The official STRADA page notes that registration confirmation arrives by email from Google Forms. Please review the complete rules before participating.
Plein AirePainted on location, outdoors View Works
I was accepted to participate in this juried plein air event! Spend the day painting Florida’s Gulf Coast, followed by an evening reception and silent auction at the Beach Art Center.
Gulfport, Florida · Exhibition & Collector’s Sale April 17, 4–6 PM
I’m so excited to be participating for a second time! Watch artists capture Gulfport’s charm in real time, then join the Exhibition & Collector’s Sale at the Gulfport Welcome Center.
Picturing Paradise: Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen + Gulfport Plein Air Painters
Gulfport Community Library · 6:00 – 8:30pm
Hemma will be painting live and displaying work alongside the Gulfport Plein Air Painters at this special Gulfport Historical Society event celebrating Florida art from Audubon to the Highwaymen.
A celebration of Gulfport creativity, sparkling geckos, and the artists who bring them to life.
Hickman Theatre · Gulfport, Florida
Art with a little extra sparkle
Come see Hemma's two-sided rhinestone gecko sculpture and other GeckoFest art at the Hickman Theatre, with original artwork available through the auction.
“I was so happy to participate with so many talented artists, but mostly I was excited to make such a sparkly, happy fellow and hope he finds the perfect new home. I hope he and his friends find the perfect new home.”
The last stop for all of the artwork will be the Gecko Ball on August 29, 2026.
A group exhibition celebrating sunshine, freedom, nostalgia, beach days, tropical escapes, and the feeling that summer never truly ends in Florida.
Artmosphere · St. Petersburg, Florida
Grandma and Granddaddy
$325 · Available
Grandma and Granddaddy will be in the gallery beginning August 21 at the Endless Summer opening. It will remain on display and for sale at the Endless Summer Show through October 9, 2026.
Join Hemma and fellow guest artists for the opening reception and explore the resident artists' studios, original artwork, and creative community at Artmosphere.
An opening reception will be held Friday, October 2, from 5:30 to 8pm, with the People’s Choice award announced at 7pm. Come out and show my painting some LOVE for People’s Choice!
The exhibition will remain open to the public Fridays and Saturdays, 11am–4pm, from October 3–17 at DRV Gallery.
The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. Please join the event and come see me as I showcase my favorite painting yet!
Find Hemma's art all month long in one of Gulfport's favorite local shops.
Gulfport Beach Bazaar · Gulfport, Florida
Art all November
I am so excited to be featured at my favorite shop in Gulfport for the whole month of November! I'll be adding new art throughout the month as things sell, so make sure you stop in periodically to see what's new!
You'll also love shopping their beautiful collections. I've been particularly enjoying the loose and flowy cotton clothes and handmade soaps and bug spray! You can find anything you need at the Bazaar — and in November, my art too!
Experience Gulfport’s charm and vibrancy as artists paint on location, followed by an Exhibition & Collector’s Sale.
Gulfport, Florida · April 12–17, 2027
Back for a second time!
I’m so excited to be participating in the Gulfport Plein Air Festival for a second time!
The Gulfport Merchants Chamber (GMC) presents the 8th Annual Gulfport Plein Air Festival, an immersive art experience showcasing artists as they capture the charm and vibrancy of Gulfport in real time.
This interactive event invites the community to witness the artistic process firsthand throughout the festival, culminating in an Exhibition & Collector’s Sale at the Gulfport Welcome Center.
Exhibition & Collector’s Sale
April 17, 2027
4–6 PM
Gulfport Welcome Center
Artist registration is open. The deadline to enter is April 8, 2027. Limited spaces remain, so register now!
I was accepted to participate in this juried plein air event! Come paint the beaches with us on Saturday, December 5, 2026.
Spend the day painting on location at beaches, parks, local businesses and other coastal spots, followed by an evening reception and silent auction at the Beach Art Center.
Event Day · December 5, 2026
Check-in: 7–9 AM
Painting: Until 3 PM
Artwork turn-in: By 3:30 PM
Reception & Silent Auction: 5–7 PM
Selected artists will choose from designated painting locations throughout the beach communities, with $500+ in prizes awarded.
Artist participation is limited and applications are reviewed. The Beach Art Center will contact applicants and issue a full registration-fee refund if capacity has been reached or an application cannot be accommodated.
Hosted by the Beach Art Center as part of Creative Pinellas’ Art Everywhere.
Remember Me and Ritual Glow will be on display at the Mad Monk Art Walk on October 10, 2026, from 6–10 PM. Click a painting to view it larger.
SECOND SATURDAY ART WALK AT THE MAD MONK 👻🦇
OCTOBER 10 • 6–10 PM
WELCOME TO THE CREEPING HOUR 🎃
We’re dragging Mad Monk straight into October, and I am SO excited about the art.
The whole space is getting decked out for Samhain and transformed into a gallery full of local art, with everything from spooky and macabre to cute, quirky, classic Halloween, strange, beautiful, and wonderfully weird.
