None of the five women could remember exactly when they started painting together.

But for more than 20 years, Donna Haney, Bebe Traylor, Jill Peckelun, Sandra Corpora and Donna Needs would pack up their easels, paints, sun hats and bug spray and head to the hills, seeking their dual loves: nature and painting.

The result is "Women's Work: Five Painters," a charming collection of their work through March 14, Rodale Family Gallery, Baum School of Art, 510 Linden St., Allentown.

"I think we met in the Palette Club," says Bebe Traylor. "Then we went to art school different art schools and found ourselves back in the Lehigh Valley."

The Bethlehem Palette Club is believed to be the area's oldest independent artist organization.

It wasn't long before they found themselves painting together in what they call "paint-outs," schlepping painting and survival equipment to inspiring vistas in which to paint.

Besides swapping advice, turpentine and a dab of cadmium orange, the three have shared the challenges and beauty of working outside.

"It's a lot of bugs, snakes and bad weather both hot and cold," says Traylor.

But there is also, they each are quick to point out, the awe of being in front of some spectacular and some subtlety beautiful scenes. In the hands of skilled artists such as these five women, the results are notable in the Baum exhibit.

Every year they donate paintings to the Baum School of Art auction. This year, Rudy Ackerman, Baum gallery director, approached them about showing together.

While they paint "en plein air" as a group, each are recognized artists in their own rights.

Donna Haney, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, paints portraits on commission in her studio in Bethlehem, of which she is a native.

Bebe Traylor, who has lived in Allentown for the past 12 years and has studied at Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, as well The Arts Students League of New York, still lives in her studio.

Jill Peckelun resided for years in the Lehigh Valley before recently moving to Hershey. She finds her inspiration in the beauty of nature and is the only one of the group who paints exclusively outdoors.

Sandra Corpora has had more than 12 solo exhibitions and has won an Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America.

Besides painting outside, Donna Needs has enjoyed a career as a commercial artist for the past 30 years, but says that the light and play of light and shadow on color nourishes her spiritual side.

As Jill Peckelun puts it, "It's been a lovely journey and we can't wait to see where we are going next."