A self-taught artist, Rodney Laughon’s painting techniques and style are the result of studying art in museums, galleries, and publications; his natural artistic abilities; and countless hours of painting and experimentation. Beginning his career working in watercolor and now painting primarily in oils, Laughon has developed his own distinctive style – a style with a concern for detail firmly rooted in traditional American landscape painting, in the Romantic Realism of the Hudson River School. Laughon paints in a realist manner, but one that reflects Impressionist influences, with traces of the changing effects of light, use of color, softer edges, and painterly qualities generally associated with Impressionism.
Not surprisingly, considering his respect for nature and love of the outdoors, the majority of Laughon’s works are landscapes, often plein-air paintings or studio works derived from plein-air paintings. While best known for his works depicting the mountains, streams, and valleys of Virginia and North Carolina, Laughon enjoys travel and has painted seascapes from both U.S. coasts and has produced a significant body of work based upon subjects from the American West. Whether painting the majestic mountains and landscapes of the West or the streams and valleys of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of his native Virginia, Laughon wants each of his works to, in his words, “tell a story . . . to share the feeling of the place that attracted me to paint it.” All of his work is beautiful, but perhaps most significant are the scenes of pristine mountains and rivers, of farms, fields, and old country roads that remind the viewer of an earlier, more peaceful time – of a time and a sense of tranquility that are still accessible to us through the paintings of Rodney Laughon.
An award-winning artist, Laughon’s paintings are in public, private, and corporate collections; and he has executed special, commissioned works for both corporate and private collectors. Laughon resides in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he maintains a studio on the historic river front.
First Friday Opening on January 4th from 6-8pm
First Friday sponsored by Suzanne & Randy Scott
Live music will be provided by: Jerry Sowers
Jerry Sowers is an acoustic singer-songwriter from Newport News, VA. Singing and playing music from the age of 14, he continues to sing traditional as well as original folk music. Audiences enjoy not only his music, but his ability in keeping them both engaged and entertained with song subjects that range from humorous to serious social concerns.
Throughout his career, Jerry has performed in coffee house venues as well as larger auditoriums in several states up and down the East Coast, Ohio and in Michigan. His first CD, ‘Simple and Free’, was recorded and published in 2009 with a balanced mix of original songs and covers.
Jerry’s full time occupation is teaching music in the Hampton City Schools system, where he has worked with children of all ages to inspire music and creativity in our youth. He also leads the music program in a local Methodist Church in Hampton, VA. Jerry’s two sons and three grandchildren are the pride and joy in his life.
Free and open to the public.
Beer and wine cash bar. Paninis for purchase.
