Gallery 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.” Medium: Oil

Joyce Badanes’ work is intuitive. She draws on what she has learned from quilting friends and well-known artists. Artwork with fabric is paramount in her life. She is continually learning and loving the process. Medium: Fiber

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

Joan Bevelaqua– As a successful painter in the District of Maryland and Virginia, Joan Bevelaqua has made her mark on many aspects of the artistic community. She primarily works in watercolor and oil and has held teaching positions, juried art exhibitions, and directed several galleries. She has also held several organizational positions, including serving as President of the Watermark Gallery in Baltimore, MD, and on the Board of Directors for Foundry Street Studios and Gallery in Savage, MD. 

“My paintings are based on careful observation. I challenge my ability to create the illusion of the real while exploring psychological and subconscious themes. I have always reverenced the personal hoping the images will speak as a poem. My most recent work was formed from a phase I had in a dream, “The Myth of Possession”. This phase started me on a long path exploring what we think we possess in life and what we do not.” Medium: Watercolor and Oil

Hi! I’m Krystal, mother of four and painter of JOY!


Art has held a special place in my heart since childhood. It was rare to find me without crayons and a doll as a little kid, or a sketchbook and pencils as a teen. As I was growing up, art was a safe place and gave me courage when things were difficult for my family. Art became my joy, a hiding place where I could feel special, and lit a path for me to change my future. I was the first in my family to attend a four-year university (James Madison University BFA 2005 and MEd 2007). After graduate school, I took up painting as a pastime, which eventually led me to sell my artwork at small fairs and festivals.

Al Bryan is a professional landscape architect (retired) and fine artist. Having grown up in rural North Carolina surrounded by forest and farmland, spending summer vacations in the mountains and along the coast, Al enjoys painting nature's awe-inspiring moments, capturing relics of the past and telling family tales in pastel and graphite. Wildlife (native birds in particular), old boats and rusty trucks are among his favorite subjects to paint. Al also enjoys creating pet portraits on commission. Al’s preferred media is Pastel and Graphite. For pastel, Al uses a combination of brilliant soft pastels with medium pastel sticks and pastel pencils for achieving fine details not usually seen in pastel art. But Al is a “realist” and enjoys creating the finest details in his work to draw the viewer in to the painting to see what is there. Al also completes his own framing using a variety of refinished vintage frames and barn board frames made in the mid-west.

Media: Pastel and Graphite

Renate Bumgarner, an award-winning European-born artist, studied and worked during her early years in Germany. A widow at 29, she then studied art in Frankfurt and later in Wurzburg and the Institute of Art. While working for the US Military in Germany, she was an instructor at the Education Center in Schweinfurt. Currently, she works primarily in oil, watercolor, and pastel. She has received many awards at shows and exhibitions over the years. Bumgarner continues to display her work in Europe, where she continues to have a presence. You can find her work locally displayed in galleries and gift shops in Fredricksburg, Gloucester, Norfolk, Williamsburg, Mathews, and Yorktown, Virginia. The Village Art Gallery and Arts on Main both show her work. Renate also teaches oil painting classes at Arts on Main, bringing over 30 years of experience as a painter & teacher to help you create your own masterpiece! Media: Oil, Watercolor, Pastel, Repousse

Bill Casto – “I am an Interpretive Wood Sculptor concentrating primarily on wildfowl. I use driftwood from local waters and found weathered wood to carve interpretive or stylized pieces of art. I attempt to capture the essence of the wildfowl rather than a realistic duplication of the subject. My sculptures emphasize form, content, movement, and are totally original and one of a kind. I am a former College Football Coach and Athletic Director locally at the College of William and Mary and The Apprentice School. I have been carving wildfowl sculptures for over 20 years competing at the top level for the past level ten years at the prestigious “Ward World Wildfowl Carving Championships. In 2013 my entry “Crane Dance” placed “Third Best in World” (Interpretive Division). In 2014 my sculpture “Swan Dive” was judged “Second Best in World”. In 2015 my carving “Wild Riders” placed 1ST “Best in the World”. In 2016 “Arctic Tern” was awarded 2nd in “Masters” Interpretive Division. In 2017 “Wingman” placed 2nd in “Masters” and “Lil Egret” won 3rd place.” Medium: Wood

Gloria Clifford currently lives in White Stone, Virginia and works within her personal studio in numerous mediums. The artist's passion continues to be “Sea” inspired. In her past, Gloria's art was licensed by Manufacturers within the Home Décor Industry within the United States. Her art was also portrayed within several global films as a result of her honored membership within the former “Ocean Artists Society”. As an ocean artist, while living in Florida, Gloria was a volunteer photographer for a research aquarium owned and run by the Smithsonian Museum. She was also one of the art instructors for the beautiful and prestigious Vero Beach Museum of Art. Since moving back to Virginia, Gloria currently teaches classes within several local galleries in the Northern Neck of Virginia.

