Members’ Gallery: August 2015

Sara Looney

Building by Sara Looney (MG: August 2015)

Artist's Statement—My life as an artist began in 2002 when my husband Mike and I moved to Colonial Beach. After 35 years of working as a university teacher and administrator, I retired and had time to take classes in oil painting and watercolor.

People often ask me why I don’t concentrate in one or the other medium. The reason I don’t is because I love the quick tempo and beautiful effects of watercolor but I also love the ability to redo, work over, and change oil paintings.

I studied oil painting for many years with Ebbie Hynson. I have had the opportunity to study watercolor through the Springfield Artist Guild, in Fairfax, in classes on the Eastern Shore, and in Dedham, UK. I love to paint water and shorelines, distant vistas and beach life.

I am a founding member of the Colonial Beach Artists’ Guild. The Guild has offered wonderful opportunities to show my work. It has also provided a rich network of artist friends to encourage and critique.

My paintings are in collections in Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Vermont, California and in British Columbia--everywhere that I have family and friends who have encouraged me to paint.

Abstract by Sara Looney (MG: August 2015)

Kathy Waltermire

Far Away Places by Kathy Waltermire (MG: August 2015)

Artist's Statement—My early travels in Japan, Hawaii and elsewhere awakened my love of beautiful scenes and color. Nature in all its forms fills me up and encourages me to paint.

I work almost exclusively in soft pastel or graphite and strive for work that is appealing to the viewer and is full of pure, lively color. Favorite subjects include people, pets, still life, florals, and landscapes.

I paint en plein air and in the studio, using reference photographs I’ve taken of scenes or of portrait subjects, or live set-ups for still life. I build up a painting using many layers of color to achieve the form, color and amount of detail desired. This part is the most fun—solving problems of space and color to finish a pleasing painting.

You may see my work at JarrettThor Fine Arts in Colonial Beach, Virginia, or in my studio. I offer workshops in portrait drawing and pastels and tutor students individually. I occasionally judge area shows.

P. O. Box 540, Colonial Beach, VA 22443
Studio: 804-224-4480
[email protected]

Misty October Morning by Kathy Waltermire (MG: August 2015)