Think eerie little creatures, haunted vibes, creepy curiosities, playful Halloween pieces, gothic touches, classic seasonal art, and all the wonderfully unhinged things our local artists have conjured up 🖤
What to expect 👇🏿👇🏻👇🏾
A seriously outstanding collection of local art
Artisan vendors popping up throughout the space
Spooky beats setting the October mood
A wicked ART RAFFLE
A whole lot of Halloween atmosphere
Free wine til 7
Tea bar & apothecary open
Come wander through the art, meet the artists and makers, shop local, and get into the October spirit.
Come for the weird. Come for the spooky. Come for the cute Halloween shit. COME FOR THE ART!!
Just come see what we’ve been conjuring up at the Monk 🪄
Visit the Mad Monk
615 27th St S • St. Pete
In the Warehouse Arts District of St Pete
Gallery
Original paintings, plein aire studies, and studio works
Plein AirePainted on location, outdoors View Works
StudioWorks created in the studio View Works
Other WorksMixed media & explorations View Works
Plein Aire
Painted on location — capturing the moment as light and air change around me
GulfportGulfport, FL View Works
St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, FL View Works
MountainsMountain landscapes View Works
OtherOther locations View Works
Gulfport, FL
Painted on location in Gulfport, Florida
St. Petersburg, FL
Painted on location in St. Petersburg, Florida
Mountains
Painted on location in the mountains
Other Locations
Painted on location at other destinations
Studio
Works developed over time in the quiet of the studio
Studio CollectionsOriginal studio collections View Works
StudiesPaintings developed in the studio View Works
CommissionsCustom commissioned works View Works
From Artist TutorialsLearning from the masters View Works
Studies
Paintings developed in the quiet of the studio
Commissions
Custom commissioned studio works
Studio Collections
Original studio collections
From Artist Tutorials
Learning from the masters — painted while following tutorials from artists I admire
Other Works
Mixed media, experimental pieces, and collaborations
About The Artist
The story behind the brushstroke
Hemma Papp
Artist & Creator
The Story
Where Colour Finds Its Voice
Hemma Papp is an award-winning expressive fine artist native to Florida. Her work is rooted in a deep connection to place, nature, community, and lived experience.
"I create with intention and joy as an act of resistance."
Hemma creates original paintings inspired by Florida landscapes, community spaces, whimsy, and the emotional texture of everyday life. Her paintings layer color with intention and explore light and movement through a series of color washes, bold gestural marks, and delicate details that reward a closer look. She paints both en plein aire and in studio, but finds the highest inspiration in the spontaneous light of day with the energy of community connection woven throughout the works.
Through resilience shaped by decades of chronic illness, her work reflects a commitment to living boldly and creating with intention regardless of limitation. She hopes that her work and the constant choice to create inspires others to explore their own passions and live life on the colorful side!
Hemma lives in sunny St. Petersburg, FL, but is often found amongst the geckos of Gulfport, FL en plein aire!
Blog
Stories from the studio, paintings in progress, and creative musings
July 2026
Healing in 45 Minutes
Pushing my boundaries at a plein air kayaking retreat on the Suwannee River.
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June 2026
Dreaming of Mountains
A reflection on rest, reset, and finding a gentle way back to the canvas.
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May 2026
Watering the Garden
When you realize that it works — and that a healthy garden is also a lot of work.
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April 2026
Say Yes to the Things That Push You!
A week of painting, friendship, and growth at the Gulfport Plein Aire Festival — and the moment I truly believed I was an artist.
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March 2026
Michael's Buy 1, Get 2 Free!
There is a very specific type of "Artist Zen" that occurs when your creative needs and the universe's timing finally decide to shake hands...
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February 2025
My First Ever Art Show
February 5th was a date for the history books. It marked my first-ever art show at the Hickman Theatre for the Gulfport Plein Aire Artists Reception...
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January 2026
Why I Paint Outdoors: The Magic of Plein Aire
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you step out of the four walls of your house and into the open air — a radical, intentional act of choosing joy.
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Year in Review
December 2025
Life is a Canvas: A 2025 Year in Review
If I had to sum up this year in a single phrase, it would be radical re-emergence. This year brought a whirlwind of "life" happening all at once — and I decided to stop negotiating with self-doubt and chase joy instead.
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Contact The Artist
"Art is the most beautiful of all connections — it bridges distances and speaks directly to the soul. Every piece I create is an invitation to share that connection with you." — Hemma Papp
Commission requests are warmly welcomed! When reaching out, please include as much detail as possible about your vision — this helps me bring your idea to life with the care it deserves. Helpful details include:
A reference photo or description of the subject
Your desired size (e.g. 9×12", 16×20", or metric equivalent)
Your preferred medium (watercolour, acrylic, mixed media, etc.)
Any colour preferences or décor context
Your timeline or occasion, if relevant
"I would like this photo of my home done as a 9×12 watercolour. My décor has lots of coastal blues and greens."
