When Shopping Local Means Something Greater

Northern Virginia is home to people from all over the world, bringing with them an exceptionally diverse style and approach to the arts. Because of the range of cultures represented here, shopping local in many cases means access to international talent. The added bonuses are those which other communities experience: putting money back into the community, supporting entrepreneurship, and preserving local jobs.

When it comes to last-minute gift ideas for the holidays and purchasing something unique for that special someone in your life, shopping local arts in this region is a no-brainer. You’re giving something personal with a story behind it, avoiding shipping costs, and purchasing something you can take home immediately.

Simply put, shopping local means less packaging and more fun. Broadway Gallery, a family-owned business with two convenient locations in Great Falls and Alexandria, represents local artists with backgrounds from all over the world, and diverse, original art that’s a part of their cultures.

As we inch closer to the holidays and you’re looking to give something unique that’s a representation of Northern Virginia, look no further than Broadway Gallery. From national and internationally renowned impressionist painters to photographers and encaustic artists, there’s something for everyone on your list. Read on to find out more.

Australian Artist Ken Strong Adds a Human Touch to Natural Landscapes

Broadway Gallery artist Ken Strong presents a definitive and unequivocal expression in his subjects, using natural imagery touched by the subtle presence of people. Australian-born Strong’s fascination with the Australian landscape and bush generated an early interest in art and over the last 14 years he has been developing his approach towards composition and oil techniques. Strong has exhibited in Sydney and other areas of N.S.W. and Canberra as well as Canada and Melbourne and has won a number of awards. He has also been featured in two issues of the magazine “Australian Artist”. Stop into the gallery to see more of his work, and get a preview of it here.

Need more Zen? Look no further than Hiromi Ashlin’s Intricate Origami Designs

“Eternal Flight”, Origami on Panel, 12×8

Hiromi Ashlin, an internationally known Japanese origami master, seamlessly creates natural, Zen-eques designs through the repetition of pattern and movement of thousands of origami pieces per work. Her use of Japanese washi paper creates an inviting texture and depth to her pieces, inviting the viewer in to explore each crease and fold.

Ashlin began seriously studying art in her teenage years in the early 1990s, focusing initially on oil painting, drawing, and design. She re-located to Tokyo in the mid-90s to begin studies at the Tokyo Game Designer School. During this time Ashlin spent a year traveling Australia, engrossed by the country’s indigenous cultures, history, and diverse population, bringing with her even more of a unique outlook on her artistic ventures. You can view some of Ashlin’s work here.

Bradley Stevens Brings All-American View to International Landscapes

Bradley Stevens has earned a reputation as one of America’s leading realist painters in his 25-year artistic career. Stevens attended George Washington University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1976, and Masters of Fine Arts in 1979. His classical training and diverse talents enable him to excel in the genres of both portrait and landscape painting.

Bradley Stevens – Tuscan Sunset, 22×36, Oil on Linen

Bradley Stevens – Approach to Siena, 30×44, Oil on Linen

Stevens has reproduced historical portraits for the White House, Monticello, U.S. Department of State, American Embassy in Paris, and the National Portrait Gallery. In 2002, the Smithsonian Institution commissioned him to reproduce the famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington.

There’s nothing more American than an original painting of our most loved monuments, historic buildings, and trailblazers. You can view more of Stevens’ portfolio here.

Take a Look at Fred Eberhart’s Photo Mosaics

Fred Eberhart, “Robinson River Elms,” 40 x 40, photograph

Fred Eberhart is a professional photographer based out of Centreville. As an artist, he’s acutely aware of the limitations digital technology has brought in the creation of fine art landscape images, which is his passion.

Fred Eberhart, “Widewater Mist”

Eberhart has sought to overcome this limitation by creating stitched mosaics from arrays of juxtaposed digital images. Using robust mosaic-stitching software, he produces seamless, large format, high-resolution images of a quality comparable to the larger film formats.

Eberhart finds satisfaction capturing glimpses and hints of a disappearing life and natural setting in rural Virginia. As he says, “I hope that viewers will find my images compelling and emotive, touching them in a meaningful way, and conveying my love for, and awe at the natural and visual gifts with which we have been endowed.” Take a look at some of Eberhart’s additional work here.

To Paris and Back, Christine Lashley Creates Paintings that Sparkle

Christine Lashley is a contemporary impressionist painter, with a unique take on landscapes, often using color and texture to make her paintings look realistic from afar and dissolving into abstraction as the viewer looks closer. Her artistic journey is unique, too, in its own right. After studying art in Paris at the Parson’s Art Institute and the Sorbonne she went on to going on to earn a Bachelors of Fine Arts at Washington University St. Louis.

Christine Lashley Golden Fields 8×16 Oil on Panel 1300

Christine’s art is unique in that her oil paintings are informed by her watercolor sketches and the flow, merging, and luminosity that the watercolor medium can achieve. Christine says, “Both mediums support each other and overlap. It’s a misconception that watercolor is unforgiving. The fun bursts of color and quirks show up in my oils. Watercolor gives me ideas on how to surprise the viewer.”

We look forward to what’s in store for Christine next. Spoiler alert: more light and sparkle awaits us! View her additional work here.

Whoever you’re shopping for this holiday season, Broadway Gallery has something for everyone. For general inquiries and more information, contact info@broadwaygalleries.net.