The Brush and Palette Art Guild was started in October, 1957, with eight pupils in an oil painting class started by Mrs. Violet Linton of Leesburg, Ohio. She was the wife of Edward Linton, the pastor of the Leesburg Friend's Church where the classes were held every Monday evening.
Mrs. Linton had studied art in private classes near Indianapolis, attended Indiana University, and later took more classes in Gloucester, MA.
The group held it's first show in 1959 at the Dunlap Building in Leesburg. Only members of the art class were allowed to show their work. They also organized a sidewalk art fair to be held during the local soapbox derby.
From 1960 through 1996, the annual show was held in the Fairfield High School Gymnasium.
The second annual art show in 1960 consisted of work from the following members. Jeannie Bowman, Laura Carey, Margene Deatley, Delma Fairley, Janet Peyton, Ester Upp, Marilyn Anders, Nellie Barrett, Barbara Boris, Mae and Rufus Huff, Gretchen Huffman, Elsie Fullerton, Charlene Grabill, Joyce Bailey, Gladys Sheffield, Martha Rosher, Fannie Smith, Lois Spear, Donna Nash, Clare Trent, Mary Morris, Dorothy Smith, Steve Kiplinger, Joyce Ottendorf, and Violet Linton.
After the Lintons retired and moved to Marysville, TN, the group reorganized and changed the name to the Leesburg Brush and Palette Art Guild in 1966. Dorothy Smith was the first guild president. Virginia Wagoner,
Dorothy Smith, and Margene Deatley taught the classes. The guild was incorporated as a non-profit organization
in 1980. There are now over 60 professional and non professional members in the guild.
The annual art show was moved to it's present location at the Central Campus of Southern State Community College in 1997. In 2005, the name was changed once again, to The Brush and Palette Art Guild. The guild has outgrown it's boundries in Highland County, and now has members from several counties in SW Ohio, including Clinton, Fayette, Adams, Brown, and Clermont.
In 2006 the meeting place was changed to the Hillsboro Church of Christ on Walnut Street. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month.
Monthly meetings are a mix of business, mini workshops, drawing, and fellowship. Outside artists are welcome to teach, as well as guild members.
From a small group class in the 50s to a more diversified group of artists in the new century, the Brush and Palette Art Guild continues to grow, to learn, and to reach out to the community with the beauty of art.
