Heartland Art Club

08/29/2026

We’re delighted to share this wonderful feature on Heartland Art Club Signature Member Lee Copen in Rural Missouri!

https://ruralmissouri.org/en-plein-air-2/

In “En Plein Air,” writer and photographer Jim McCarty follows Lee as she sets up her easel at Missouri’s beautiful Alley Spring Mill and captures the landscape directly from life.

The article offers a look at the art of plein air painting — the changing light, unpredictable weather, limited time, and the challenge of translating not simply what an artist sees, but the entire experience of being in a place.

Lee is an accomplished watercolor and oil painter whose work reflects her sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and the natural world. Her plein air work has also earned recognition throughout the region, including a recent Sponsor’s Award at the Hermann plein air event.

We are so proud to have Lee as a Signature Member of Heartland Art Club and thrilled to see her work and artistic practice featured in Rural Missouri.

Congratulations, Lee — so well deserved!

08/28/2026

ARTISTS — PUT YOUR WORK ON THE WALLS AT HEARTLAND!

Heartland Art Club is now accepting artwork for VxVII 2026, our exhibition celebrating original art in a small, collectible format.

VxVII is a wonderful opportunity to get your work into the gallery, reach new collectors, and offer original artwork at a size that makes it especially approachable for buyers.

Why show your work at Heartland?

Show your work in our beautiful Kirkwood gallery
Put your art in front of collectors and gallery visitors
Offer your work for sale during the busy holiday season
Gain visibility through Heartland’s gallery and promotional efforts
Connect with our growing community of artists and art lovers
Build your exhibition history and professional presence
Introduce new collectors to your work through an accessible, collectible format

And artists may submit as many works as they wish!

Each piece requires a separate submission form and $5 submission fee. All accepted artwork will be offered for sale, with sales handled through the gallery according to the commission terms listed on the VxVII page.

All artwork must be original and professionally presented according to the exhibition guidelines.

VxVII 2026
October 21, 2026 – January 9, 2027
Heartland Art Club Gallery
101A W. Argonne Dr., Kirkwood, Missouri

Small format. Big opportunity.

We would love to fill our gallery with work from artists throughout our community this holiday season.

Full guidelines, commission information and submission form:
https://heartlandartclub.org/vxvii-2026/

The VxVII Show is a favorite at Heartland Art Club, featuring original works of art created in a 5" x 7" format. This exhibition offers gallery visitors a chance to explore a wide variety of small-scale, affordable artwork by talented artists, all thoughtfully created to make a big impression in a s...

08/22/2026

SOLD!

We’re delighted to share that “Breaking Through” by Heartland artist Harry Starr has sold to a customer local to Kirkwood.

This striking photograph was featured as part of Heartland Art Club’s Solo Spotlight Series, created to give individual artists an opportunity to showcase a focused collection of their work in our gallery.

Congratulations to Harry on this wonderful sale — and to the collector who will be taking Breaking Through home!

We’re grateful to Harry for sharing his distinctive vision and beautiful photography with the Heartland community. ❤️

Congratulations, Harry!

Harry Starr
Breaking Through
30 x 20 ED #1
$900
Available

There is a painterly quality to photographer Harry Starr’s landscapes—quiet, atmospheric images shaped by his remarkable eye for light, weather, and the rural landscape.

Born and raised in Macoupin County, Illinois, Harry finds inspiration in the barns, fields, woodlands, old trees, fog, and changing skies of the countryside he has known throughout his life. His camera is rarely far away, allowing him to capture those fleeting moments when light and weather transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.

“I love fog,” Harry says. “There’s just an emotional element to it.”

A member of Heartland Art Club since 2018 and a Signature Member since 2022, Harry brings a photographer’s medium together with a painter’s sensibility—creating landscapes that feel timeless, contemplative, and deeply connected to place.

We’re proud to have Harry as part of the Heartland Art Club community.

Read more about Harry and his work in our Signature Member Spotlight:

https://heartlandartclub.org/signature-member-spotlight-photographer-harry-starr/

08/21/2026

"But that's how it looked." Sound familiar? Shawn Cornell has heard it too, and his two-day plein air workshop is designed to help you leave that excuse behind for good.

October 24-25, you'll paint outdoors at Kirkwood Park with Shawn, focusing on the creative decisions that separate a compelling landscape from a literal one: composition, contrast, value, and learning to ask yourself the right questions while you work. The second day wraps up back at the Heartland Art Club gallery with critiques and a drawing for one of Shawn's demo paintings.
Fall foliage. Fresh air. Real feedback. Spots are limited.
$250. Members save 10%.

