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 – 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
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
Gulay Berryman – Gulay Berryman received her art training at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Versailles, France, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan, Italy, and the Ecole du Louvre in Paris, France. She has exhibited in France, Iceland, Senegal, Mauritius, Italy, Oman, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States. Gulay was commissioned to do several portrait paintings by a member of the Royal Family of the Sultanate of Oman in the late 1990s.
She twice won the American Embassy Paris Art Show (2001-02). In 2005, she was invited to participate in the prestigious biennial in Florence, Italy which gathers between 800-900 artists selected from around the world. Her paintings were chosen in 2008 and 2009 for the poster of Williamsburg’s ‘An Occasion for the Arts. She served as a judge for both ‘Art on the Square’ and ‘An Occasion for the Arts’ in 2013 and as a juror in 2014 for ‘Art at the River’ in Yorktown. From 2015-18, Gulay was the owner/director of the Williamsburg Art Gallery located on Merchants Square in historic downtown Williamsburg. Medium: Oil
Renate Bumgarner – 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 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. Medium: Oil
Alicia Daily – Graduate of Duke University School of Design, Alicia is an artist from a horse farm in Virginia. She has expressed her creativity through through her pottery for most of her life, but more recently she has been expanding her vision through painting and drawing. Media: Ceramics, Acrylics, Graphite/Colored Pencils
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. Medium: Watercolor
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
Thomas Ema is an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America who captures dramatic light to make the ordinary look extraordinary.
“Having grown up in Williamsburg, Virginia, I have a deep appreciation for history and enduring values.” My passion for painting began while a fine art major at Virginia Tech painting watercolor landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. After transferring to the Kansas City Art Institute, my artistic training found its sharp focus studying Bauhaus design and receiving a BFA (Design) in 1979.
In 1982, I moved to Denver, Colorado and started and managed my own design firm, Ema Design Inc. for over 30 years. Signature projects included annual reports for dozens of corporations including Coors, signage projects for the Denver Botanic Gardens, and exhibition design for the Denver Art Museum. In 2006, I began taking oil painting classes and exhibiting at the Arvada Art Center, The Art Students League of Denver, and the Denver Art Museum. I have also taken several workshops with renowned painter Tim Horn in Scottsdale, Arizona and Monhegan Island in Maine.
In 2016, I moved back to Williamsburg to pursue painting on a full-time basis. I enjoy revisiting places first discovered in my childhood and recall taking art classes at the Twentieth Century Art Gallery before I started first grade. Currently, my work can be seen at the On the Hill Gallery in Yorktown, Arts on Main in Gloucester, and the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, Virginia. I hope you enjoy the images of places I have returned to revisit with a designer’s eye.
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
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
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
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
John Latell – Graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University as a sculpture student, Latell’s work with metal is a blend of variable nature, the creative impulse, and effort. Metal, as a structural material, is a full three-dimensional pallet for sculpture. He worked in Pittsburgh for more than ten years, building large-scale sculptures in steel mills, public spaces, and galleries. Since then he has owned and operated a metal art studio for more than a decade in rural Virginia. The work he does is reflected in the patterns of the land and humanity’s efforts to harness them. Medium: Metal
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
Bill Mathis – “I’ve been asked – what inspires me? – Put simply – The Universe. The Universe of the things we can see, or the things too far and too vast to see, as well as the things that are too small or uncertain to see. It amazes and inspires me to realize that which is very abstract in appearance was actually something as real as the swirling of water in an ocean wave, or the clouds of Jupiter, or millions of stars like ours that rises in the east every morning. Or the abstractness of the magnified look of our skin cells, or even the molecules which comprise what we are or what we eat. All these things are very real but look so strange and abstract. I like to call this “Abstract Realism”, and the possibilities are endless. I strive to “learn, grow, change and evolve” I’ve discovered genres and variations in techniques and color palettes that I experiment with in search of my own styles, methods, and creations. This is an ongoing passion of mine. I hope you’ll see this reflected in both the range of ways I express my art as well as how it has and will continue to evolve with time. I create in many media – principally with acrylic and metallics on canvas. But I’ve also created in watercolor, encaustic, and wood art. I love when people say they see things in the shapes and colors of my creations.” Medium: Acrylic
Harriet McGee – 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
Rose Nygaard – 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
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
Tenley Raithel, a mixed water media artist from Yorktown, is now an Arts on Main gallery artist. Tenley’s works are focused around natural subject matter and because she lives in Historical Yorktown, Virginia, the site of the surrender that ended the American Revolution, she also chooses architectural images of local historical buildings or favorite locations. We are so excited to have her work in the gallery!”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.” Art does take practice and most recently I have found time in my life since 2019 to spend focused time on creating and developing my skills.At this time, I find my art moving towards a more intuitive style. 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
Robert Schuler – “My paintings primarily reflect regional splendors and rural landscapes. I especially enjoy painting Watermen and their old workboats, Skipjacks in particular. My affinity for the watermen, their environment and their work are very inspiring to me. I am inspired by rural old things, buildings that are crooked, Victorian homes, and old work boats with rust…they all capture my attention. I also enjoy capturing portraits of cherished homes and beloved pets in watercolor. When showing my artwork, I like to feel the viewer’s connection to the art. Their feedback, familiarity or memories of the subject I’ve painted fill in the details for me and makes the piece even more interesting. It gives more meaning to the painting. I find great pleasure in establishing an interaction with the viewers of my work.” Medium: Acrylic, Oil, & Watercolor
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. Medium: Oil
Victoria Watson – 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
Activities at Arts on Main are partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
