Artists

Susan Sousa

I’m Susan, the artisan behind every handcrafted lampshade in Ryan Eure Designs Downtown Gallery on Prince George Street. My journey began with a love of fashion. After finishing my schooling at Fashion Institute of Technology, I worked for a designer in the Garment Center in New York. I then started another journey creating beautiful home décor, which included Drapes, Roman Shades, Pillows and Cushions in my workroom at home. I am now creating handsewn, custom lampshades. Each lampshade is carefully crafted from hand picked fabrics and hand sewn myself. My mission is simple: to offer you quality products that are stylish and custom made. I am committed to ensuring your satisfaction and always happy to accommodate custom orders or answer any questions you might have.

Bob Oller

For over 40 years Bob Oller worked as a commercial illustrator and designer. He jumped into the digital side of imaging & illustration early in the development of that technology. As the fine arts side of him grew, he started pulling tools/ mediums over from his commercial world and began exploring & creating in the Vector Painting Medium.

Each media acrylics, watercolor, pastels, graphite, oils... is a recorder of the artist hand. Each medium and its' personality is between the artist’s hand, creative thought and the canvas. Vector media (Illustration software i.e Illustrator, Corel, Freehand), is a advanced digital medium much different than the digital photo or the photo paint process know and seen by most. Bob doesn't start with a photo, but a blank canvas screen, and vector is so exacting... it take 5-10 times as long to complete a vector painting than most other media. This is about creating great art not doing it faster. But the edge, depth and vibrance in this media is very different. He can create images here he cannot create with any other medium.

The Vector medium is a digital artist's tool process that captures each movement of the artist hand. There is nothing between his hand and the art, not a brush, a piece of graphite, paint or chalk. It’s his hand being digitally captured as he creates a painting. Since this media captures stroke by stroke, there is no place to hide, you get the movement of the artist, and the color they create in each piece.

Dianna Woolley

Dianna Woolley is a long-time abstract artist and has been living in Williamsburg for three years. She has a painting studio and an active practice of painting about 15 hours a week. "My view on Abstract Art is that when purchasing for a home, office, yacht or second home property, a painting memory marks place and time for you. The reality is when you own an original piece of artwork you become a part of history, a part of the painting's life story. In fact, an original painting often becomes a cherished family heirloom, passed generation to generation, thereby creating legacy. In a world where things come and go, often to a landfill, treasured fine artwork can transform and connect one's present, past and future. I believe through the work being in your personal environment you can relish feelings of joy, status, energy and well-being."

Jon Bandish

His compositions focus on the light at particular times of the day and how our emotions are affected by the feel of the moment. His pure seascapes represent the mesmeric visual phenomenon of light on moving water and reflect a meditative observational process. His meticulously detailed compositions are carried out using glazing techniques, reminiscent of old master approaches. His intention is to lead the viewer to reflect on the impact Nature has had on lives; our memories and our emotions.

Jon Bandish (b. 1982, Philadelphia PA) is a full time oil painter who lives and works in Dagsboro, Delaware, USA. He graduated with a BFA in Drawing and Painting from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in 2006. His work is held within private collections in the USA and in the UK, as well as the Einstein Hospital Collection in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a member of The National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society (NOAPS), The American Society of Marine Artists, and The American Artists Professional League. He is Co-President of The Greater Millsboro Art League and is an accomplished musician.

Thomas Ema

Thomas Ema is an Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America who captures dramatic light to make the ordinary look extraordinary. “Having grown up in Williamsburg, Virginia, I have a deep appreciation for history and enduring values.” His passion for painting began while a fine art major at Virginia Tech painting watercolor landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 1982, he moved to Denver, CO where he started and managed his own design firm, Ema Design Inc. for over 30 years. In 2016, he moved back to Williamsburg to pursue painting on a full-time basis. Thomas enjoys visiting places first discovered in his childhood and recalls taking art classes at the Twentieth Century Art Gallery before he started first grade.

