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Sheila Fortenberry of Mt. Hermon is one of the many artists to be displaying paintings on Sunday, March 26 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington Art Association Show and Sale.

She loves painting and now can enjoy it as she has retired. She started painting back in 1984, after taking some tole-painting lessons and realized she really wanted to paint with oils. However, after painting for a time, she stopped about 1990, then started again two years ago, as she retired as a nurse after working well over 20 years at Riverside Medical Center.

“I really like to paint nature and everything I paint is original,” she said, adding that they like to travel and she has photos of the many places and they have been handy to use as subjects she paints.

“They” includes herself and her husband, Ed Dykes, and they have been on cruises as well as traveling other places, sometimes by motorcycle.

One of her favorite paintings is a portrait she did of her two granddaughters playing in the hay. She said she really enjoyed painting the girls from a photo.

“My daughter loved it,” she said. Sheila is also the mother of a son, who is deceased.

Right now she is working to complete a large 20 by 20-inch painting of a camellia, and she hopes to finish in time for the show. She has other artworks to show as well.

Sheila paints at home when she gets a chance, as well as in classes with Franklinton art teacher, Ann Warner. As with many other creative people, she also likes to cook, sew and do embroidery; she also loves to do crafts and especially enjoys wood-working.

She is a member of the art association and also a member of the Greenlaw Baptist Church in Kentwood. She will be on hand with her paintings and ready to talk with visitors at the show, as will the other artists and craftspeople. She encourages everyone to come and enjoy the event. It is done once a year by the art association.

The show will once again be at the lovely home of Sara Nelson, 28035 Winfred Bateman Road, across from Sherman’s store in Clifton. Everyone is invited as the show is free and open to the public.

Those who will share artwork, including woodwork, jewelry and various styles of painted art are:  Ann Warner, Sara Nelson, Terry Seal, Theresa Wascom, Janis Fisher, Lenora Frazier, Curtis Creel, Stan Simmons, Patricia Ballhagen, Christine Beatty, Laurie Bell, Violeta Thomas, Sheri Brown, Kaye Williams, Ruby Bickham, Monica Wood, Genevieve Brannan, Carol Ridenour, Abigail Creel, Lisa M. Sprehe, Lander Thomas, Dr. Jerry Thomas, Ellen Barrett, Sylvia Garrett Dugas, Bob Ann Breland, Donna Kilbourne, Lora Lyn Fendlason and Johnny Green.