ETHEREAL
SPLENDOR

“Painting, for me, is most eventful when I’m submerged into the scents, sounds, and abundance of nature. Plein-air painting, my translation and journal of the experience of being outdoors, is how I can touch the vibrancy and energy of the natural world and make it visible to others.”

I am a traditional landscape painter living in Gordonsville, Virginia. My subjects are found on nearby farms, rivers, ponds and streams mainly in Central Virginia, Shenandoah Valley, as well as the coastal regions of Virginia and the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Plein air painters from late 19th century France and early 20th century American painters have greatly influenced by own vision, such as William Chase, Willard Metcalf, Robinson, Rose and many others.

Most of my work is oil on canvas, and occasionally pastel. My method is first to wander the country side to search for a suitable subject at which time I will explore many compositional possibilities. Many times I continue with a series of paintings altering it by time of the day, by season or by atmosphere conditions.

In my art I paint with the changing seasons, and I attempt to capture a feeling so that the viewer can experience a similar sense of place, time and atmosphere conditions. My goal in my landscapes is to reproduce a pleasing artistic image from direct observation of nature.

After retiring to Lake Monticello, I became a member of Firnew Farm Artists Circle in 2013. I have been able to focus on my artwork inspired by the natural beauty around me, especially the view from my studio, highlighted by shimmering water reflections to snow covered tree limbs. These images are the source for many of my paintings.

I started painting abstracts because it allowed me a freedom I could not find in more realistic styles, allowing me to explore color and texture in very creative ways. I work exclusively in acrylics and prefer using large brushes, palette knives and liquid acrylics.

Each painting starts with a color palette and evolves by movement and flow of the paints. The sensation of painting provides an avenue for emotional and artistic expression. I was especially inspired by a workshop at Jonas Gerard Studio in Asheville, NC which moved me to paint feelings and not objects. My goal is for my paintings to elicit an ‘aah’ moment.

My first love was line, and then color happened! I worked as an illustrator and graphic designer all my professional life. I live in the Piedmont of Virginia, and it is a feast for my artist’s soul. I now work only in watercolor.

Born in England, I went to art school in New York City, and lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and London until I moved to Firnew Farm. I founded the Firnew Farm Artists’ Circle eighteen years ago, and my Artist Statement would not be complete without acknowledging the great debt I owe to the collaboration and inspiration of working with such talented artists and friends and celebrating together the beauty of this magical place.

I am an original C’ville girl born in 1956 and raised in Albemarle County at Foothill Farm. I ventured to Tucson, Arizona to obtain my Art Education degree K-12 and then returned to the farm to continue teaching until 2011.

From the beginning, my teenage years, I was drawn to watercolors. Art college was great in the sense that I to explore all types of media and yet I am still a watercolorist at heart. The minute I pick up my paint brush I am at total peace with myself. In my youth I listened to music as I painted now I listen to National Public Radio.

Recently I have felt some new energy in wanting to venture out and try acrylics especially for landscape painting. When I paint I get excited and I want to start a new composition without finishing what I am working on. Therefore, I have about ninety half finished watercolor paintings. My goal is to finish all of them before I dabble in acrylics or start a new watercolor.

I am so inspired by the Firnew group. I look forward to growing as an artist with this group.

My vision is to express the mystery of divine power latent in natural and man made forms, allowing the observer to discover their own meaning. My paintings and videos reveal the existence of light—goodness, joy and hope—as well as acknowledging the reality of darkness—sorrow, pain and hopelessness. I enjoy showing how light dispels darkness.

Grounded for many years in a style of traditional realism, today my paintings navigate between reality and interpreted vision. My approach is varied – both spontaneous and controlled – where quick brushwork and manipulated light are countered by passages of precise rendering. Watercolors and acrylics are the media by which I convey my enchantment with the beautiful world we inhabit. It is my goal to express my feelings—to interpret, rather than record; to inspire, rather than simply remind. Evoking the essence of the familiar, I seek to transport the viewer to a heightened appreciation of ephemeral moments in time.

I always painted mountains as a child (still have some). Fast forward about 40 years. The journey between the big city sky lines and experiences in the urban area, to mountains and pure nature, and the area between the mountains and the skyscrapers and the asphalt. It’s that “in between area” that I’m exploring. It is my interpretation of my life and the map of life.

My process initially drew me towards expressing simple beauty, through capturing moments in nature or by guiding me to seize those fleeting gestures in a woman’s life that convey elements of her soul. At some point, I started to envision combining the two. As I walked in the woods, I would see in my mind’s eye a woman curled up or stretched out upon an old twisted tree. Or floating on the pond.

I am a representational artist working predominantly in oil and charcoal. I use art as an alternative way to experience and connect with the world. My goal as an artist is to expand my ability to see and appreciate beauty and portray that through my art.

“The goal of life is rapture. Art is the way we experience it. Art is the transforming experience.” ~ Joseph Campbell

My love of art and nature began as a child growing up near Pittsburgh, where I could sketch the animals in the dioramas at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and attend Saturday classes at the Museum of Art. I first majored in Biology, but my lifelong love of drawing led to a career in illustration and graphic design and a degree in Fine Art. I think the two disciplines go hand-in-hand, because they both rely on the powers of observation and an appreciation of the world around you. The world around me is our Century Farm in Orange County; the land, the seasons, and the weathered objects are constantly inspiring.

I have worked in a variety of media, including watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, pastel, and, more recently, oil. Essentially a draftswoman and a realist, I reveal form through texture, contrast and cast shadows. As I become experienced with oil I would like to create works that are more painterly and expressive, and to play with pure color and brush stroke.

Joan Wiberg is an oil painter working plein air and in the studio in the colder months in Virginia. A native Virginian, she attended college for art and education and taught art to children in public and private schools. Now a full time artist, she devotes her time to painting on location and is an active member of the Firnew Farm Artist’s Circle. Her art is displayed at Middle Street Gallery in Little Washington, VA and Cottage Curator, in Sperryville, VA. She resides in Fauquier County.

True Canadian girl living in the Virginia Piedmonts since 1993, Claudia shares her time between the time between the tranquility of Madison County and traveling around the world. She has recently retired as an International Flight Crew after 32 years. Inspired by culture, landscape, nature, colour and composition in real life, Claudia paints abstractly in oil with cold wax, using her travel as prominent components in her composition.

A member of Firnew Farm Artists’ Circle since 2009. Claudia has led art/culture/foodie trips to her Italian Jewels, and Scottish Highlands with many of our artists through her company Jetset Wisdom. Now developing more luxe intimate group trips and setting high bars as a Luxury Travel Advisor with Travel Edge. Enjoying the journey always. And recently proving to enjoy the Grand Pause in the still of the quiet, farm life just as much as traipsing through Turkey for that perfect day or meal. Same joy, different place.