Wil Swink

Wil Swink was born in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1981. Swink is a self-taught artist who began painting in 2011 while living in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In a brash attempt to impress a woman (now his wife), Swink, fictitiously, told her he was an artist and wanted to use her as a muse. This forced him to produce a portrait of her, which then became the catalyst for booking his first public art show. Swink continued to show work in the Boston area and has since shown work in his native Virginia, New York, and New Jersey. After living in the Boston area for over ten years, Swink is now living and working out of Williamsburg, VA. The paintings are typically a result of many layers of paint, maps or blueprints, wood stain, epoxy, etching and wood. These materials serve to provide richness and meaning in the sensory process. Swink’s work is a product of a variety of life experiences and a vehicle for self-expression.

Bill Casto

Bill is a former college football coach and athletic director. He creates nationally competitive wood sculptures using found driftwood from local waters. Bill selects weathered and interesting wood, often hundreds of years old to carve interpretive or stylized pieces of art.

Bill has the exceptional talent of seeing what lies hidden in the wood. By using the available lines and planes he painstakingly brings to life his wildlife sculptures. His creativity has been recognized by art professionals for its attention to detail, use of grain patterns and hand-polished glass-like finishes. Every attempt is made to capture the essence of the wildfowl rather than a realistic duplication of the subject. Bill's sculptures emphasize form, content, movement and are totally original and one of a kind.

Joanna Wright

Jo Wright’s work is best described as a convergence of two enduring passions. Growing up in England, Jo has had a natural compulsion to create from childhood. A lifetime around horses has given rise to an obvious muse for this creativity. Jo’s work is inspired by a wide range of equestrian themes and can be both representational or stylized in composition. More recent pieces have incorporated natural American hardwoods with foundry cast bronze. Jo shares time between the UK and the USA and her work has been shown in galleries on both sides of the Atlantic including being represented every year at the Lloyds Art Show in London. By her own account, Jo’s creativity is genetically rather than academically acquired. Attention to detail and total immersion in her subject gives rise to pieces that have visually magnetic appeal.

Andre Lucero

Andre Lucero is an impressionistic oil painter based near Richmond, VA, Andre trained in a traditional academic setting and has now combined his love for the outdoors with his art. His work includes landscapes, figures and still life all painted from life. Andre reveres Old Masters and their painting techniques. He works to use Renaissance painting materials to produce the medium that gives a distintive luminescent quality. Andre is of Spanish descent but was born in Tehran in 1967. His U.S. Military family returned to the states soon after his birth. After earning a BFA, cum laude, in 1989, Andre worked as a free-lance illustrator. During that time, his illustrations appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, Playboy, U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Times. While his illustrations were honored with the 1995 Virginia Press Association Best of Show Award and the 1994 Award of Excellence from the Art Directors' Club of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Andre left illustration to devote his full attention to painting.

Gulay Berryman

Gulay Berryman received her art training at the Ecole National des Beaux Arts de Versailles, France, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, Milan, and the Ecole du Louvre, Paris. She has exhibited in France, Iceland, Senegal, Mauritius, Italy, Oman, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States. In the late 1990’s, Gulay was commissioned to do portrait paintings by a member of the Royal Family of Oman. She twice won the American Embassy Paris Art Show (2001-02) and invited to exhibit at the Biennial of Florence, Italy in 2005. Between 2015-18, Gulay was the owner/director of the Williamsburg Art Gallery in Williamsburg, Virginia which she now runs as an online gallery. Gulay is a juried Living Artist © of the Art Renewal Center, of the Salmagundi Club of New York, the International Guild of Realism, an elected member of the American Artists Professional League and an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America.

Cait Eure

From a young age, my love for animals has been a central part of my life. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Animal Science at Penn State University and a Master’s in Animal Science. I have spent many fulfilling years working in the animal field.

Today, I wear many hats—mother, wife, artist, and gallery manager. Each role enriches my perspective and fuels my creative expression. My art is a celebration of the beauty, spirit, and connection I feel with the animal world. Through my work, I strive to convey the profound respect and admiration I have for all living creatures, blending my scientific background with my artistic vision to create pieces that resonate with fellow animal lovers and art enthusiasts alike.

