Anthony Leon Wardrett was born February 10, 1969, in Newport News, VA to Leroy & Eunice Wardrett. At the age of 7, Anthony discovered he had a talent for art. He loved drawing both comic book and Looney Tune characters so much, that he and his mother would draw pictures on Saturday mornings after watching cartoons. In 1976, Anthony drew his first picture of Tweety Bird and Sylvester the Cat, which his mother still has framed in her house today.

From that moment on, Anthony knew art was his passion. Anthony’s passion for art continued from elementary school through high school. His talents, as well as his drawings, were recognized for various awards. After graduating from Hampton High School in 1987, Anthony went on to attend Virginia State University where he studied Commercial Arts.

Anthony currently works for the Hampton City School system, where he enjoys working with students of all ages. He volunteers his time doing, “Paint Day” for various clubs and organizations throughout the surrounding middle schools. Anthony still resides locally in Newport News.

George Stanley Jr. is an artist from Newport News, Virginia. George has attended Thomas Nelson Community College for Illustration and Airbrushing. He has attended classes at MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design).

George has appeared on the CW27 television show called “Here and Now” with host Kafi Rouse, KFAI radio in Minneapolis, MN, and Langston Hughes 100 Years celebration. George has designed logos, flyers, and other things for local Comedian Coco Brown and others such as United Souls and more.

“Thank you for taking the time to view my paintings. Hope you enjoy.”

Email the artist at georgestanleyjr@gmail.com

We first met Gracie Eriks when she accompanied artist Mandy Lewis-Houston to our Open Studio Sessions. This is Gracie’s first time displaying her work. Congratulations Gracie!

Lisa Boozer was born in 1970 in St. Petersburg, Florida. She studied piano at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts. With a strong family connection to art as well as music, she has been creating art from many mediums since her early teens.

Lisa met her husband Allen in 1993, while he was stationed in Tampa, Florida while serving in the U.S. Air Force. They married in 1995 and moved to other duty stations while adding six children and various pets to their family, before retiring to Hampton, Virginia. Lisa's art, during this time, was primarily for the enjoyment of her children and self-exploration. However, she always held onto the dream of being a professional artist.

Today, Lisa is working on a Fine Arts degree at Thomas Nelson Community College. Afterward, she hopes to transfer to Christopher Newport University to complete her education to become an art teacher and art therapist. In addition to painting and drawing, Lisa is a leather and fabric artist, with hopes of opening a family business making leather goods, to employ her adult children with special needs to help them feel that they are an important part of their community.

We first met Mandy Lewis-Houston through our 2019/2020 Open Studio Sessions. We are honored to have her display in “A Space of Our Own”.

Art is an expression of me- creative, imaginative, historic, relevant, musical, poetic, artsy, and reflective of everyday issues and my love of life. Telling stories goes back to my Gullah upbringing. My father called me his “Renaissance child”. I do it all; I experiment with space and my surroundings by creating everything with natural materials, found objects, and a large range of mediums.

The eldest daughter of two artist parents, I learned to appreciate the arts from birth. Surrounded by canvas, turpentine, museums, known and evolving artists, writers, civil rights leaders, actors, and musicians helped form my view of the world. The world is an intricate colorful palette designed to fill a canvas with wonderful stories and experiences. Nineteen years ago, I moved to Newport News, VA from Brooklyn, NY, and made Virginia my home. Later pieces depict life in Virginia. Earlier pieces were influenced by travels and love of the environment. While in High school I earned a scholarship to the Brooklyn Museum Student Art League and exchanged ideas and styles with my self-taught parents. We were all members of the Artist Leagues of Brooklyn (ALB) and co-owners of the Tu-Can Duffield Gallery of Art, Brooklyn, NY.

Maxwell Boozer was born in Key West Florida in 2001. He relocated to Hampton, VA with his family when his father retired from the U.S. Air Force when he was 5 years old.

Max studied art and other core subjects while at Phoebus High School and graduated from there in 2020. He has been drawing and creating storyboards for many years. Max uses his art as a source of relaxation and self-fulfillment.

Michelle Richardson, a self-taught artist, believes that atmospheric change comes by a change in one’s perspective. She works on the premise that change is created. In her creative process, she shares her perspective by carefully choosing the focal point, colors, style, and whether there will be a message conveyed through figurative subject matters. She enjoys creating art that gives rise to emotions, increases self-awareness, and encourages critical thinking.

