July Show: "In the Marsh" 🌾
featuring
Jason Abbott, Jody Ball, Mike Burnett, Deborah Butler, Gloria Coker, Ellen DeMaria, Lawrence Hollingsworth, Michael Kravchak, Judy R. Mays, Tierney Miller, Lew Thatcher
Opening Reception: Friday, July 11
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
What does an artist see in the marsh? Come find out at Arts on Main's July show, "In the Marsh"! Artists Jason Abbott, Jody Ball, Mike Burnett, Deborah Butler, Gloria Coker, Ellen DeMaria, Lawrence Hollingsworth, Michael Kravchak, Judy R. Mays, Tierney Miller, Lew Thatcher share their unique perspectives of the flora, fauna, and waters of marshes. This show will challenge your view of local waterways and perhaps inspire you to take some of the artists' inspirations home!
We will NOT have an opening reception on First Friday this month. We will be closed for the 4th of July. Go enjoy the holiday!
The opening reception for this show will take place at Arts on Main on Friday, July 11 from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Light bites will be provided and beer + wine will be available for purchase. Live music will be provided by Stella Haile. The show will be on display until Saturday, July 26. The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday from 12-5pm.
Many thanks to our July Music Sponsor, Yolanda’s!
Stella Haile
Singer/Songwriter from Hampton Roads.
Stella Haile is a singer-songwriter based in Newport News, VA. Known for her deeply relatable lyrics and soul-stirring performances, Stella’s music draws listeners into her world, with a voice that’s impossible to forget.
With three singles already streaming and a debut album on the horizon, Stella is carving out her place in the music world. Her songs explore emotions, from growing pains to triumphs. The perfect mix of heartache and hope, delivered with authenticity and grit.
Stella is currently writing and recording new music while performing live at venues across Virginia. Her latest single, Pessimist, invites listeners into an intimate moment of peace alongside anger, showcasing her ability to capture vulnerability through acoustic melodies. Stay tuned for her upcoming album release and sign up for exclusive updates, show dates, and more.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Jason Abbott
“Art has always played a major role in my life. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to share my art. I am a self-taught artist. I have spent my life experimenting, learning, and building my technique. My desire is to create art that evokes an emotion in the observer.”
JODY BALL
AS AN ARTIST, I view each painting as a faith endeavor into the unknown guided by a silent intuitive voice, this is a gift from God. As I work, I am inspired by the wonderment of nature with its depth and beauty, I then step back and ask myself “how did I do that?” So much of my inspiration has come from local parks and nature preserves in Ohio and the surrounding states as my husband and I spent 20 months traveling around the USA.
Drawing and painting have been a part of my life since childhood. My parents enrolled me in art classes with the prominent Mason Ohio artist at that time and her teachings have been with me ever since. Fondly remembering that experience, I passionately taught drawing and painting to students of all ages for several years in my Pansy House Studio when we lived in Ohio (on Pansy Road!). In the past I have also taught art in a homeschool co-op environment.
My paintings grace the walls of many homes across the country and I have accumulated many awards and ribbons for my work. You can view that list here: Jody's Awards I have also participated in many exhibitions over the years and you can view that list here: Jody's Shows & Exhibitions
Mike Burnett
Mike Burnett has had an interest in all kinds of art related projects since his early years attending art classes in public schools. He grow up appreciating the outdoors while hunting and fishing with his father in the lower Chesapeake Bay area and shot his first pair of wood ducks when he was eleven. With his art background, in 1983 Mike opened his own sign manufacturing company in Hampton, Va. The company was very successful and grow to over forty employees, this allowed Mike to continue keeping his hands working in all types of art projects including carving full size characters for Busch Gardens in Williamsburg for their theme rides. He was looking for something to do during retirement and was greatly influenced by some of the carvers he meet, like Russell Fish, Wayne Waterfield, John Day and Heck Rice, after attending a carving show at The Rappahannock River Waterfowl Show in 2013. He entered his first competition decoy in 2014 and since then, has won over one hundred and seventy awards and ten “Best in Show” awards at various east coast competitions with his carved decoys. He was also awarded “Carver of the Year” in 2109, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for Ducks Unlimited from various Virginia Chapters.
His decoy carving work can be viewed on his website at, http://saltywaterdecoys.com
Deborah Butler
“Born in Hampton Virginia, I have lived in many other places in the South and Midwest, but have returned home to my native state to enjoy its peace and beauty in my retirement. I have been painting and drawing in many different media since 2009 when I began painting rural Indiana scenes in watercolor. Upon arriving back in Virginia in 2013, I have taken many classes in drawing, including graphite and colored pencil, my favorite of which is graphitint. Watercolor pen and ink is closely linked to these and I work in this medium often. In 2017 I began painting in acrylic and now find myself exploring compositions with acrylic and cold wax, a vibrant medium for many visual subjects. As a visual artist, I am drawn to render natural objects (still life, vistas, animals). Nature captivates my imagination most, and I often move from realistic to impressionist styles, or from realism to fanciful or symbolic representations.”
