Sara Linda Poly

www.saralindapoly.com                                              

Known for her sweeping skies and landscapes, Sara Linda Poly is inspired by local eastern scenes and the many other locations to which her love of plein air painting has taken her.    Though she grew up in the east near Philadelphia she has spent several years living and traveling in California and the west.  She currently lives and maintains a studio in Arlington, Virginia and is a full time painter and instructor, teaching workshops here and abroad.  Winner of numerous awards and participant in local and national plein air competitions, she is making her mark, both in the plein air movement and in the studio.

Comments from collectors, critics and students include:

  “A wonderful sense of light….”

  “A master at capturing the moods of the sky….”

  “Her paintings exude warmth, drama, intimacy and vastness all at the same time….” 

  “There is a freshness to her work that invites the viewer to almost breathe in the air of the landscape….”

Artist Statement                                               

I have always been at home under the open sky and with nature.   I love the subtle and dramatic atmospheric changes caused by the weather and the seasons and how that affects the quality of light.  I appreciate both the joy and the challenges I find while recording my emotional responses to these on location and in the studio. 

I truly appreciate the chance to share my vision and heartily thank my patrons and students for their interest in my work. 

Education

Philadelphia Arts Academy, Montgomery College of Art and Design, NOVA Community College, and study with various local and national artists

Professional Experience

Presently: Demonstrations, lectures, travel workshops in the US and abroad include

Virginia, Maryland, New Mexico, Lake Tahoe12

Mexico and France 1999 - 2007:  Instructor- plein air and studio painting classes

The Art League School 1992 - 1999   Assistant Gallery Director, The Art League , Alexandria, Virginia                        1980 - 1992   Freelance commercial art, graphic design, portrait and mural commissions          

Professional Memberships

• Washington Society of Landscape Painters
• Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters of America
• Oil Painters of America
• Landscape Artists International
• National Association of Women Artists

Gallery Representation         

• Bella Vista Fine Art, Asheville, North Carolina           
• Berkely Gallery, Warrenton, Virginia
• Long View Gallery, Sperryville, Virginia
• Metropolitan Gallery, Arlington, Virginia
• South Street Art Gallery, Easton, Maryland
• Trowbridge-Lewis Gallery, Middleburg, Virginia
• Warm Springs Gallery, Warm Springs, Virginia

Selected Shows, Honors, Competitionns

• 2008 Mayor’s Exhibition of Plein Air Paintings, Barga, Italy
• 2008 Accepted by Jury into the Carmel Plein Air, Carmel California
• 2007 1st Place Award, Washington Society of Landscape Painters Annual Competion
• 2007 Juror for the Potomac Watercolor Society Annual Competition
• 2007 Solo Exhibition, Warm Springs Gallery in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy
• 2007 Winner in National Competition for Best of America Oil Painters and Artisans Publication
• 2007 Two Artist Exhibition, Trowbridge-Lewis Gallery, Middleburg, VA
• 2007 Three year exhibition, US Embassy, Georgetown, Guyana, Africa          
• 2007 Two Artist Exhibition, South Street Art Gallery, Easton, MD         
• 2007 Juror for the Wayne,Plein Air national Competition, Wayne, PA.
• 2006 Easton Academy Art Museum-work purchased for permanent collection
• 2006 Show-Easton Academy Art Museum , “Plein Air Painting, A Shared Experience” ( 3Women)
• 2006 1st Place Award, River Bend Plein Air Competition      
• 2006 Elan Magazine, cover and feature article
• 2006 Juried participant: Sonoma Plein Air, Sonoma, CA
• 2006 Juried participant: Easton Plein Air, Easton, MD           
• 2005 1st Place Award, International Artist Magazine and feature article
• 2005 Award of Excellence,  Easton Plein Air Painting Competition          
• 2005 Juried Participant:  Plein Air Competitions, Annapolis and Easton
• 2005 Two Artist Exhibit, South Street Art Gallery, Easton MD
• 2005/2006, Solo Exhibitions, Metropolitan Gallery, Arlington, VA
• 2004, 2005, 2006,  Solo Exhibitions, Warm Springs Gallery
• 2004 Metropolitan Gallery, Six Women: Plein Air Landscape
• 2004 Reston Town Center, Solo Exhibition
• 2003  Oil Painters of America, regional juried exhibition
• 2003 The Painted Violins Exhibition, The Arlington Symphony
• 2002 and 1999  1st Place Award, The American Landscape Exhibition
• 2002 Top 200 Arts for the Parks Competition