Artists Cele Bryant and Joan Williams have been pulling together paintings from local artists to participate in publishing an annual calendar called Art of the Month.

"We both feel strongly the calendar is more about the art and less about the dates," says Williams.

The calendar comes packaged in a 5-by-7 acrylic magnetic frame. The calendar for 2012 marks the seventh year of publication and features 10 artists.

Pamela Swarbrick is noted for her wonderful watercolor farm animals and pets, and "Laughing Puppy" for January starts the New Year with a smile.

February features Sara Simpson's acrylic abstract painting, which won first place in acrylics in the Artists League Absolutely Art Exhibit this past June.

Mike D'Andrea has been teaching watercolors for years and helped establish the Artists League in Aberdeen, and brings in March with a watercolor figure painting that is so unlike his usual style.

"April Flowers," by Jeanette Sheehan, welcomes spring. Sheehan is a longtime resident of the Sandhills and has won many awards in both watercolor and oil over the years.

The beautiful "Iris Trio," by Cele Bryant, is May's offering and demonstrates the ease and fluidity of Bryant's watercolors.

The "Oak Island Light House," a watercolor by Barbara Sickenberger, definitely has the warmth of June and was painted on location during a painting retreat to Oak Island.

Nancy Yanchus paints mostly in oils and has the perfect painting for July: celebrating our "Independence" at the Carolina Hotel in all its glory. Also, featured for September is Yanchus' painting of zebras from a photo taken by her sister on safari to Africa.

The oil painting for August is by Joan Williams, after artist P. L. Kroeyer, and titled "Evening Stroll" - two friends walking on the beach.

"Sunflowers" are perfect for October and a good example of the -beautiful flowers used in many of Williams' paintings grown by Sara Webster and sold at the local farmers market.

November features a wonderful oil painting of a country farm with hay bales by Deane Billings. Although this painting is in oil, most of Billings' paintings are in watercolors.

Last but not least, December has a strong feel of winter through Irene Dobson's watercolor of a stream after freshly fallen snow.

"This is your invitation to enjoy the New Year by displaying a new piece of art each month," says Williams. "Share this art with your friends and family." Art of the Month is available from each of the artists, the About Art Gallery, Seagrove Candle Company, Sandhills Woman's Exchange and the Arts Council of Moore County.

For more information, call Williams at (910) 215-5963 or Cele Bryant at (910) 692-8358.