Top row, left to right: Peggy Vineyard, Duane Couch, Cookie Ashton, Ashley Andrews, Nancy Hirsch Lassen, Kirby Kendrick, Dawn Harris Brown.
Seated at bottom row: Nell Tilton, Merry Calderoni, Robin Crutcher.
Missing from picture is Marthann Masterson.
Las Artistas are arriving in Wilmington North Carolina May 20, setting up their paint out workshop in theArtWorks™ Gallery Verrazzano. They will spend the week painting. The Las Artistas will display their work finished works for the public on 4th Friday Gallery Walk on May 26, 2023, 6 - 9 PM
Las Artistas
We are a group of 12 women abstract artists who have been creating art together for over 5 years. Most of us have been painting for many decades. We come from all corners of the United States once a year to spend a week painting with each other and enjoying one another’s company.
It all started with artist and gallery owner, Merry Calderoni, and several artists she had met (all abstract painters) in various workshops. One of the artists, Cookie Ashton, convinced Merry to host a self directed workshop in Merry’s city of residence, San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. At the time, she and her husband, Ben, owned a Bed and Breakfast that was an ideal size for the group. Merry also found a perfect studio space at the Instituto de Allende in San Miguel. This was the beginning of our many years of friendship and of our love of creating art together. We spent 3 consecutive years enjoying our time as a group in SMA, then moved to another venue in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We now find ourselves in the lovely city of Wilmington, North Carolina, courtesy of one of our participants, Peggy Vineyard.
Our love of creating art is what holds us together. We give each other support and encouragement during our workshop journeys. It is the painting that we have in common and is our focus, but our group also brings to the table varied professional backgrounds and experiences: real estate agent, gallery owners, tv personality and caterer, art teacher, horse owners and fox hunters, social workers, journalist, accountant and interior designer.
Our deep friendship has grown by standing side by side in a quiet studio creating art and then in the celebratory times in between painting sessions. Originally we came to make our art but, through the years, we have developed a personal understanding of and admiration for each other. Art brought us together and still does…only now we also come for the camaraderie and fellowship. What could be more fun or rewarding?
Original Members of Las Artistas:
Ashley Chase Andrews - New York, NY and Palm Beach, FL
Cookie Ashton - Houston, TX
Dawn Brown - Covington, LA
Merry Calderoni - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Duane Couch - New Orleans, LA
Robin Crutcher - New Orleans, LA
Marcia Holmes - Covington, LA
Kirby Kendrick - San Diego, CA
Nancy Hirsch Lassen -New Orleans, LA
Marthann Masterson - Houston, TX
Nell Tilton - Metairie, LA
Peggy Vineyard - Wilmington, NC
Guest Participants in the Wilmington Workshop:
Penny Beesley- Beaufort, SC
Vickie Marsango - Jenson Beach, FL
Katherine Wolf Webb - Wilmington, NC
Chris Farley (alternate)
Original Members NOT able to participate in the Wilmington Workshop:
Ashley Chase Andrews
Robin Crutcher
Marcia Holmes