About the Artist
Janet Bridgen Sessoms
Education
1989, BS UNC Pembroke in Art Education
1969, AB Meredith College in Home Economics
Affiliations
Wilmington Art Association
Member of the Art League of Leland
Oll Painters of America
Wildlife Artists of North Carolina
Publications
2026, Paintings included the The Official Cape Fear Resource Guide
2025, Painting included the The Official Cape Fear Resource Guide
2024, Cover and article with pictures in Southeastern Magazine
2024, Paintings included in The Official Cape Fear Resource Guide
2023, Painting included in The Official Cape Fear Resource Guide
2022, Paintings included in The Official Cape Fear Resource Guide
2021, What Can I Do For You, featured painting on the Holiday cover of Cape Fear Living Resource Guide
2021, Window Shopping, featured painting on the summer cover of Cape Fear Living Resource Guide
2020, Purple Cabbages, featured in Harvest Tide article, November issue of Wrightsville Beach Magazine
2017, Morning Catch, featured painting on the July cover of art Guide
2017, Marsh Haven II, on the summer cover of Cape Fear Living Resource Guide
2017, Featured Artist for May's Wrightsville Beach Magazine
2015, And What Can I Do For You?, featured on the cover of Cape Fear Living Magazine for December
2015, Shrimp Boats, featured on March cover of Cape Fear Living Magazine
2014, For the Love of Spring, featured painting for the Wilmington Art Association's Spring Art Show and Sale
Workshops
2025, Oil Painting Online Study with Scott Christensen
2025, Oil Painting Online Study with Christine Lashley
2025, Abstract Acrylic Online Study with Louise Fletcher
2025, Oil Painting Workshop with Kyle Ma, Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, Georgia
2024, Oil Painting Online Study with Scott Christensen
2024, Oil Painting Online Study with Daniel Gerhartz
2022, Oil Painting Workshop with Nancy Tankersley, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St Simon's Island, Georgia
2020, Oil Painting Workshop with Kevin McPherson, Chesapeake Art Studio, Stevensville, Maryland
2019, Oil Painting Workshop with Haung Ho, Chesapeake Art Studio, Stevensville, Maryland
2019, Plein Air workshop with Katie Odom, Lori Putnam, and Dawn Whitelaw at the Booth Museum in Cartersville, Georgia
2018, Oil Painting Workshop with Dennis Perrin in Wilmington, North Carolina
2018. Oil Painting Workshop with Carolyn Anderson in Fredericksburg, Texas
2017, Oil Painting Workshop with James Richards and Jason Sacron in Tucker, Georgia
2016, Oil Painting Workshop with James Richards in Tucker, Georgia
2016, Oil Painting Workshop with Dan Beck in Wilmington, North Carolina
2014, Watercolor Workshop with Mary Whyte at Chesapeake Fine Art Studio, Stevensville, Maryland
2013, Watercolor Workshop at Lake Garda, Italy with Eric Weigardt
2012, Springmaid Watermedia with Ted Nuttall
2012 Mentoring Sessions with Sandy Nelson
2012, Oil Painting Workshop with Larry Moore
2012, Kanuga Watermedia with Eric Weigardt
2008, Penland School of Craft Watercolor with Nancy Meadows Taylor
2004, Penland School of Craft Textiles with Ellen Kochansky
2003, Penland School of Craft Pastel with Elsie Dinsmore Popkin
2002, Penland School of Craft Color with Virginia Derryberry
2000, Penland School of Craft Drawing with Craig Dongoski
1999, Penland School of Craft Creating with Joe Walter
1998, Penland School of Craft Clay with Sammie Nicely
Awards, Recognitions, and Show
2026, Winds of Time, juried into Echoes of Place Gallery Exhitibition @Fort Fisher Historic Museum
2026, Solitude, juried into the Carolina Art Show-Create Your Future, Wilmington, NC.
2026, Siblings, juried into the Bank of the Arts National Show, New Bern, NC, Ben Billingsley juror
2026, Soft Trails and Snow Bird, juried in the Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show.