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. Medium: Oil

Ellen DeMaria 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. Medium: Watercolor

Bren Leinbach Douros grew up roaming the fields of rural North Carolina and says she still loves to follow unknown paths today. Using both oils and watercolors, her work captures the enduring beauty of the historic area, animals, landscapes, flowers “I view each painting as an experimental journey and I am never entirely sure where it will lead me.”

She received her BFA from UNC Greensboro. Later, while working as an Interior Business Designer she received commissions for paintings of skiers for a resort in Banner Elk,NC and beach scenes for a Hilton Head Resort. 

After visiting Williamsburg in 1976, Bren began her lifelong business adventure, The Lamplighter Shoppe. She consulted with William & Mary on lighting for the Wren Building and for Colonial Williamsburg on a multitude of projects, and she developed street lighting and interior flickering candles to meet their unique needs. 

One friend, a historical interior designer, wanted historical paintings. This led tocommissions of 18th century style oil portraits and landscapes. 

She consults regularly with clients on lighting for their homes and businesses. Light is very important in my paintings, as well as in a client's home.

Bren Leinbach Douros paints regularly with the Kingsmill Art Group. When she is not painting, you can find Bren in her workshop repairing lamps, behind her computer researching a new curiosity, or in her kitchen making healthy dog food for Tessa, her beloved English Setter.

Carolyn Thompson Dudley – “My artwork comes from my perception of the landscape and the people around me. Whether it be through realistic or abstract representation, the goal of my work is to not only document my experience in a setting but to create an experience for the viewer as well. The following poem By Mary Oliver, ‘At Blackwater Pond’, inspires me greatly.” 

“At Blackwater Pond the tossed waters have settled 

after a night of rain. 

I dip my cupped hands. I drink 

a long time. It tastes 

like stone, leaves, fire. It falls cold 

into my body, waking the bones. I hear them 

deep inside me, whispering 

oh what is that beautiful thing 

that just happened.“ 

Medium: Oil

Fine artist Jan Finn-Duffy is passionate about painting in the medium of watercolor. Watercolor is fresh and alive, in that it can be unpredictable and surprise even a well-seasoned artist. It is the hope of this artist that art will make you feel in response to seeing it, and that sharing the experience of creativity (between the painter and the viewer) will be a delight!

“I have been making art instinctively and passionately since I was a child. Every artistic endeavor has been a learning experience, each building upon the next to bring me to the point where I am today. I have learned how to paint from university classes, from extensive independent study, from workshops, but mostly from trial and error … and trial and triumph. It is one of the biggest joys in my life. In the words of Albert Einstein, which I have borrowed to apply to my view of art, each painting is a way of “opening up yet another fragment of the frontier of beauty.” I paint in my studio and en plein air. For the past 15 years, I have had the honor of teaching watercolor skills to beginners and those wishing to develop their artistic skills. A few of my paintings have been accepted to the National Watercolor Society show, the Northlight publication “Splash” which features watercolor artists from around the world, and the international watercolor magazine “The Art of Watercolor”. God has given me the gift of being able to paint, and it is a privilege to share what I have been given with others who also love art.

Olivia Hartman – From Williamsburg, VA, Olivia Hartman has been making jewelry since 2005. All Grace Llewellyn jewelry is handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces made of the finest quality semi-precious stones, pearls, and sterling silver. Custom designs quoted upon request. Medium: Jewelry 

Will Hoffman in a sculptor based in Williamsburg, Virginia. Having received his training  in fine art and sculpture from Buffalo State University, he works in cast, fabricated, and found  metals in bronze, aluminum, steel, and iron. Using the variation in these materials he creates  sculptures that aim to provide an experience with balance. 

Will’s sculptures have been shown internationally in Tallinn, Estonia and Liepāja, Latvia  with work on permanent exhibition at Pedvāle Open-Air Museum and Sculpture Park in Sabile,  Latvia. Nationally, he has exhibited at the Puffin Foundation in Teaneck, New Jersey and has permanent installations at Buffalo State University in Buffalo, New York, Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto, New York and in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

Artist Statement 

As people, we constantly weigh options against one another to inform our decisions. How do we  choose what is most important; do we have a choice? These are questions that all of us face and  what I seek to explore through my sculpture. I work primarily in cast, fabricated, and found metals in bronze, aluminum, steel, and iron. I utilize the variation in these materials to create sculpture that aims to provide an experience with balance. Drawing from the works of Smith and Brancusi, I employ clean lines and geometric forms. I develop my sculptures by arranging and rearranging materials and objects. I let them dictate what the work will become. The results of this process are sculptures that can show movement and harmony paralleled by discomfort and immobility. I want my work to provide a pathway for the viewer to reflect upon their choices and why they made them.

