Watch six talented local artists explain their process during the latest meeting of the New Bedford Light Fine Arts Club

Welcome to the New Bedford Light Fine Arts Club. It’s a place to celebrate talented local artists; a marketplace where buyers, enthusiasts and artists meet. And if something strikes you, it’s also a place where everything is for sale.

At our March 16 meeting, six local artists took us behind the curtain, describing their artistic process, what inspires them and how they execute their work, whether it’s graphing out the canvas, learning to use oil on paper or how important the eyes are to a portrait. Watch the entire meeting here:

More than a dozen pieces, worth more than $4,000 combined, have been sold through the Fine Arts Club in our first year.

2023 schedule (all meetings 6-7:30 p.m.):

• Thursday, May 18 at Gallery X – 169 William St.
• Thursday, July 20 at Co-Creative Center – 137 Union St.
• Thursday, Sept. 21 at Unitarian Church – 71 8th St. 
• Thursday, Nov. 16 at Dartmouth Cultural Center – 404 Elm St., Dartmouth

SUBMIT YOUR WORK FOR THE MAY 18 MEETING HERE

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Here are 12 incredible pieces, from six local artists, that will be presented at our March 16 meeting. If you’re interested in purchasing a piece, please contact the artist directly.

Artist: Don Hammontree

City/Town: Salem

Title: Acushnet Ave

Size: 24″ x 24″

Description: A painting of the iconic Frem’s Jewelry sign on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford

Price: $425

Email: lviv44@yahoo.com

Website: Etsy.com/shop/blackmorefreak

Social Media: @hammontreedon on Instagram

Submitted bio: Hailing from central Illinois, Don Hammontree is a Salem-based artist, photographer, musician and writer. His photographs and colorful paintings, which tend to focus on streetscapes, architecture and vintage automobiles, have been displayed throughout New England, in exhibits and shows stretching from Salem, Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, New Bedford and Fall River in Massachusetts to Newport, Providence and Pawtucket in Rhode Island.

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Artist: Don Hammontree

City/Town: Salem

Title: St. Joseph’s Parish, Union Square, Somerville

Size: 24″ x 20″

Description: A painting of St. Joseph’s Parish in the trendy Union Square neighborhood of Somerville

Price: $325

Email: lviv44@yahoo.com

Website: Etsy.com/shop/blackmorefreak

Social Media: @hammontreedon on Instagram

Submitted bio: Hailing from central Illinois, Don Hammontree is a Salem-based artist, photographer, musician and writer. His photographs and colorful paintings, which tend to focus on streetscapes, architecture and vintage automobiles, have been displayed throughout New England, in exhibits and shows stretching from Salem, Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, New Bedford and Fall River in Massachusetts to Newport, Providence and Pawtucket in Rhode Island.

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Artist: Laurence S. Walsh

City/Town: South Dartmouth

Title: Aunt

Size: 16″ x 20″

Description: Painting of my aunt, born 1911, painted 2021

Price: $1,200

Email: walsh.architect@gmail.com

Submitted bio: With a background as a Marine Corp veteran, commercial pilot and architect, Laurence won first prize for a Draw Me from a match book cover at age 10. He took painting and art classes at New York University and Columbia College before starting the freshman foundation at RISD. A member of the Providence Art Club, he is also an accomplished tango dancer and finds he has more time for painting after giving up hobbies such as skiing, fishing, hunting and tennis.

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Artist: Laurence S. Walsh

City/Town: South Dartmouth

Title: A friend in costume

Size: 20″ x 24″

Description: A Nonquitt costume dance summer 2021

Price: $850

Email: walsh.architect@gmail.com

Submitted bio: With a background as a Marine Corp veteran, commercial pilot and architect, Laurence won first prize for a Draw Me from a match book cover at age 10. He took painting and art classes at New York University and Columbia College before starting the freshman foundation at RISD. A member of the Providence Art Club, he is also an accomplished tango dancer and finds he has more time for painting after giving up hobbies such as skiing, fishing, hunting and tennis.

