN is a powerhouse ensemble that blends Celtic, English, and classical influences, from soaring ballads and stirring carols to sprightly instrumentals. Drawing on Cutting’s ethnomusicological expertise and deep Anglo-Irish roots, OCEAN puts a refreshing spin on traditional British and Irish songs as well as Cutting’s original compositions. OCEAN features the stunning vocalist CHRISTINE NOYES and folklorist/vocalist/percussionist STEPHEN WINICK. Their stirring music, their penchant for deep research and scholarship, and their quirky sense of humor make them a band that will captivate all ages, delivering performances that are both artistically rich and emotionally compelling. 

OCEAN has won over 25 Washington Area Music Awards, a #1 spot on the national Folk DJ Charts, and a triumphant appearance on NPR’s “Mountain Stage.” They have a history of sold-out concerts at such venues as The Birchmere and The Kennedy Center. Fairport Convention’s Simon Nicol says they “get right inside the spirit of the folk music of the British Isles,” Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior calls their songwriting “stunning,” and the Washington Post calls them “Nothing short of spellbinding.”

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ABOUT CARPE DIEM ARTS

Carpe Diem Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging communities across generations and cultures through the power of the visual, literary and performing arts—providing inclusive and accessible arts experiences and opportunities for creative self-expression.

The Arts Alive series is presented by Carpe Diem Arts in partnership with Upper Shore Aging and Brookletts Place, with support from Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Maryland State Arts Council, Dock Street Foundation, and our individual donors. 

Thanks to our funders, each of the Arts Alive programs will also be presented at the Chesapeake Center for adults with special needs. 

For more information contact  [email protected] / 301-466-0183 

or visit www.CarpeDiemArts.org/brookletts-place

Facebook:  Carpe Diem Arts on the Shore 

Call them miniatures, thumbnails or petits peintures, the name denotes an elegance and intricacy. This type of art draws the viewer in, creating an intimate experience due to its small size and detailed execution. The viewer is drawn in for close inspection rather than demanding they stand at a distance. The small size requires the artist to achieve a high level of detail and precision, often using specialized tools and brushes with only a few hairs. Getting the scale just right requires experienced artistic skill and study. These precise works are inclusive of portraits, landscapes, abstract pieces or simple objects. They can be created on various surfaces like paper, panel or even wood. Their small size makes them easy to transport and historically small paintings are popular for gifts and keepsakes.

Perhaps the queen of the art of small painting is gallery artist Crista Pisano, known to many through her plein air creations-never more than five inches either direction. Pisano has achieved national recognition for the ability to completely capture the intrinsic quality of a scene in a small and often panoramic format. Her acute observation of nature is present in every painting. Rather than limiting her vision by using standard-sized panels, she chooses from a multitude of panels of unusual dimensions that she gessoes and cuts herself, freeing her to focus on many of the longer views that she loves. The remarkable thing, typical of Pisano, is how so much information is conveyed in such a small format without resorting to unnecessary detail.

Additional gallery artists featured will be Mary Veiga, Jill Basham, Stephen Haynes, Elise Phillips, Leonard Mizerek, Paula Waterman and Nancy Tankersley. Mary Veiga’s small paintings radiate wonderful use of light and are all evocative of the eastern shore landscape. The small art of Jill Basham wows the viewer with bold brushstrokes and dramatic skies. Elise Phillips presents a wide variety of small pieces from a simple sailboat to trees in snow. Leonard Mizerek is also a master of small art in his ability to draw the viewer in with precise details. Stephen Haynes is drawn to depicting ordinary objects in his small art be it a simple mason jar of summer flowers or a pair of pliers. Known to all for her exquisite bird portraits, Paul Waterman is attentive to exact details in each feather. Rounding out the exhibition will be the portraiture of local waterman by Nancy Tankersley. Even in small scale, she conveys the art and life of a working waterman.

You won’t want to miss this Small Art Exhibition by these exceptional artists! There will be something here for everyone on your gift list! Opening reception Friday December 5 from 5-7 pm.

The Trippe Gallery is located at 23 N Harrison St. in easton. 410-310-8727

The St. Michaels Art League (SMAL) is pleased to present a Mixed Media exhibit during the month of January at the St. Michaels Community Center.

