"Expressions" Portrait Competition Exhibit Finalists Announced

ArtSpace Herndon’s 8th Annual Expressions Portrait Exhibit opens Wednesday, October 5, 2016 featuring the competition’s finalists. Competition juror and renowned artist Jordan Xu made the selections for the finalists. Local artist and juror Tricia Cherrington-Ratliff will select and announce winners of the competition during the Awards Reception on Saturday, October 15, 2016, 7 to 9 p.m. The exhibit runs through Friday, October 28, 2016.

25 stunning and diverse portraits in various mediums were selected from 101 submissions by 57 artists. The artists selected to exhibit are Fithi Abraham, Suzanne Lago Arthur, V. Briones, Elizabeth Floyd, Samantha Hand, Penny Hauffe, Becky S. Kim, Marcia Klioze, Benisse Lester, Mark Eliot Lovett, Michela Mansuino, Isabella Martire, Denise Moore Pierce, Mary Reilly, Keith A. Reutter, Katherine Riedel, Thomas Segars, Lorena Selim, Susan Talbot-Elliott, and Lis Zadravec.

Artist Jordan Xu began studying portrait painting at the Art League School in the historic Alexandria, Virginia, under the tutelage of Washingtonian artist Kurt Schwarz and later Danni Dawson. Over the years, Jordan has developed a style that combines classical realism with intensely vibrant colors and broad, casual brushwork. Portraiture remains one of Jordan's primary focuses as he searches relentlessly for more ways to capture the stories and emotions behind the faces. The subjects in his portraits often present the image of people in our everyday life as well as various cultures around the world. One of the most important aspects of his portrait and figure work is that he tries to describe the subjects in their "natural habitat", where they are placed in their favorite environment or performing their favorite activity. Jordan now lives in Lovettsville, Virginia as a freelance artist.

Artists Tricia Cherrington-Ratliff paints with a specific goal of leaving behind works of art that will be meaningful to future generations. Having grown up in the shadows of the Music Hall of historic Tarrytown New York, Painter Tricia Cherrington-Ratliff credits New York's vibrant art scene with inspiring her to create fine art at a young age. Unconsciously, the history of her surroundings gave her a lifelong sense that a beautiful work of art outlasts a generation and speaks to those who come later. She considers artwork a legacy to be passed to others. Tricia has studied with master painters from around the world. As a result, her work today is influenced by both contemporary realists as well as the old masters. She employs a combination of contemporary colorist methods and classical painting approaches that allow her to tackle any subject in any style that inspires her. Her work is a constantly evolving dialog of peaceful realist still life paintings reflecting the joys and complexities of everyday life. Tricia is a member of the Fine Art Professionals of Virginia and exhibits her artwork throughout Virginia.

ArtSpace Herndon exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. Some events have a nominal fee. Please visit our website www.ArtSpaceHerndon.com for the gallery’s hours, location, and exhibition and events schedule.

Arts Herndon is an independent 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization and serves as the official arts agency of the Town of Herndon. We operate ArtSpace Herndon, the Art Gallery and Performance Space at 750 Center Street, Herndon. We also provide arts education, arts scholarships, works of public art and grants to small arts organizations and artists. All Arts Herndon programming and exhibits are made possible in part by generous contributions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Town of Herndon, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, the Nelson J and Katherine Friant Post Foundation, Steve and Pat Macintyre, and by our generous sponsors, supporters and volunteers. Visit us on the web at www.HerndonArts.org or ArtSpaceHerndon.org.