About The Artist
Inspired by all things natural, my subjects are usually made by God, not man. I’m living my dream, surrounded by mountains and wildlife on our farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, with my husband, two boys, one big dog and one little dog, two horses, three birds and, a lizard.
I am mostly a self taught artist who has been painting and drawing since I was a little girl in the small town days of Germantown, MD, when it was little more than cow pastures and corn fields. Initially I was borrowing brushes and acrylics from my Dad, and painted on anything I was allowed, from my matchbox cars to my furniture. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the confidence to take classes in school. When my first son was born I painted a mural on the wall, and once family and friends saw what I had done I began showing my talent in their homes as well. Now I love to take classes whenever I can.
To me, art is a passion, and when I'm not working on it, I’m thinking about it. The process of creating a beautiful portrait from something as simple as a pencil, or a stick of pastel, and a piece of paper is magical. From baby smooth skin to weathered and aged, even furry, faces are intriguing. No matter how many times I look at a face, there is always something new to see. Although realism is important to me, it is not as important as capturing the feeling and personality of the subjects.
Graphite and charcoal allow any artist the exploration of technicality and contrast and the simplicity of it is a favorite of mine. Lately I have been thoroughly enjoying exploring acrylics, but still love my pastels and eco-oils.
To preserve the artwork for generations to come, all my pieces are created on, matted and framed in, conservation materials.
Memberships
News
Mural of Seasons Decorates Center
By Stephanie M. Mangino
The Winchester Star
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Michele Sommers (left) and Stephanie Harding painted a mural in one of the rooms at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center in Clarke County. The scenes in the mural represent the area around the center, which is near the Shenandoah River. |
Millwood— The indoors and the outdoors have come together in four walls at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, 930 Tilthammer Mill Road, Millwood.
Front Royal artists Stephanie Harding and Michele Sommers have created a mural in the center’s reception/exam room, depicting one of the four seasons on each wall, said Belinda Burwell, center director.
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| A pair of raccoons peer out of a tree stump in the mural of the wildlife center. |
The images include those of the animals that the center sees, and replicates the scenery around it. It’s almost like looking through a window, Burwell said.
The color opens up the space in the center’s building, which is located in a home from the early 1800s, with low ceilings and plaster walls.
Before, the room appeared kind of dingy, Burwell said, but now, when she enters the room, “it just makes me smile when I walk into it.”
That was one of the reasons for doing the mural, said Sommers, who wanted “to do something nice for the people that work there.”
Sommers has a lot of admiration for the people who work many hours at the center for not much money.
It’s also a learning tool for children who come to the center, who have a great time pointing out the animals they recognize, Burwell said. “It’s really fun for kids.”
The mural idea came about last summer, Burwell said, when Harding and her sons volunteered at the center every Saturday.
Burwell mentioned the room needed paint, Harding said, so as an artist, she offered to help paint it, and Burwell suggested a mural.
Harding of Bryarpatch Artistry enlisted the help of her friend Sommers of Sommers End Originals.
Aside from being an artist, Sommers is also a former veterinary assistant of 17 years who had previously donated a mural to the Frederick County Esther Boyd Animal Shelter.
Both women are also longtime animal lovers.
They’ve worked together and separately on the mural, and both said they still have some animals to add to it.
“Every time I look at the mural, I see something else I want to do to it,” Harding said. “That’s my nature. I never really feel a piece is finished, there’s always more I can do.”
The center, which opened in 2004, is a nonprofit organization that cares for 1,500 animals a year, Burwell said. It assists injured, orphaned, sick, and displaced native wildlife in Clarke, Frederick, Warren, Shenandoah, Fauquier and Loudoun counties and is completely dependent on private donations.
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| Belinda Burwell holds Briar Rose, a hawk that was rescued by the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center and brought back from a coma it suffered from West Nile virus. The bird is included in the mural in the background. |
The artists donated the mural to the center, Burwell noted.
It’s currently in its busiest time of year. Lots of orphaned baby animals end up at the center from May to August, she said. In some spring/summer months, it can see from 300 to 400 animals. “It’s been a struggle,” to keep afloat, Burwell said, with the hungry mouths coming faster than the donations.
Still, she said the community — including people like Sommers and Harding — has been very supportive of what the center does.
Information
Call or visit www.blueridgewildlife.org.
Spring Art At The Mill Show was wonderful! The art there was amazing. I feel blessed to have sold two pieces there this Spring, and look forward to participating again this fall. Until then I will go visit the Mill periodically to pick up my favorite Blue Corn Meal. The Mill grinds every Saturday.
Clarke County Historical Association.
I am currently taking up studio residence at Gourmet Delights Gifts and Framing located at 204 Main Street, Front Royal, Virginia. You can find me painting every day with Michele Sommers of Sommers End Originals Tuesday through Saturday. The shop has wonderful coffees, unique gifts, and of course artwork.
Original artworks are currently available at The Galloping Grape located in Warrenton, Virginia. Check it out, it's a great shop with a wonderful owner! She has two of my favorite things covered..... Horses and Wine!!!
My work can be seen in the Warren County Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, VA.
In the “On The River ‘09” canoe paddle contest, Stephanie came in second with her carved and painted paddle depicting the American Indian princess, Shenandoah.
Stephanie is one of the artists featured in the Rose Hill Barns book Reflections of Clarke County, Virginia. This book offers a view of Clarke County, Virginia "through the eyes of local and regional artists and artisans." Proceeds from the sales of the book will restore the Barns of Rose Hill to become a center for community, culture and the arts. For more information on the Barns of Rose Hill, or to purchase a copy of Reflections of Clarke County, Virginia, click here and visit their website.