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. Medium: Oil

James Warwick Jones is a realist painter who captures light, shadow, design and emotion in acrylics and watercolor. James focuses on a range of subjects and often includes ordinary things transformed by the artist’s eye. 

Born in Hampton, VA he studied with Jack Whitney Clinton, Will Barnet, Walter Stuempfig and others at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and graduated from ODU with a BS in Secondary Art Education. After teaching over 47 years and working 36 years in curatorial and programming at the Peninusula Fine Art Center and Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center, he retired as gallery manager in 2018 and continues to teach painting classes at Charles Taylor. James has exhibited in more than 250 exhibitions and won over 200 awards. His work is represented in over 20 public and corporate collections including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Phillip Morris, Portsmouth Museums, Wachovia Bank, CSX Corporation, and the Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center. Medium: Acrylic and Watercolor

“My paintings don’t take life too seriously. It’s all about humor, poking fun at life and making no attempt to portray actual animals, plants, or people! In my perfect artist’s world, your smile makes me smile!”

Kay Krapfl -Krapfl (pronounced kra-full) was born in Dallas, Texas. As a child, she showed a strong interest in art and loved to experiment with different forms and media. Her present work is comprised of the knowledge she has gained along with lessons learned from that early experimentation. Kay has had the pleasure of studying with Stephanie Pace of the New York Museum of Modern Art, George McNeil of Pratt Institute, Ann Cushing Gantz of Dallas, John Gordon of the Des Moines Art Institute, and has attended classes at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Kay is a member of the Portrait Society of America and a founding member of the Williamsburg Portrait Guild. Medium: Acrylic

Michael S. Kravchak , Sr. – “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.” Medium: Watercolor

Ceramic Artist and Owner of Yellow Dog Pottery in Montpelier, VA.

Dia Lawless, originally from Williamsburg, has lived in Mathews County for more than 30 years. She was raised in an extremely artistic family who encouraged her to be creative in life. In 2021, Dia was working at a performing arts center and began to make jewelry from guitar strings, primarily g strings. Subsequently, G Strings, Gems, and Leather was conceived. Not long after, Dia realized she had a passion for weaving beads and began designing and weaving beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces. Medium: Beads, Gemstones, Leather, and Metals

Joann Sybil Lawson – “I like painting flowers, fruits, and vegetables and making a painting that someone might enjoy. I try to do work that I can respect myself for, and, hopefully, be respected for. Through guidance and excellent instruction, I have come to realize that a good painting is not necessarily the result of great talent or technique, but of patience and perseverance.” Joann has exhibited several times in Hampton, VA, at the Charles H. Taylor Art Center, the International Miniature Art Show, Seaside Art Gallery in Nags Head, NC, and participated in the Daffodil Festival Poster Competition in Gloucester. Medium: Acrylic

Harriet McGee says “Inspiration is everywhere and it ends up as an expression of what I experience.” She currently lives in the Tidewater area and travels extensively. Her works reflect her interest in different cultures, their art, and folklore. She has worked in multiple mediums: watercolors, papier-mache, acrylics, and polymer clay. Currently, she creates designs using a repoussé technique using lightweight metal. The design is made by pushing the metal from the back, giving it depth. Color or texture is then added to the front. One of her works hangs in the permanent collection of The Hurn Museum of Contemporary Folk Art. Medium: Mixed

My creative process is deeply rooted in emotion, intuition, and a desire to bridge the gap between everyday function and visual storytelling. I work primarily in ceramics, hand shaping functional forms that one might find tucked away in kitchen cupboards or displayed on familiar household shelves. These utilitarian objects—whether mugs, bowls, or vases—serve as my blank canvas, offering a space where art and daily life intersect.
 
The surfaces of these forms are transformed through carefully hand-painted imagery inspired by flora, fauna, and landscapes. I draw from personal memories, natural environments, and recognizable scenes that evoke curiosity and connection. Plants, animals, and nostalgic locations emerge across each piece, blending the comforting familiarity of functional pottery with the visual language of fine art.
 
In many ways, my work invites viewers, and users, to slow down and notice the small details that often go overlooked. I believe art doesn’t need to be confined to galleries or pedestals; it can live in our kitchens, on our tables, in our hands. By merging utility with beauty, I hope to create objects that not only serve a purpose but also tell a story, spark emotion, and invite reflection.
 
Ultimately, my practice is an exploration of how art can weave into daily rituals, reminding us that beauty, memory, and nature are never far from reach—even in the simplest of objects.

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. 

Rose has a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from American University In Washington, DC. She has been working in Abstract Art for the last thirty years.

Rose enjoys figurative, still life, and abstract painting and printing. She also experiments with collage as another way of expressing ideas and emotions. She works in different mediums; working boldly with color and shape. The design of the work relies on the color, shape, and weight of pigment and how it affects the visual and visceral reaction of the artist. An Award-winning acrylic painter, Rose teaches an ongoing series of acrylic classes. 

