JANUARY 1, 2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

President's Message:

Dear Members,

As we enter our 75th year, we invite you to thoughtfully explore the many opportunities COAL offers—especially those you may have previously overlooked or felt uncertain about pursuing. This milestone year is a moment to reflect, to take purpose-driven steps forward, and to define what you truly seek as a creative individual.

While some may feel content to remain where they are, a creative spirit is never fully satisfied without growth, connection, and purpose. Others feel compelled to reach beyond themselves and make a meaningful impact. We happily support you in your ventures, as they only make one stronger in spirt and soul. It is this shared loyalty and commitment to creativity, community, and the contribution that has defined COAL for 75 years, and which will continue to guide us into the future together, as we grow and keep reaching out to be better everyday.

Thank you for supporting the COAL with your gifts of love, time and commitment.

Happy New Year, Cheryl Ehlers

Up Coming Events, Deadlines and More . . . At A Glance

• Jan 1, 2026 - Happy New Year!

• Please remove any remaining Holiday Cards & Ornaments ASAP.

• Jan1, 2026: Gallery Winter hours begin: 11-5pm daily (Jan 1- Mar 31).

• Jan 1, 2026 - Membership: You must renew by today to enter Jan show. Renew Here Now. Delinquent on Jan 31 with removal from membership rolls.

• Jan 2 @ noon Last Chance Jan Monthly Show Entries Here . Review the 2026 Monthly Show Guidelines before you apply - see your Membership Info page online. Members if you are entering the January Monthly Show, you may remove your art at take-in on January 5th.

• Now Open Here - Rack for Valentine Cards limited to the 1st 12 artists to sign-up.

• Jan 2 - last day to sign-up to receive your Zoom login instructions for the Jan 10 COAL, Annual State of the Organization meeting. You must be a paid member. Sign up here now.

• Jan 3 & 4, 2026, Small Image Awards Show Art Removal: 11am – 4:30pm.

• Jan 5, 2026, Jan Show Take-In: Mon, 9:30AM-1PM - Bring bio for MS Show Book

• Jan 5, 2026, 9-12pm, we need volunteer help taking down the Holiday decorations Please come & help if you can.

• Jan 6, 2026, Entries will open for Feb. Show, Timeless Treasures.



• Jan 7, 2026, Art Talk with host Scott Bruckner, 5pm-6:30pm. Contact Scott

• Jan 8, 2026,  Demo & Expression, with Charcee Colosia, Gesture drawing, Intuitive Creating, 1:30pm,   Sign up here.

• Jan 10, 2026, Annual State of the Organization,  10am-12:30pm via Zoom admittance begins at 9:45pm. and closes at 10am.

• Jan 10, 2026, COAL-New Year's Celebration for those who signed up by the deadline,  5pm- 9pm - Karen Johnson's Carlsbad home.



• January 14, 2026, Inside Look with Vivi Anderson & host, Cheryl Ehlers,  5pm-6pm. Sign up here to be our next Featured artist. We hope to hear from you.



• FEB 1, 2026 @ 8 am, Baffle sign-up next session; new schedule & options below. MAY/JUN

Gallery Manager, Gertrude Lewis - @ the Gallery

A few things for all members to remember:

The gallery is no longer open to artists after hours without the express permission from Gertrude. Please notify her of your request. We need to monitor our security. Thank you.

A few things for Hosts to remember:

1) Please remember if you are on the closing shift remember to bring in the all the (3) COAL items, The folding and rolling signs continue to be left behind.

2) The updated Credit card Instructions are extremely simple, are now on the desk. Call Cheryl if you have issues, and please do not stray outside of the SELL button..

3) If you experience issues while machine is updating, "use" the home page of the website "Donation" Button. Assist the customer using your phone, and make the sale! www.northcoastalartgallery.com.

4) We "do not" hold artwork for customer to pay later, so do not use a sales slip. (They almost never come back) Pay now, and you can hold it for them, it needed.

5) Hosts, we must present ourselves as a professional business, so please do not assume things can be done that are outside of our normal rules/requirements. Please have the courtesy to call me and ask first, about utilizing the gallery for personal needs.

6) No dogs (except service animals) are allowed in the gallery, please.

