Blog

Yin and Yang in a Crustacean World

Remember last November, when Cindy Procious and Mia Bergeron had that fantastic two person exhibition with us? One of Cindy’s largest paintings in that show was “Yin and Yang in a Crustacean World”. Check out these in-progress photos Cindy took to see the awesome journey these two lobsters went on! …

What a Weekend!

We certainly had no shortage of art events in Old Town, Alexandria this past weekend! On Friday evening our Juried Exhibition with the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (WSLP) officially opened. We celebrated the exhibition with an Opening Reception here in the gallery that was tremendously attended! Artists, friends, families, …

Local Attractions: The Renwick Gallery brings Burning Man to Washington D.C.

Labor Day weekend has arrived and we’re sure you’re wondering how you’re going to spend your 3 glorious days off! Here’s an idea! There’s an art museum filled with wonders residing just steps away from the White House. This institution known as The Renwick Gallery has the words “Dedicated to …

Kyle Stuckey: The Artist Who Captures the Essence of Charleston

We certainly love our dear city of Alexandria, but for this blog we are taking a trip down south to Charleston! We want our followers to get to know the artists we represent at Principle Gallery Charleston as well as give you all a taste of the exciting events and …

Getting to know the artist, Joseph Zbukvic

Joseph Zbukvic was born in 1952 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. His early education was extremely versatile and consisted of the visual and performing arts. However, in spite of his obvious talent for painting, he enrolled into a pedagogical university to study literature and language in 1967. Joseph Zbukvic painting the rural …

How Floral’s Conquered the Art World

Well, we can officially say that summer has arrived! However, here in Alexandria it has felt like summer since about.. April. Therefore, because Mother Nature decided to skip over Spring and bring us this sometimes enjoyable, yet other times torturous heat. We thought we’d discuss the gift Spring typically brings… …

The Progression of Abstraction

What is it? What is a gallery that specializes in Contemporary Realism doing writing about abstraction, you ask? Well here’s the thing– when people think of the term “abstract art,” most people specifically think of non-objective art. The two do have overlap, but the realm of abstraction is a lot …

Technique Tuesday: Found Object Sculpture

What is it? “Found object” art describes artwork that utilizes objects not conventionally designated as art supplies, and manipulates them, usually while keeping them still recognizable as their original form. In its early days, some found object sculptures did not even involve any manipulation of the object, but simply the …

Technique Tuesday: Magical Realism

Happy Tuesday! You may remember that not long ago we spent some time looking at the well-known movement called Surrealism. We’re going to be looking at a lesser-known “relative” of that movement today: Magical Realism. What is it? Magical Realism is a term that has been long-debated and is typically …

Gavin Glakas & the Unveiling of His Portrait of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe

On Wednesday, January 10th, 2018 our artist Gavin Glakas unveiled his commissioned portrait of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe at the Executive Mansion in Richmond. During the event, Gavin discussed his creative process, how we wanted to portray to the Governor, as well as a small hidden reference within the work. …

Technique Tuesday: Tondo

What is it? Happy Tuesday! We figured today we’d “circle” (ha!) back around to a Technique Tuesday post and talk about the tondo! A tondo (plural “tondi”) is a term for a circular work of art, and comes from the Italian word “rotondo,” or “round.” While in many ways just …

Opening Night and Live Painting Demonstration with Casey Childs

“Evening Harvest,” 32×42, oil on linen by Casey Childs – on view now Casey Childs’ solo exhibition, Relics opened this past Friday, October 20th and the artist returned yesterday, October 21st to present a Live Painting Demonstration. Casey Childs is primarily a portrait painter, who captures facial features, gorgeous flowing hair, and the …

Technique Tuesday: Rhythm

What is it? Today’s Technique Tuesday post is taking a look at one of the Elements and Principles of Design, rhythm. This can be a tricky concept to wrap one’s mind around when talking about visual arts, but it is very applicable! In reference to audible sound and physical movement, …

Exhibition Opening & Live Painting Demo with Valerio D’Ospina and Greg Gandy

A huge thank you to everyone who came out last night to the incredible opening reception for our current exhibition, a dynamic two-man show featuring Valerio D’Ospina and Greg Gandy!We were also incredibly honored to host a live painting demo with Valerio this afternoon! It was so exciting to see …

TOMORROW! Selling Orphans — Redtree Times

Yeah, you read that right, I’m willing to sell off some orphans. Don’t worry, I’m not really a heartless bastard. I’m talking about a handful of my paintings that have shuffled around the country over the years and somehow found their way back to the studio. I consider these paintings …

Our Annual Small Works Exhibition

Happy Holidays everyone! It’s hard to believe that we only have 1 full day left until Christmas! We’re sure everyone is feeling the last minute pressures of wrapping, family gatherings, and last minute shopping. Well first, lets all take a deep breath, go to a happy place, and talk about …

Robert Liberace: The “Living Master”

The Studio of Robert Liberace As an artist, Robert Liberace expresses the human body in way that would make the Old Masters proud. His interest in art history, anatomy, and technique are so obviously presented in his work. However, his artistic talent isn’t the only skill that has encouraged the …

Local Attractions: Beyond Our Doors

Welcome to our new blog series in which we will take you around our area. What can we say about our quaint little community known as Old Town? Old Town is the historic center of the city of Alexandria, Virginia or as we like to call it, Extraordinary Alexandria. It’s …

Principle Gallery and Alexandria’s Rich History

When you make a visit to Old Town Alexandria, and to Principle Gallery in particular, you are walking in the footsteps of some of early America’s most historically significant figures. We are amazed and humbled to be immersed in the area’s vibrant history in this way, and we’re incredible excited …

Technique Tuesday: Surrealism

What is it? Today we’re covering a fun topic that we’ve touched on somewhat before: Surrealism! Surrealism is an artistic and cultural movement that originated in Paris in the 1920’s, and established a genre that artists are still exploring today. The art historical movements of the early twentieth century are …

Technique Tuesday: Gouache

What is it? Happy Tuesday! This week we are talking about a type of paint that doesn’t often get a lot of attention– gouache! Pronounced “gwosh,” this type of paint is an opaque, water-soluble medium that has some of the qualities of both watercolor and oil, and in the case …

GC Myers “Truth and Belief” Opening Reception

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for the opening reception of the GC Myers solo exhibition “Truth and Belief” last evening! It was a wonderful turnout and we’ve had such an exciting amount of sales so far in the show. We love giving you all the chance …

Gearing up for the June exhibition!

This post on GC Myers’s blog has us SO EXCITED for the upcoming show! Make sure you follow Principle Gallery on this blog and on social media to get sneak peeks of the new images! This new painting is titled With Sanction of the Moon. It’s a 10″ by 20″ …

Technique Tuesday: Linear Perspective

Welcome back to a new Technique Tuesday post! This week we’re going to be discussing something called linear perspective, also known as the Unsung Hero of Realism. Truly, this is one of the most important techniques ever to be developed in art history. It changed the game completely, but we’re …

Technique Tuesday: Pointillism (Take Two!)