As a gallery manager, I am fortunate to be surrounded by a diverse array of artistic talents, which continually inspires me and informs my own creative journey. Balancing my various roles, I remain dedicated to honoring the animals/family members that have always been a source of joy and inspiration in my life, especially my own. My goal in creating pet portraits is to capture the unique essence and personality of each animal and provide emotionally resonant portraits that honor their spirit. Through my work, I hope to provide a lasting tribute that celebrates the joy, love, and companionship that pets bring into our lives.

Logan Eure

Sharon Parker

Sharon Parker has been working professionally as an artist and art teacher since 1988. Her education at William and Mary in Studio Fine Art and Education, along with workshops by artists Arne Westermann, Lori Putnam, Mary Todd Beam, Jan Ledbetter, Gloria Coker, Ken Wright, and Robin Poteet have been a valuable foundation for her art career. Her teaching career of over 20 years at Williamsburg Christian Academy included beloved students from preschool through high school, and she instituted their first Advanced Placement Studio Art Program. Sharon taught adults and youth in private art lessons for many years.

In 2010, and for the next six years with nine other women artists, Sharon had the privilege of starting and maintaining a new gallery, New Town Art Gallery, and of devoting more time to creating her artwork in watercolor, mixed media, and more recently jewelry-making. New Town Art Gallery is now closed, and a new chapter in Sharon's art journey began. In 2016, she and eight other life- and love-affirming women artists completed the Nine Women Nine Months Project, which was on display at Sentara Regional Medical Center in Williamsburg and traveled to other venues. Her work can be seen at various venues in Williamsburg, as well as in regional shows and exhibits in Hampton Roads and Richmond, Virginia, and in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

B.E. Longo

Original art holds a unique place in my life. When I purchase a piece of art or create one myself, I experience the character, depth, and an exclusive sense of identity and authenticity that you can only get from an original work of art.

This is an experience I want to share with you. I offer original paintings in a wide range of styles and prices. These are genuine one-of-a-kind pieces, not replicas. When you collect one of my paintings, you acquire a unique expression brought to life on canvas.

I invite you to explore, imagine and add to, or start, your collection of original art.

Lilyann Teifer

Lilyann Teifer discovered her love for creating visual art later in life. She spent most of her adult years expressing herself as a professional singer. Lilyann resides in
Williamsburg, VA. She holds a B.A. in Communications from
Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in NJ, and an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from Temple
University. She practiced as a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in private and public schools in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as a
pediatric clinical setting before her retirement. Since retiring, Lilyann has pursued her interest in art. She took classes in drawing, pastels and oil painting in several different small group settings, and continues to study and experiment stylistically. Lilyann is a member of the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center and the Williamsburg
Artists Group. She has received commissions from individuals and
local businesses, including The Coffeehouse in Williamsburg, VA. Her
painting, “The Fat Canary,” is featured on the cover of the Williamsburg Arts Council’s 2024 calendar.
Although Lilyann enjoys painting a variety of themes, her goal is to
create images which evoke an emotion in the person viewing her work, reaching them on a deep, subliminal level. She continues to evolve in her development as a visual artist.

Bren Leinbach Douros

Bren Leinbach Douros grew up roaming the fields of rural North Carolina and says she still loves to follow unknown paths today. Using both oils and watercolors, her work captures the enduring beauty of the historic area, animals, landscapes, flowers “I view each painting as an experimental journey and I am never entirely
sure where it will lead me.”

She received her BFA from UNC Greensboro. Later, while working as an Interior Business Designer she received commissions for paintings of skiers for a resort in Banner Elk, NC and beach scenes for a Hilton Head Resort.

After visiting Williamsburg in 1976, Bren began her lifelong business adventure, The Lamplighter Shoppe. She consulted with William & Mary on lighting for the Wren Building and for Colonial Williamsburg on a multitude of projects, and she developed street lighting and interior flickering candles to meet their unique needs.

One friend, a historical interior designer, wanted historical paintings. This led to commissions of 18th century style oil portraits and landscapes.

She consults regularly with clients on lighting for their homes and businesses. Light is very important in my paintings, as well as in a client's home.

Bren Leinbach Douros paints regularly with the Kingsmill Art Group. When she is not painting, you can find Bren in her workshop repairing lamps, behind her computer researching a new curiosity, or in her kitchen making healthy dog food for Tessa, her beloved English Setter.