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Artist: Hannah Rose Schlieder

City/Town: New Bedford

Title: Totem of Higher Self

Size: 18″ x 24″

Description: Totem of Higher Self (2022) is an oil painting the explores the place we can go within to seek knowledge from our guides and connect to universal consciousness. It features symbols such as the Net of the Universe, and has channeled language which illuminates the painting and brings you within.

Price: $1,111

Email: Hannahroseschliederart@gmail.com

Website: HanPaintsOnThings.com

Social Media: @Hanpaintsonthings on Instagram

Submitted bio: Hannah Rose Schlieder is a New England multimedia artist exploring themes of biology, history, make-believe and consciousness. Her textured, vibrant pieces are unmistakable, bringing thought provoking conversation to every room.

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Artist: Hannah Rose Schlieder

City/Town: New Bedford

Title: Meet Me Here

Size: 24″ x 24″

Description: Meet Me Here is a highly textured oil painting on canvas. Two dragons take a break from inter-dimensional travel to snack on some apples.

Price: $555

Email: Hannahroseschliederart@gmail.com

Website: HanPaintsOnThings.com

Social Media: @Hanpaintsonthings on Instagram

Submitted bio: Hannah Rose Schlieder is a New England multimedia artist exploring themes of biology, history, make-believe and consciousness. Her textured, vibrant pieces are unmistakable, bringing thought provoking conversation to every room.

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Artist: Michael Yurkovskiy

City/Town: Taunton

Title: The Rose Academy

Size: 16″ x 20″

Description: A golden Venetian-style palace on a river bend

Price: $300

Email: michael.yurkovskiy@campusvictory.com

Social media: @designsbymichael1 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Local artist based in Taunton. Skilled in painting using acrylic paint. Paintings pertain to fantasy, religion and Greek mythology

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Artist: Michael Yurkovskiy

City/Town: Taunton

Title: Palace of the Shadow King

Size: 16″ x 20″

Description: Gothic style castle on a hill with a moonlit backdrop

Price: $300

Email: michael.yurkovskiy@campusvictory.com

Social media: @designsbymichael1 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Local artist based in Taunton. Skilled in painting using acrylic paint. Paintings pertain to fantasy, religion and Greek mythology

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Name: Caitlin Tripp

City/Town: Fall River

Title: Kirby in Space

Size: 16″ x 20″ white frame

Description: Acrylic and paint pens on stretched canvas

Price: $230

Website: Artbycaitlin.com

Email: Mysisterisarobot@yahoo.com

Social Media: @artbycaitlin730 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Acrylic painter based in Fall River. Subjects consists of plants, animals and astronauts with lollipops. A whimsical and fun style! With that I sell paintings, drawings, prints, stickers, and buttons!

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Name: Caitlin Tripp

City/Town: Fall River

Title: Lost and Found

Size: 10″ x 20″ black frame

Description: Acrylic and paint pens on stretched canvas

Price: $200

Website: Artbycaitlin.com

Email: Mysisterisarobot@yahoo.com

Social Media: @artbycaitlin730 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Acrylic painter based in Fall River. Subjects consists of plants, animals and astronauts with lollipops. A whimsical and fun style! With that I sell paintings, drawings, prints, stickers, and buttons!

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Artist: Ryan Santos

City/Town: Dartmouth

Title: Life Day With Grogu

Size: 11″ x 17″

Description: A festive Star Wars piece using oil paint on paper

Price: $365

Email: ryandraws2@yahoo.com

Website: facebook.com/ryansantosfinearts

Social Media: @Ryandraws2 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Ryan Santos is a Massachusetts-born illustrator, painter and portrait artist who studied in New York City at the School of Visual Arts. He exhibited in galleries throughout New York and New England, highlighting his diversity of style and media, but always retained his love for comics and illustration. Following his stint as a prototype painter for McFarlane Toys and his tenure as a gallery manager, Ryan returned to his first passion: Illustration by becoming a freelance artist working on such properties as Disney, Star Wars, Stranger Things, Chasing Amy and Ultraman. Along with being a freelance artist he teaches drawing, oil painting and landscape classes from his studio at Hatch Street in New Bedford.

