This week is the last chance to see Latitudes and Longitudes, the Tuscaloosa and University Painters’ exhibition being featured at the University of Alabama gallery in the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center located downtown.

Oil paintings, acrylic paintings and watercolors from 15 artists have been on display in the gallery throughout the month of March. Most of the artists are University of Alabama alumni who 
started painting after reaching 
retirement.

Emily Mitchell, a retired school librarian, studied painting 14 years ago with artists like Ann Foster and Caleb O’Connor. She said her art is usually showcased at pet adoption events, and all the money she receives from her art sales benefits local pet adoption groups.

“It means so much to paint a pet portrait or other subject knowing I am helping a cause close to my heart, which gives me a real incentive to keep 
painting,” she said.

Another artist, Anne Stickney, began painting 11 years ago after she retired from teaching.

“The beauty of painting is you don’t ever master it,” she said. “You are constantly learning, discovering something new about it.”

One of Stickney’s paintings in the exhibition is from a summer trip with her friends to Rabun Gap, Georgia. The other painting, “The Red Chair,” is a breakthrough painting for Stickney, 
she said.

Stickney said painting is like fishing – it takes luck and persistence to produce something that pleases and 
surprises her.

“It’s all practice, technique and just a bit of luck,” she said.

Stickney said the whole Latitudes and Longitudes show amazed her.

“I see my friends in the group growing in their skills as we paint together through the years,” she said.

TAUP has met for over 25 years on Thursday mornings to paint on location. Stickney said TAUP hopefully will continue to meet each week to paint and discuss art as they have for over 
two decades.

“I have been with the Tuscaloosa and University Painters for about a year now, and I am aware of the great artistic talent, skill and insight these wonderful artists share with each other and with the community,” she said.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Ave. in downtown Tuscaloosa. The Arts Council Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays and noon to 8 p.m. Fridays.