Gaeotano “Nino” Galoppo

Made by Gaetano "Nino" Galoppo in Williamsburg, VA. Nino is a Master Sculptor who grew up in Naples, Italy. Nino lived down the street from a porcelain shop. For hours on end, he would watch the artists create beautiful masterpieces from porcelain. When a Master Sculptor began to teach Nino the art and craft of sculpting, he soon found himself in an apprenticeship at a porcelain factory. After studying and practicing for several years, Nino's passion for the age-old trade of Capodimonte sculpting came to fruition in 1983 when he opened his own workshop in Naples. Two years later, he found himself in the US working in Williamsburg, Virginia at an art studio with Busch Gardens, creating what was essentially the first Capodimonte shop outside of Italy.

Richard DePaul

Born, raised and educated in the Philadelphia area Richard DePaul called Williamsburg, Virginia home. His interest in art goes back to an early age. "I knew since my initial 'art project' in first grade that this was what I wanted to do when I grew up." He started dabbling in oils, and began his formal training at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in his early teens. Upon graduation from Haverford High School he was awarded a scholarship to the Philadelphia College of Art (now the Philadelphia University of the Arts) where he earned a degree in Industrial Design.

Marriage, children and a forty-year career in Design and Development for major corporations in the packaging field took precedence over painting and drawing.

After retiring from "corporate life" his wife's Christmas gift of watercolors revived his interest in painting. "My painting 'style' combines my love of drawing with my designer's training that a good concept, plan, and execution result in a successful product - in this case a painting." Dick combines his artistic understanding of color, composition, perspective, and painting skills with the designer's tools and techniques, resulting in what he calls "manipulated realism."

His interest in history, architecture, and sailing as well as his love of travel have yielded a variety of work which feature Williamsburg, Tidewater Virginia, and favorite travel destinations.

"I've achieved my objective if my work can be appreciated on more than one level. I want the color and feeling of a piece to allow the viewer to simply enjoy the scene. Then, as the piece is scrutinized, those with a particular knowledge of the subject should be able to further discern the degree of detail and precision. My goal is to provide an enjoyable visual trip through the 'mini-scenes' within the work as a whole."

Jenn Clemons

My practice begins with the inspiration of forms I find, photograph, and sketch in the natural world. Back in my studio, with my photographs and sketches as inspiration, I work in graphite and water-soluble oil paints on large sheets of gessoed plywood. I begin drawing, finding how I want the form to fill the page. In my pieces, the elements of the landscape are stripped away, revealing the bare figure of the tree. I build multiple layers of gestural drawing and underpainting: I add paint, carve out details in graphite and then wipe and scratch into the piece until I see the surface come alive with the textured variation.

The movement captured in the trees’ shapes and in the textured variation of the surface reflects the impact of environmental elements over time. Why I paint trees and their significance was not immediately obvious to me; I had to scratch below the surface. I was curious to learn more about them and began reading books about the forest’s interconnected network. The trees that I depict in my work, in many cases hundreds or even thousands of years old, are living in limbo. The environment of our planet is on the threshold of no longer being capable of sustaining these giants. The strength and vulnerability of these trees mirrors that of the human experience, and the ethic that guides how we treat the planet reflects how we treat each other.

George Cramer

George Cramer began working with metal before the age 14. It was at his parent's company that he was first exposed to welding, metal fabrication, mechanical repair, and metal art. It was not long before he became interested in the origins of metal work - how, and who, would think about fusing metals together with an electric arc?

His curiosity eventually led him to the art and craft of blacksmithing. George completed six years of honorable service in the U.S. Navy as a hull technician. After leaving the navy in 2009, george worked at a technical college as a welding instructor. He shifted his metal business from part time to full time with the official creation of the Village Blacksmith, LLC in 2015.

Currently, George continues the craft of blacksmithing at his forge in Gloucester, VA. There, he conducts a wide array of commissioned and production work from fabrication, and welding to traditional blacksmithing, training in the trades, and many other metal crafting functions for both residential and commercial clients. He has also made props and functional items for the motion picture industry, most recently the 2019 film “Harriet” in which he worked on the pistols carried by the main character.