Her artwork includes pencil drawings, watercolor, abstract and acrylic paintings, mixed-media art, crafting, upcycling, portrait paintings/drawings, card making, clay modeling as well as paper-mache. Her practice would best be described as multifaceted as she creates art in various styles, uses a variety of mediums, and many different subject matters.

Website: www.michellezart.com; Facebook: Michellezart; Instagram: @michellezart

Nikita Boozer was born in Key West, Florida in 1999. She relocated to Hampton, VA with her family when her father retired from the U. S. Air Force, when she was seven years old.

Niki studied Art animation and cultural arts while at Phoebus High School, and graduated from there in 2017. She is currently working on a Visual Arts degree at Thomas Nelson Community College, while also working at Ft. Eustice Army Base.

Niki enjoys creating in most genres of art but prefers drawing and animation especially.

Richard Press is a retired art instructor for the Norfolk Public School System. He obtained his BFA from Norfolk State University and continued taking courses at the University of Virginia and Cambridge College. He has also acted as the Visual Arts Coordinator for the Hampton Celebration of the Arts in Hampton, VA. He has had numerous public and private commissions and has shown in major exhibitions throughout Virginia and Maryland. Richard volunteers regularly throughout the area, spreading his love and knowledge of art throughout the community.

I believe the purpose of art is to inspire the imagination and connect us with our humanity. I want my work to fulfill those needs in my audience.

As a child, I wanted to change the world. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to make a big splash. From the past to the present and in between I have learned of life’s limitations. And, that you must confront every limitation with innovation. I continue to apply this concept to my art.

My conceptual process comes from life experiences. It succeeds and fails based on my ability to create physical and emotional substance. Art is the container for a compelling story, and it keeps the promise alive not by what I see but by what I know is there.

I love a challenge. Sometimes I try to imagine the impossible then create it. I use vivid colors symbolically rather than realistically. Lines and forms are simplified or even distorted for better expression. Images are alive and intuitive and only the colors of my pallet can render the emotions of that visual awareness.

“In the end, my reward comes when the viewer gets something more than they expect. For me, no matter how perfect a painting is, it will not win a place in our hearts unless it can appeal to our deeper emotions.”

Contact the Artist- www.scotturnerart.com • scotturnerart@gmail.com • 757-595-9468

My work is mainly figurative and portraiture. People are endlessly interesting to me. As beautiful as the natural world is, there is not one rock, tree, or flower as glorious as the human form.

Shannon is a native of Hampton, Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she holds a BFA in Painting and Printmaking.

Follow the artist on Instagram @shannonbryantartist

Through the expression of color, you are invited to share in an imaginative, engaging, visual experience offered by the national and local award-winning artist, Vanessa Golson.

Vanessa’s artistic style is representative of abstract painting. This is captured through the acrylic medium, mostly with the fullness of rich, vibrant colors, and with “tempted to touch” texture. Along with painting, she has developed a creative interest in abstract photography, paper art, and wearable art. Also, she instructs classes on the techniques of acrylic pouring, paper art, and assisted with completing a mural for a local learning center.

Her artwork has been on exhibit in several Hampton Roads Virginia locations, to include the Halls of Art Exhibit at the Hampton Roads Convention Center-Hampton (a piece in the permanent collection), Norfolk Parks and Recreation Titus Town Visual Art Center-Norfolk, the Community Exhibit, Virginia Contemporary Museum of Art (MOCA)-Virginia Beach, Art’s Café, Providence New Life Church-Virginia Beach, Norfolk Academy Art Exhibit-Norfolk, Prime Plus Senior Artfest-Norfolk, Gallery at the Chapman-Hampton, Riverview Gallery-Portsmouth, Chesapeake Bay Art Association Spring Show, d’Art Center-Norfolk, African American Artists of Hampton Roads-Norfolk, Jerry’s Artarama-Virginia Beach and Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Art Show, Suffolk.

Vanessa is a native of Norfolk, Virginia. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, a graduate of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, earning a Master of Arts in Community Counseling and from Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, California earning a doctorate in Philosophy/Counseling.

She holds membership with the Chesapeake Bay Art Association, Fine Art America, and Saatchi. Also, she has donated artwork for silent auctions and community fundraisers.