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Today we’re going to be talking about a technique we’ve already touched on in the blog, about two years ago. I actually think this is one of the most fun things about discussing these techniques– every artist’s work is so unique, so we can see the …

Technique Tuesday: A Painting Within a Painting

What is it? Well, this week’s “technique” isn’t a difficult one to understand by any means, but it’s still plenty of fun to come across, and well worth a post! All kinds of art can be depicted in a painting– sculpture, architecture, jewelry, pottery, fashion, etc.– but today we’re going …

Technique Tuesday: Movement

Let’s get back to some Technique Tuesday posts! This week, we’ve decided to tackle movement. Though this isn’t really a “technique,” it’s an aspect of art that many artists incorporate into their works and we thought we should talk a little about it! What is it? Movement is the way in …

Principle Gallery’s 23rd Anniversary

We are happy to celebrate another year here in Old Town Alexandria! So far, Principle Gallery has been a part of the Alexandrian community for 23 years now. April 4th marked another year of business for us, and to celebrate, we wanted to have a walk down memory lane of …

Technique Tuesday: Unblended Brushstrokes & Planes of Color

What is it? Happy Tuesday! This week we’re looking at a style of painting in which depth, roundness, changing values, and changing colors are depicted using separate, unblended brushstrokes. If that still doesn’t sound very clear, no worries, let’s look at a visual example! Here are details from two paintings …

Technique Tuesday: Etching

Another Tuesday, another technique! With our upcoming Friday exhibition Graceful Subtleties displaying works inspired by the Old Masters, we thought it only fitting to touch on a technique prevalent during the Renaissance era – etching. What is it? Commonly considered as a method of printmaking, etching is the process in …

Technique Tuesdays: Series

You may have noticed that many artists produce multiple works of the same composition and subject. Of course, this redundancy is not by accident! Artists create works of similar nature to practice and improve upon a subject as well as to illustrate how individual pieces can be combined to make a whole. Each …

Technique Tuesday: Glazing

What is it? The term “glazing” when applied to paint refers to the play of colors and luminosity built up through applying thin, transparent layers of paint over an opaque layer of a different color. This is done with the use of a suitable type of paint (not all paint …

Technique Tuesday: Color Theory Pt. II

As promised last Tuesday, we are going to continue our discussion on color theory. Apart from how they interact with one another, colors have the capability to attract a viewer due to their emotional and psychological effects. From how they are paired together to where they are placed in the picture …

Technique Tuesday: Color Theory

Color. One of the first aspects you notice about an artwork – the abundance and even lack of it. But, how much do you know about color? In this week’s “Technique Tuesday,” we will discuss color theory. Due to the complexities of the subject, we have decided to write two posts about …

Technique Tuesday: Bokeh

What is it? “Bokeh” is a Japanese word that refers to the way that a lens renders points of light that are out of focus. In Japanese, the word means “blur” or “haze.” You’ve probably seen a lot of images with bokeh in them, even if you weren’t familiar with …

Technique Tuesday on a Thursday: Sgraffito

Apologies! Due to a technical error, this post is up a couple days late, but please enjoy! What is it? The term “sgraffito” comes from the Italian word meaning “scratched.” It’s a technique that is usually applied to either wall decor, both interior and exterior, or to pottery. Essentially, the …

Technique Tuesday: Silverpoint

What is it? Welcome back to Technique Tuesdays! After high demand, we decided to revive the blog series with new discussions on techniques, genres, and art history. With that said, we would love for our readers to participate in this series, as well. If you are yearning to learn more …

Local Art, Local Eats

It is often over looked how this prominent region hosts the best of the best, so we want to make sure no one forgets it!  To celebrate the incredible talents and unqiue offerings of the Northern Virginian and Maryland areas, we are hosting a show that will represent local artists …

New Works by Kevin Fitzgerald

With the new year quickly approaching, we are getting ready for our annual Kevin Fitzgerald Solo Exhibition in March! Having already received seven new paintings,  we are excited to see what Kevin has in store for the show. For over 20 years, Kevin has held a solo exhibition at our gallery …

Congrats to Gavin Glakas!

To celebrate the 30 years of Senator Harry Reid’s service in office, Gavin Glakas had the honor of painting the Senator’s portrait! Well-known for painting portraiture, Gavin was asked to produce the portrait meant to hang in the U.S. Capitol near the Senate chamber. Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary …

Small Works and Bethanne Kinsella Cople

Following tradition, we held our annual “Small Works” exhibition this weekend alongside the Scottish Christmas Walk parade! We were happy to feature works from our usual artist roster, like Geoffrey Johnson and Robert Liberace, as well as display some pieces by visiting artists, such as those by Ski Holm. In …

Root to Bloom Opening Reception

After months of promotion, nearly a thousand submitted artworks, and tons of preparation, we finally held the opening reception for the juried exhibition “Root to Bloom: The Places Artists Call Home” last Friday evening. With over 70 artists included in the show, we were hoping that a few would be …

Every Picture Tells a Story: Joseph Lorusso

Recently, we asked a number of our artists to write and share their takes on what their art means to them. We hope to give you the chance to connect with the artists in the same way they hope to connect with you through their paintings. With this post, the …

Artists Engaging Nepal Gala

To continue support and raise awareness of the devastation caused by the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, Soarway Foundation is holding an art gala and fundraiser at Principle Gallery on Saturday, October 29th from 4:00-7:00PM. The Foundation has partnered with artists from Nepal and Uganda who have created artworks reflective of …

Gavin Glakas Solo Exhibit & Demo Recap

This past Friday, we held our first solo exhibition for Gavin Glakas as well as  a live painting demonstration the next day! With at least one hundred guests at the reception, a great turnout would be an understatement. Familiar faces, like Senator Harry Reid and former CIA Director, George Tenet, …

Where Do Our “Root to Bloom” Artists Call Home?

Last Friday, the Principle Gallery staff and guest juror, Teresa Oaxaca, decided on the final list of accepted works for our upcoming exhibition, “Root to Bloom: The Places Artists Call Home!” After having reviewed nearly 1,000 artworks submitted to the call, the selected artists were notified of their acceptance. We …

How to Frame Art: An Angled Approach

Apart from displaying contemporary art from around the world, Principle Gallery also offers custom framing services. We house a great number of mat and framing samples for your convenience as well as provide professional advice on how to best frame your artwork. To give you some inspiration before your visit, here …

Face Off IV:Recap

For those of you who were unable to make our Face Off exhibition and live demonstration on Saturday, we had a great turnout for both the audience and artwork! Elizabeth Floyd, Cindy Procious, and Mia Bergeron were the participating artists who painted portraits of, artist and friend of the gallery, Tom …

From Gilpin to Gallery: The History of 208 King Street

When the Potomac River’s tide engulfed most of modern day Union Street in the 1790’s, George Gilpin built and owned the building where Principle Gallery currently resides. Having sliced into the nearby cliff, Gilpin used the surrounding clay and stone for the foundation of the 208 King Street location. He would then …

Rental Space at Principle Gallery

Have you been wanting to plan a special event, but been looking for the perfect location? Do you need a space for a reception or personal/corporate celebration?  Well, Principle Gallery is a gorgeous historic building filled with amazing art and we are more than happy to help you host your special …

How to Light Artwork: Bright Ideas

After following our tips on how to hang your artwork, next is to learn how to light it properly. From conserving the piece to making it look the best, lighting has a huge effect on how artwork is displayed. Here are just a few tips that will help with the longevity of your …

Jeremy Mann’s New Book!

Jeremy Mann is a world renowned artist and one of our most sought-after painters. 2016 has been a big year for him; in addition to a documentary about his life and work being released this year, we are thrilled to announce that Jeremy has also had another book published! This book focuses on Jeremy’s …

UPDATE! “Root to Bloom” Prizes

As many of you know, we have an open call for entries until Wednesday, September 28th for our juried exhibition, “Root to Bloom: The Places Artists Call Home.” Gallery staff and guest juror, Teresa Oaxaca, will be selecting submitted works to feature in the gallery and the show will be opening …

How to Hang Your Art: Part 2

There are so many little details that go into redesigning a room, especially when it comes to hanging art. So, instead of throwing every little detail at you, here are just a few tips to consider before, during, and after hanging your art! Colin Fraser, “Patina”, pictured within collector’s home   …

How to Hang Your Art: Part 1

So, you bought the painting. You framed the painting. But how do you hang the painting? It can be pretty daunting to have this beautiful piece of art and then have no idea where to put the piece, how high to hang it, or even know what types of screws. …

Mark Your Calendars!

