"Tropical Whirl" by Jennifer Brewer Stone

I search for meaning and balance in the contrast between the simple and the complex. My paintings are my children and my teachers, evidence of the constant work in progress that is the experience of creation. My interaction between the canvas and the inner and outer world is in constant flux. I have moments of great privacy where I paint and paint and have only my music and thoughts as company. Then I'll have a large reception and show my work and my studio, and I'll be wide open to other thoughts inspiring my thoughts, to outside interactions and the pleasure of communicating through art.

This dualism and desire for balance has a strong presence in my art. A canvas print of my piece Tropical Whirl is currently showing at the gallery, and in this piece there are multiple shapes and colors, but they are all balanced. The items are unified not by a focus on one, but rather by the play between elements and how the eye is guided from one shape to another following the curve of the objects. I think my love of bright color and intricate gradients is evidenced here. I'm also fascinated by the complexity of nature; any plant that I look at and think, 'that exists?' immediately perks my interest. I want to capture the awesome wonder of the beauty that is all around us, and put it in front of you. I want you to be drawn in by the experience of wonder with me.



I hope you have a chance to take a look at my piece in person. It makes all the difference, especially in seeing the bright colors and gradients as they truly are. We look forward to seeing you at the gallery soon!

-Jennifer Brewer Stone

www.jennifersartgallery.com

Insights from one of our artists, Ai-Wen Wu Kratz

"Color Logic /RYB" by Ai-Wen Wu Kratz, Acrylic on canvas, 7ft W by 5 ft.H

"Irina" by Ai-Wen,
 Concentrated crayon
and colored pencil on paper.
26in. W x 40 in. H

Being born with the proclivity for colors and forms that constitute the visual world, I find great happiness to be in a league of individuals that are committed to bring our invisible selves by way of our art to all others that are on different paths of life. Our contribution, jointly as artists, is to enrich others with our sensitivities, visual or spiritual, that are unique to us, by birth and/or by training.

'The Scream' of Edvard Munch; The letters of Van Gogh to his brother; The night walks along the hillside paths from the Skowhegan School Library back to the cottages; Wassily Kandinsky's first encounter with Monet's painting, "Haystack," that liberated in him the independent power of colors, line, shapes, planes and forms from subject matters; The paper, crayons, clipboard and I, myself, sketching by the roadside; The closing of an art critique session in late night, then to fetch a place for food, along the questionable turns amidst the NY City streets; The intense bond between the violin and Julia Fischer and her mastery over the instrument bringing forth miraculous music that reaches our souls; All have sustained a fire in me to act and to paint above womanhood and motherhood. The latter, interestingly enough, have enriched me and secured the basis of my confidence

in professionalism. 

It was said that a man, with his briefcase, religiously every day left his house through one door and entered the same house through another to his basement office to begin and end his daily office work.  With the same seriousness, I hope to share with you from time to time what I do in my studio.  It happens to be also in the basement of a house.  Invitingly, it is a space that is generously large, and is enhanced by the view of a lake. 

"Chair in Blue Room" by LK Jeffers

"Chair in Blue Room" by LK Jeffers

The painting above, Chair in a Blue Room, by LK Jeffers ( http://www.lkjeffers.com/ )  is an original oil on canvas.   This charming painting has won awards in juried exhibition, including winning an award in a local exhibition juried by the late Ross Merrill.  Ross Merrill was not only an amazing artist, but he was also the National Gallery of Art's Chief of Conservation.  The wonderful play of light and shadows along with the vibrancy and variations of blues, help to make this a special painting.  While the original painting is no longer available, Ms. Jeffers had high quality limited edition canvas giclee prints made for this painting.   The giclee print captures the wonderful luminesce of the original painting.   There are two different limited editions for this painting   One giclee edition is in the original 16x20 size and the second edition is 8x10.  Both can be purchased via the gallery.   Currently, one of the 8x10 size giclee prints of this exceptional painting is on display at the gallery.

“Rush Hour Evening” by Jane McElvany Coonce

“Rush Hour Evening” by Jane McElvany Coonce

This exquisite painting, by Jane McElvany Coonce http://www.jmcelvany.com/, is called “Rush Hour Evening”.  She painted it after a plein air session on the roof top of the Lennox Club, an apartment building in Crystal City.  This plein air “Paint Out” session was sponsored by the Arlington Artists Alliance.  Jane loved the view of the headlights on the cars as people headed home from work and was able to capture the twilight ambience in her painting. 

"Morning at Key Bridge and Georgetown" by Jane McElvany Coonce

Morning at Key Bridge and Georgetown

Jane McElvany Coonce (http://www.jmcelvany.com/), one of the artists whose work is on display at the Arlington Arts Gallery, is known for her Key Bridge/Georgetown paintings.   Normally, she paints afternoon Key Bridge scenes.  Her morning painting above is the exception.  Morning at Key Bridge and Georgetown, which measures 18 x 24,  is an original oil painting.   Whereas in the afternoon the bridge and arches are hidden from the sun and are dark, this side of the bridge captures the morning light, lighting up the arches in an almost enchanted way.  Jane loves the challenge of painting the ever changing Key Bridge and surrounding area.   Each time she paints this area, the reflections on the water and the colors in the sky are different.   It is her favorite scene in Washington to paint and every one of her paintings is unique and captures a particular moment in time.

Welcome to Gallery Insights

This blog will highlight works of art that are currently on display at the Arlington Arts Gallery, 5179 Lee Highway, Arlington VA.

The Arlington Arts Gallery represents over 60 artists in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area.  It was founded as a cooperation between Duc Nguyen of Lat Viet Gallery and the Arlington Artists Alliance.  Together, a new gallery was formed to bring local artists into the limelight.  The artists consist of emerging artists as well as artists who have been collected over the years.  Paintings styles run the gamut from traditional paintings to the abstract.  There are oil paintings, acrylics, water color, collage, pastel, mixed media, ceramics and sculpture.  Just as Arlington's population is diverse, so are the artists that are represented in this gallery.