Out of the 4 fairs hosted annually, the Spring Fine Art & Craft Fair has a special emphasis on fine arts and fine crafts with a more in-depth jurying process, a fine art competition, and thousands of dollars of prize money.

Meet the judges who will be selecting the winners at the 2026 fine art competition!

Eric Lamaar

Award winning artist Eric LaMarr is from Rockledge, FL. He is a graduate of Brevard Community College and The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Illustration. Eric acquires most of the inspiration for his paintings from the surrounding Floridian landscapes and nautical based environments. He is mainly a watercolor artist however; he will occasionally paint with oil and acrylic. Eric’s love for the ocean and nautical environments shines with astonishing clarity through his paintings. One of the many accomplishments that Eric has achieved is creating original designs for Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville. The success of Eric’s work allows him to travel to locations such as Cozumel, Puerto Rico and Key West in search of his next idea for a tropical painting.

Janne Etz

Janne Etz has been creating handcrafted jewelry for more than four decades and brings both technical expertise and extensive craft fair experience to the judging process.

Her journey in jewelry began in 1982 while working at a jewelry supply store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There she had the opportunity to learn practical silversmithing techniques and problem-solving skills from Native American artisans who regularly visited the shop for their materials. Those early experiences provided a strong foundation in both craftsmanship and respect for traditional jewelry-making methods.

In 1984 she established her jewelry business, Contemporary Concepts. Two years later she moved to Florida, where she developed her own distinctive approach to wire wrapping. For the next 18 years she exhibited her work at fine art and craft fairs throughout the state, gaining firsthand experience with the dedication, preparation, and craftsmanship required to present work in a juried show environment. During that time her work received numerous awards, including Best of Show at a fine art fair hosted by the Central Brevard Art Association.

Since 1992, Janne has operated a retail jewelry studio in Historic Cocoa Village, where she continues to create one-of-a-kind pieces using wire, gemstones, and pearls. She has also taught wire-wrapping techniques to many students over the years, sharing both the technical skills and creative possibilities of the craft.

One of her favorite aspects of jewelry design is collaborating with customers who bring in meaningful stones or heirloom materials to be transformed into wearable works of art. After more than forty years in the field, Janne still describes her career with the same enthusiasm she had when she began: “I don’t get up and go to work in the morning—I get up and go play.”

Her long experience as a maker, instructor, retailer, and craft fair exhibitor gives her a deep appreciation for the creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication that each artist brings to their work.

Julie Wheat

Julie Wheat has been a secondary school and college Fine Art educator for nearly two decades. She has both taught and worked in a variety of Fine and Applied Art industries including plein air ala prima oil painting (mostly storms and hurricanes), fashion design, tailoring, and styling for film, print, and TV (one film nominated for an Oscar), jewelry making (hand-building and casting),  photography, mural painting, and pioneering curriculum development merging graphic design and fine arts in Las Vegas for gaming students while participating in efforts legalizing online gaming. She has consulted to a number of museums and historical societies as well as a number of auction houses and licensed appraisers on Fine Art matters specializing in drawing, printing, cast sculpture, and painting. Her work has spanned the US and abroad; most recently in France and Italy for two month long residencies focusing on still life, botanicals and landscape.  Julie’s painting titled, “Timeless Point in Time” is on display at the Orlando airport.

Liat Moshe

Liat Moshe was born in Israel and moved to the United States at the age of 26. She began her career as a henna artist before transitioning into tattooing, where she developed her craft and passion for the art form. Eight years later, Liat successfully opened her own tattoo studio and continues to grow her career while staying deeply connected to her family and roots.

Brad Fowler