After the Geoffrey Johnson exhibition, we will have a lot of new and exciting shows coming to the gallery! So to get you ahead of schedule, we’ve prepared a little list along with a synopsis of each event for you to mark on your calendar! GC MYERS SOLO EXHIBITION Opening Reception: …

Posted GC Myers: Engage Nepal — Redtree Times

It’s been a year since massive earthquakes rocked the country of Nepal in April and May of 2015. It brought extreme devastation to this peaceful and isolated nation high in the Himalayan Mountains, destroying huge numbers of homes, much of the infrastructure and leaving thousands of its citizens struggling to …

Pre-Show Introduction: Geoffrey Johnson

Minimal. Contrastable. Impressionistic. These are a just a few adjectives journalists use to describe the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts’ alumnus, Geoffrey Johnson. His use of muted, black and white tones emphasize the intensity of the scene in which he is trying to depict through a simplified, yet strategic gesture. Geoffrey Johnson,”Fireworks,” 38×38, oil …

NIADA to show at Principle Gallery

For one very special night, the Principle Gallery will be hosting the National Institute of American Doll Artists’ gallery exhibition for its 2016 Conference! Showing original art dolls crafted by artists around the nation, the exhibit will display this traditional yet dynamic art form. In 1963, creative doll-makers and collectors gathered …

Geoffrey Johnson Solo Exhibition at Principle Gallery | News Release | Principle Gallery — Old Town Post

WHAT: New Solo Exhibition and Opening Reception WHEN: Opening Night: Friday, May 20th 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Principle Gallery 208 King Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 ALEXANDRIA, VA. – Join us for an exciting solo exhibition for artist Geoffrey Johnson, opening May 20th! Though a North Carolinian native, Geoffrey …

Let’s Talk About Still Life

Time is running out to check out “The Language of Objects” still life invitational at Principle Gallery! It is a truly fantastic show, with a range of styles and subject matter to delight every taste. We thought it’d be fun to take a super-quick look at the many centuries of …

CALL FOR ENTRIES OPEN NOW!

EXCITING NEWS! In November 2016, Principle Gallery will be hosting a juried exhibition, and the CALL FOR ENTRIES IS OPEN NOW! We are thrilled to have Teresa Oaxaca as our guest juror for this exhibition, called “Root to Bloom: Places Artists Call Home.” Check out our website HERE to read …

The Language of Objects Opening and Live Demos!

First of all, we wanted to send a big THANK YOU to everyone, both artists and art lovers, who came out to join us for the opening of our still life invitational, “The Language of Objects” this past Friday evening! We love the variety of folks that this kind of …

Congratulations!

It’s springtime! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming…and the Portrait Society of America is announcing its yearly award winners! We are just weeks away from the PSOA annual conference, and thrilled to share that several Principle Gallery artists have been selected as finalists or received certificates of excellence …

The Case for Original Art

Okay, so this is one subject where we at Principle Gallery must be at least a bit biased– we LOVE original artwork! All of us here at the gallery find it so fulfilling to be around original art each and every day, and to interact with others to help find …

Recap on the Lynn Boggess Show & Demo

A guest looking upon the new arrivals of Lynn Boggess at his Friday night Solo Show. What a great show we had this weekend! But, if you missed out, don’t fret because we’re going to tell you all about it. Friday night, we welcomed all the new arrivals by Lynn …

Fooled by an April Artist

It might be too early to play an April Fool’s Day prank, but Jorge Alberto never ceases to fool us…that is, through trompe l’oeil! His talents have recently been brought to the attention of International Artists magazine, recognizing his hyperrealistic, painted trickery. The article details his perfected technique when using …

The Sailing, Selling Stobart

Well-known for his art on maritime adventures, the realist painter John Stobart also had a knack for selling these watery works. As is typical with any other artist to sell his or her works, this new Principle Gallery artist was an especially savvy salesman. “The Whaling Bark, Charles W. Morgan,” 24×38, …

Into the Great Outdoors with Lynn Boggess

This February, following the opening reception for Lynn Boggess’s 2016 solo exhibition, we will be getting a unique chance to see Lynn paint live at the gallery. Typically, Lynn’s vibrant landscape paintings are created en plein air (on the spot), which is part of what gives them that fresh and immediate energy, …

Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays from all of us at Principle Gallery! We hope the season so far has been peaceful and festive for everyone! If you’re looking for any last-minute gift ideas, keep in mind that original art makes a fantastic and thoughtful gift! We currently have dozens of beautiful, brand new …

Technique Tuesdays: Jeremy Mann Cityscape Compositions

Welcome back to Technique Tuesdays! First of all, on behalf of all of us at the gallery, allow me to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who attended this past weekend’s opening for Jeremy Mann’s exhibition, as well as the live painting demonstration–especially to Jeremy, for being so kind …

Technique Tuesday: Studies

What is it? In regards to art, a study is something that is drawn, painted, or sculpted as preparation for a larger or more finished piece. It may sound pretty similar to a “sketch,” but there is a difference. Sketches allow the artist to plot out in broad strokes the …

Technique Tuesday: Nocturne

What is it? Simply put, a nocturne is a painting of a night scene. James Abbott McNeill Whistler was the first to apply the term to paintings (it is originally a descriptor of a piece of music whose composition is evocative of nighttime) and in art circles, the word has …

Technique Tuesday: Atmospheric Perspective

What is it? Atmospheric perspective is a visual phenomenon that occurs when we view a landscape. A very simple way of understanding the phenomenon is through the phrase, “fading into the distance.” When we view a landscape, the objects in the distance lose contrast and detail and gain a blue …

Technique Tuesday: Broken Color

What is it? The technique we’ll be looking at today is a fun one: broken color. This term refers to a technique where an artist will apply colors to a painting in small strokes, but does not blend them, so that they blend optically rather than literally. The effect of …

Technique Tuesday: Egg Tempera

What is it? Last week, we took a look at oil paints and acrylic paints, but this week’s topic is a painting medium that predates both of them–egg tempera. Egg tempera is an ancient type of paint that is made by mixing powdered dry pigments with egg yolk as a binder, …

Technique Tuesday: Oil vs. Acrylic

Today’s Technique Tuesday topic is often a hotly debated one in the art world; many artists and art appreciators have very strong feeling one way or another about the type of paint they prefer between oil and acrylic. Before we get into this discussion, then, let’s get one thing very …

Technique Tuesday: Genre Painting

Thanks for bearing with us as we’ve juggled a very busy September at Principle Gallery! Between the International Guild of Realism Exhibition, the GC Myers Artist Talk this past Sunday (check out his new works here!), and the upcoming opening of the Casey Childs solo exhibition “Observations,” followed by a …

Technique Tuesday: Surfaces

Today’s Technique Tuesday post is going to take a look at an aspect of art creation that many art appreciators easily forget–the surface under the paint! Here we have pictured just a few examples of the many different types of surfaces fine artists use to create their artwork. These are several of …

Technique Tuesdays: Painting in Miniature

What is it? Painting in miniature is more than just painting a small work. The word “miniature” originally came from a Latin term for the red pigment that was used in the creation of illuminated manuscripts. Because the decoration and illustration in these old (and even ancient) manuscripts was necessarily …

IGOR 10th Annual Juried Exhibition Award Winners

Principle Gallery wishes a huge CONGRATULATIONS to each of the IGOR 10th Annual Juried Exhibition award winners, as well as all the brilliant and talented artists whose work made it into this exhibition! And also, thank you so much to everyone who came out to join us last night and made …

Technique Tuesday: Colored Pencil

What is it? This is an easy one! We’re all very familiar with the wonderful medium of colored pencil, due to its frequent use in schools and for children’s play as well as the enjoyment of adult artists of all skill levels. Colored pencils don’t have a very clear history, …