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Artist: Ryan Santos

City/Town: Dartmouth

Title: The Monster

Size: 11″ x 17″

Description: Oil on paper illustration of Frankenstein’s monster

Price: $375

Email: ryandraws2@yahoo.com

Website: facebook.com/ryansantosfinearts

Social Media: @Ryandraws2 on Instagram

Submitted bio: Ryan Santos is a Massachusetts-born illustrator, painter and portrait artist who studied in New York City at the School of Visual Arts. He exhibited in galleries throughout New York and New England, highlighting his diversity of style and media, but always retained his love for comics and illustration. Following his stint as a prototype painter for McFarlane Toys and his tenure as a gallery manager, Ryan returned to his first passion: Illustration by becoming a freelance artist working on such properties as Disney, Star Wars, Stranger Things, Chasing Amy and Ultraman. Along with being a freelance artist he teaches drawing, oil painting and landscape classes from his studio at Hatch Street in New Bedford.

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What you need to know about the New Bedford Light Fine Arts Club

A guide to New Bedford’s newest art marketplace

Next Meeting: 6 p.m. March 16, 2023

Deadline for Artists to submit: March 8, 2023

Where: PLAY Arcade, downtown New Bedford

What: An opportunity for local New Bedford area artists to share and sell their work to an engaged group of collectors and art enthusiasts. Read about how we were inspired by the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club.

Who: Any local artist who practices in one of the fine arts and all prospective art buyers. Disciplines include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and textiles.

Moderators: Local artists Taylor Hickey and Devin “Nived” McLaughlin

Format: A short introduction from New Bedford Light and the moderators, followed by 50 minutes of artist presentations, followed by a 30-minute “Afterglow,” a loosely structured open discussion among the artists, buyers and other attendees about art-related topics.

Buyer Guide

• Buyers will have a chance to ask questions of each artist during the meeting.
• After an artist finishes presenting, buyers will use the contact info provided during the meeting and on New Bedford Light’s website to set up a private transaction to purchase art.
• Buyers are encouraged to stay and take part in the “Afterglow,” a 30-minute open-ended art discussion afterwards. 

Art Enthusiasts Guide

• If you’re interested in attending but don’t consider yourself a buyer, you’re more than welcome!
• Even if you don’t buy or sell, you’re encouraged to stay on and take part in the “Afterglow,” a 30-minute open-ended art discussion afterwards. 

Artist Guide

• Each meeting up to seven artists can present. We will also select two backup artists in case of any last-minute cancellations. Interested artists must fill out this online form, including a short bio and description of the work they’re looking to sell. Artists will upload an image(s) of their work to be displayed on our website. Artists who fit the fine art criteria will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• During the meeting, artists will be introduced by the moderators and will then have five minutes to present themselves and their two pieces of work. It is suggested to leave one or two minutes for the audience to ask questions. 
• Artist contact information, submitted through the form, will be presented during the meeting and on New Bedford Light’s website. Buyers will contact artists on their own to set up private transactions to purchase art.
• If an artist makes a sale from the NBFAC, they must report it on this form. Individual sales information will remain confidential. 
• The meetings are recorded and posted online for those who can’t attend in person.

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View art from previous sessions of the Fine Arts Club

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Thank you to our sponsors

Founding benefactors: Joan and Irwin Jacobs fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, Mary and Jim Ottaway

Learn more about our community of individual donors

For questions about donations, contact Chrystal Walsh, director of advancement, at cwalsh@newbedfordlight.org.

For questions about sponsoring The Light, contact Peter Andrews, director of business development and community engagement, at pandrews@newbedfordlight.org.