Insights about one of our artists, Sandra Hill

Edge & Depth by Sandra Hill 

"Four years ago I fell in love again and rediscovered the joy of art. I have been a happy camper ever since. With this rebirth, I got brave enough to enter juried shows and was pleasantly surprised when I started receiving awards for my art. From realistic to totally abstract, I seek to stretch perceptions of our world." Ms. Hill is receiving increased recognition for her work through awards and commissions. Her work is widely displayed and exhibited in southwest Ohio and the Washington, DC area.

She studied art at the Chicago Art Institute and with many nationally known artists. Sandra enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge through teaching painting and has taught children, adults and handicapped students. She also had a cable television show in the DC area.

The piece titled “Edge and Depth” is currently on exhibit at the 2011 Central Virginia Watercolor Guild juried show in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Desert Glow by Sandra Hill

“Desert Glow” is one of Sandy's favorite collages. It is currently on exhibit at the Arlington Artists Gallery.

Nova Bursting by Sandra Hill

                           “Nova Bursting” is another work also on view at the AA Gallery.

Insights about one of our artists, Sandi Parker

Windmill Ruins In Provence by Sandi Parker

Arlington, Virginia artist Sandi Parker paints in oil, with a specialty in Provence and Tuscan landscapes, seascapes, and youth sports paintings. Parker has been painting since 2003, when she began studying with local artist and teacher Jane McElvaney Coonce.



View From the Dune by Sandi Parker



Her vivid paintings of Provence quite often feature lavender fields as subject matter.“I am especially drawn to the purples of lavender fields and the reds of poppy fields in France,” Parker says.“I also love painting sunflowers in Tuscan paintings. I like to think these paintings transport viewers to beautiful and vibrant settings.” A longtime beach lover, Parker also paints tranquil seascapes. “In these works I attempt to create a soothing mood through the use of pastel colors,” she says.



Ready To Score by Sandi Parker

After observing her children and their friends participating in high school sports, Parker became inspired to paint images of various high school sports. She recently mounted a solo show entitled “INmotion: Celebrating Arlington High School Athletics,” a collection of 20 paintings featuring student athletes from Arlington’s Yorktown and Washington-Lee High Schools. “Teenagers spend so much time with their technologies – the phones, laptops and tvs – that it is inspirational to see them off the couch and on the fields. I wanted to capture the joy they derive from seeing what their bodies ‘in motion’ can do,” Parker says of the paintings. The show has appeared at 5 venues in Arlington, and Parker was thrilled to have the show featured twice in the Arlington Sun Gazette articles. Writer Dave Faccinoli wrote of the show, “Good-quality sports art, like the kind Parker has produced, is not seen very often.”

Sandi Parker's Website:   http://www.sandiparker.com/

Insights from one of our artists, Wen LePore

Pete's Tree by Wen LePore

I have been interested in art since I was a kid. I grew up in an artistic family - my Dad was a musician and my mom an actress. I wanted to be a painter, but my mom thought training was too expensive for our family. She also told me "artists are not as respected as they should be." I became a math teacher according to her guidance, but my dream to be a painter never left my mind.



                Running by Wen LePore




I decided to use art to introduce myself in America since I know it is not easy to communicate with people of different cultural backgrounds. My dad told me art affects people across countries as we listened to world famous classical music. I think it is much easier to use visual art to express my thinking and creativity than using my poor English. My first painting was completed in February, 2006. Now I am pretty sure my mom was wrong, and I am so happy I have been painting seriously since September, 2008. In 2010 I became a member of Arlington Artists Alliance, and I have grown a lot as an artist with our members’ help. It has been a very good beginning of my life in United States.



Flying by Wen LePore



I have to say that I am a 100% American-trained painter, and my style should be a brand new word I call “ACE”. It describes the influences of Abstract, Cubism, and Expressionism present in my work.

Wen LePore

Website

'Fall for Art' Reception

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the gallery for our 'Fall for Art' reception this past Saturday October 1st. It was a great turnout. We had a steady flow of patrons, and by the end of the reception 11 paintings were sold! This is only the opening reception; the work will be hanging for the remainder of October, and we look forward to more sales as we draw closer to the holidays. Thanks again if you stopped by, and if you haven't had a chance to take a look, please do--the gallery is open Monday-Saturday, 11am-7pm.

Here are a few photos from the Saturday reception, thanks to photographer Bonnie Freeman:




And Duc Nguyen, the gallery owner, also took some photos which you can see on the Arlington Arts Gallery Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.288663337812173.79482.178506398827868&type=1

Insights from one of our artists, George Bowles

Pewter Pitcher, Knife, and Bread by George Bowles

George Bowles studied painting and drawing at the Bougie Studio in Minneapolis from 1996 to 2000. He has exhibited in several galleries. Two of his portraits and one of his still life have been finalists in The Artist's Magazine annual Art Competitions, from a competitive field of 11,000 to 13,000. Another still life made him the magazine's Artist of the Month (April - May, 2005). On the strength of yet another still life, he was a winner in the "Over Sixty" national competition sponsored by The Artist's Magazine. He won first place in the Potomac River Regional Art Show three consecutive years (2009-2011), as well as the People's Choice award in 2009.

"Cryptos I" by Linda Maldonado

Cryptos I by Linda Maldonado

"Cryptos I”, a vivid painting on canvas by Linda Maldonado, is representative of Linda's experimental work with acrylics and collage. Layers of colors applied to a textured surface build to a rich and exciting finished effect. Elements of the painting are alternately revealed and veiled, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue. Like many of Linda's recent works, “Cryptos I” presents an abstract image based on imagination, intuition, and endless possibilities.

Insights from one of our artists, Russ McIntosh

Angelic Composition by Russ McIntosh



vertigoBlue by Russ McIntosh



Have you ever stared at a cloud and saw shapes and images in them? The essence of my art is for the viewer to look deep within my images to find something much more than what they originally saw upon the initial view of the pieces. The images I have created have many layers in them, and though at first glance the main composition does register with them, it is upon further reflection that the viewer can see "hidden images" that were originally unnoticeable.

MidnightDream by Russ McIntosh



                                                              

The approach I take with my artwork is very distinct, in that I incorporate numerous photographs into a very unique composition. Utilizing anywhere from six to two dozen images or more, I build a piece up. At times when layering the images, other images can be noticed, and I will adjust the highlights and shadows adding some digital paint to make the piece more cohesive. With a vivid imagination I try to present the essence of staring at clouds within my own artwork. If you look at the shadow shapes and highlights within the image, other objects will start to take focus.

Russ McIntosh

http://www.russmcintosh.com/