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A Pair of Pears
There's something rather wonderful about living in a community filled with artists. Behind ordinary doors, tucked into barns, converted garages, home studios, and workshops, people are creating extraordinary things. Some work with brushes and paint, others with molten wax, clay, paper, or metal. Some prefer everything neatly organized, while others thrive in what can only be described as creative chaos.
As an oil painter, I spend much of my time surrounded by tubes of paint, brushes, and canvases. But one of my favorite things about being part of Loudoun County's art community is discovering how other artists work. I find the different techniques fascinating, particularly when they involve materials I wouldn't dream of putting on my own canvas!
So, this November, I thought we'd wander through a few different art studios, explore the materials behind the magic, and meet some talented artists with connections to our corner of Virginia.
I'll start with the medium closest to my heart: oil painting.
Oil paints are made by combining finely ground pigments with drying oils, most commonly linseed oil. Unlike water-based paints, oils dry slowly through a chemical reaction with oxygen. This gives artists time to blend colors, soften edges, build layers, and make changes.
The basic materials include oil paints, brushes, a palette, canvas or prepared panels, and sometimes painting mediums to adjust the consistency and handling of the paint.
I love oil painting for its rich colors, buttery texture, and beautiful blending possibilities. My own style leans toward modern impressionism, with bold brushstrokes, expressive color, and a healthy disregard for painting every last detail. I'd much rather suggest a flower petal with one confident brushstroke than spend an afternoon trying to make it behave.
Local artist to discover: Trisha Adams, an accomplished impressionist oil painter known for her expressive brushwork, vibrant color, and beautiful interpretations of landscapes and everyday scenes. I've had the pleasure of learning from Trisha through her workshops over the years, and her approach to painting continues to inspire me.
Acrylic painting is a wonderful medium for artists who enjoy working quickly and experimenting with layers.
Acrylic paints combine pigments with an acrylic polymer binder. They're water-based when wet, dry relatively quickly, and become water-resistant once cured.
Artists generally need acrylic paints, brushes or palette knives, water, a palette, and a suitable surface such as canvas, wood panel, or paper prepared for acrylics. Gels and texture pastes can add dimension, while fluid mediums allow for washes and flowing color.
The quick drying time makes acrylics particularly useful for layering, bold shapes, and contemporary abstract work. Of course, if you're an oil painter accustomed to leisurely blending, acrylics can feel a little impatient!
Local artist to discover: Penny Hauffe, whose colorful acrylic paintings celebrate everything from Loudoun's wildlife and landscapes to scenes from everyday life. Penny isn't one to limit herself to a canvas, either! She paints on wood and board and has created some wonderful large-scale murals around our community, including at the Brambleton Library and Loudoun Country Day School. Her painting Goose Creek was even featured on a Loudoun County Public Library card. I love seeing an artist's work become part of the places we visit and the community we call home.
Watercolor looks effortless when done well. Don't let that fool you.
Watercolor paint is made with finely ground pigment and a water-soluble binder, traditionally gum arabic. The paint is diluted with water and applied to absorbent paper, allowing light to reflect through transparent layers.
The essential materials are watercolor paints, soft brushes, water, and good-quality watercolor paper. Artists may also use masking fluid to preserve highlights and special brushes to create washes, fine lines, or textured effects.
Unlike oil painting, where I can cover an unfortunate decision with another layer of paint, watercolor requires a different kind of planning. The white of the paper often provides the brightest highlights, and too much fiddling can turn a lovely transparent wash into something resembling muddy dishwater.
But when watercolor works, it's magical. The luminosity, delicate transitions, and spontaneous movement of pigment create effects that are difficult to duplicate.
Local artist to discover: Angela Giraldi, whose watercolor work is described as loose impressionism—a style that particularly appeals to me.
Now we're getting into something truly fascinating.
Encaustic painting uses heated beeswax mixed with damar resin and pigment. The wax is applied in molten layers, typically onto a rigid wooden panel. Each layer is fused to the previous one using a heat gun or torch.
