The Petticoat Painters is one of the oldest continuously exhibiting women's art groups in the U.S. This group was formed in 1953 to showcase the talents of female artists at a time when women had difficulty in finding venues to show their work.

Roll up your sleeves and enjoy a medium that is full of surprises. Create a one-of-a-kind silk eyeglass case. Artist Dawn Gerardot Putman will demonstrate painting techniques.

Celebrate emerging artists ... the 2025 Scholarship Awards Luncheon is the annual celebration of our student scholars. Students will be introduced and some will perform. Our guest speaker is Courtney Smith, visual and performing arts director at Booker High School. Courtney was named 2023 Teacher of the Year, and she is a former Fine Arts Society/Arts Advocates scholarship winner.

Luncheons at Sarasota Yacht Club are sponsored by Observer Media Group.

Learn how to make creative portraits with your digital camera by watching, listening, and doing it yourself with help. We will use various types of lighting: continuous, flash, and moving flashlights. We will experiment with lighting placement, intensity, color temperature, modifiers, and reflectors. You will take turns being the model, posing the model, dressing the set, lighting, choosing camera settings for different effects, and more. You can watch and learn some techniques for development. 

Take a guided tour of the paintings and sculptures owned by Arts Advocates on display at the Van Wezel. After that, step onto the stage where a Van Wezel guide will give you a peek behind the curtain and share stories and anecdotes about the colorful world of show business!

"Eclectic Expressions" is a unique compilation of works by professional artists who are juried-in members of the Island Gallery and Studios in Bradenton, Florida.