Register here: http://heartlandartclub.org/.../taking-command-of-your.../

“But that’s how it looked.” is a common cry from artists when defending any stumbling blocks in their paintings. This is one of the earliest excuses artists learn to lean on. It’s a favorite crutch best discarded since art is about creating, not copying. In this two day, plein air, landscape...

08/17/2026

Heartland Art Club enthusiastically invites representational artists to submit their work for consideration by our gallery curation team. You do not need to be a Heartland member to be represented in our gallery.

If you create representational art and are looking for an opportunity to share your work with a wider community of artists, collectors, and art lovers, we encourage you to apply.

The process begins with our Gallery Representation Application, followed by individual artwork approval once accepted.

We’re always excited to discover new artists and beautiful work. We hope you’ll introduce yourself! ❤️

Learn more and apply at heartlandartclub.org

08/17/2026

“Heading Home #168” A beautiful oil piece by Mary Drastal. This painting depicts a serene landscape of a vibrant sunset over the ocean, with a boat in the distance. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds, painted on with soft brushstrokes. The sun’s yellow and orange rays complement the shades of blue in the sky and ocean, conveying a sense of tranquility. The composition all together appears peaceful, with a feelin of adventure.

Drastal grew up in Webster Grooves, Missouri. She discovered her passion for art as early as elementary school. She pursued an education in arts, leading to a fulfilling career teaching and inspiring young artists in St. Louis County. Her painting experience spans various media and subjects, with a particular love for plein air landscapes of Missouri’s natural beauty.

MARY DRASTAL
Heading Home #168
12 × 16 oil
$495

08/14/2026

Harry Starr
Breaking Through
30 x 20 ED #1
$900
Available

There is a painterly quality to photographer Harry Starr’s landscapes—quiet, atmospheric images shaped by his remarkable eye for light, weather, and the rural landscape.

Born and raised in Macoupin County, Illinois, Harry finds inspiration in the barns, fields, woodlands, old trees, fog, and changing skies of the countryside he has known throughout his life. His camera is rarely far away, allowing him to capture those fleeting moments when light and weather transform an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.

“I love fog,” Harry says. “There’s just an emotional element to it.”

A member of Heartland Art Club since 2018 and a Signature Member since 2022, Harry brings a photographer’s medium together with a painter’s sensibility—creating landscapes that feel timeless, contemplative, and deeply connected to place.

We’re proud to have Harry as part of the Heartland Art Club community.

Read more about Harry and his work in our Signature Member Spotlight:

https://heartlandartclub.org/signature-member-spotlight-photographer-harry-starr/

08/12/2026

CALL FOR ART — TICKET TO PICK IT!

Heartland Art Club’s annual Ticket to Pick It Fundraiser is back — and we’re inviting artists to be part of one of our favorite events of the year!

Artists: We’re seeking donations of original artwork for Ticket to Pick It. Your generosity directly supports Heartland Art Club and our mission to champion representational art, artists, exhibitions, education, and community. You also have the opportunity to showcase your art in a beautiful gallery space. We will have TWO events (to be announced) for this fundraiser at our gallery and will be doing a great deal to promote our art and artists on social media and through other avenues.

And here’s what makes this fundraiser so much fun:

Guests purchase tickets and rank their favorite donated artworks.

A drawing determines the order in which artwork is awarded.

Every ticket holder receives an original work of art!

It’s part fundraiser, part art collecting adventure — and a wonderful opportunity for artists to share their work with new collectors while supporting Heartland Art Club.

Artwork submission deadline: October 16, 2026. Submit your work now!

Artists, we would love to have your work represented! Whether you’re a longtime Heartland member or are just discovering our community, we invite you to help make this year’s Ticket to Pick It an unforgettable celebration of original art.

🔗 Learn more and submit artwork through the link in our bio, or here:

https://heartlandartclub.org/2026-ticket-to-pick-it-donations/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with an artist or art lover!

08/12/2026

Join Grafica Art Gallery on August 20 for a special conversation with artist and Heartland Art Club Executive Director Elizabeth Moreland!

Featuring her painting Malcolm Terrace Park, Elizabeth will speak on “Creating an Art Community”—sharing thoughts on the power of connection, collaboration, and building a thriving community around the arts.

We’d love to see you there!

"Malcolm Terrace Park" is by Elizabeth Moreland, who will be our guest on August 20 for our 3rd Thursday conversation. She is also Executive Director of Heartland Art Club. Her topic is "Creating An Art Communiity". You'll want to be here!