Medium: Acrylic

Barbara Oakes grew up in a beautiful valley in southwest Virginia.

“I inherited my creativity, love of animals, nature and the land from generations that came before me.



I began painting in my early adulthood and studied with nationally renowned artists

In workshops and classes. I enjoy exploring many mediums expressed on various subjects, from vibrant still life’s full of fruit, flowers and many various subjects backdropped with luscious landscapes . Other subjects include celebrations with people of all ages, sheep, cows, geese, swan, ducks and horses roam many of my landscapes and entice the viewer instantly.

It is my goal to translate some of the mysterious romanticism from our surroundings and pass this on to the viewer. By combining my spirituality with my artwork, I am always mindful of God’s creation of His beautiful world. While contemplating my surroundings, I am suddenly struck, and see a composition ready to be painted.”

Stacey Posner – “I love the feel of the clay, the creativity of it, the ability to reproduce the natural beauty that surrounds us, particularly in Virginia. I like to focus on nature; beautiful plants, birds, animals that I can incorporate into pottery with carving, painting, or texture. I also like to make pottery that is strong and functional. It’s meant to be used and enjoyed every day.” 

Medium: Ceramics

”My life has been a journey of using the joys of creative expression. Sometimes it has been through art, sometimes it has been while I taught children as an elementary school educator often using art as the avenue for students to demonstrate their learning, and really, I have used creativity in each activity I have engaged in throughout life. Each of our unique creativity rubs off on all do that we do. When someone says, “I’m not good at art”, I always say, “Actually, you just need more practice.” I allow my creative nature to direct my work and find currently that it is calling me towards simplifying my subject and responding to the artwork as I go, layer upon layer, thinking of the design as a whole rather than specifically on the details of the image. This is a process on connecting with my soul and giving creativity room to find its expression through my art.”

 Medium: Watercolor

“I have considered myself an artist since I was five years old. However, I have only been engaged fully in creative art for the last ten years. 

I work with oil, acrylic, watercolor and mixed medium. I have studied with award winners James Warwick Jones, the late Bettye Anglin, Holly Etheridge, Jan Ledbetter and numerous others.

I have received many art awards. Two paintings were purchased by the City of Hampton and are on permanent display at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Two more recent awards include First Place in the 2018 Regional Juried Show at the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center and 2019 Honorable Mention Award at the Charles Taylor Visual Arts Center Small Works Exhibition. 

I was invited to display and sell my artwork at the Williamsburg Winery and was quite successful.”

Schuszler inherited her artistic talent form her Hungarian father. She began painting with oils at age 10. She received her BFA with a concentration in studio art from Old Dominion University, and her MAT from the Citadel in Charleston, SC, where she began a teaching career. Her career and travels have taken her to many beautiful places in both Europe and the Tropics. She especially loves the tropical climate for its vibrant palette and has traveled to Jamaica, St. Lucia, and throughout Florida for inspiration.

Schuszler resided in Miami for over 10 years, teaching and sharing her passion for art. While residing in Miami, she continued her advanced studies in studio art and art education at Florida International University, studying oil painting and pastels with David Y Chang. In 2003, she moved to Gloucester, VA to both teach and exhibit. After teaching in both public school and at regional community colleges, she retired in 2019 to focus fully on her art. Schuszler exhibits in regional shows and art centers and maintains a studio in her Gloucester home.

David Stifel is a glass artist who owns and operates York River Glassworks in Gloucester, Virginia. He is professionally trained and continues to expand his artistic pratice and class portfolio. Arts on Main is delighted to have David as one of its long standing Gallery Artists and teachers. 

Medium: Glass

Lew Thatcher 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. Medium: Oil

Victoria Watson is native to and currently resides in Newport News, Virginia. Her early artistic interests were in the realistic portrayal of horses, which set the foundation for understanding the structural anatomy of other animals. She immersed and dedicated herself in art-related studies through the years and explored aspects of impressionism, surrealism, and representational realism. Victoria’s primary interest is rendering detailed portraits of people and animals, investigating the subtle nuances of character that personify each one. In the past 10 years, most of her work comes from commissioned portraits. Victoria’s preferred media are graphite, Prisma color pencils, mixed media, and oils. Medium: Multi Media

Rebecca West – “I have been an artist since birth. Mostly I paint, but sometimes I sculpt. I believe life is art. Creation is art. Most of my adult life has been lived in the sky as a professional pilot. I have drawn inspiration from the ever-changing skyscape and many visits to breathtaking landscapes. I paint to create something new that wasn’t there before. I sculpt to give form to my ideas which could or could not have a basis in reality. 

Art is freedom” 

Medium: Multi Media