The Carolina Artists guild is offering a free mini workshop on composition in art featuring international artist and educator Mary-Louise Biscotti Hooper. The meeting and workshop will be Thursday, May 16, at St. John’s Lutheran Church (100 North Jackson Street entrance) in Salisbury. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for for meeting and refreshments. The program starts at 7 p.m.

Hooper is a national and international professional artist whose prize-winning oils and watercolors are inspired by her own photographs. Born in Greenwich Village in New York City to an Italian immigrant family, the yearly art shows in Washington Square Park influenced her desire to paint. Her family, however, did not encourage art as a career and she entered the field of education, eventually earning five university degrees. After a career as a college professor, she opened her art business producing, marketing and teaching. Hooper is currently teaching at Waterworks Visual Arts Center.

Hooper says that good composition is planned and created. Questions she hears mosts from artists are, “Where do I begin?” “Are there rules?” “Must I follow them?” “How can they speak or enhance my art?”

She will briefly explore only five of these rules from the Renaissance and propose them as the beginning. Then, she will explore what can happen if you break them. It is rather exciting as you can use them to achieve any number of intentions.

The Carolina Artists guild hosted its annual Spring Art Showcase and Sale at the Spencer Women’s Club and it was a success. A wide variety of original art was on display and sold at the show. The next show will be the three-day Art Expo in September at the Salisbury Civic Center.

The Carolina Artists are also hosting a two-day Plein Air Workshop featuring award-winning North Carolina Plein Air Artist Jeremy Sams on June 28-29. The workshop will include a studio workshop plus a day of on-location instruction. For more information, contact Cherrathee Hager at 704-490-2001. Space  is limited.

Artists, photographers and art lovers, from beginners to seasoned artists, are encouraged to attend monthly meetings. Guests are always welcome. Contact Hager for more information on the Carolina Artists, membership or the mini workshop.