I had the honor of being accepted into the ArtScape13 year-long public art gallery with the Shenandoah Arts Council in Winchester. VA in the beginning of 2022! I submitted my painting, “Hometown View of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” which is a 6”x6” acrylic painting on canvas. It's based on a picture I took in my hometown, Stephens City, Virginia. The exhibit had over 350 entries, mine was one of 56 artworks chosen as a finalist!
As a part of the ArtScape program, my painting was professionally photographed and printed on a banner that is installed on Winchester's Old Town Walking Mall. The original painting was also displayed in a gallery with the other 55 originals at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley from April 19th through July 19th, 2022.
Copied from the Shenandoah Arts Council website about the program:
“ArtScape is a public art program open to artists of all ages that is meant to represent all walks of life and all brands and levels of talent; a group of work with diverse themes to create a shared experience of art by an entire community. ArtScape is not a contest of who is the “best.”
Now in its 13th year, ArtScape has successfully transformed the Old Town walking mall into an outdoor art gallery, accessible to all.” … “ArtScape 13 is organized by ShenArts in collaboration with Old Town Winchester and is supported by local sponsors.”
My banner was sponsored by Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (A well-made choice by those in charge of assigning sponsors to banners, as my painting features electric lines). Ashley Kreis, a Public Relations Representative at SVEC, was so kind as to interview me and write an article about my painting which was published in their September issue of their monthly magazine!
I’ve known about it since its inception in 2009 and have always wanted to participate in it. I was even encouraged by my art teachers in high school to submit something, but I only recently felt confident enough as an artist to submit my artwork.
Also, great news! The original painting was for sale while on exhibit, and it sold! My first painting to ever be featured in an actual gallery sold! To say I was excited would be an understatement. It feels so validating to know that other people find my art to be of value. Every single day I can feel my dream of being a full-time artist get closer, I know it will happen soon.
Thanks for reading! I’ll be back soon with more fun updates on what’s going on in my life!
*Side note, my painting was used as the banner image for entire ArtScape13 program! Read more about the program here, and take a look through the online gallery to see the other artists’ work!