Mount Dora Art League
Mount Dora Center for the Arts is proud to lift up and partner with the Mount Dora Art League, the oldest organized group of artists in Central Florida.
The Mount Dora Art League is comprised of artists who pay an annual $25 membership fee to cover monthly art demonstrations and workshops. They meet once a month and have a member only exhibition each year in the MDCA gallery.
Today, all forms of artistic expression are encouraged. Members need not be artists, just have an interest in art and are welcome to come to learn about art through demos and discussions.
Demos and workshops are planned for each of their meetings which are held in the Mount Dora Center for the Arts gallery at 135 E. 5th Ave Mount Dora, FL on the third Saturday of the month from 10am to 12pm.
Mount Dora Art League (MDAL) Members’ Spring Exhibition 2025
1. The opening reception of the League’s Spring Show will be held this Friday (April 4) from 5 – 7 pm at the Lake County Art Museum (213 West Ruby St., Tavares). The reception will feature 62 works from 32 of our members, refreshments, and entertainment, as well as the award of cash prizes and ribbons. In addition, participants will have the chance to vote for a People’s Choice award.
2. The reception will also provide an opportunity for members to order MDAL palette badges. Carolyn Smith will take your order and your check ($15) if you’d like her to order a badge.
3. The League continues its Pop Up Art Show at the Mount Dora Center for the Arts (138 E. 5th Av) for the month of April. Join us for a reception on Friday, April 11, 5 – 7 pm and enjoy the art of 18 of our members. Wine, beer, and soda will very likely be served by a young, handsome bartender.
2025 MDAL Member Exhibition Awards
Awards of Merit
“A Hen in the House” Acrylic by Cheryl Lynn Looker
“Mount Dora Corner” color pencil by Ken Avidor
“Boiled Peanuts” Oil by Roberta Avidor
“Gator” photograph by Gerry Auslous
Best in Category
Photography “Circle of Leaves” by Laura Howell
Other Media” Mystic Forest” Alcohol Ink by Susan Grogan
3D “Great Finds” by Sheila Hedeman
Watercolor ” Summer Storm” by Sandi Hanlon-Breuer
Acrylic “Field of Poppies” by Ginny Ganong Nichols
3rd Place
“Toft’s Point” Acrylic by David Cerretani
2nd Place
“People on Palettes ” by Morna Strengholt
1st Place
“Field Trippin'” Color Pencil by Robert Pearson
Best of Show
“Night Watch” Pastel by Melinda Hamsher

Korinne Carpino demonstrates Alcohol Ink techniques
Join the Mount Dora Art League community
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MDAL News
MDAL’s March meeting, Saturday, 1-3 pm, will be at Mount Dora Center for the Arts Gallery (138 E. 5th Ave) instead of Chrissie Hawkes’ studio.
We’ll be meeting in town and can take advantage of the Art and Craft Fair being held this weekend, as well as enjoy the art that 18 of our members are showing in the gallery as part of our Pop Up exhibition. Parking lots near downtown will have free shuttles. Bob Pearson will present the program “Painting from Photos”.
If you are planning on participating in our Spring 2025 show at the Lake County Art Museum, please email Bob (by responding to this email or at [email protected]) the number of entries — 1 or 2 — you plan to deliver to LCAM (213 W Ruby St., Tavares) on Match 31, 11-2 pm. We need a count of the number of pieces being planned in order to determine how many stand alone display panels to bring to the Museum.
You must have your 2025 dues paid by March 31 to be in the show (you may bring a check when you drop off your art). After April 1, those with dues unpaid will be pruned from the MDAL email list. If you joined last year in October, November or December, you are considered paid for 2025.
Finally, there will be a Plein Air paint out, today, Thursday, 1-3 pm at 115 N Sunset Drive, Mount Dora.
Look forward to hearing from you about the number of pieces you plan to exhibit at the Art Museum. And see you at Saturday’s meeting.
Morna and Bob


Artist Sandi Hanlon-Breuer presented a free watercolor demo in the MDCA Gallery on Jan 18, 2025

Mount Dora Art League History
The Mount Dora Art League was founded on February 26, 1926 and was active from the start. In the early days, the artists were from both Mount Dora and Eustis until Eustis began their own league, but there are still close ties between the two. Art classes in many disciplines and writing were conducted and the first art shows by the group were often held on the tennis court fence!
On the 25 th. anniversary in 1951, Hugh Mc Kean who was then President of Rollins College and is the benefactor along with his wife of the Morse Museum in Winter Park, was the honored guest at a catered dinner in the Community Building.
The League began to fade but was invigorated in February of 1962 when dues were a dollar and no meetings were held but the membership displayed their work together in several exhibits a year.
In 1963 –64, the membership was similar to today’s membership of 50; two shows a year were held and displays by four local schools were included.
Then, only painters were displaying their work, but now all forms of artistic expression are encouraged and members who have an interest in art but are not producing art , are also encouraged to come as members to learn about art through demos and discussions.
Demos are planned for each of their meetings which are held at Mount Dora Center for the Arts at 138 E5th Ave Mount Dora, FL on the third Saturday of each month. Membership for the year is $25.00 which helps to offset any demonstration fees. Come join our Mount Dora Art League and display your art with us at our two shows this coming year.