Description

A Showcase of Sweetwater’s 2026 Master Class Artists 

Exhibition Dates: April 3 - December 19, 2026

First National Bank Exhibition Hall: 604 Beaver St., Second Floor, Sewickley PA Opening Reception: Friday, April 3, 6-8 pm 

 Ron Donoughe, a native of Loretto, PA, now living in Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh has been painting the Western Pennsylvania landscape for nearly 35 years. Donoughe says that he has a "lifelong commitment to capturing the spirit of Western Pennsylvania." He has documented the region’s varied landscapes—from farmlands to factories—through a process rooted in direct experience. Much of the work is painted en plein air, with others refined in the studio. The paintings reflect both immediacy and contemplation, aiming not just to interpret the present but also to preserve a visual record of a region in constant change, particularly its urban spaces. As Sweetwater's Summer Master Class artist, Donoughe will teach students how to translate the world into compelling outdoor paintings through a focus on observation, design, and technique.  Kelsie McNair is a Brooklyn-based stained glass artist, educator, and founder of Soft Shapes Studio. She specializes in contemporary stained glass and fused glass work that blends traditional techniques with playful, modern design. McNair teaches workshops and intensives nationally and works with private and commercial clients on custom glass installations. Participants of this Masterclass will learn foundational skills including glass cutting, grinding, copper foiling, soldering, and finishing. By the end of the class, each student will complete and take home a finished stained glass object or small panel ready for display. (McNair's works will regrettably not be on exhibition during the opening reception).  Visit Sweetwater Center for the Arts for more information on the Master Class series. Proceeds go to the Youth Arts Possibilities Program (YAPP). YAPP is in collaboration with Sweetwater Center for the Arts and is sponsored by First National Bank.

VISIT THE EXHIBITION ONLINE HERE.