Imagine painting with something that can be melted, scraped, carved, polished, and layered to create extraordinary depth. The finished surface can be luminous, textured, and almost sculptural.
The materials are quite different from traditional painting: encaustic wax paints, a heated palette, natural-bristle brushes, wooden panels, scraping tools, and specialized heating equipment. Proper ventilation and careful temperature control are essential.
Local artist to discover: Anne Stine, a Purcellville artist who works with encaustic and cold wax mixed media. Anne creates abstract landscapes inspired by nature, using color, texture, and layers to capture the beauty of the natural world.
Her work is especially interesting because the wax itself becomes part of the visual story. It isn't simply the material holding the pigment together; its texture, translucency, and physical presence are central to the artwork.
And while I have a healthy collection of painting tools, I have yet to add a blowtorch to my regular studio routine!
There's something deeply satisfying about pottery. It begins with a lump of clay and, through skilled hands, becomes an object that might be admired, displayed, or used every day.
Potters work with different clay bodies, including earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Pieces may be shaped on a pottery wheel or constructed by hand using techniques such as pinching, coiling, and slab building.
The materials and equipment include clay, a pottery wheel or hand-building tools, water, sponges, trimming tools, glazes, and a kiln. After drying, pieces are generally bisque-fired, glazed, and fired again to develop their final strength and surface.
Pottery is one of those art forms that brings creativity into everyday life. A handmade coffee mug isn't just something to drink from. It's a small piece of someone's imagination that you get to hold in your hands every morning.
Artist to discover: Amy Manson, who has spent many years creating and teaching pottery in Loudoun County. Amy's functional pottery reflects her love of nature, with pieces intended to become part of daily life and family traditions.
I particularly love the idea of functional art. Beauty doesn't always have to hang on a wall. Occasionally, it can hold your morning coffee.
Mixed media art combines different materials or artistic processes within a single work. An artist might incorporate acrylic paint, handmade paper, fabric, ink, charcoal, photographs, or found objects.
The materials depend entirely on the artist's imagination. A typical mixed media studio might contain paints, brushes, adhesives, collage papers, drawing tools, texture mediums, and all sorts of interesting objects collected along the way.
Layering is often central to the process. Papers may be attached to a surface, painted over, scratched into, or partially revealed beneath other materials. Each layer adds history, texture, and meaning.
Of course, combining materials also requires some technical knowledge. Not everything adheres well to everything else, and artists must consider compatibility and long-term durability.
Artist to discover: Linda Hendrickson, a Northern Virginia artist whose colorful, whimsical mixed media paintings combine acrylic paint, collage, and imaginative textures. Linda's creative process includes playful beginnings, experimental mark-making, and layers of color that bring personality and energy to her subjects. Her work is a wonderful example of how mixed media allows an artist to embrace spontaneity and unexpected discoveries.
Mixed media appeals to the part of me that loves collecting interesting papers, architectural imagery, and bits of visual history. There's something irresistible about bringing unexpected elements together and discovering an entirely new composition.
Sculpture introduces an entirely different relationship between art and the viewer. Rather than creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface, sculptors work directly in three dimensions.
Depending on the artist, sculpture may involve carving stone or wood, modeling clay, casting metal, welding steel, or assembling found materials.
A sculptor's tools might include chisels, carving knives, modeling tools, welding equipment, molds, or grinders. The materials and techniques can be remarkably varied, and the physical demands are often considerable.
What I find especially compelling about sculpture is that it changes as you move around it. Light, shadow, shape, and perspective shift with every step.
Local artist to discover: Brian Kirk, a multidisciplinary artist whose work encompasses stone, metal, glass, ceramics, printmaking, and mixed media.
His range of materials is a reminder that creativity doesn't always fit neatly into one category.
Printmaking deserves a place in this conversation because it's an art form that people often confuse with ordinary reproductions.
Original fine art prints are created through artistic processes such as relief printing, etching, lithography, or monotype. Depending on the method, an artist may carve a printing block, ink a plate, or create an image on a smooth surface before transferring it to paper.
