Charlotte McCoy McAdams
Artist statement and background
My painting process sometimes begins with a found picture, a memory of an event, or a reaction to a situation or a color combination.
Most of the time these images are in nature but can be anywhere from a sidewalk encounter to images in videos, movies, or a television program.
Any one of these can be the catalyst that propels me forward to begin layering in paint and dealing with my inner dialogue.
In the act of pushing paint onto the canvas there begins a communication with color and shape.
I then begin to try to resolve the emotions of the events or images with the formal elements of design, balance, and form.
Sometimes painting is a deliberate act of meditation and there is no resolution.
I approach painting intuitively and I would describe most of my paintings as emotional landscapes.
In 2022 I was fortunate to have two very inspiring experiences where I could practice my painting in new and exciting locations.
In May 2022 I participated in a fully- funded week-long artist residency at Wildacres Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The other was a week-long workshop at Ballinglen Arts Foundation in Ballycastle, Ireland in September 2022.
In Ballycastle I focused within a group setting on experimental drawing and exploration of the Irish countryside and the poetry of Irish poets.
I continually seek experiences in new locations where I am fortunate to work with some amazing workshop leaders and participants.
In 2023 I participated in an acrylic painting workshop in the mountains in Durango, Co. and in February 2024 another painting experience in Tos Tostdos , Baja Mexico.
Art shows and exhibits
2023 - Gallery Five-First Unitarian Church, Richmond, VA
2023 - Burwell-Morgan Gallery-Millwood, VA spring juried exhibit
2023 - Crossroads Art Center-juried multi- media exhibit
2022 - Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA, juried small works
2022 - Bay Community School – small works exhibit
2022 - 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA,“Teeny Tiny Trifecta 5”
2022 - Gallery Five- First Unitarian Church, Richmond VA
2022 - Burwell-Morgan Gallery, Millwood VA-annual fall juried exhibit
2022 - D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA, juried “Surfaces” exhibit
2022 - VA Beach Arts Center, VA Beach “Fabulous Forgeries” exhibit
2022 - Burwell-Morgan Gallery, Millwood VA- annual spring exhibit
2022 - Hill Galleries, Washington, DC. Annual juried exhibit
2021- Joshua Tree National Park Annual Exhibit – California exhibit
2021-Burwell-Morgan Gallery, Millwood VA – fall juried exhibit
2021- 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, “Teeny Tiny Trifecta 4”
2021- VA Beach Arts Center, VA Beach, VA – juried exhibit “Abstractly Speaking”- Award of Merit
2021 - Bay Community Arts Ctr, Matthews, VA “Elemental Influences”
2021 - Bay School Community Arts Center, Matthews, VA “Encore Art Speaks Juried Exhibit”
2020 - Art Fluent - International online exhibit “Boundless”
2020 - Virginia Beach Art Center, Virginia Beach, VA juried exhibit “Virginia is for Artists”
2020 - 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA, “Teeny Tiny Trifecta 3”
2020 - Bay School Community Arts Center, Matthews, VA, juried “Art Speaks” 1st place 2-D
2020 - Gloucester Arts on Main, Gloucester, VA, juried exhibition
2020 - Hill Galleries, Washington, D.C., juried exhibition
2019 - Charles Taylor Arts Center, Hampton, VA, “small works” exhibit
2019 - Gallery 54, First Unitarian Church, Richmond VA, juried
2019 - 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville VA, “Teeny Tiny Trifecta 2”
2019 - Undiscovered Artist Show, Weinstein Jewish Community Center, Richmond VA, juried
2014 - VMFA Studio School show, Richmond VA
1992 - Shenandoah Valley Arts Center, “Invitational Gallery”, Waynesboro VA
1991- Richmond VA Richmond Watercolorist Society, James Center, Richmond, VA
1989 - Undiscovered Artist Show, 1989, Weinstein Jewish Community Center, Richmond VA