Darlene lives and works in Locust Grove, Virginia. Having worked in acrylics, she transitioned to Watercolor because of the movement and beauty in layering the medium provides. She never looked back and has now worked with watercolors for 20 years. Her work is luminous, brilliant, textured, and tactile.

She is self-taught and accomplished. Her focus is nature and her ability to bring a piece to life with layers and textures is extraordinary. Her knowledge of the medium is well studied. Her inspirations and quest for knowledge come from many avenues, but her search for textures has been influenced by artists like Ann Blockley.

Darlene’s membership affiliations include Lake of the Woods Arts Group in Locust Grove, The Arts Center in Orange Paint Club, and her work has also been shown at the Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“Expressing nature in watercolor involves layering and organic flow while hinting at the textures (rough, feathered, furry, misty, velvety etc.) that bring depth to the scene or the object. Watercolor is alive with movement, it’s always interesting and unique as it spreads pigment into creases and divots in the paper to show details and distance.”

- Darlene Agsten

Tracey is a multidisciplinary artist with 20+ years experience of mixing it up with a practice rooted in creative wire jewelry, watercolor and mixed media.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Tracey is mostly a self-taught artist that calls Lake Anna, VA her home now. Tracey has always been drawn to creating unique and one-of-a-kind jewelry and more recently, watercolor and mixed media paintings. Her pieces are a reflection of her love for experimenting with different materials and techniques. "I try to combine materials that are classic, but with a bit of whimsy.”

Tracey has travelled extensively throughout the US and abroad and draws inspiration from nature and her travels incorporating intricate details and vibrant colors into her pieces. "I am a proclaimed rock hound, and when I find a stone that speaks to me, I try to pay it homage with the metal and design that I choose for it." Tracey’s unique style and attention to detail have gained her a loyal following. Her artwork has been displayed in several local Virginia Galleries and at the historic property, Montpellier.

Her passion for art, in all forms, is the inspiration for her drive to continue to experience creating art, in any medium.

You can find her in her Co-owned gallery, The Avenue ArtHouse in Louisa, where she is an educator dedicated to fostering creativity in both children and adults through engaging workshops and classes. "I feel blessed to have found a tribe of talented like minded artists at The Avenue ArtHouse, where my creative juices flow. I am fascinated by the creative processes and love sharing my art and learning from other artists. My motto is, “Life should be fun, and so should creating ART!"

She looks forward to sharing her artistic passions with you.

Laura has worked in publication layout & design for several colleges and universities. Her commissioned artworks have been printed in brochures and are displayed by prominent members of the City of Petersburg and UVA. She has exhibited her work at Aromas Café in Charlottesville, The Avenue Art House in Louisa, The Arts Center in Orange, and The Retreat in Petersburg, Virginia.

Laura has been an art teacher for more than 20 years. She has taught in private and public schools as well as co-op organizations. After working and teaching for the Petersburg Area Art League (PAAL), Laura became Vice-President of the Board of Directors where she led the charge in art education and the Virginia Standards of Learning for PAAL. She continues her work with PAAL as a Board Member to “promote and nurture the arts for all.”

Although she has taught and worked with different media, her love of photography and watercolor are where her voice is clear, and her stories are most impactful. Having traveled to many countries and experienced many cultures, her artistic viewpoint is focused on nature journaling and environmental preservation. She lives and works in Matoaca, Virginia.

“We grew up playing outside, walking barefoot on the moss, and climbing trees; today’s generations are growing up behind a screen. As artists, it is our responsibility to document nature so that it may be protected and remembered.”

-Laura Chalfant

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Karen is a self-taught artist, but she has been drawing, painting and making masks since she was a young girl. In her 20’s, she exhibited some of her mask work in a small gallery in Louisville, KY. As an adult, she has taken classes in watercolor painting and sketching in charcoal, and currently works in watercolor and acrylic paint, and sculpts with polymer clay. For the past year, she has been exhibiting some of her work at The Avenue Arthouse in Louisa, VA.

The focus of her work is to paint people and nature using vibrant watercolors to display beauty and emotion. Her sculptures are focused on movement and humor.

As for influences on her painting style, Karen shared, “Vermeer’s use of light and color has always taken my breath away! Additionally, Georgia O’Keeffe’s use of vibrant color and lines to express joy through nature has been a big influence.”

“I’m mostly a realistic painter that uses color and light to express joy or strong emotion. I paint subjects that entice my eye and give me the thrill of trying to create beauty on a blank canvas.”

-Karen Franke

I earned an Art Education degree from the University of South Florida and taught elementary art for 29 years. Now retired, I devote more time creating and exploring a wide range of artist styles.

I’m drawn to impressionism for its expressive use of color and light. I also maintain a deep personal connection to the natural world. My tiny watercolor works are from nature . Each painting has taught me a new skill and extends my ongoing journey of learning and discovery.

My first efforts started in 2003 with artist Donna Dewberry. She was a one stroke artist and a great inspiration to many.

I painted furniture, rugs, and wooden craft items. My love for art painting grew from there. Work interrupted the process but the desire and love of art continued. II finally returned and now can follow my dream.

My mediums are watercolor and acrylic. I took two semesters a of drawing at Germanna Community College in 2020 and 2021. Over the past year I’ve taken classes with Asya Baldwin at Lake of the woods. I also spend a lot of time on self study, practice, and painting with friends.

There is so much out there that I want to express in my art and that keeps me trying. I find great joy in the journey as this is something I always wanted to do. The fellowship is equally as important and is a catalyst to cure all. My family has been very supportive in my painting journey, and I am so grateful for that.

As my instructor says: practice, practice, practice!

Originally from Lafayette, Indiana, Ellen’s inherited talent is a family trait as her father too was an artist. She has remained steadfast and true to her DNA having trained as a Technical Illustrator at Purdue University. She continued her path as an Engineering Detail Draftsman where her work evolved from the drawing board with pen and ink to computer applications like Adobe Illustrator, Corel Drawing, and Auto CAD. She came to Virginia to work for the USMC in Quantico where her engineering drawings assisted in provisioning parts and equipment.

Her rooted talent and passion for pen and ink transferred beautifully to watercolor, her medium of choice. In watercolor, her focus is botanical illustrations and landscapes where the ink and watercolor washes come to life expressing Ellen’s clear and colorful voice.

Although self-taught, her knowledge of watercolor is precise and extensive. This thirst for the creative process has fueled her enthusiasm for mixed media, urban sketching, plein air painting, and illustrated lettering. Her work has been shown at the Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg, Lake of the Woods (LOW) Arts Group in Locust Grove, the Avenue ArtHouse in Louisa, and The Arts Center in Orange, Viginia. She currently lives and works in Locust Grove, Virginia.

“I am a world traveler, and my work is representative of the places I’ve visited and the people I’ve met; all of which I want to share with others.”

-Ellen Raguette