OCTOBER 28, 2026
6:30 PM EST
MAIN STAGE AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE CULTURAL CENTRE
705 N. ILLINOIS ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204
$15 TICKET REFRESHMENTS SERVED
MODERATED BY SUSANNE MCALISTER
FEATURING ARTISTS: C.W. MUNDY, FRED DOLORESCO,
CONSTANCE EDWARDS SCOPELITIS
Discover the remarkable path some Hoosier Art Salon artist members have taken in an inspiring lecture that traces their rise to becoming full‑time professional artists. This talk explores how they have honed their artistic voices through years of disciplined study, experimentation, and mentorship, and how their dedication to mastering technique laid the foundation for a thriving career.
Attendees will learn how they strategically developed their professional skills—from refining their craft and building a strong portfolio to navigating galleries, collectors, and the business side of art. The lecture highlights the pivotal moments that allowed them to transition from passion to profession, offering an honest look at the perseverance, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit required to make art a lifelong vocation.
C.W. MUNDY
C.W. Mundy stands at the forefront of American Impressionism, combining classical training with an experimental approach to paint manipulation and mark-making. Transitioning from a successful career in sports illustration to plein air painting in the 1990s, Mundy developed a distinctive style characterized by bold brushwork and an emphasis on atmospheric effects. His work spans multiple genres, from harbor scenes and European streetscapes to still lifes and portraits, each piece reflecting his commitment to exploring new artistic territories.
Working primarily in oils, Mundy approaches each canvas with a focus on what he terms the “Seven Foundational Truths” – drawing, squinting, centrality of focus, values, colors, edges, and paint manipulation. His artistic philosophy emphasizes the balance between technical mastery and creative intuition. This approach has earned him Master Signature status in both the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society, along with a Signature membership in the American Society of Marine Artists.
Key collections housing his work include the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, the National Art Museum of Sport, and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. His contributions to contemporary American Impressionism have been recognized through numerous awards, including distinctions at the Art Renewal Center Salon and Oil Painters of America National Exhibitions.
FRED DOLORESCO
Fred Doloresco’s serious turn toward painting began when he saw an ad in Artists Magazine for a workshop given by Don Stone. Don and Fred became friends, traveling and painting together for several years. They traveled to the Caribbean, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland, cementing their friendship. Fred also engaged in workshops with a few other people, but it was Rose Frantzen that convinced him that nothing was not possible.
One of his favorite experiences was painting with many noted painters at the Jeffersonville Rendezvous in Jeffersonville, Vermont. He was joined by about 20 other painters, including five from Russia, to paint the snow of Vermont.
Fred’s love of great painting and his study of the great American Impressionists by books and innumerable museum visits with his wife, Dodie, has rounded out his art experience. He started entering local, regional, and national shows, and after several rejections and significant improvement, he was accepted into shows, won awards, and was rewarded with Master Signature Membership in Oil Painters of America. He is also a member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society and American Impressionist Society.
Fred Doloresco’ s work has been exhibited at several galleries including James R. Ross Fine Art Gallery in Indianapolis, Brandt-Roberts Galleries in Columbus, Ohio, Folly Cove Fine Art in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Fearless Cook in Fort Wayne.
CONSTANCE EDWARDS-SCOPELITIS
Constance Edwards Scopelitis graduated with a fine arts degree from Indiana University. She continued her studies with legendary American figurative painter Isabel Bishop. Further studies at the Art Students League of New York set Edwards Scopelitis on a career path of executing large-scale narrative figure paintings. She has been awarded national and international fellowships including the Creative Renewal Fellowship through the Eli Lilly Foundation and the DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award in 2020. She also regularly exhibits at national and international art fairs including Art Miami.
Edwards Scopelitis’s break-out work in Digital Art Media allows viewers to engage with interactive video programs and digital animation. Her video projects include digitally placed 2D animations based on narratives of social justice issues. Through interactive gaming programs, viewers can alter the artwork directly on touchscreens. According to D/Railed Magazine, her interactive video work exhibited during Art on Paper New York 2017 stood out for exuding “creativity and innovation while absorbing and re-contextualizing the artist’s traditional figure painting roots.”
Edwards Scopelitis was selected as a Time-Based finalist for ArtPrize 8 and has exhibited at several galleries within and outside of Indiana.
