The Artists League brings three of the area's noted artists together for an exhibit - "Fall Fusion" - opened Wednesday, Sept. 1.

A reception, open to the public, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. Featured artists are Sarah Clatworthy, Barbara Sickenberger and Nancy Yanchus.

Barbara Sickenberger, a 12-year member of the Artists League, has had her hands and mind in art all of her life. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, she earned a bachelor's in advertising art from Kent State University, Ohio. Twenty years later, she earned a master's degree from UNC Greensboro. For the next 20 years, she was art director of a Greensboro children's clothing company, then freelanced for various companies until she and her husband, Ron, retired to Seven Lakes in 1998.

"Finding the Artists League has been such a bonus in my choice to go back to fine art," Sickenberger says.

Since becoming a member, Sickenberger served on the board for six years, taught children's classes for eight years, drawing classes every year, co-chaired the annual show and sale, served on the education committee six years and designs posters and invitational postcards.

"My work varies as the spirit moves me, mostly in style, but watercolor and drawing remain my chosen mediums," she says. "Subject matter is most often from nature, and I am most happy with pencils and pen."

A Southern belle, Sarah Clatworthy, grew up in Richmond, Va., where her interest in painting began. Oil painting became a hobby for her as an adult. She and her husband, Jay, have traveled extensively, and she took painting classes and/or joined an art group wherever they lived. They retired to Pinehurst in 1999.

Clatworthy has been an active League member and has maintained one of the League's art studios for many years.

Like Clatworthy, Nancy Yanchus is a native of Richmond, Va. She lived in Southern California for more than 10 years and worked in the women's fashion industry. It was that flair for color and design that encouraged her to experiment with painting. Her formal art study began in Maine, where she studied watercolors under Christopher Cart and Phyllis Wicks. In the fall of 1997, she and her husband, Raymond, retired to Pinehurst.

She is entrenched in activities of the Artists League, including the role of past and present president of the board of directors.

Yanchus exhibits at several local venues and has received awards in both oils and acrylic categories. She has been a member of the N.C. Watercolor Society for a number of years.

"I am continually painting and studying," says Yanchus.

The exhibit runs through Sept. 29 at the Exchange Street Gallery. Gallery hours are noon to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The gallery will be closed during the Labor Day weekend holiday.