The Southern Ladies Art Conference (SLAC) was formally established in 2002 at St. Simons Island, Georgia, as nine artists friends - all Southern Lady Artists - finally had schedules that would allow for a week of painting, conference style. Before SLAC became the official title for the group many of us met in smaller groups to explore locations for painting en plein air - a term used to describe painting in the open air.
 

These small groups have become the network of Southern Artists friends that are presented here today. Please click on names that link to examples of individual artists' works and Web sites. Although some of our original group can no longer travel with us, they are still dear to our hearts. SLAC members, old and new, dating back to our beginning in 1999 are listed below.

Membership into SLAC is by invitation.  If you are a professional lady artist who lives in and loves the South and would like to join us, please send us an email, or talk with one of the current members.

 

This is the first year since 2003 we have opened membership to new members.  We have not added new members because  organizing larger groups to travel and stay in each other's homes is difficult.   However, these days, with gas prices so high, we are finding that we need to find and have locations that are closer to the core group allowing at least some of us to be able to paint together more often. 

 

We are looking to add in new members that can possibly offer host painting locations that might be half way between some of our current members.  

 

To be a member you must be willing to host at least one SLAC event either in your home or find suitable housing for those wanting to attend your SLAC event every year or so.   This location does not have to be your home. 

 

A SLAC event is just an informal time to paint together.  It is not a professional event.  Everyone is expected to pitch in and help with anything the host needs help with to accommodate the group. Meals are Dutch treat always.

 

You must have a professional web site and know or be willing to learn how to manage a SLAC artist blog.  The SLAC artist blogs help us support each other in our individual professional careers.

 

You must be a lady artist, live in and love the South. The definition of a lady is defined as any one of the Southern Magnolia Types found in the book/movie Steel Magnolias.  In case you have forgotten... Steel Magnolia's come in all personality types and probably more than you can find in the book.  They are our mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, friends and sometimes debate partners.  The sisters of SLAC have found a type of sisterhood bond that only steel magnolia's understand. 

 

All yearly expenses for the web are split between the group members each June when the web is renewed and we learn what the expenses are.

 

Lastly, all the current members of SLAC must agree to adopt you as our SLAC sister and you must agree to adopt all the SLAC sisters as yours. Usually this process is a matter of being invited as a guest to a few SLAC events so everyone can get to know each other.   

 

Regardless if you want to officially join SLAC or just want to paint with members of the group close to you, please get in touch and let us know about you.   

Having a network of artist friends sharing the joys of plein-air will allow all of us to have more paint opportunities in locations we may not have thought about and we look forward to painting with you.

Cheryl Ritter Ocala, Florida 2000 Sandy Smith   Florida Panhandle   2000 Karen Ann Patton   Ormond Beach, Florida   2004 Mary Jane Volkmann   Gainesville, Florida   2004-5 Catherine (Katina) Radwanski   Atlanta, GA   2006 Martha Thompson   Macon, GA   2005-6 Carolyn Molder   North Carolina   2006-7 Jan Heberger   North Carolina   2006-7 Diana Pratt Dice   Lilburn, GA   2006 Mureen Smith   Albany, GA   2006-7