2025, Happiness Comes In Waves, 3rd place in Georgetown, SC Art Walk
2025, Fall Foraging, Honorable Mention in Spring Art League of Leland Art Show
2025, Fall Foraging, Honorable Mention in Wildlife Artist of the Carolinas 3rd Annual Into the Wild Show ,Sharron W. Spencer, judge
2025, The Golden Hour, Southeastern Landscapes at Red Springs Art Space, Honorable Mention by Paul, Van Zant, Professor Emeritus
2025, Blue Jellies, Indigo show at Sunset River Art Gallery, Calabash, North Carolina
2025, Golden Moment and Gathering Place at Bald Head Island, Southeastern Landscape Show, Red Springs Art Space
2024, Epic Morning, awarded Honorable Mention by judge Lyudmila Tomova Clark, Fine Art League of Cary, 29th Annual Art Show
2024, Radiant Beginning, awarded Honorable Mention by judge JJ Jiang at Landfall Foundation Art Show
2024, Lady In Red, Who's Looking?, Gotcha in NC Wildlife Art Show
2024, The Way It Was, The Path Less Taken, and Shake Your Tail Feathers in Art League of Leland Show and Sale
2024, Feathered Flock and As the Sun Goes Down, juried into the 42nd Annual WAA Spring Art Show and Sale by JJ Jiang, juror
2023, Sound Waves, received a Merit Award in Brunswick County Fall Art Show, Sunset Beach, NC, Richard Conn, judge
2023, Hometown Bus Stop, received a Merit Award in the Artists Collective Juried Exhibition, Virginia DerryBerry, judge.
2023, The Golden Hour, received First Place Award, ARTfall, Wilmington, NC. Ben Billingsley judge
2023, Hometown Bus Stop, juried into the Artists Collective Annual Juried Exhibition, Spartanburg, SC. Virginia Derryberry juror
2023, Block Taco and Path to the Church juried into Gallery Citrine's Landmarks of Wilmington Art Show
2023, Hometown Bus Stop, received Second Place in FALC Annual Show, Susan Hecht, judge
2023, Juried into the Fine Art League of Cary Annual Art Show, Susan Hecht, juror
2022, Brunswick County Art Show, Golden Hour was given the Ramons Batsford Bendin Oil Award
2022, Juried into Gallery Citrine's Animal Show
2022, Searching for Pearls and Elegantly Posed accepted into the Landfall Foundation Show
2022, The Golden Hour and Dunes at Dusk accepted by juror, Beth Handler Riebe, Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show, the Official Show of the Azalea Festival
2022, Garden Roses accepted by juror, Dr. Jane Steelman in Small Treasures Show, Cary Gallery of Art, Cary, NC
2022, Colors of Spring accepted by juror, Dan Beck in 11th Annual National 2D Competition, Cape Fear Gallery, Fayetteville, NC
2022, Cape Fear Perspective, part of four artists group show at Sunset River Market Place, Calabash, NC
2021, Purple Cabbages awarded an Honorable Mention by judge Donald Furst at Artfall in Wilmington, NC
2021, Hometown Bus Stop juried into All Warm or Cool Show and received Juror Recognition, Ginny Lassiter, juror, Leland, NC
2021, Endless Memories in Yadkin Arts Council Show, Affee Vickers, Juror
2021, I See the Light and Hometown Bus Stop in Wilmington Art Associate Spring Show, Ben Billingsly juror and judge
2020, Marsh Haven II, accepted into Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's 1st Online Associate and Non-Member Show, New York, NY
2020, Hometown Bus Stop and River Landing juried into Artists Who Teach Exhibition presented by Ellington-White Contemporary Gallery, Fayetteville, North Carolina
2020, I See the Light awarded third place in Clayton Art Fair, Jean Grunewald, judge
2020, I See the Light and The Rookery, juried into the Clayton Art Fair, Jean Grunewald juror
2020, Spread Your Wings, juried into Cape Fear Studios 10th National 2D Competition and Exhibit, JJ Jiang, juror
2020, Angler's Paradise awarded an Honorable Mention at the Yadkin County Arts Council Annual Juried Art Sh
2020, Young and Restless awarded the Dick Blick Award at the 38th Annual Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show and Sale, Katherine Wolf Webb, juror and judge
2020, Juried into Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show and Sale, Katherine Wolf Webb, juror and judge
2020, Juried into Fine Art League of Cary annual show, David Shivino, juror and judge
2020, Group Art Show at Ethan Allen in Wilmington, North Carolina
2019, American Women Artists granted Associate Membership with Distinction
2019, The Nesters awarded Best In Show at The Landfall Foundation Art Show, Todd Carignan judge
2019, Juried into the South West Artists, Inc small works show in Mena Arkansas with Daisy Daze and Strolling Along
2019, The Snack Bar juried into the 26th Biennale National Juried Exhibit, Hilton Head, South Carolina
2019, Golden Delicious juried into the American Women Artists Online show on display for one year
2019, Too Delicious awarded 1st place in the 37th Annual Wilmington Art Association Spring Show and Sale, Dan Nelson, judge
2018, Spring Beauties selected as the poster art for the 37th Annual Wilmington Art Association Spring Show and Sale
