MEET THE DAVINCI ARTISTS!
DaVinci Art Studios- Arts for All, Loudoun
ABOUT THE PROGRAM • Arts for all on Facebook
Discovery, like creating art, is a process. The DaVinci Art Studio program is very much about process, the act of creating, and of doing so in a social environment. Though the art, or product, created by DaVinci artists is often exceptional, sometimes the real beauty is in its authenticity. Each piece is as unique as the individual who made it.
— ALL PHOTOS COURTESY DaVINCI ART PROGRAM
— ALL PHOTOS COURTESY DaVINCI ART PROGRAM
BRIANNA BESTER
Brianna recently started attending DaVinci art groups and recognized several other participants from other activities. She loves the color pink and brings a cheerful smile and a willingness to try different media. She has enjoyed working with color pencils, stencils, and markers.
TAYLOR BURR
Taylor is a new young artist that started coming to DaVinci open studios with her friend. She loves to paint bright and colorful landscapes and finds her own reference photos to paint from. She works steadily and enjoys socializing while painting. She is happy to participate in group projects and is learning how to work on a longer term painting project.
SPENCER CLAYTON
Spencer came to DaVinci, and created his first painting in 2019, brought to the group by another DaVinci artist. He tried out drawing and painting with acrylics and his early pieces were reminiscent of a cubist style. His next art stage was inspired by the Bob Ross exhibit and stemmed from Ross' wide paintbrush, long brushstrokes, and wet backgrounds. The drips were Spencer's "happy little accidents".
Spencer has a definite preference for music while he works and will often sing or dance while painting. His sense of humor and joke-ster personality emerged. Outside of the studio Spencer enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and his family, bowling, watching theater, watching pro wrestling, and dining.
COLE
Cole recently began attending DaVinci open studios with his friend. He works quietly and enjoys playing with model magic and working three dimensionally. He likes texture and manipulating the medium with his hands. At the end of open studio, he rolls it all up and puts it in a bag for next time.
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ABBY CRISSWELL Abby started attending one summer with her friend and enjoyed the art making group so much that she comes whenever she doesn’t have to go to school. She has assisted in creating murals and working on group projects and enjoys the whimsical like fairies and the natural world in her art. She likes to paint and draw and immerses herself in the art-making process. |
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REGINA CUMMINGS
Regina is well known for her playful and imaginative cat paintings and her colorful underwater scenes. She checks books out of the library and watches videos for references. “I love to make something pretty,” she says. Besides making art, Regina likes new places, foreign languages, and skydiving. Regina’s other hobbies and favored subject areas of travel and snorkeling are reflected in her underwater paintings. She’s a DaVinci regular because it’s “something I enjoy doing, and it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.”
CATHERINE C
Catherine recently joined our DaVinci open studio and has been painting florals and drawing tv cartoon characters. She is not afraid to speak her mind and appreciates people respecting her boundaries. She has been getting more comfortable with the group and has been willing to try different art media. She likes animations and clear boundaries.
REMI ELLIOTT
Remi joined us earlier this year and always looks cool and comfy. She enjoys using markers and crayons and was willing to try out new media. Her lines are confident and bold and she tends to fill a page with a single color. She is learning how to outline and take her time creating art. One of her first sketches sold at the Bluemont Fair Art Show this year! She enjoys the support of friends and family who are excited to see her artistic journey.
Remi joined us earlier this year and always looks cool and comfy. She enjoys using markers and crayons and was willing to try out new media. Her lines are confident and bold and she tends to fill a page with a single color. She is learning how to outline and take her time creating art. One of her first sketches sold at the Bluemont Fair Art Show this year! She enjoys the support of friends and family who are excited to see her artistic journey.
KELLY ERIKSON
Kelly has been involved in the Arts For All (formerly VSA) theater program so she seemed to know everyone in the art group the first time she came and referred several new attendees. She enjoys drawing, painting, and crafts. She is willing to explore and try different techniques and is still finding her artistic style. Besides acting and art, she loves spending time with her boyfriend and her family.
Kelly has been involved in the Arts For All (formerly VSA) theater program so she seemed to know everyone in the art group the first time she came and referred several new attendees. She enjoys drawing, painting, and crafts. She is willing to explore and try different techniques and is still finding her artistic style. Besides acting and art, she loves spending time with her boyfriend and her family.
ZAHRA KABIR
Zahra came to us through the ALLY program. She is quiet and had minimal experience with art but seems to be enjoying the social aspect of group and is developing her confidence in her creative abilities. She has been experimenting with paints and helped paint the trees for the light show at Franklin Park Arts Center. She likes animals and being an aunt.
