Fae Penland

Barbara Heile studied painting and received degrees (BA76 and MFA82) at American University in Washington, D.C. during a time when the faculty was still grounded and sensitive to the tradition of painting as embodied by artists who worked in a visual and refined expressive process.

She works primarily in oil and cold wax and began exploring acrylics in 2022.

Any medium that affords her a visual and painterly way into relationship with what she is feeling - and open to seeing - is her path.

Her approach is truly Aquarian in nature. Her work is original and she is open to the new; honoring of tradition she is not held by it. In earlier years the landscape had her full attention. This gave way to her interest in the abstract surface for its own sake, as expressive paint. The inner landscape of her felt sense is at present her main subject where new shapes come into painted form.

The paintings express joy and freedom and a depth of stillness through the healing qualities of color and light.

The directness and spontaneity of her approach, often using her hand directly to move the paint, can be felt in the surface and in the free interplay of color. She sees her way of painting as a path of expressive contemplation and is grateful for this way of loving the world as a visual artist.

Barbara has been actively showing in group and one person shows since the early 1980‘s and is a familiar face among artists in Rappahannock County. She enjoyed three years teaching Drawing and Painting at Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton, VA. Until its closing in 2015, she kept an active and open studio at River District Arts in Sperryville Her daily studio work now takes place at home.

Her natural call to painting supports her wish to share the experience of the mystery we all live in as human beings. A lifelong meditation practice supports the silent depth you can experience in even her smallest paintings. Her paintings have found homes around the world.

Being the mother of three independent and creative sons, raised in Rappahannock County, is by far her most rewarding life experience.

Barbara keeps an active diary of her work in progress on Instagram @bheileart ~~~thank you for looking! ~~~

FAE PENLAND

FOR OVER 40 YEARS I HAVE CREATED DISTINCTIVE AND HIGHLY ACCLAIMED WORK IN WATERCOLOR, OIL, AND DRAWING. A GREAT DEAL OF MY ARTISTIC INSPIRATION WAS DUE IN PART TO GROWING UP NEXT TO A LIBRARY AND UNIVERSITY THAT SUPPLIED CONSTANT VISUAL STIMULI AND A DESIRE TO IMITATE OTHER ARTISTS. FROM GRADE SCHOOL TO THE PRESENT, I HAVE TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEVELOP MY SKILLS TO PORTRAY WORK THAT HAS DEPTH AND EXEMPLIFIES THE ESSENCE OF SPIRITUAL BONDING BETWEEN ARTIST AND SUBJECT.

ONE AVENUE FOR MY CREATIVE EXPLORATION IS SHAPE AND RHYTHM. THE BEST WAY I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE JOURNEY IS TO THINK OF MUSICAL RHYTHMS AND HOW THEY MAKE US FEEL. WE FEEL ENLIGHTENED, PEACEFUL, OR CURIOUS, AND THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON. I EXPLORE THESE VISUAL RHYTHMS WITH A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS. THE FOCUS IS ON POETIC AND MUSICAL BEAT OF SHAPE AND COLOR.

SOME OF MY SHOWS:

PHILLIP RATNER MUSEUM
BLACK ROCK CENTER FOR THE ARTS THREE PERSON SHOW
ART SPACE HERNDON VA, TWO PERSON SHOW, “OF A FASHION”
REPRESENTED IN AMERICAN ART COLLECTOR
ARTS BARN GAITHERSBURG MD ONE PERSON SHOW
MARKET STREET FOUR MONTH SOLO SHOW SPONSORED BY GREATER RESTON ART CENTER
RESTON VA
WASHINGTON PROJECT FOR THE ARTS SHOW “SEVEN”
EXXON MOBIL AND ARTS COUNCIL FAIRFAX
WASHINGTON WATERCOLOR SHOW STRATHMORE HALL BETHESDA MD
INAUGURAL ART SHOW AT THE MILLENNIUM ART CENTER

Please visit my website at www.faepenland.com

The gallery, www.middlestreetgallery.org and (540) 227-5066, is now located at 311 Gay Street, Lower Level, facing Main Street & across from Ballard’s Washington, VA.