Mixed Media is art that uses at least two different mediums. It may include assemblages, collages and more, and uses a variety of mediums: paints, cloth, paper, wood, found objects etc.   

The exhibit will be judged by Bridget Whited, a St. Michaels Middle High School Art Teacher.  Bridget Whited has taught Visual Education at the school for 18 years.  She co-founded “Spindrift,” Talbot County Public Schools’ Literary Arts Magazine, and serves as its Design Layout Faculty Advisor. A National Board-Certified Teacher, she was named Talbot County teacher of the year in 2015 and was a Maryland State finalist.  In 2024, she received the Maryland Art Education Associate “Advocate for Inclusivity” award. As an artist, she works primarily in Batik, drawn to its methodical process and therapeutic qualities. As a teacher, she strives to create an environment where all are welcome and free to be themselves, using art as a tool for expression and self-discovery.   

The St. Michaels Community Center is located at 103 Railroad Ave. The mixed media exhibit will be on display beginning January 2nd through January 30th during the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday.  The Community Center is open to the public, visitors welcome.  Art for sale through the artist.   

For more information about this exhibit or any other SMAL activities visit smartleague.org. 

The Zebra Gallery will host an opening reception for The Way Home, a solo exhibition of paintings by Ingrid Matuszewski, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. Her work will be on display throughout December.

Matuszewski began painting in midlife after a first career in international education and years spent living and working in Japan. What began as a chance encounter with a plein air workshop along the C&O Canal soon evolved into a devoted artistic practice.

“The Way Home conjures a sense of connection among place, memory, and the freedom of the artist’s approach,” said Susan Schauer John, owner of The Zebra Gallery.

Working in both oils and acrylics, Matuszewski paints with a spontaneous and intuitive approach—often beginning directly on the canvas without sketching first. Her subjects reflect her love of the Virginia countryside and, more recently, the Eastern Shore of Maryland: farms, barns, winding country roads, and scenes of water, marinas, and glowing sunsets.

Now dividing her time between Virginia and her studio in Oxford, Maryland, Matuszewski creates from a spirit of curiosity and joy. “I paint what makes me happy,” she says in her artist statement. “I try to connect with my subject and transfer that energy into the painting itself.”

The opening reception is free and open to the public.

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The Zebra Gallery is located at 5 N. Harrison Street, Easton, MD, across from the Historic Tidewater Inn. For more information, visit www.thezebragallery.com. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, or by appointment.

Studio B Art Gallery is excited to announce a month full of art, celebration, and holiday shopping as we close another wonderful year of creativity. December features one of our most cherished traditions with the return of our “Small Treasures of Art” exhibit, a festive showcase of miniature masterpieces perfect for the holiday season.

The festivities begin with Easton’s First Friday Gallery Walk on December 5, from 5–7 PM. Guests are invited to explore a vibrant new collection of artwork by our featured artists, including pieces by several Plein Air Easton award winners. Bernard Dellario and Charles Newman will be in attendance, sharing insights into their creative process and discussing their latest works during our art salon–style open house.

First Friday also marks the debut of “Small Treasures of Art,” featuring smaller works by our acclaimed artists — ideal for unique, personal gifts and meaningful “stocking stuffers” for your loved ones. Each piece captures the beauty and craftsmanship our artists are known for, making it easy to find something truly special this holiday season.

“We are thrilled to offer such a wonderful selection of art this season with pieces we know will become lifelong treasures,” Studio B Art Gallery Owner Betty Huang said. “Whether you’re an art collector or simply searching for a special gift, we have something for everyone to celebrate the holidays.”

Historic downtown Easton, Maryland, offers the perfect storybook backdrop for holiday memories. Make Studio B Art Gallery one of your must-visit destinations for art and festive shopping this December.

For more information, visit www.studiobartgallery.com, follow @studiobartgallery on Facebook and Instagram, or contact Betty Huang at [email protected].

Studio B Art Gallery is located at 7B Goldsborough Street in historic downtown Easton, Maryland. The gallery represents nationally and internationally known painters Lani Browning, Hiu Lai Chong, Bernard Dellario, Ken DeWaard, Diz Hormel, Betty Huang, Qiang Huang, Charles Newman, Scott W. Prior, Richard Sneary, Robert J. Simone, Master Jove Wang, and sculptor Rick Casali.