The materials can include printing inks, carving tools, plates or blocks, rollers called brayers, specialized paper, and sometimes a printing press.
A monotype is especially intriguing because the process generally produces a unique impression rather than a repeatable edition.
Local artist to discover: Jill Evans-Kavaldjian, whose artistic practice includes paintings, drawings, relief prints, and monoprints.
I love that printmaking combines careful planning with the wonderful uncertainty of what happens when ink finally meets paper.
The more artists I meet, the more I appreciate just how many ways there are to create something beautiful.
Oil painters may spend days building layers of color. Watercolorists must learn to work with the unpredictable movement of water. Encaustic artists use heat and wax. Potters transform clay through fire. Sculptors carve, shape, and assemble. Mixed media artists find possibilities in materials the rest of us might overlook.
Different tools, different techniques, different personalities—but all driven by that wonderful urge to make something.
And here in Loudoun County, we're fortunate to have a creative community filled with people willing to share their talents, teach their skills, and encourage one another.
If all this talk about art has inspired you to bring a little creativity into your home, you're in luck! Loudoun County has some wonderful galleries, art centers, and studio events where you can discover original artwork and meet the talented people who create it.
Artists in Middleburg (AiM) — One of my favorite places, and a gallery where I've had the pleasure of exhibiting my own work. AiM hosts rotating exhibitions featuring local and regional artists, from traditional landscapes and impressionist paintings to contemporary works. It's a lovely little gallery in the heart of Middleburg, and there's always something new to discover.
The Byrne Gallery — Also in Middleburg, this gallery offers an inviting collection of fine art, including paintings, sculpture, and jewelry. It's a wonderful stop while exploring Middleburg's charming shops and restaurants.
Castle Gallery — Another Middleburg gem featuring contemporary fine art and thoughtfully curated pieces. A lovely place to discover something unexpected, whether you're a seasoned collector or just beginning to explore original art.
Gateway Gallery & Gift Shop — Located at Hill High Marketplace near Round Hill, this cooperative gallery offers original artwork and handcrafted gifts from local artists. A particularly nice stop if you're looking for something unique for the holidays.
Franklin Park Arts Center — In Purcellville, this wonderful community arts center hosts changing visual art exhibitions along with performances and creative programs. It's a great place to discover local talent and see what our artists have been working on.
Loudoun Arts Council — A terrific resource for finding local artists, exhibitions, and creative opportunities. Their artWorks program brings original artwork into businesses and public spaces throughout Loudoun County, making art part of our everyday surroundings. And yes, some of those pieces are available to purchase!
Western Loudoun Art & Studio Tour — If you've ever wondered what an artist's studio really looks like, this is your opportunity to find out! Held annually in June, the tour invites visitors into working studios across western Loudoun County. You can meet artists, watch demonstrations, and purchase paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and more directly from the people who make them. It's one of the best ways to discover just how much talent is tucked away in our beautiful countryside.
And don't forget that many artists, myself included, also offer original artwork directly through their websites. You don't have to wait for an exhibition to find something you love!
As we head into the holiday season, I hope you'll consider giving something handmade or original. A painting, a beautifully crafted ceramic bowl, a small sculpture, or a piece of handmade jewelry carries something that mass-produced gifts simply can't: the imagination, time, and personal touch of the artist who created it.
And if you find yourself standing in front of a painting, sculpture, or ceramic piece wondering how on earth someone made it, ask the artist! Most of us are delighted to explain our process. Just be prepared—we may talk your ear off.
Whether you're looking for a special gift, adding to your own collection, or simply enjoying an afternoon wandering through a gallery, I hope you'll take a little time this November to celebrate the artists in our community.
After all, art makes life a little more interesting, and I think we could all use more of that.
Wishing you a November filled with creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for the wonderful artists in our community.
Until next time,
Sheila
Sheila Huyett Fine Art
Balance of Real and Imagined
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