Gloria Coker
Gloria Coker was an illustrator for the Newport News, Virginia Daily Press (a Chicago Tribune newspaper) newsroom for twelve years before pursuing her career as a professional fine artist. Her work there included illustrating newsroom and feature stories as well as courtroom art, which appeared in the newspaper and on TV. The 2021 Netflix documentary, “The Innocence Files” showcases some of her work. Her work for the police departments depicting the perpetrators of crimes has resulted in convictions.
She was a volunteer as the artist at the Virginia Living Museum, painting and drawing for children and guests. Gloria also demonstrates in college classrooms and for fundraising auctions such the New American Theater in Hampton, Virginia. She has been a guest speaker lecturing on her art through the South.
Her loose and vivid acrylics capture her feelings about people of all ages as they engage in their passions and everyday activities. She displays most of her art including musicians and dancers, in the office of Associates in Dermatology in Hampton, Virginia and in her studio by appointment. Her collectors are worldwide. Her awards are numerous.
Ellen DeMaria
Ellen paints watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media with an expressive brushstroke, often depicting her beloved waters of the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia, as well as the ocean nearby. Ellen’s family owns a seafood business which has given her insight into the often-rugged waterman’s life and the inherent beauty in the rustic elements surrounding that livelihood.
She refers to her painting style as “abstract realism” and when painting each day, she states that is a very intuitive process. While frequently inspired by an image–either up-close or from a photo–her paintings often begin with an idea that leads her to create unexpected artworks, hopefully evoking feelings for the viewer. Ellen has been painting for about 35 years, and continues to take workshops and painting seminars with some of the country’s finest watercolorists.
Lawrence Hollingsworth
Lawrence Hollingsworth, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, derived his inspiration to paint from Country and Coastal landscapes and museum visits during his travels as an antiques importer in Europe and the U.K. He studied the styles and painting techniques of a wide range of past and present painters such as Turner, Corot, Courbet and Schmid, et.al. His primary medium is oil on canvas or linen and has patrons both in the Continental U.S. and Europe. He received his Doctorate Degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and he currently resides in Gloucester, Virginia.
Michael Kravchak
“I majored in architecture in college, with a minor in art history. I studied under Professor Amy Fell, Professor John Gardner, and Sculpture Professor, J. Cherry. I have always enjoyed the Arts, and I have experimented in many mediums, i.e., pencil, oils, acrylics, pen and ink, and clay sculpture.
For many years, I painted and sketched for relaxation; however, I always wanted to learn to work in watercolor. Upon my retirement as a District Manager from UGI, an energy company, I took my first course in watercolor with Robert Burnell at Portsmouth Fine Arts Institute. I have also taken a semester course with Betty Anglin at Christopher Newport University.
I have found my greatest challenge and satisfaction working in watercolor. I enjoy painting local and historical scenes from the Tidewater area and along the Chesapeake Bay. I also enjoy painting scenes from the Outer Banks of North Carolina and many other beautiful places I have been fortunate enough to visit.
I am a member of the Charles H. Taylor Art Center and Yorktown Arts Foundation.”
Judy R. Mays
Judy Mays is a native Virginian, with very deep family roots dating back to Jamestown. In 1978 she left the area and moved with her husband, an executive with the General Electric Company, to Cincinnati, OH, where they lived for twenty-three years. While living in Cincinnati she studied at the Middletown Fine Arts Center, in Middletown, OH, and the Art League in Wyoming, OH, where she won several awards.
Upon returning to Virginia in 2001, Judy studied at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Studio School for many years in addition to studying with other professional artists in Virginia. She has won many significant awards throughout the Hampton Roads region.
Her favorite medium is oil; however, she also enjoys working in pastels. Her favorite subjects to paint are children’s portraits, still life, and figurative scenes.
Judy and her husband currently reside in Williamsburg where she is active in several local art organizations.
Tierney Miller
“Each of my works captures not only a visual interpretation, but includes the spiritual nature of a moment…” While attending high school & college, Tierney’s interest in travel led her to pursue a career in photo-journalism. The time spent behind the camera and in the darkroom greatly enhanced her observation skills and refined her eye for detail. Until recently, designing, owning and operating retail establishments has been Tierney’s primary professional focus. She has always had an appreciation for art & was considering a second career in art brokerage & appraisal, when a major turning point came in the summer of 1996. On a whim she decided to enroll in a fine art painting class. She returned to Western State College in Gunnison, CO and earned her BFA in Sculpture in 1999. She has been creating and exhibiting her art ever since. Serving as a catalyst for her work, Tierney’s passion for travel continues.
Lew Thatcher
Lew creates fine art in Vail, Colorado, and on the Virginia shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Over 40 years of sailing and exploring the waters, marshes, and harbors of the Chesapeake have provided him a vast wealth of maritime subjects.
Reasoning that art is a form of graphic communication, Lew paints in the realist genre. His work is detailed, focused, and believable. Influencers have included living masters Daniel E. Green, Scott Christensen, Alan Flattman, and others. He is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters’ Association and the American Society of Marine Artists. Gallery representation is by On-The-Hill Gallery and Yorktown Hall Gallery, both in Yorktown, VA, and Vail Valley Art Guild Gallery in Eagle, CO.