The Painter’s Journey from June 21 to July 29.
The Painting Ladies – Nancy Brittle, Janie Mosby, Chris Smith and Kathleen Willingham explore life in rural communities. Their works in oil, water and photography depict a sense of place through landscape, still life and figurative art. They believe in working together with unique voices and variety of media as complements to one another.
The four of us are and have been art teachers in Fauquier County Public Schools. We worked together, had workshops and classes with each other and decided that we should continue those efforts by spending time doing what we love to do and that is to paint. This has been going on for over fifteen years.
We try to carve out time for each other and create opportunities to paint, give each other suggestions and impromptu critiques and sometimes go to workshops. We have made it an annual tradition to spend one entire week each summer painting in the Northern Neck where Kathleen has a home. We often plein air paint at each other’s homes or at a variety of locations in the area. We all feel that these interactions are valuable to our artistic growth and creative spirit and we enjoy being together.
We have had a number of group shows since 2006 and several have included another local artist. Janie and Chris are still teaching and will often enter juried shows in the area as well as displaying work with the Blue Ridge Region of the Va. Art Education Association. Since Kathleen and Nancy have retired they participate in juried shows, art events, belong to numerous art organizations and show in several galleries around the region and state.
We all live in Fauquier County. Kathleen and Nancy are native to Fauquier and in fact went to elementary school together. Chris is from Maryland and has lived in Fauquier for over 30 years. Janie grew up in Lynchburg, VA. and has been in Fauquier County for over 40 years.
The Center for the Arts of Greater Manassas/Prince William County sponsors theatrical productions for children and adults of all ages, teaches arts classes, promotes visual arts and provides community outreach programs for all ages.
Founded in 1984 by a group of artists and art lovers, the Center for the Arts aims to enrich the quality of life in the Northern Virginia through arts performance and education. A theater, an art gallery and classrooms are located in the three-story, historic Candy Factory building in Historic Manassas, at 9419 Battle Street. The third floor provides additional space for weddings, corporate meetings and receptions, lectures, poetry readings, recitals and chamber concerts.
For more information, call 703-330-2787, visit www.center-for-the-arts.org, or Facebook.