7) Please plug the music speaker back in when done, most of the Hosts like the ambience of music in the gallery, it relaxes the customers and creates a wonderful environment to shop. You should try it, it really works.

Thank you and Happy New Year to everyone!      

Gertrude 

HAPPENING IN JANUARY 2026

Art Talk with host Scott Bruckner, January 7, 2026, 5pm-6:30pm - Join now, get together and share art with each other on the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Scott.

Inside Look with host, Cheryl Ehlers, Vivi Anderson, starting January 14, 2026, 5-6pm - Sign up to, share about yourself, art journey, and your inspiration. Introduce yourself to members and the public. Every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Sign up here now for February. Contact Cheryl.

January Demo & Expression

January 8, 2026, Charcee Colosia, Gesture Drawing, Intuitive Creating,

Sign-up here.

Join us for a free, hands-on session focused on intuitive gesture drawing and fluid, expressive painting. All levels welcome —supplies provided on site. RSVP for seating and supplies, please.

COMING IN FEBRUARY & ON

December Awards

BY THE PUBLIC VOTE, WE WON THE BEST HOLIDAY WINDOW DECORATIONS

We were awarded by the People's Choice vote - best holiday window decoration. Click here to read the article.

Who Oversees What - Who To Call for Help

Director of Programs, Julie Brooks, click to contact Julie

• Demo & Expression Programs
• Art on the Green
• Jewelry and Sculpture Space Rentals

Director of Membership - Scott Bruckner, click to contact Scott

• 2026 Membership Drive/Renewal

Baffles Coordinator, Charcee Colosia, click to contact Charcee

• Baffle Rentals for MAY 1 - June 30 begins February 1 @ 8am. Sign up.

Demo Coordinator, Sharon Commins. Be sure to welcome her when you see her at the Jan 8 Demo. Click to contact Sharon

2026 Membership Drive and Renewals.

Art on the Green - Open to All Artists and Art Organizations

Do you know of any who want to use selling space? Send them our way.

Join us each weekend "on the green".

Easy signup Here. Questions, please contact Julie Brooks

Demo and Expression get details here.

Questions, please contact Sharon Commins

Open now and accepting applications here.

Carlsbad Village Association Call for Artists:

Applications Now Open for Carlsbad’s Art in the Village 2026

Carlsbad’s signature summer art festival is now accepting artist applications for the 2026 show. Each year, this juried, fine-art event fills the streets with original works from talented artists across various mediums - painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, mixed media and more. Thousands of attendees stroll through Carlsbad Village to experience and purchase art in this lively, coastal setting. 

Important Dates:

• Event Date: Sunday, June 28
• Application Deadline: Jan. 16
• Late Application Period Begins: Jan. 17

Do you have news of you're upcoming exhibits, awards, etc. you'd like in Brushmark? Please send all the details in a format ready to be published along with any photos to Cindy. It will be published in the next Brushmark that comes out 2 weeks after receipt of your submission.

We Love Our Volunteers

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers! We couldn't run the Gallery without you. Each month, we will highlight many of our volunteers and introduce them and their jobs. You may not always see them - they might be in the back room, behind a desk or at a computer. But everyone of you are critical to our operations. Thank you all!!!

Open volunteer positions - we need you! Jobs Coordinator, Publicity Chair, Publicity assistants

Contact Cheryl if you can help.

Also, welcome new member and new volunteer RSVP List Coordinator, Marleen DuBona. Thank you, Marleen!



And thank you Marjorie Weaver for volunteering to help keep the gallery looking in tip top shape. We appreciate your help!

Very special shout out and thank you to Ellen Cramer, our member volunteer behind the COAL Calendar. You may not "see" her but she is there scheduling your hosting dates every month. Remember to let her know of any changes. We use the "live" online calendar all the time and it can affect the Host Calendar in the gallery. Thank you, Ellen!

Did We Miss Something?

Please check the website. All information is listed on our website under Members Info here.

• Get your Parking squared away & view the Hosting Calendar: Easy to find along with the revised Substitute Host Lists and all the Gallery Information.

To contact the Brushmark Editor, email Cindy Fatica

Gallery Hours

11-5pm Daily - January - March 31, 2026

Extended Hours beginning April 1, 2026