Technique Tuesday: Watercolor

What is it? The topic of today’s post is a medium that many folks (and certainly anyone who had a childhood art class!) are familiar with: watercolor. One of the very oldest types of paint, watercolor consists of pigments suspended in a water-soluble solution. The brush is prepared with water, which …

Technique Tuesday: Trompe-l’oeil

What is it? If you read last week’s Technique Tuesday post about Realism, you already got a sneak peek at the fun that is trompe-l’oeil! A French term which translates to “deceive the eye,” trompe-l’oeil is a technique that creates an optical illusion that what is painted or drawn is …

Technique Tuesday: Style and the Spectrum of Realism

Realism….Hyperrealism….Trompe l’oeil….There are many terms we use in the art world to describe the style in which something is painted, and even for those of us who work in the field, it can get a little confusing at times.  The nuances of these styles and movements can be very subtle, but …

Technique Tuesday: Using Leaf

What is it? Metal leaf is the term for metal that has been hammered into very thin sheets. Gold leaf has been created and used for thousands of years as a decorative element in painting, sculpture, furniture, architecture, tapestry, jewelry, and more. Other metal leafs often seen as decorative elements …

Technique Tuesdays: Positive & Negative Space

What is it? The concept of positive and negative space is a fairly simple one. The subject of a work of art occupies the positive space, while everything else is considered negative space. Nearly every piece of representational art contains positive and negative space. The way that artists make use …

Technique Tuesdays: the Art of the Self-Portrait

What is it? This week’s Technique Tuesday subject is not a new concept for anyone (particularly in today’s “selfie” filled world!). But not only is the self-portrait is an important exercise for an artist to undertake, it is also significant to view as well, and provides fascinating insight into an artist’s mind or …

Technique Tuesdays: Painting from Life

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Here’s the last part of that series looking at what artists use for reference (we’ve already looked at painting from photographs and from the imagination). Today’s post will be a bit different, as it’s a guest post written by Principle Gallery still life artist Elizabeth …

Technique Tuesdays: Arbitrary Color

  What is it? Arbitrary color refers to a choice of color in an artwork that has no basis in the realistic appearance of the object depicted (think purple cows, yellow sky, pink sun, etc.). When painting, many artists choose their colors with the intention to portray the realistic appearance …

Technique Tuesdays: Balance

When it comes to visual art, the most basic building blocks are known as the Elements and Principles of Design. The elements (line, shape, color, texture, etc.) are used by the artist in a particular way to create visual interest and harmony. These methods of using the basic elements are …

Technique Tuesdays: Pointillism

What is it? Pointillism is a painting technique that popped up in the late 1800’s as an off-shoot of Impressionism. Essentially, pointillism uses small, distinct dots or strokes of different colors in a pattern to form an image. This technique relies on the ability of the eye to blend the …

Teresa Oaxaca’s Exciting New Collaboration with Nate Ruess

Since 2012, Principle Gallery has proudly exhibited the artwork of Teresa Oaxaca, an upcoming artist in the D.C. area.  At a young age, Teresa has already gained international recognition for her alla prima portraiture and Baroque and Victorian influenced style. Teresa’s latest accomplishment–painting the cover art for Nate Ruess’ new …

Technique Tuesday: Pentimenti

What is it? A pentimento (the plural is “pentimenti”) is an alteration in an artwork that becomes apparent by the marks and traces left behind from the artist’s original strokes. Although it is derived from the (you guessed it!) Italian word meaning “to repent,” it’s not quite accurate to call these …

Technique Tuesdays: Imprimatura

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Today’s post is going to look at a technique that we all saw in action at Friday night’s fantastic live painting demo with Teresa Oaxaca. If you missed it, be sure to keep an eye out for when we upload the photos and videos from …

Perspective of a Model

Following Friday night’s demo with Teresa Oaxaca we asked our lovely intern Barbara to share her experience as a model for Teresa. Here is what she had to say. My favorite part about interning at Principle is the rare glance into an artist’s creative world. You can read up on …

Technique Tuesdays: Sight-Size

What is it? If you’ve ever amused yourself by holding up your thumb and noticing how someone across the room appears to be tiny and thumb-sized next to it, you’re well on your way to understanding the sight-size method of painting and sculpting. Sight-size is a technique long used in …

Technique Tuesday: Painting from Imagination

What is it? Continuing our mini-series on different reference methods artists use, today we’ll be looking at painting from the imagination. Nearly everyone who has ever had an interest in art had at some point created an artwork from imagination or memory; most all of us have at least doodled …

Technique Tuesday: Painting from Photos

Happy Tuesday! Today’s post is part one of a mini-series of posts looking at the different methods artists use for reference when they’re working on a painting. Essentially, there are 5 ways an artist might paint: 1. From life (this applies to both plein air painting and indoor painting from …

Technique Tuesdays: Tenebrism

Remember the Technique Tuesday post where we took a look at chiaroscuro? Today’s post is going to take a look at a very cool technique, closely related to chiaroscuro: tenebrism. What is it? Tenebrism, like chiaroscuro, is all about the use of lights and darks. Where chiaroscuro is used to …

Technique Tusedays: The Mahl Stick

What is it? Today’s Technique Tuesday takes a look “behind the scenes” at a handy artist’s tool known as the mahl stick (sometimes spelled mahlstick or maulstick). A mahl stick typically looks something like this: This kind of mahl stick is held in the non-painting hand, though some mahl sticks …

Technique Tuesdays: Limited Palette

What is it? This week we’re taking a look at a method that some artists use to help enhance their work by creating color harmony and balance–the use of a limited palette. This is pretty much just what it sounds like. Thanks to the advances made over many centuries, artists …

Technique Tuesdays: Charcoal

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Today we’ll be looking at a fantastic substance that has been used to make art for thousands of years: charcoal! What is it? In the most basic sense, charcoal is the remnants of burnt wood. It’s likely that it didn’t take long after man discovered …

Technique Tuesdays: Alla Prima

What is it? Alla prima, also called “wet-on-wet” and “direct painting,” is a very popular method of painting in which the artist applies paint to the canvas essentially in one sitting (“alla prima” is an Italian phrase that translates to “at once”). One way to better understand the technique is …

Technique Tuesdays: Tonalism

Before we start to look at this week’s Technique Tuesday topic of Tonalism, we’re going to start with a mini discussion of two basics that are important to understand when talking about this style. So, in case you are not yet familiar with these concepts in art, let’s take a …

Technique Tuesdays: Dry Brush

What is it? Today’s featured technique is the dry brush technique. Like last week’s technique, the multi-loaded brush, this technique deals with the way that the artist loads their brush before applying it to the canvas. With the dry brush technique, rather than using a brush moistened with oil or …

Technique Tuesdays: The Multi-Loaded Brush

What is it? Most everyone would probably be able to guess what exactly is meant by the phrase  “loading the brush” as it relates to painting–you dip the paintbrush in the paint! It’s pretty simple. There are all sorts of ways, however, that artists adjust the way that they load …

Technique Tuesdays: En Plein Air

What is it? Today’s Technique Tuesday topic takes us on a trip to the great outdoors as we explore the world of Plein Air painting. The term “en plein air” is a French expression that translates to “in the open air.” It is used to describe the technique of painting outdoors, …

Technique Tuesdays: Sfumato

  What is it? This week we’re taking a look at a technique called “sfumato” (pronounced sfoo-mah-toh). This is also a word with its origin in -you guessed it!- the Italian language. The word is derived from the verb “fumare”, which means “to smoke.” The sfumato technique refers to a painting with no …

Happy Valentine’s Day from Principle Gallery!