2018, Daisy Daze awarded People's Choice Award at the Farm to Table Show at Sunset River Market Place, Calabash, NC
2018, Island Tractor awarded Best in Show by Committee at the Farm to Table Show at Sunset River Market Place, Calabash, NC
2018, Juried into the Farm to Table Show at Sunset River Market Place Art Gallery, Calabash, North Carolina
2018, Pop Up Art Show at Aces Gallery, Wilmington, North Carolina
2018, Art Show at Century 21. Wilmington. North Carolina
2018, Landfall Foundation Show, Wilmington, North Carolina
2018, Pretty Pond juried into the July Flowers and Garden Show at Gallery 311 in Raleigh, North Carolina
2018, Boatyard Beauties received a third place in oil at the Silver Arts Show, Patti Chisholm judge
2018, Just Us received an Honorable Mention at the Fine Art League of Cary, Dan Campbell judge
2018, Juried into the 23rd annual Fine Art League of Cary show, Dan Campbell juror and judge
2018, Juried into the Wilmington Art Association Spring Show and Sale, Janette K. Hopper juror and judge
2018, Marsh Haven II print, selected for the art collection of Duke Hospital patient rooms
2017, Recipient of a Regional Artist Project Grant
2017, Juried into Landfall Foundation Art Show, Dan Beck, OPA juror and judge
2017, Women Painters of the Southeast, online show, Eileen Corse, juror and judge
2017, Artfall, Hannah Block, Wilmington, NC, Owen Wexler, juror and judge
2017, Touched, Merit Award at the Franklin Square Summer Regional Art Show, Southport, NC, Robert Joyner, juror and judge
2017, Spring Marsh, Honorable Mention at the Franklin Square Summer Regional Art Show, Southport, NC, Robert Joyner, juro
2017, Juried into the Wilmington Art Association Spring Show and Sale, Joseph DiGuilio juror and judge
2017, Exhibit, Life Along the Cape Fear, part of the Niles Project at ACES Gallery, Wilmington, North Carolina
2017, Red Bucket, Juried into Fine Arts League of Cary show, Bob Rankin juror and judge
2017, Exhibit, "Local" at Wilmington International Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina
2016, Exhibit at Southeastern Community College, Whiteville, North Carolina
2016, Juried into Cape Fear Studio Summer Show, Dan Beck OPA juror and judge
2016, Honorable Mention Silver Arts, Senior Games By the Sea, Kevin Dunn judge
2016, Commissioned by LM Restaurant Group for an oil of The Oceanic Restaurant at Wrightsville Beach, NC
2016, Merit Award, Onslow Art Society Spring Show
2015, Honorable Mention Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show, Dan Beck OPA, judge
2015, Juried into Resolutions 2015, Hillsbourgh Gallery of Art
2015, Juried into Women Painters of the Southeast Members Juried Exhibit, Camille Crawford Day, judge
2015, Chairperson for the Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show
2014, Accepted into Women Painters of the Southeast
2014, Second Place in Watercolor, North Carolina Senior Games State Finals
2014, Honorable Mention Landfall Art Show, Wilmington, North Carolina, Nicole White Kennedy, judge
2014, Juried into North Carolina Watercolor Society Show at Barton College Wilson, North Carolina, Eric Wiegardt AWS, judge
2014, Juried into Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show, Bob Rankin, judg
2014, Co-Chairperson for the Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show
2013, Juried into Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show, Todd Carignan judge
2012, Landfall Foundation 12th Annual Art Show, Third Best in Show, L. Diane Johnson PSA, PAP-SE, judge
2009, Juried into Wilmington Art Association Spring Art Show, Judy Crane, judge
2005, North Carolina Yam Festival, Third Place Painting
2004, Columbus County Art Council, Brady-Kendall Show, Purchase Award
2003, Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County, First Place Pastel
2002, North Carolina Yam Festival, Honorable Mention
2000, Whiteville City Schools' Teacher of the Year
1990, Brady-Kendall Artist of the Month Exhibit, June
1990, Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County, First Place Watercolor
1990, Senior Art Exhibition UNC at Pembroke
1988, Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County, First Place Watercolor and Second Place in Photography
1988, Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County, Second Place Graphics and Third Place in Photography
1988, Best in Show, Columbus County Yam Festival, John Brady, judge
1987, Visual Arts Guild of Columbus County, Second Place Graphics
Galleries
Eclipse Artisan Boutique, Wilmington, North Carolina
Sunset River Gallery, Calabash, North Carolina
Gallery Verrazano at theArtWorks™, Wilmington, North Carolina
Art Related Employment
Central Middle School Art Educator in Whiteville, NC 1990 to 2006
New Hanover County Art Educator 2006 to 2012
Commissions
16 commissions with 14 being displayed under Commissions under Art Works on my website
LM Restaurant Group commissioned painting of Oceanic for their restaurant and menu
