The Art Studio's featured artist for the month of June is Evelyn J. O'Brien. She is an accomplished artist who began with a desire to draw as a child. By the time Evelyn was 24 years of age, she had turned to painting with oils on canvas. She studied Biology in college, thinking in terms of “working world,” but in her second year started adding art classes such as: Anatomy, Figure Drawing, and Jesture Sketching of the Human Figure. She began showing her oil paintings at this time and adding books dedicated to the Masters. Later, as her children were growing up, she took painting classes with prominent local artists in New York and New Jersey. She spent a couple of years with Jock McCrae in his studio in Wykoff, NJ. Shortly after that, she returned to college to earn her degree in Psychology and of course, take more art classes!  All along, she was showing and selling her artwork as well as doing commissions. She taught a class at the Smithville Recreation Center for 17 years to students who usually had little or no knowledge of painting or drawing, but as the years passed, many of her students achieved recognition for their work in galleries and shows. Her work was also hung at the “Auld Town Of Smithville, NJ Art Gallery, The Atlantic City Art Center on the Boardwalk, and the local hospital. She won many 1st Place and Best In Show awards here, and won 1st Place in the Professional Painters Catagory, Southern Division, in the State Seniors Contest. Since moving to St. Augustine in 2009, Evelyn has changed her style from Realism to Impressionism since developing macular degeneration. Most of her current paintings are done from photographs her son takes of the magnificent sunrises and sunsets over the ocean and Intercoastal Waterway. She uses paints from Winsor and Neuton on quality canvas, and has her framing done by Michael's. A reception at The Art Studio of St. Augustine Beach is planned during the First Friday Artwalk, June 3rd , from 5:00pm-8:30pm. Please plan to visit The Art Studio and see Evelyn's outstanding work! The Art Studio is available to rent for classes or as meeting space. We currently offer a variety of classes and children's art classes will be offered this summer to members as well as non-members. Membership is offered at just $20.00/year! Contact Nancy Willoughby@703-399-9816/ www.beachartstudio.com for more information.