Happy Valentine’s Day! We thought we’d take a moment today to highlight the couples from the amazing Principle Gallery roster of artists: Paula Rubino and Jussi Pöyhönen Louise Fenne and Charles Weed Treacy Ziegler and Gary Weisman Katherine Stone and David Gluck Wishing you a day full of love, from all …

Technique Tuesdays: Chiaroscuro

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Today we’re taking a look at one of the most basic and essential techniques in art: chiaroscuro. What is it? Chiaroscuro (pronounced “keyARo-scuro”) is another art term with its roots in the Italian language. As the two parts of the word translate to “light” and …

Technique Tuesdays: Blocking In

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday! Today’s post is going to take a look at a painting technique commonly referred to as “blocking in.”   What is it? Several of our Technique Tuesday posts will discuss techniques relating to what is called “underpainting.” Underpainting refers to the initial layer of paint an …

Technique Tuesdays: Impasto

Hello, everyone! Today we wanted to take a moment to introduce our new series of upcoming blog posts, called Technique Tuesdays. We at Principle Gallery welcome and encourage all art enthusiasts. We’re also aware, though, that there are some folks out there who really enjoy art, but find themselves a bit …

Technique Tuesdays: Gesso

  Welcome to another Technique Tuesday! Today we’re going to take a look at a substance that is near and dear to many an artist’s heart: gesso.   What is it? Pronounced “jesso”, this unique substance acts as a type of primer for many mediums of painting. Traditionally, gesso (an Italian word for …

A Look Back: 14 Great Moments of 2014 at Principle Gallery

The year is nearly at its close, and all of us at Principle Gallery would like to offer a big THANK YOU to everyone- artists, collectors, friends, art appreciators, social media followers, and more- who all made this year such an exceptional one for our gallery. It was a fantastic …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Jacob A. Pfeiffer

Happy Saturday! Today’s Studio Selfie features Wisconsin still life painter Jacob A. Pfeiffer. Known for his highly realistic and often subtly humorous still life compositions, Jacob’s work is currently featured in Principle Gallery’s booth at the Boston International Fine Arts Show. In fact, BIFAS even used his piece “A Bird …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Aaron Westerberg

Happy Saturday!  Today’s Studio Selfie comes to us from California artist Aaron Westerberg. shown here between his two adorable pups. Aaron is an incredible artist who first showed with us at the May 2014 visiting artist invitational show called Tourist Season. He studied at the California Art Institute, then continued …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Larry Preston

Today’s Studio Selfie Saturday post features the incredible Larry Preston, a still life artist from Massachusetts. He is truly a man of many talents, as he spent many years dedicated to a successful music career before returning to his first love of paintng. A self-taught but amazingly talented artist, Larry’s …

PRINCIPLE ARTIST→ MENTOR → PROTEGE… The Tie That Binds: a Pay-it-Forward event at Principle Gallery Charleston

THE TIE THAT BINDS

Studio Selfie Saturday: Valerio D’Ospina

Happy Saturday! Today’s Studio Selfie features an artist whose work is included in this month’s fantastic juried cityscape exhibition Urban Aspect–if you haven’t yet, be sure you check out the show in person or on our website, by clicking here! Originally from Taranto, Italy, cityspcape painter Valerio D’Ospina now lives …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Teresa Fischer

Happy Saturday! This week’s Studio Selfie features Massachusetts-based still life artist Teresa Fischer. Teresa is one of six artists in the group exhibition “Virtual Reality” at Principle Gallery Charleston this month. The show features a stunning array of hyperrealistic works, including several of Teresa’s newest paintings. Highly regarded for her …

SUDA STUDIO SALE!

Click here to preview Josh Suda paintings!

Studio Selfie Saturday: Alejandro Rosemberg

Buenos dias! This Saturday on our Studio Selfie Saturday post, we’re featuring a wonderful figurative painter named Alejandro Rosemberg. A native of Argentina, Alejandro currently lives and works in Buenos Aires. With a great regard for the classical techniques of the Old Masters, Alejandro creates vivid, beautifully lit portraits and …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Brian Martin

Happy Saturday! Today’s Studio Selfie features Pennsylvania artist Brian Martin. Brian is a founding member of the artist group Broad Street Studio (you may remember our show featuring them a few years ago!) and is well known for his landscapes and depictions of suburban scenes. In his artist statement, Brian …

Fine Art Today’s “How Artists and Galleries Are Paying It Forward” and the first of the Pay It Forward Painting Spotlights Series

Jeffrey Carlson from Fine Art Today, the weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Collector magazine, wrote a fantastic article about our Pay It Forward exhibition titled “How Artists and Galleries Are Paying It Forward.” Thank you so much for the great write-up, Jeffrey! You can check out the article for yourself here. We’re especially pleased to …

Studio Selfie Saturday (Early Edition!): GC Myers

What? A Studio Selfie Saturday post…on a Friday? Yes indeed, and for good reason! We’re posting about GC Myers today partially as a reminder about our exciting event tomorrow! Amidst the excitement of the Alexandria Arts Festival which will flood King Street this weekend, Principle Gallery will be holding an …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Paula Rubino

We thought it especially appropriate that today’s Studio Selfie features an artist who is currently in town visiting– artist Paula Rubino traveled from Florida to join us for the Pay It Forward opening reception last night! Paula’s selfie shows her in what will soon be her brand new artist studio! …

5 Things You Should Know about Pay It Forward

If you follow our social media pages, you’ve likely seen posts about the Pay It Forward show, opening TOMORROW, September 5th. This incredible show is unique in several ways, but most special is the fact that a percentage of sales will be donated to one of five deserving charities. We …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Terry Strickland

Happy Saturday! Before we get to our selfie, an important reminder: we are just 1 WEEK away from the opening of Pay It Forward. This incredible show brought to you by the founders of Women Painting Women features artwork from 27 phenomenal female artists. A percentage of all sales from …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Felicia Forte

Happy Saturday! This week’s selfie features the lovely Felicia Forte, another artist whose work will be included in the upcoming Pay It Forward show, opening September 5th. A California native, Felicia lives and works in San Fransisco, painting as well as teaching at the Sadie Valerie Atelier. “I paint and …

Face Off 2014

We were thrilled that so many were able to join us (both in person and online via the three live streams) for the Face Off live painting event on Friday, August 8. With three talented painters faced with the nerve-wracking task of painting a portrait from a live model in …

Studio Selfie Saturday: Lisa Gloria

It’s an absolutely gorgeous Saturday here in Old Town Alexandria! And as it’s Saturday, it’s time for another Studio Selfie. Today’s #StudioSelfieSaturday post features Illinois artist Lisa Gloria. A self-taught painter as well as a writer, musician, gardener, and mother of four, Lisa aspires to bring modern drama and aesthetics …

The WPW Collector’s Preview is now available at the link below!

Women Painting Women : Collector’s Preview SNEAK PEEK of all 86 paintings juried into 2014 WPW out of 743 international submissions, and also a few words from Guest Juror Allison Malfronte + Principle Gallery about the Women Painting Women movement – ENJOY!  