NICOLE LEVINRAD
Although Nicole was active in the Arts For All theater productions, she came to art groups when she found out a couple of her friends were attending. She works enthusiastically and quietly, and always has a ready smile. She appears to enjoy both the social aspect of art groups and the artistic and is developing confidence in her creative abilities.
ALICIA LOCKWOOD
A lifelong artist, Alicia has participated in the DaVinci program for many years. She enjoys having a place to work with peers and instructor feedback and sketches her ideas straight from her head. Art provides a creative outlet and a way to share her unique ideas. She is known for her mermaid paintings, fairies, female superheroes, comic book style, and animal paintings. Making art “definitely makes my brain work,” Alicia says of the process. “It’s something I’m good at, and I love it when it makes other people happy, too.”
ASHLEY LYDDANE
Ashley’s first experience with DaVinci was painting the mural in the break room of SimplyBe Coffee shop. She jumped right in, despite minimal experiences in painting and drawing. Ashley is cheerful, social, and willing to help. She loves exploring the materials and surprised herself with her first forays into drawing and painting. The other artists enjoy her enthusiasm and cheerfulness.
AARON McNEECE
A DaVinci artist for several years, Aaron is quiet and focused when he is working. He has an eye for line and can finish a piece in one session. He says, “I like to watch and draw anime. I prefer to work with colored pencils. My favorite anime character to draw is Megumi Oumi”. He has many variations of the character Megumi Oumi and he will occasionally work on a different subject or theme. Although initially reluctant, he usually joins in on all the group projects and directive activities. His drawing skills are stellar and he is learning more about controlling the paintbrush.
DOUG
Over the years participating in the DaVinci program, Doug has shifted from using colorful markers on large paper to painting on paper or canvas boards. He enjoys DaVinci’s social setting for the process of art-making, and especially connects to other participants through a shared love of listening to music while creating. Doug has joined us on field trips and often initiates dancing. He uses some sign language to communicate and welcomes hugs.
JOCELYN PAUL
Jocelyn has been exploring art media with the DaVinci program and likes paints and pastels the most. She is learning about composition and color. She is building her self confidence in art and enjoys socializing with her peers. She likes listening to music and works at the ALLY building.
Jocelyn has been exploring art media with the DaVinci program and likes paints and pastels the most. She is learning about composition and color. She is building her self confidence in art and enjoys socializing with her peers. She likes listening to music and works at the ALLY building.
TIM PETERSON
“I love it!" Tim’s signature exclamation is testament to the enthusiasm he brings to the DaVinci Studio each week. Tim is one of a handful of regulars who have been with the DaVinci program since its inception by Pam Oliver in 2001. He arrived to the program with several notebooks full of drawings. He then embraced acrylics with gusto, and has also worked with watercolors. His attention to detail in paintings of animals and landscapes has led to some successful commissions. He enjoys the freedom and flow of paint, and has added it to the materials he uses at home. Tim is a big fan of Bob Ross and likes to learn new techniques to add to his repertoire at DaVinci sessions.
TIARA REED
Tiara is an enthusiastic member of our DaVinci group. She enjoys color pencils and oil pastels- anything with a variety of color. She is building her self confidence in art and often gifts her artwork to family, coworkers, and friends. She loves chatting with group members and adores dogs and other animals.
JESSAHEL RICCI
Jessahel or "Jessa" started attending DaVinci Art classes recently after her graduation and looks forward to coming to DaVinci groups every week. She's cheerful and chatty and immerses herself in the creative process. She discovered she enjoys getting messy with chalk pastels and often creates many drawings in a session. She also enjoys the camaraderie and social time with other artists.
CATHERINE STRATTON
Initially, Catherine was one of our quieter artists who came after her friend mentioned DaVinci, but now she lets loose and happily socializes as she draws. She enjoys working with pencils, markers, and paints. She works meticulously and has an eye for detail. She is still finding her art voice and exploring different mediums and subjects and she has a role in this year’s Arts For All theater production.
STACEY SWEET
An original DaVinci Studio artist, Stacey has been part of the program since its inception in 2001. Stacey has also performed in over 20 VSA theatre productions, a favorite subject of her artwork. Recently she has been exploring a variety of materials, including drawing and especially painting. Her evolving style includes color exploration and sometimes Matisse-like patterns. Landscapes, florals, and animals are her main subjects but she has begun a series of architectural paintings. Whatever she is creating, Stacey says “art makes me feel happy!”
RILEY W.
One of our youngest members of DaVinci started attending our Wednesday group and fits in seamlessly. She works carefully on her paintings and enjoys florals and landscapes. Riley is also participating in the spring Arts for All theatre production, Beauty and the Beast, Jr. She brings youthful energy to the group while exploring the art materials and learning how to paint.
