Art Room to host 21st annual Adult Art Show

The Art Room is returning with its 21st annual Adult Art Show Saturday, March 9, in the town of Windermere. 

This year, the show will feature more than 60 local students from across Central Florida, with the majority coming from West Orange County in areas such as Windermere, Winter Garden and Dr. Phillips. 

The free event will showcase artistic creations utilizing a multitude of art forms, including mosaic, drawing, acrylic, mixed media, oil painting, watercolor and collage, with some pieces being available for purchase. 

Linda Ziglar, founder of The Art Room, said the show is all about the adult students and the work they have done throughout the year. 

“We want the students to be the main focus so their friends, family and the community can see all the hard work they’ve been putting in and the amazing creations they’ve come up with,” she said. “I just want people to enjoy the art works the students created and really celebrate them. Every year, after we get everything set up and displayed, I get choked up looking at their work. It’s just incredible. For me, as a teacher, and for all of our teachers, the students are our No. 1 priority and focus. Helping them nurture and grow.”

‘BY AND FOR THE STUDENTS’

Ziglar received her bachelor’s degree in art from Mercer University and studied watercolor under Ernie Stofko in Georgia. 

Before founding The Art Room, where she teaches oils and watercolors as well as children’s classes, she taught art in both public and private schools and was the visual arts director at The First Academy.

Ziglar said the adult art show started at Windermere Town Hall before the event outgrew the space and moved to Camp Ithiel in Gotha. However, she said it was a lot of work taking all the materials and pieces out to the camp. 

Now, every year, The Art Room is completely emptied and transformed into a museum showcasing the adult artists’ pieces for the show.  

“Everything is by and for the students,” Ziglar said. 

‘PAINTING IS MY ME TIME’

Nancy McEvoy, a Christmas resident, has been with The Art Room for eight years and has participated in the show every year. 

Courtesy photo

“My husband gave me a gift certificate for an art class eight years ago, and I’ve never left,” she said. “My job is very math- and science- related, so this is very freeing. It gives me a mental break, and the atmosphere here is very warm, welcoming and low stress. Nobody cares whether your lines are perfect. They really do a great job of bringing you along at your own pace and not comparing you to the person sitting next to you.”

McEvoy said the amount of growth she has seen and experienced in eight years has been exponential.

“Every step of the way, I’ve always felt like they think my art is the greatest art ever,” she said. “They have an amazing way of making every student feel that way, I think. I enjoy the artistic side of it, of course, but being here in this atmosphere is just really lovely and peaceful.”

At the show, McEvoy will be showcasing seven or eight oil and mosaic pieces.

Her specialty? Portraiture and painting horses. 

“I own horses, and I’ve always been fascinated by portraiture,” she said. “Every time I go to a museum, I just naturally gravitate toward the portraits. I think it’s because I really like people’s faces and how different they are. With painting, you can really get the emotion across that you can’t really get with a picture. When I’m painting somebody that I know and I love, I can capture what I see, not necessarily what’s really there.”

Christy Wooten, a Clermont resident, has been with The Art Room for 11 years. This will be her fourth year participating in the art show. 

Courtesy photo

“Watercolor is my favorite medium, but I enjoy oil and acrylic as well,” she said. “I see the beauty in people and nature and love to recreate this beauty I see in God’s creation.”

Horizon West resident PJ Reynolds has been with The Art Room for seven years and will be participating in the show for the first time.

“Oil is my favorite medium,” he said. “I like to paint because of the challenge and to relax.”

Winter Garden resident Bree Chapman also enjoys creations with oil. 

“I have been painting with The Art Room for three years now and this will be my third year in the show,” she said. “Painting is my ‘me’ time.”