Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Three

The Virginia artists in this collection draw inspiration from the natural world in many different ways. Some work directly from landscapes, plants, and wildlife, while others explore nature through color, pattern, material, or process. Together, they reveal the richness of Virginia’s landscapes and the many ways artists find beauty, meaning, and connection in the world around them.

Jill Jensen brings together printmaking, fiber art, and mixed media through a hands-on, layered process.

She designs and carves wood or linoleum plates, prints on hand-painted fabric, and adds stitching to create texture, depth, and a strong sense of craft.

Chase McClough creates alcohol ink paintings inspired by organic forms and botanical elements.

His fluid compositions use color and movement to explore the spontaneity of the medium and the patterns found throughout nature.

David Freeman creates paintings that bring abstraction, music, celebration, and city life into conversation.

His energetic compositions use color and movement to transform familiar scenes into expressive visual experiences.

Deborah Scott, a signature member of the Virginia Watercolor Society, creates impressionistic watercolor paintings that emphasize mood and light over fine detail.

Her work invites viewers to bring their own memories and discoveries to each piece.

Dominic Roebuck works in oil paint and oil pastel, capturing landscapes and memorable moments in nature.

His work reflects a close attention to atmosphere, color, and place, including scenes inspired by the coast and the beauty of Virginia’s natural surroundings.

Duane L. West is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant.

Working across oil painting, semi-relief sand sculpture, drawing, glass, and woodwork, he brings decades of artistic exploration to work shaped by technical skill, storytelling, and richly varied materials.

Hellen Bennett finds inspiration in the natural beauty she encounters in everyday life.

Her paintings reflect a quiet attention to color, light, and the peaceful moments that can be found in familiar surroundings.

Laura Helene Sebastian creates paintings that treat everyday objects as monuments.

Her work invites viewers to reconsider familiar forms and find meaning, presence, and beauty in the objects that often go unnoticed.

Marcy Murphy creates handwoven reed baskets using traditional techniques developed over more than a decade of practice.

Her work celebrates the beauty, variety, and everyday usefulness of basketry as a timeless craft.

Michael O’Neal works in painting and screen printing, creating bold compositions rooted in color, surface, and craft.

His work reflects an interest in both traditional painting and the graphic possibilities of printmaking.

Paige Yasnowsky paints animals and natural settings discovered on everyday walks.

Her work celebrates the beauty, humor, and unexpected juxtapositions found close to home, encouraging viewers to notice the small moments around them.

Sam Little is a Virginia potter and founder of 580 Pottery, known for thoughtful forms that balance function and design.

His wheel-thrown planters, including self-watering designs, bring handmade craft into everyday life with pieces that are both useful and beautifully considered.

Valerie Timmons creates work inspired by animals and the natural world.

Her drawings and paintings reflect an interest in wildlife, nature, and the expressive possibilities of materials.

Fine art photographer Wendy Nelson captures intimate moments in the lives of animals with patience and precision.

Her photographs bring viewers close to the natural world, revealing detail, personality, and the stories held in a single moment.

Thank you to the artists featured in this installment of Regional Artists Spotlight, and thank you to everyone who took the time to explore their work.

We’ll be back soon with another group of artists. In the meantime, we invite you to learn more about An Occasion for the Arts and our annual festival each October.