Pop artist Ashley Longshore created a 48" x 36" portrait of Julian Lennon especially for this event.

Ashley Longshore is a New Orleans/New York based, self-taught artist who is regularly called a young, feminist Andy Warhol for her contribution to pop art and the creative inspiration she finds in pop culture figures and brands. Longshore has built an empire in the art world and challenges the traditional business model of art galleries. As a powerhouse artist and pioneer in social media marketing, she has exploded into a global brand and uses her platform to encourage positivity and authenticity. Dubbed by The New York Times as "Fashion's Latest Art Darling," Longshore has paved a colorful path for pop art and fashion to coexist.

Hand-made signature acrylic on wood panel Lakescape painting from local artist Justin Gaffrey. This original 48" x 48" artwork was created especially for this event.

Justin Gaffrey worked for many years as a chef and small restaurant owner in Santa Rosa Beach, Fl. He had a number of other endeavors over the years, including furniture building, but eventually jumped head first into the world of paint.

Expressing himself with paint became a daily passion and he would find inspiration at every turn. He began experimenting with impasto-style painting - the thicker the paint, the better.

With collectors all over the world, Justin Gaffrey pushes to constantly evolve his work, which most consistently depicts coastal landscapes, wildlife and the exploration of the human condition, draws from his own life experiences and his hunger for learning.

Custom-made venetian plaster and acrylic on wood 48" x 48" diptych of a Great Blue Heron couple, "Frieda and Diego", from local artist Allison Wickey created especially for this event.

Allison's artwork captures the beauty of SoWal's coastal geography. Her expressions echo truth while her well-honed technique is layered. They capture nature's truth, and the outcome is powerful. After moving with her family in 2007, Allison began experimenting with her favorite mediums and quickly found her rhythm.

Allison's studio is located on South 393 and open by appointment, text 850-420-8419 for availability. While her creations with the coastal lakes, beaches, and sea life put her on the map, she has been developing her abstract works in recent years. These pieces are created in a free style method, and admirers respond positively the emotion they evoke within.

"Beasley State Park" is an 8" x 16" framed oil on linen original art work from local artist Melody Bogle.

As a resident of South Walton Melody D. Bogle finds inspiration for her work from the beautiful area in which she lives...the Emerald Coast. Working in both oils and pastels she tries to capture the area's beauty, paying attention to the light and its movement across the form, whether the dunes or a still life or the figure. The play of light creates beautiful abstract designs across these forms. A passion for painting 'en plein air' evolved out of her love of the outdoors merging with her love of art and painting. Her paintings come alive through painting on location and observing color and light.

Melody is a member of the Emerald Coast Plein Air Painters, Women Painters of the Southeast, Oil Painters of America, The American Impressionist Society, Portrait Society of America, and member and past President of the Pastel Society of North Florida. She has studied with many contemporary greats such as Scott Christensen, David Leffel, Quang Ho, CW Mundy, Carolyn Anderson, Richard McKinley, Maggie Price, Albert Handel, and many others. Learning never stops for Melody and she tries to take workshops yearly with artists whose work she loves.

Melody was the 2016 South Walton Artist of the Year. She has been an artist in ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival since 2002 winning many awards for her work. In 2013 she was honored with the Best in Show at this venue, an award for her body of work that competed against all mediums at ArtsQuest. Other awards have been in shows with the Pastel Society of North Florida, Best in Show at Beauz Art, Best in Show in 2012 at the Coastal Destinations Show at the Hidden Lantern, and runner-up in the 2013 show there. A one-person show of her work was held from December through April, 2014 at the Hidden Lantern Gallery in Rosemary Beach. In 2015 she was honored by being selected as South Walton's 2015 Oil Painter of the Year by Visit South Walton. In November of 2014, Melody was one of 60 artists selected to participate in Ft Myers Beach 'Paint The Beach' Plein Air event. She won one of 12 awards given out of the 120 paintings submitted. In the Spring of 2015, Melody was awarded Best in Show for the local A+ Art's Top of the Class show.