Studio Selfie Saturday: Colin Fraser

We hope you’re enjoying this new tradition of Studio Selfie Saturdays as much as we are! It’s a treat to see the creativity with which our artists give us a peek of themselves in their work environment and with which they answer the questions in our mini interview. Today’s selfie …

Studio Selfie Saturdays: Elizabeth Floyd

Today’s #StudioSelfieSaturdays features local artist Elizabeth Floyd! Located right here in Alexandria, VA, Elizabeth specializes in lovely still life compositions, full of color and life. (Check them out here!) In this selfie, though, you can see some portaits in the background–that’s because she’s practicing for the upcoming Face Off, where …

Studio Selfie Saturday – Cindy Procious

This #StudioSelfieSaturday is brought to you by Cindy Procious! She seen here in her Tennessee studio with a painting for a two woman show coming up in November featuring Cindy and Mia Bergeron! ALSO, be sure to come to the gallery on August 8th from 6-9pm see our third annual Face …

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

In 1984, President Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday in July as National Ice Cream Day. This year, we’re celebrating National Ice Cream Day by sharing some delicious works by Francis Livingston newly arrived at the gallery. Having worked frequently in illustration toward the beginning …

Studio Selfie Saturday PLUS! “10 Questions for the Artist” : Jorge Alberto (and Mia Bergeron pt. 2)

Happy Saturday! Today’s #StudioSelfieSaturday features the incredible still life artist Jorge Alberto. (Click here to see his work on our site!) Known for his incredibly realistic and three-dimensional compositions, this “trompe l’oeil” (meaning “trick of the eye”) artist excels at making viewers do a double-take. Jorge’s selfie shows him in …

Studio Selfie Saturdays: Bethanne Kinsella Cople

It’s time for #StudioSelfieSaturday! Today’s selfie come to us from the amazing local landscape painter Bethanne Kinsella Cople. (She is pictured here with her lovely studio assistant, Winnie.) Bethanne is well loved for her gorgeous lanscapes and lush painting technique. To check out all of her currently available work on our …

Terry Strickland’s “Day Star”

If you haven’t yet seen Terry Strickland’s most recent blog post, be sure to go check it out–click here! Featured in a full-page ad in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Terry’s allegorical images sparkle with incredible color and light. In her blog, Terry shares some of the background of the painting as well …

Studio Selfie Saturdays: Mia Bergeron

If you are an avid user of social media, you’ve no doubt heard of weekly Instagram hashtags like #ThrowbackThursday or #ManCrushMonday. If you haven’t, the idea is simple. Themed days of the week are fun ways to have a wide range of Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook users contribute photos to …

“Life” by Scott Christensen

Sometimes a painting will come to the gallery and will elicit the same response from nearly every visitor when they first view it. In the case of “Life,” by Scott Christensen, that reaction is, “WOW.” Below is the work, in all its beautiful framed glory, with Asher the gallery dog …

Footage of Teresa Oaxaca’s Live Painting Demo – Now On Our YouTube Channel!

If you follow gallery events, or any of our social media pages (If you don’t yet, you should! New content posted regularly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest!) you likely remember Teresa Oaxaca’s live painting demonstration from April. (And if you missed it, you can check out the blog post …

“Traveler” : GC Myers Exhibition Opens TONIGHT!

A talented painter (and a long-time cherished friend of Principle Gallery) with a unique style and a thoughtful and philosophical soul, GC Myers is back in Alexandria this weekend to join us for the opening of “Traveler,” his 15th solo exhibition at the gallery. “Traveler” is a gorgeous collection of …

Congratulations, ARC Winners!

The Art Renewal Center recently released the official list of winners and finalists for the International 2013/14 ARC Salon, and we were thrilled to see the names of many artists that Principle Gallery represents among the honorees! We wanted to take a moment today to congratulate all of the artists …

Tourist Season Recap

May’s exhibition, a visiting artist invitational titled “Tourist Season,” had its opening reception last Friday evening and it was a real pleasure to see the art hanging as a collection on the gallery walls. Working with these talented artists for the first time has been a treat for everyone involved. The …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Gregory Mortenson, Neil Nelson, and Sydney Bella Sparrow

Today we’re introducing the final three artists from the group of 13 comprising the May show, “Tourist Season.” As the opening of the show is quickly approaching (Friday night, 6:30 PM!) we are getting more and more excited about showing this fresh group of talented artists’ work. Send us an …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Erik Johnson and Shane Wolf

Erik Johnson Having spent his childhood around family members with a variety of aristic talents, Erik Johnson explored several passions, including cartoon illustration and animation, before arriving at a full time career in fine art painting. Though self-taught, his art is skillful and striking. Erik’s works always begin with an …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Louise Fenne and Zack Zdrale

Louise Fenne The daughter of a Danish father and an English mother, Louise grew up and went to school in both Denmark and England. She later studied art in France, Sweden, Italy, and Amsterdam, where she met the artist Charles Weed, whom she later married. The two relocated to Lucca, …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Aaron Westerberg and Sherry Loehr

In continuing the preparations for May’s show “Tourist Season,” today we’re taking a moment to introduce Aaron Westerberg and Sherry Loehr. Aaron Westerberg Aaron lives in California, and has his whole life. As a young man growing up in San Diego, he fell in love with art after taking a …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Brett Amory and Amy Lind

You may have read in our last post about the theme for the May exhibition at Principle Gallery. Titled “Tourist Season,” the show will be featuring an incredible group of artists whose work has never been shown on our walls! In continuing our series of blog posts about the artists included in …

Tourist Season Spotlight: Marina Dieul and Mark English

We could not be more pleased with the incredible turnout from last Friday’s 20th Anniversary celebration, not to mention the outstanding collection of artwork from this invitational. All it takes is one look at the variety and quality of the artwork currently covering the walls, and it’s clear why these amazing artists …

The Principle Gallery Turns 20

A HUGE thank you to GC Myers who wrote today about our 20th anniversary. It’s mutual respect for GC and all of our artists that keeps us going and wanting to do everything we can to become better as a gallery every day for our artists and clients. Much love, …

Teresa Oaxaca’s Live Painting Demo

If you happened to join us Friday evening in the gallery, or caught the live stream on the internet, you know just how incredible Teresa Oaxaca’s live painting demonstration turned out. We had a wonderful turnout, as well as a great number of folks watching on our live broadcast as …

Greg Prestegord’s “Beauty and the Grit”

“Don’t paint pretty things.” This advice, given to Gregory Prestegord by his father during his childhood, has become a great part of Greg’s vision for his artwork. As an adult, Greg has realized how wise his father’s words were. The idea of reflecting the time in which he lived by painting …

Anniversaries in the Alexandria Arts Community

As of this month, Principle Gallery has been in business for 20 years. It is truly an accomplishment, and one we are so excited to celebrate very soon! Our 20th Anniversary Invitational has its opening reception April 25th at 6:30 PM, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to honor the …

An Interview with Kevin Fitzgerald

If you’ve had the opportunity to view the 2014 Kevin Fitzgerald Solo Exhibition either online or over the past couple of weeks at the gallery, you know what an amazing collection of works Kevin’s 16th annual solo show turned out to be. The light, color, depth, and simplistic beauty of …

Art “In Situ”: Two Collectors’ Spaces

For those of us at the gallery, the last time we see a painting is usually when it is sent off to its new destination or picked up and taken away in the happy collector’s hands. Occasionally, though, we have the pleasure of seeing our artists’ work beautifully photographed “in …

Time & a “Traveller”

GC Myers has a fantastic blog which is updated almost every day. His ability to come up with interesting content daily about (mostly) art and music is something most bloggers could only hope to achieve. Today’s post sharest his 15th annual solo exhibition that we will be holding this June. …

How to Ship a Boggess Painting

If you follow our Facebook posts or our Instagram feed, you may remember this photo, posted the day all of Lynn Boggess’s work arrived for February’s exhibition: The paintings were transported to the gallery by Lynn and packaged in a very clever way to protect them from damage in transit. …

New Works from Alejandro Rosemberg

Today we received a wonderful delivery at the gallery– two new works by Argentinean artist Alejandro Rosemberg! You may remember from our recent post that four paintings by Alejandro are being included at the exhibition at the Artnot Art Museum. These two works are further proof of Alejandro Rosemberg’s masterful …

Spotlight: Local Artists

At the gallery, we’re always being asked by curious folks whether or not all of work comes from artists who live locally. No, indeed, Principle Gallery searches far and wide to bring you phenomenal Contemporary Realism from all corners of the States, and even abroad! Luckily, though, we have found …

