Phyllis Northup

Barbara Heile studied painting and received degrees (BA76 and MFA82) at American University in Washington, D.C. during a time when the faculty was still grounded and sensitive to the tradition of painting as embodied by artists who worked in a visual and refined expressive process.

She works primarily in oil and cold wax and began exploring acrylics in 2022.

Any medium that affords her a visual and painterly way into relationship with what she is feeling - and open to seeing - is her path.

Her approach is truly Aquarian in nature. Her work is original and she is open to the new; honoring of tradition she is not held by it. In earlier years the landscape had her full attention. This gave way to her interest in the abstract surface for its own sake, as expressive paint. The inner landscape of her felt sense is at present her main subject where new shapes come into painted form.

The paintings express joy and freedom and a depth of stillness through the healing qualities of color and light.

The directness and spontaneity of her approach, often using her hand directly to move the paint, can be felt in the surface and in the free interplay of color. She sees her way of painting as a path of expressive contemplation and is grateful for this way of loving the world as a visual artist.

Barbara has been actively showing in group and one person shows since the early 1980‘s and is a familiar face among artists in Rappahannock County. She enjoyed three years teaching Drawing and Painting at Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton, VA. Until its closing in 2015, she kept an active and open studio at River District Arts in Sperryville Her daily studio work now takes place at home.

Her natural call to painting supports her wish to share the experience of the mystery we all live in as human beings. A lifelong meditation practice supports the silent depth you can experience in even her smallest paintings. Her paintings have found homes around the world.

Being the mother of three independent and creative sons, raised in Rappahannock County, is by far her most rewarding life experience.

Barbara keeps an active diary of her work in progress on Instagram @bheileart ~~~thank you for looking! ~~~

PHYLLIS NORTHUP

Recognizing the creative spirit in my young soul, my grandmother gave me a set of oils when I was ten years old. Thus began my love affair with all things art. My BA in Fine Arts was just the beginning of a lifetime of learning and growing as an artist and art teacher.

Having married a National Park Ranger I have had the good fortune to move all over the country and live in some of our nation’s most spectacular places. My “backyards” have included the soaring majesty of the Tetons, the ever changing, awe inspiring Grand Canyon, the stark beauty of the Big Bend desert, the beaches of Cape Hatteras, the flowing water and limestone cliffs of the Buffalo River, the misty ridges of the Smoky Mountains, and the pristine jewel of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, where the spirit of Lake Superior inspired me on a daily basis. The adventure continues as we have returned to the beautiful mountains of Shenandoah National Park, where our journey began many years ago.

Although all of my work is inspired by nature, I naturally prefer to paint National Park Landscapes. I am an avid outdoors woman, and find the inspiration for my paintings while I am out hiking, kayaking, biking, cross country skiing, or otherwise exploring the natural world. I always have a camera in my pocket, so I can capture what I find in a photograph, which I paint from later in my studio. In addition to the larger landscapes, I also enjoy painting the "intimate landscapes", capturing the beauty in the small and magical world that is all around us and under our feet, but mostly unseen. My hope with these paintings is to bring awareness to these wonders and encourage people to see more of what is around them.

I have such a collection of images in my mind and soul from living in all of these spectacular places; I will never loose my passion for attempting to capture the essence of their beauty and spirit. Nature recharges my soul, and I hope that both my art and my teaching will help others to see and be open to the beauty of the natural world that surrounds us all. Awareness and appreciation will hopefully lead to the desire to protect, preserve and care for this fragile planet we dwell on.

See my water colors and jewelry on my website at www.phyllisnorthup.com, "Like" and follow my Facebook page at Phyllis Hain Northup - Art Inspired by Nature