Dear Two Coats of Paint Readers,
What a night we had last night! I’m operating on very little sleep, but today I wanted to let you know that we are launching the 2026 Two Coats of Paint Year-End Fundraising Campaign. Because you are a Two Coats of Paint reader, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to invest in independent art writing and publishing for 2027.
Since 2023, we have all learned that survival in the arts isn’t easy, but also that if we all help maintain the framework (in this case, independent art writing), the community has a chance for renewal and growth. In 2026, thanks to generous reader support in 2025, Two Coats of Paint has been able to:
- Work with numerous artists and writers to edit and publish over 250 pieces (articles, reviews, interviews, studio visit reports, and more), 50 more than we published in 2025.
- Create monthly gallery guides that help the community navigate the painting scene and promote exhibitions in New York City as well as the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and further afield.
- Maintain robust social media feeds that alert you when posts are published and also enable us to stay abreast of your news and activities. We now cross-post on Substack for readers who have joined that vibrant, writing-centric online community.
- Host monthly artist residencies that help pay the rent, utilities, server fees, writers’ fees, and more.
- Organize monthly open studios to meet the Two Coats of Paint community.
- Serve as a juror for several nonprofit organizations’ painting exhibitions, which has brought so many young painters from across the country into our community.
Two Coats of Paint is completing its 20th year. That’s two decades of conversation and commentary connecting artists, galleries, curators, collectors, students, and art programs that you have helped make possible.
I hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation today to keep independent art writing going strong in 2027. To those of you who have already contributed — thank you.
With love and gratitude,
Sharon Butler
Founder and Publisher of Two Coats of Paint
