Fine Arts Festival Association of Rockingham County

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

Come by and check out our window display at the Western Rockingham Chamber of Commerce - 112 W. Murphy St., Madison. It will be in place for the month of August.

07/31/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. It was a great evening. Huge thanks to Ashley Latham and the participating artists! Rockingham County really has a lot to offer!

07/27/2026

Hello Artists!

We are thrilled to have those who are participating in this year's Watercolors on Washington! This year, we are excited to be working with Ashley Latham Photography, LLC. Although it’s a new venue Ashley’s studio is a beautiful space and we think it’s going to be a great event!!

Below are reminders, instructions and logistics for the evening:

• We are accepting any art that you created in watercolor. This includes anything that depicts a watercolor you did. Traditional painting, print, cards, jewelry, fabric...AS LONG AS YOU CREATED IT AND IT IS WATERCOLOR, it's in. Also, size does not matter - it just has to be watercolor and your work.

• Work needs only to be sell-ready: This means it should be either framed, matted, sleeved or able to be nicely displayed.

• There’s no limit on how many pieces you bring, but be judicious. We don’t want to run out of space.

• We will have display panels for your work, hangers, flip racks, some easels and pedestals. However if you have nice easel(s) that you would like to use, please do.

• Set is from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. All artwork must be ready to hang with tags by 4:00pm. We will tag and hang the show as artwork comes in and will be finished by 5:30pm to give us time to settle in and be ready for our guests.

• The show will be open 6:00pm to 8:00pm. You will take your artwork home with you that night.

• We will handle all the money for art sales. Julie will issue you a check the following week for your portion.

• Email a list of the work you will bring. We need the title of your artwork and the price NO LATER THAN July 28 at 5:00pm. We will make tags for the list you submit, but will also have tags for last minute additions.

• Parking & Unloading: You will see construction on Washington St. The street should still be open. If you can, park along the street in front of Ashley’s studio. If there are no spaces in front, park beside the Ray Commons Building on Monroe St. We can help you unload your work if you need. We will have a couple of carts. Additional parking is available along Washington St., Monroe St. and there are two city parking lots; one located on Monroe St. across from Melanie Paschal Dance and another one located behind the NC License Plate office.

• If you have any questions or need anything don't hesitate to email us at [email protected] or you may call or text, Tiffany (843) 614-0882 or Julie (336) 613-1472.

• Also, if you know of an artist that does watercolors, we have room to add a couple of additional artists.

Looking forward to seeing you Thursday night!

Julie Talbert
Executive Director
mobile: 336-613-1742

Tiffany Voris
Board Member
mobile: 843-614-0882

Fine Arts Festival Association of Rockingham County
301 Cherokee Camp Rd./PO Box 201, Wentworth, NC 27375
[email protected]" rel="ugc" target="_blank">www.fafarc.org/[email protected]
336-612-1404

"Promoting the art and artists in Rockingham County"

07/25/2026

Back again for our 3rd Annual Watercolors on Washington is Shannon Smith! Come out and join us on July 30th from 6pm to 8pm at Ashley Latham Photograph Studios, 619 Washington Street in beautiful Eden, NC. A portion of every piece of art purchased goes right back into the community, supporting our local artists through events, awards, and more.

Shannon Gann Smith is a multidisciplinary visual artist, rooted in the Madison/Mayodan community. Her work spans watercolor, abstract, landscape, resin, mixed media, and most recently, jewelry. Through the use of metal clays, she transforms her art into jewelry that showcases her love for creativity. Working with bronze, silver, and copper, she designs unique and expressive pieces of wearable art. A graduate of McMichael High School and RCC, Shannon blends creativity with a background in Real Estate, marketing, and professional artist training.

She has exhibited locally, including a solo show at Apple Gallery (Stokes County Arts Council), and contributed to fundraisers with the Rockingham County Arts Council. A graduate of the Artful Business Cohort and Created to Thrive, Shannon’s vision is to grow a sustainable art business that gives back to the community that inspires her.

07/24/2026

Joining us once again for Watercolors on Washington is Cheryl Tolbert! We invite you to join us on July 30th from 6pm to 8pm at Ashley Latham Photography Studio, 619 Washington St, Eden, NC. We look forward to seeing you all.

Cheryl Tolbert has been in love with painting since childhood, eagerly diving into every art class available throughout high school. For 27 years, she nurtured young minds through her in-home daycare, where creativity was not just encouraged—it was essential. Daily art time became a cornerstone of her teaching, as she inspired children to explore color and self-expression, all while quietly holding onto a dream of one day returning to her own canvas.

