Specialized artists turn out for fifth Longboat Fine Art Fest

By Dana Kampa
| 6:30 a.m. February 23, 2026

Artist Kathleen Murphy Willer, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, said she has fun incorporating elements evocative of childhood in her acrylic paintings. She was one of the artists to brave the sun and rain at last weekend's fine art festival on Longboat Key.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

At one booth, a wife-and-husband duo explained their process for fusing coins of colorful glass into mosaic wall art. At another, an underwater photographer showed the features of the hefty camera equipment he used to capture the images on display.

Those one-on-one interactions between artist and patron are one of the best features of the annual art festival that took place on Longboat Key last weekend.

The Key's Festival of the Arts, entering its fifth year at the Town Center Green, offers an intimate venue for art lovers to take a closer look at pieces in a variety of media.

Even with a brief downpour Sunday afternoon, booth-runners said they saw encouraging turnouts both days of the festival.

The event gave artists the chance to tell the story behind the art, which was often as fascinating as the artwork itself.

Lenny Hoffman, of Picofsky Hoffman Studios, brought a splash of color to the festival with his Vincent van Gogh-esque paintings. His wife, Natasha Picofsky, provides the base with her primarily landscape photography, and he layers the work with his acrylic painting.

Lenny Hoffman, of Picofsky Hoffman Studios, LLC, said the art piece to his lower left depicting a lake in Washington State holds special meaning for him and his wife, Natasha Picofsky, who originally photographed the scene.

The North Port couple started fusing their artistic talents just last spring. While many scenes draw upon Florida landscapes, their images come from all over the world.

One piece on display held special meaning for the couple. Picofsky was in Washington State and snapped a lakeside photo about the same time she felt compelled to put out to the universe a list of what she hoped to find in a partner.

"The stars came out, and she made a wish to the universe, where she outlined very specifically what she wanted in a man," he described.

Two months later, she and Hoffman met, and they have been together for three years. That is what he said inspired the painting's title, "The Universe Provides."

He said he appreciates the Town Center Green venue for giving visitors the chance to slow down and genuinely engage with the artists.

"At some of the shows we go to, people are mostly just walking by," he said. "Here, a lot of people stop and really look."

Gary Love of Gary Love Photography shows an art festival-goer how the various places the light hits the shell-covered beach give the up-close image depth. He was one of several new artists featured at the Feb. 21-22 art festival on Longboat Key.

Last weekend was the first time underwater photographer Mark Kosarin had a booth at the Longboat Key festival of the arts, and he took the opportunity to show visitors the camera equipment he uses to capture the vibrant images.

Wisconsinites Scott and Suzy Radtke said even with the chilly weather Sunday afternoon, they were glad to once again patronize the fine art festival on Longboat Key, which they have visited several times over the years for jewelry, art and more.

As soon as a brief downpour passed, Longboat Key art aficionados were back out exploring the second day of the Festival of the Arts at the Town Center Green, passing by sculptures by Bradenton-based artist Will Grant.

Chelsea and Jeremy Griffith developed their own technique for fusing handblown bubbles of colorful glass to craft their wall art. Their southern Illinois-based studio, Delish Glass, gives a glimpse into the process.

Julie Lahren is intrigued by the labradorite and moonstone pieces she found at the fine jewelry booth run by Vita Qualls, Craevita Jewelry. She said she tries to come to the Longboat Key art festival every year.

Jewelry artist Vita Qualls of Craevita Jewelry said her style focuses on letting the uniqueness of the stones in her work shine with delicate metalwork framing them.

Mike Williams brings an Old Florida vibe to his works that celebrate some of the region's most iconic spots, including Longboat Key. Visit BlueIslandGraphics.com for more about his prints and custom artwork.

Julie Cooper, who ran The Copper Kettle booth at last weekend's Longboat Key art festival with Jeff Cooper, said the freshly popped kettle corn was a greatly appreciated warm treat for many visitors.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.