Cheryl Ploegstra, Artist Presentation at Crooked River Lighthouse
March 5 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Carrabelle Artist Association is excited to host a special presentation by Cheryl Ploegstra, one of the 2025 Resident Artists of the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air. This event will take place on Wednesday, March 5, at 4:00 PM at the Crooked River Lighthouse and will offer an inspiring look into Ploegstra’s month-long residency focused on documenting the watershed and environmental changes of Franklin County through her art.
Ploegstra, a Florida watercolor artist, is renowned for her work capturing the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast’s waters, marshes, forests, and wildlife. During the event, she will share insights into her mission as a resident artist, her creative process, and how her plein air artistry communicates environmental themes. “Love that flow!” she says about her medium of choice, watercolors, which she embraced after beginning her artistic journey with oils. Her residency has taken her across the Forgotten Coast to document the region’s landscapes and ecosystems, with a particular focus on the delicate balance of the local watershed.
Cheryl Ploegstra’s contributions to the arts community are significant. She teaches watercolor and plein air classes at The Joe Center for the Arts and coordinates Gulf Plein Air, a weekly painting group that welcomes artists of all levels. She has also served as a board member and Event Coordinator for the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air festival and played a pivotal role in founding The Joe Center for the Arts in Port St. Joe.
Attendees at the March 5 presentation will gain a deeper understanding of the connection between art and environmental awareness. Ploegstra will share stories from her residency and discuss how she uses her artwork to highlight the importance of preserving the unique ecosystems of the Forgotten Coast.
The Forgotten Coast en Plein Air festival is an annual event celebrating plein air painting, where artists create their works outdoors, inspired by the surrounding environment. As a “Florida’s Finest Ambassador,” Ploegstra exemplifies the festival’s mission to showcase the region’s natural beauty and raise awareness of its environmental challenges.
This presentation is free and open to the public, offering a rare opportunity to meet one of Florida’s premier plein air artists and learn more about her impactful work. Don’t miss this chance to explore the intersection of art, nature, and conservation at the historic Crooked River Lighthouse.
Event Details:
Artist Presentation by Cheryl Ploegstra
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Crooked River Lighthouse, Carrabelle, FL
For more information, please contact Marian Morris, of the Carrabelle Artist Association at (850) 294-9664 or the Crooked River Lighthouse at (850) 697-2732.
About the Artist: Cheryl Ploegstra is a plein air watercolor artist inspired by the natural beauty of the Florida Gulf Coast. Since reigniting her passion for painting in 2016, she has become a prominent figure in the arts community, teaching classes, coordinating painting groups, and contributing to major art festivals. Learn more about Cheryl and her work at .
https://www.cherylploegstra.com/
Crooked River Lighthouse
1975 Hwy 98 West
Carrabelle, FL 32322 + Google Map
(850) 697-2732