Arnot Art Museum’s 8th Annual Invitational: Re-Presenting Representation

Principle Gallery is thrilled to announce our participation with the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, New York as they hold their annual Realism Invitational, “Re-Presenting Representation.”A well-established fine art institution, the Arnot Art Museum celebrated their 100th anniversary last year. In addition to their other periodic exhibitions, the museum has …

Amy Kann Sculptures

Lately, we have been highlighting the paintings from our December Small Works show, but today we’re taking an opportunity to highlight some different small works in the gallery–Amy Kann’s sculptures from October’s “Beyond the Surface.” This October we were pleased to have Rachel Constantine curate a fascinating show celebrating Conceptual …

Small Works 2013

We are getting very excited about our December show, Small Works 2013. The more pieces we receive at the gallery, the more we are convinced this is going to be a really fantastic show! In addition to small works from many of our regularly featured artists from the Alexandria gallery, …

Beyond the Surface: The Power of Conceptual Realism

Principle Gallery in Alexandria delved into new territory in October, as for the first time, our October exhibition was curated by one of our long-standing artists, Rachel Constantine. A well-connected artist from Philadelphia, Rachel was able to bring together a dynamic and impressive group of artists to participate in this …

Art in Place

There is no greater pleasure than seeing artwork from the gallery come to life in a collector’s home. A great painting activates the four walls of a space and can complete a room. The right painting can instantly infuse a room with color and energy, add warmth, create harmony, or …

Michael Mattice Live at the Principle

GC Myers always has a way with words. Come see Michael Mattice’s amazing talent tomorrow evening along with some new paintings by Alejandro Rosemberg, Laura Westlake, Brian Martin, Sergio Roffo, and Lynn Sanguedolce!

Aaron Morgan Brown: Visual Play

When viewing a work of art, is it important to know the artist’s intent, or would you prefer to have no outside influence on your experience? How much validity do you place in your own interpretation in the piece? Artist Aaron Morgan Brown struggles to find the balance between sharing …

Larry Preston: Man of Many Talents

Gallery patrons may recognize Larry Preston as one of our fine gallery artists and as a masterful painter of still-life scenes. With quiet refinement, Preston depicts everyday objects and elevates them through his thoughtful composition and exquisite craftsmanship.   Hydrangea – 24×24 oil on panel   Wild Red Apple Study …

GC Myers – Observers – OPENING June 7th!

GC Myers recently brought over forty new pieces to the Gallery in preparation for his solo exhibition on Friday, June 7th from 6:3o – 9 PM. His colorful use of acrylics on canvas, paper, and linen is striking–the symbolic landscapes and subjects are thought provoking and his combination of bright …

Observers

Recap: Geoffrey Johnson Solo Exhibition

The strong winds on Friday, May 24th blew in more than an unseasonable chill! All the way from North Carolina, renowned artist Geoffrey Johnson and his wife, Edith, energized the gallery at the opening of his solo exhibition. The wine, fruit, and puffy pastry were ready to go as the …

Meet Kelin and Lily: Our New Interns

Kelin Baldridge and Lily Carlisle-Reske are spending their three week Senior internships at the gallery. They are both interested in pursuing careers in art. We are so excited to give them a taste of the many aspects of the art world! Following are their short biographies. Kelin Baldridge fell in …

Tonight! Geoffrey Johnson Opening

The countdown begins! In less than three hours Geoffrey Johnson’s solo exhibition opens and you do not want to miss it! Join us in the gallery from 6:30 – 9 PM to experience Geoffrey’s amazing new paintings and meet the artist in person. See you then! Grand Central at 7:30 36×24 …

2012-2013 Art Renewal Center Salon Competition

We are thrilled to recognize the achievements of our wonderful artists who participated in the 9th Annual 2012-2013 ARC Salon Competition! The annual competition showcases the best of today’s traditional fine artists, and with over 2,000 entries and 850 artists’ submissions, we are truly proud to have our artists selected among …

Student Work: Rosie Revisited

Anne Callahan, 15-year-old artist and friend of the gallery, painted a new version of Rosie the Riveter as a modern update on the iconic image.  Anne’s homage to Rosie, complete with Army fatigues and a green bandana, celebrates modern women fighting the war effort and acknowledges how far women have …

Studio Visit: Afternoon Tea with Teresa Oaxaca

Teresa with an antique revolver, one of her recent acquisitions from her travels.Clint and Jessica recently caught up with Teresa Oaxaca at her studio, following the Grand Tour of Europe that she took late last year.  Teresa served us a wonderful tea, in the most amazing and eclectic spread of …

Artist Spotlight: Paula Rubino

Paula Rubino A magnificent painter using classical techniques, Paula Rubino has demonstrated time and time again her mastery of oil.  Born in Trenton New Jersey, Paula decided to move to Florence where she honed her craft studying under Angel Ramiro Sanchez and at The Florence Academy of Art. After living …

OPENING TONIGHT – Lynn Boggess

Lynn Boggess – Four Seasons Join us tonight 6:30-9 for Lynn’s solo exhibition featuring twenty-five brand new works. Stop by to meet the artist behind these spectacular oils. It’s promising to be a night full of great art and great people!   

Artist Spotlight: Teresa Oaxaca- her travels and inspiration

Last summer, one of our youngest artists, Teresa Oaxaca took an extended vacation to travel to Europe and visit the classical art cities for both inspiration and to further educate herself.  Here’s a little about her trip in her own words: In July of last year, I went on a …

Hyeseung Marriage-Song

One of the most charming and unique pieces in December’s Small Works show was a lovely interior, Studio Interior (shown below), by Korean-American artist Hyeseung Marriage-Song. Today we just wanted to take a moment to highlight two other pieces by Hyeseung that we currently have at the gallery. Studio Interior, oil on …

Casey Childs

We’re excited to announce the newest addition to the gallery, Casey Childs. Born 1974 in Powell, Wyoming, the award-winning artist uses oil to capture the beauty, variations, and complexity of the human form. Loose and tight brushwork harmonize in beautifully executed paintings. Come in to see four of his great …

New Talent: Linda Lee Nelson

This coming Friday, In addition to opening ’21 Nocturnes’ by Thomas Torak, we will also be introducing a great new artist to the gallery – Linda Lee Nelson. Linda is from St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She has worked in the creative …

Two of the Greatest

Composition 133 by Jeremy Mann. 2012. Jeremy Mann and Casey Baugh have been listed as two of the “25 Artists of Tomorrow” to watch by American Artist in their 75 Greatest Artists of All Time single issue. Evening by Casey Baugh. 2012. We are so proud and fortunate to represent …

During the Art Fest

Alexandria Festival for the Arts

G.C. Myers at Principle Gallery Tomorrow (9/8/12)

Over the Blues, a new piece by G.C. Myers Excitement is in the air at Principle Gallery as we prepare for the G.C. Myers talk we are hosting tomorrow.  Our doors will be open during Old Town Alexandria’s Festival of the Arts Saturday September 8th through Sunday the 9th. At …

Face Off: Q & A Session

Friday nights Face Off was a smashing success! We are so thankful to our wonderful artists, Mia, Rachel, Cindy, & Terry, our beautiful model Jen, and all the wonderful people who came out to support them! Painting Session The artists worked in 20-minute sessions of painting, followed by 5-minutes of …

Face Off Prep

We are starting to get excited for tonight’s Women Painting Women: Face Off Demo featuring Mia Bergeron, Rachel Constantine, Cindy Procious, and Terry Strickland from 6:30-9pm! The ladies arrived yesterday and already had ideas running through their head about the set-up! Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to around the gallery since …

Artist Thoughts: Gary Myers on Herb and Dorothy Vogel

Artist Gary Myers posted this wonderful blog about collectors Herb and Dorothy Vogel. We loved it so much we wanted to share it with you! We hope you enjoy Gary’s words about Herb and Dorothy, their passion for collecting art and the importance of their legacy and collection! Simply inspirational! …

Out and About: Fenimore Art Museum – G.C. Myers

G.C. Myers will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY from August 18 – December 31, 2012! We are so excited for Gary to have this opportunity and encourage everyone to visit the museum during the exhibition! The show will even feature a few pieces …

Visiting Collectors: Mia Bergeron

We always love to see artwork go to a good home! It’s even better when the artist gets to meet collectors and see them enjoying the piece! We recently sold a piece by Mia Bergeron, which Mia kindly delivered to her collectors and friends Tom & Pam. While she was …

Two Toraks

Elizabeth Torak’s ‘The Feast of Venus I’ was the featured piece in a exhibition at the Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum of the Southern Vermont Art Center. Elizabeth Torak – The Feast of Venus I: An Exploration of the Artist’s Process, was on display form July 23 – October 16, …

Congratulations International 2011-2012 ARC Salon Finalists!

