About the artist:

What follows is her biography, written before her death: I'm an artist, probably best known for my seascapes and coastal scenes. I work in oil, but have also painted many watercolors and pastel portraits. I moved to North Carolina from New York's Long Island in 1989 with my husband, Dick Bendin. He died suddenly on Jan. 9, 2001. It was an awful day. Up until then, we were Fric and Frac. We did so much together -- we played bridge, we played golf (until my arthritis prevented it), he helped with my art shows. He always encouraged my painting. In fact, it was Dick who first handed me a shoebox full of paints back in 1950-something, and said, "Go paint!" Life hasn't been the same without him. My professional affiliations have included elected membership in the American Artists Professional League (lifetime), Hudson Valley Art Association, Knickerbocker Artists and the National League of American Pen Women. Although it's been some time, I was honored to receive awards such as the Pastel Society of America Award at the AAPL Grand National and the Mrs. John Newington Portrait Award at the Hudson Valley National competition. My dad was cartoonist Ben Batsford. He worked for the Winnipeg Free Press and also illustrated cartoons like the 1920's "Little Annie Rooney," the "Hickory Dinks," and Edgar Bergen's "Charlie McCarthy" and "Mortimer Snerd." A likeness of my father is on the wall at the original Palm Restaurant, in New York City. Oddly enough, comic strip aficionados still contact me about him, although he passed away 30+ years ago. I've been fortunate to study with some incredible artists -- the late George Gach (known as a sculptor, but he also painted); David Leffel, Joe Hing Lowe and most recently, Alabama plein air painter Perry Austin. I also studied at the New School and Art Students League in NYC. Before I got married I studied fashion design, lettering and then fine art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. After the war broke out though, I worked in the art department at Grumman with my dad and my sister, Fay. I've slowed down a bit, but still teach a class on Monday mornings; and I exhibit my work at Sunset River Marketplace, nearby in Calabash, North Carolina. Family. Dick and I had four kids: Greg, Dariel, Mona and Scott. My sister, Fay's daughter, Barbara, spent a lot of time with us, too. My oldest son, Greg, passed away on Jan. 23, 2009, another awful blow to me and my family. I still can’t believe it. I have five grandchildren, a grandniece and grandnephew, three great grandnieces, a grandnephew and two great granddaughters. On my husband's side, there are all the Atlanta Bendins and there's a gaggle of them, too. I keep adding shots to the family album, so check back! I hope you'll "like" my page and also the Sunset River Marketplace Art Gallery page. They do so much for the local communities of coastal North and South Carolina.