That day has arrived. With her grandson now off to school, Cheryl has lovingly closed her daycare and embraced the next chapter of her life: full-time artist and proud Granny.

Watercolor is her first love. She’s endlessly fascinated by the flow of pigment through water—the unpredictability, the softness, and those magical moments when the painting takes on a life of its own. She also creates with acrylics, a medium she first explored while making Christmas gifts. Whether delicate or bold, spontaneous or intentional, Cheryl’s work radiates joy.

Her paintings are known for their vibrant color, whimsy, and emotional resonance. She invites viewers into a world of bold, joyful paintings—images that stir the heart, lift the spirit, and remind us of the beauty that surrounds us. Cheryl believes art has the power to transform spaces and lives alike, bringing hope and light to everyone.

07/23/2026

Eric Williamson will be joining our 3rd Annual Watercolors on Washington this year. If you came to our Brushstrokes and Beyond event, then you have seen some of the beautiful artwork that he has displayed with us! Come out to mingle and shop on July 30th from 6pm to 8pm at Ashley Latham Photography Studios, 619 Washington Street in Eden.

Eric Williamson is a Reidsville, North Carolina-based artist specializing in acrylics, watercolors, and graphite drawing. Holding a BS in Fine and Applied Arts from Appalachian State University, Williamson explores the intersection of regional history, nature, and psychology. His notable achievements include a public mural at Annie Penn Hospital and a 15-piece series on the historic Chinqua-Penn Plantation as well as numerous other commissions. Driven by how the natural world influences human emotion, he is currently creating a dedicated series documenting the historic barns of Rockingham County. Eric is a retired public school Art Educator of 26 years and is now a current member of the Rockingham County Studio Group.

07/20/2026

Joining us for another year at our 3rd Annual Watercolors on Washington is John Canny. We invite you to come out on July 30th to meet some of the artists that are participating and to look for that perfect piece that speaks to you!

John is a contemporary water media artist and teacher. Born in Kansas and raised in New Mexico. He has been a resident of North Carolina since 2006. As a self-taught artist, John has conducted workshops and demonstrations in watercolor and water media, developing a distinctive painting style that has garnered respect from his peers and students. You can see his creative sense of design and color, ranging from abstract expressionism to traditional.

His paintings are displayed in businesses, private collections, and for commissions, as well as for family and friends.
John was featured in the New Palette magazine. He is a member of the Studio Group of Rockingham County, Piedmonts Arts Association, and Lynnwood Artists. John has received numerous awards for his paintings. He has several Paintings displayed in offices, and private collectors also have over 800 followers in Europe.

He was instructed by and painted with some of the master artists of today, Tom Jones, Sterling Edwards, Frank Webb, Kate Worm, Pat Weaver, Joe Miller, and Alvaro Castagnet.

John can be reached at [email protected] and you can see his work at Watercolors on Washington on July 30th at Ashley Latham Photography Studio!

07/19/2026

Jodi Chester is another one of our return artists this year. Head out for an evening of art and mingling at Ashley Latham Photography for our 3rd annual Watercolors on Washington event!

Jodi earned her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and taught all levels of visual arts for 19 years. She enjoys creating with all types of media and crafts. She focuses upon the emotional response for the viewer. She emphasizes art as a means to express one’s own feelings as a therapeutic outlet. She advocates for mental health, equal treatment for all people, equitable pay for arts, and education for all learners.

Mrs. Chester has explored unusual means of working with watercolors. There are pieces with simple backgrounds or subjects. Some pieces are intentionally flawed as it is the imperfect that creates perfection. Other pieces utilize layers of colors and layers of papers and other materials. Her use of color and material is to invoke emotions relevant to the viewer. She pushes against those wanting to criticize art without discussion or knowledge of the artist.

Mrs. Chester has spent her career assisting students with displaying their artwork and entering art contests. She has entered the Dixie Classic Fair, winning numerous places for crochet works. She has also entered the Fine Arts Festival of Rockingham County.
Mrs. Chester is married, has 6 children, 1 granddaughter with 1 grandchild also due in September, and 1 fur baby. She enjoys spending time with her family, working with the youth, and traveling. Her happy place is a warm, clear-water beach.
We hope that you will join us from 6pm to 8pm on July 30th at Ashley Latham Photography Studio on Washington Street in Eden, NC! Come out and meet Mrs. Chester along with all of the other artists that we've featured and several more!