An eclectic mix of artists, musicians and supporters of the artists’ residency known as Stouthouse meandered down the wooded path to the home for a Spring Martini Madness fundraiser hosted by owner Quentin Walter. Creativity and originality flowed freely, as guests sipped on martinis and sampled hors d’oeuvres while admiring the artwork and enjoying live music. In short, it was a visionary gathering of artists supporting artists.

The evening featured current artist-in-residence Mary Pratt from Baltimore, Md., who showed 24 of the original paintings she has created during her residency.

“I heard about Stouthouse through a friend and I was thrilled to stay here for three months,” said Pratt. “The privacy and solitude allowed me to focus exclusively on my work. I painted prolifically day and night.”

Pratt’s oil paintings depict women, primarily ballerinas in frilly tutu-like dresses, painted from behind.

“I love human figures, especially women, and I enjoy painting their backs because of the graceful curve,” said Pratt. “I also did some still-life paintings and I couldn’t be this close to the Indian River without painting a dingy on the shoreline.”

Stouthouse was founded in 2013 to establish a secluded retreat where artists could live, work and nurture their creativity. Located at the end of a private, coquina shell-covered road, it offers the artists-in-residence a place to find the solitude to create, ponder and experiment with their work without the noise and interference of the outside world.

In 1985, the late artist Weldon Joseph Stout designed and built the private residence, discretely tucked into a quiet residential Sebastian neighborhood, and named it Stouthouse. The house features six of his custom stained-glass works, inspired by the graphic art form of Alphonse Mucha, a Czech artist living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period.

Large glass panels integrate curves, color and composition with European antique glass, and are strategically placed to reflect outside light and create dancing illusions on the floor. Stout’s wife, Quentin Walter, has filled the open wall spaces with her extensive STAF (Seth Thelonious Alvin Foster) Collection.

It was Stout’s dream to provide a retreat for artists. He initiated the process of establishing nonprofit status and Walter moved forward with the plan when he passed away. She has since housed a number of talented artists in a guest cottage on the property.

“Stouthouse actually has four different missions,” said Walter. “The first is to maintain and expand the STAF art collection, the next is to develop artist-in-residency programs, the third is to preserve the unique home that my husband built, and the fourth is to grow native plants. We integrated all of those concepts into a thriving haven for artists funded entirely through private donations.”

Future plans include building a three-story, environmentally sustainable studio capable of housing up to four resident artists at a time. The hope is to create a model for other forward-thinking artists concerned with ecological stewardship.