Please join us in congratulating the following Principle Gallery artists that were selected as International 2011-2012 ARC Salon Finalists!!  So many talented individuals!  We are so very proud to represent them! They were chosen out of 2,100 entries from over 800 artists, which is a tremendous accomplishment! Here are some …

New Works: Cindy Procious

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of two new pieces from Cindy Procious! Although their delivery may have been slowed by the storms (we hope you are all safe!) we have no doubt they will receive ample attention when they arrive! ‘Tootsie Pop – Red Redux’, 5 x 7, Oil on Panel Known to …

New Arrivals: Larry Preston

We just got these two fantastic Larry Preston paintings into the gallery! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do! ‘Hyacinth’, 10 x 8, Oil on Panel Be sure to come see them in person before they are gone!! ‘Narcissus’, 16 x 12, Oil on Panel

Bubbles & Bluegrass

Ali and Meghan had a great time at the Bubbles and Bluegrass event hosted by Give Back Alexandria, an initiative of ACT for Alexandria. The music and food were excellent and everyone was dressed in their black tie, blue jean best! There were Scout Guides everywhere and bidding for the …

New Talent: Teresa Oaxaca

We’re proud to announce our newest talent, Teresa Oaxaca! Her resume is quite impressive, especially at 24 years of age. She was classically trained at the Florence Academy of Art & Angel Academy of Art, studied at the studio of Odd Nerdrum, and keeps her skills sharp by attending classes …

Principle Gallery About Town

The gallery as a whole has decided that we want to get out and become more involved in the community! Michele started us off in May by attending Art Uniting People – A Celebration of Creativity and Mental Health, an event put on by the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria’s …

In anticipation of our upcoming G.C. Myers opening of ‘A Place to Stand’, we would like to share this wonderful post that Gary wrote for his own blog, Redtree Times! We hope you enjoy it at much as we did and that you will join us as we welcome Gary …

Out and About: Art Uniting People

Art Uniting People – A Celebration of Creativity and Mental Health This year, the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria’s Mental Health Anit-Stigma HOPE Campaign will celebrate National Mental Health Month by opening its 2nd Annual Art Exhibition, “Art Uniting People – A Celebration of Creativity and Mental Health,” on Thursday, …

New Arrivals: Rett Ashby

Just last week, master frame maker and oil painter extraordinaire, Rett Ashby, sent us some beautiful examples of his work. Within a couple of days three of the pieces sold out of the window. They’re even better in person, if you are able to stop by, please do! “Indian Summer” …

Women Painting Women: The Expedition & Beyond

Above (clockwise from top left): Mia Bergeron, ‘Silence’, 60 x 34, Oil on Linen; Cindy Procious, ‘Where’s the Tabasco’, 12 x 16, Oil on Linen on Panel; Terry Strickland, ‘The Three Fates’, 30 x 40, Oil on Panel; Sadie Jernigan Valeri, ‘Undersea’, 16 x 20, Oil on Panel. It all …

Lynn Boggess: Braving the Snow

’14 February 2006′, 46 x 40, Oil on Canvas, 2006. For as long as I can remember, the Lynn Boggess piece above has been one of my personal favorites.  All the elements that often pull people to Lynn’s work are present — perspective, natural beauty, capturing reflection, movement, and a …

From What I Remember / From What I Forget

Above: Pamela Wilson, ‘Cinnamon Incursion’, 14 x 11, Oil on Panel, 2012. Join us this Friday, January 20th from 6:30-9:00pm for a Broad Street Studio Curated Exhibition: From What I Remember / From What I Forget. 15 of the participating artists will be in attendance! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity …

Off to USArtists in Philadelphia!

We just finished packing a fantastic group of work to show off at USArtists: American Fine Art Show & Sale.  Come visit us at Booth #22! Friday & Saturday, September 23 & 24, 11:00am – 8:00pm Sunday, September 25, 11:00am – 5:00pm Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building 128 North Broad …

Fall Fairs — USArtists & BIFAS

As the summer begins to come to a close, we’re gearing up for two exciting jaunts to Philadelphia and Boston.  Two fantastic art cities!  We’ll be heading to USArtists: American Fine Art Show & Sale from Thursday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 25th, 2011 and will be held at the …

Four New Manns

Jeremy Mann never ceases to surprise and excite us with his paintings.  We recently received four new pieces — all extremely fresh in their blend of Jeremy’s traditional training with his own innovative painting techniques and vision.  We can’t get enough of his work.  Enjoy!

Larry Preston Summer Paintings

We’re due to receive these four new paintings from Larry Preston in the next day or two!  Between the donuts, lemons, and fresh lilacs, they remind us of summer whether it be time spent in Maine, Michigan, the Cape, or Lake Huron.  We wish you all a fun and relaxing …

Gary Weisman: Spring Bronze Pour

Gary Weisman is cool, even when he’s pouring bronze at an incredible temperature in his Upstate New York foundry.  Born in Chicago, Gary attended the Art Institute of Chicago before moving on to teach at Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.  His process is passionate — classical figure drawing, sculpting …

Lucy the Gallery Dog

As many of you know, we have a wonderful gallery dog named Lucy.  We are all animal lovers and grew up with dogs — Michele had Jacko, a Miniature Poodle.  Ali had two Golden Retreivers, Amanda and Thea.  Clint had an Australian Cattle Dog named Belle.  Meghan’s parents still have …

Richard Murdock Featured on Huffington Post

Gallery artist, Richard Murdock is included in John Seed’s Huffington Post article ‘Painterly vs. Precise: 20 Artists, 20 Studio Visits’.  The article gives readers a heightened look into the processes, studios, and ideologies of 20 artists.  Great read! Check it out:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-seed/precise-paintings-painter_b_816515.html#s233019&title=Richard_Murdock_Zazalia Featured painting: ‘Zazalia’, 30 x 24, Oil on …

New Tanaka Paintings En Route

Nobuhito Tanaka just emailed us to say that he’s sending along two fresh paintings!  We love his small works — from a distance they appear to be photographs yet up close you can see his delicate brushstrokes. From the images, the reflections in the street on the first piece look …

Jorge Alberto: Behind the Paint

Staging of ‘Once Upon a Time’, Photograph We always revel in getting to see any behind the scenes action from our artists, so when Jorge Alberto sent us these staging photos we just had to share them!  Jorge has always been an artist focused on senses.  He seeks to capture …

Principle Gallery’s Beginnings

As a few of you may remember, King Street was actually not the first location of Principle Gallery!  We originally opened our doors in 1994 at 315 Cameron Street, just around the corner from our current location.  315 Cameron Street was a striking, historic townhouse that made the perfect setting …

Welcome to the NEW Principle Gallery Blog!

208 King Street  Alexandria, Virginia 22314 Welcome! We’re excited to begin this new journey into the blogosphere to keep you updated on Principle Gallery’s happenings! We hope you’ll visit and join us in creating a dialogue among collectors, artists, art enthusiasts & educators.  We’d love for you to read, comment, …