Current and Upcoming TFAA Programs Volunteer with TFAA Love art and engaging with people? The Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association is seeking friendly, reliable volunteers to serve as docents—the welcoming faces of our artist community. Docents greet visitors, share the history of the Torpedo Factory, and provide info about our artists, exhibitions, and events. For More Information and to Sign Up High School Art Mentorship Program Email Us Coming soon! TFAA is beginning a new high school mentorship program. We will be reaching out to local high schools for teacher recommendations of interested art students. Each candidate selected will be paired with a Resident Artist mentor in the Torpedo Factory Art Center to learn new art skills and collaborate on a small body of work. The program will culminate with an art show featuring work created by each student during the team up. TFAA's Online gallery will showcase their work as emerging artists.

Tara Barr is an oil painter based in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. She creates fun and  nostalgic pop-art inspired by technology and design. Tara Barr Tara Barr is an oil painter based in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. She creates fun and nostalgic pop-art inspired by technology and design. You can learn more about Tara online at www.tarabarrart.com , on Instagram @tarabarr.art, and in person in the Torpedo Factory Studio 8. 1983 Polaroid Payphones Olympia Red Mixtape Collection

Eyes are for observation and hands are for expression. My paintings, sketches, and sculptures express my vision of the world. Dicxon Vergaray dxnart.com Born in the District of Maria, Province of Luya, Amazonas Department, Peru, I consider myself a “Warrior of the Clouds” (another name for the ancient Chachapoya culture of the region)—my feet are always climbing up the impossible hills of life and my head is constantly bringing down visions from the skies. Creativity is an inner urge for me and choosing art as a profession is my response to this need. I moved to the U.S. when I was 18—old enough to absorb the cultural shock and young enough to assimilate quickly. Being gay and from a Catholic background has been another struggle reflected in some of my art. Eyes are for observation and hands are for expression. My paintings, sketches, and sculptures express my vision of the world. My art is my diary. I can look at these visual stories of the past and remember the day and the mood I was in. If the observer gets a glimpse of that mood or that day, I consider myself successful. Although I am more spontaneous and abstract on canvas, the characters in my stories are real. They are personalities within or without—my inner voices or individuals I know. Sometimes, they are just passersby, but I connect with them. They have their own existence and yet I recreate them. Their birth gives me energy and vitality. Often, when I meet people for the first time, I realize I’ve already painted them. This has always been a clairvoyant experience for me. Sonata 24 x 36 Acrylic on canvas Elena 36 x 24 Acrylic on canvas Maximo 24 x 36 Acrylic on canvas Mariela 24 x 48 Acrylic on canvas

Alicia Roman has been creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces since she was first inspired by an adding machine wheel found on a street in Moscow in 1992. aliciaroman.com Alicia Roman Alicia Roman has been creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces since she was first inspired by an adding machine wheel found on a street in Moscow in 1992. A tiny treasure imprinted with reversed numbers along its perimeter, this miniature relic was the beginning of a line of jewelry combining mechanical parts, elements of nature such as insect wings, and aged bits of text into modern looking objects “with a past.” Since then, she has continued to use unusual materials in her work including cut-up credit cards, magnets, rusty metal, Russian candy wrappers, vintage film and illustrations, and other found objects. She has a BFA from the Corcoran School of Art, graduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin, conducted and participated in workshops and shows internationally, and is currently an art teacher with FCPS. Epoxy/sterling rings with gears, wings, words & rhinestones - custom pricing $200 & up Magnet necklaces on coated steel cable with interchangeable words under washers & ball bearings - $60 Nickel/brass/copper barrettes S, M, L $40/50 contact alicia@aliciaroman.com Rings Necklace rubber magnet Nickel, brass, copper barrettes 5 Necklaces

TFAA Artist Members Each year, the TFAA accepts new members and welcomes them into the organization. The TFAA's 150 members receive valuable benefits, including the opportunity to exhibit in the Van Landingham Gallery and TFAA's Virtualis Online Gallery, exposure to the local business and art community, and discounted costs for internet and business insurance for leaseholders. Join TFAA Members Only News Artist Membership Benefits Learn about TFAA Meet Our Artists Abol Bahadori Ann Barbieri Sierra Barnes Tara Barr Saya Behnam Sue Canuteson Sissy Cutchen Delna Dastur Marcel Deolazo Tamara Embrey Sheila Flanders Ruth Gowell Hyun Jung Kim Donna Lomangino Rebecca McNeely Multiple Exposures Gallery Diana Papazian Julie Patrick Niki Pickett Anna Nazaretz Radjou Heasoon Rhee Alicia Roman Salih Zeki Sayar Lisa Schumaier Murat Sener Samantha Shelton Jo Ann Tooley Tracie Griffith Tso Karen Tyler Dicxon Vergaray June Yun Jennifer Brewer Stone Join TFAA

Art Demonstrations Explore hands-on art tutorials, techniques, and creative processes designed for all levels—from beginners to professionals. Whether you're shipping artwork, mixing colors, or working with unconventional materials, we’ve got you covered. Canvas & Print Handling Packing a Canvas for Shipping Step-by-step guide to protect your artwork in transit. Rolling a Canvas for Shipping Tips for safely rolling without cracking the paint. Restretching a Canvas How to properly restretch a finished canvas onto stretcher bars. How to Mount a Print on an Art Panel Techniques for adhering prints to wood or hardboard panels. Painting Techniques Color Mixing: Neutrals Learn how to create rich, complex neutral tones without muddy results. Adding Texture to Paintings From modeling paste to unconventional tools, explore ways to build depth and interest. Working with Resin Use resin safely and creatively for high-gloss finishes and layered effects. Varnishing a Painting Matte, satin, or gloss—protect and finish your artwork properly. Tools for Mark Making Discover brushes, scrapers, combs, and DIY tools for expressive effects. Creative Projects Collage Techniques for layering paper, fabric, and found materials with aesthetic intention. How to Make Your Own Jewelry Artistic jewelry from wire, clay, resin, and beads—perfect for beginners. Painting Projects for Children Easy, fun, and safe painting activities to engage young artists. Subscriber content? Abstract painting workshop How to paint like Matisse Create a sculpture for your patio time-lapse demonstration of portrait painting

Murat Sener is a contemporary ceramic artist whose work explores the relationship between structure, space, and material sensitivity. Murat Sener Ceramic Artist | Adjunct Professor | Co-founder of MUSZ Studio / Panelist Studio 321 .muszstudio.com Murat Sener is a contemporary ceramic artist whose work explores the relationship between structure, space, and material sensitivity. Centering his practice around clay, he investigates how form can emerge through repetition, alteration, and controlled unpredictability. For Sener, the studio is not only a production site but a thinking space—where material decisions shape conceptual direction. As a co-founder of MUSZ Studio, he actively contributes to a collaborative creative environment focused on quality, innovation, and technical excellence. His works reflect a refined attention to detail while maintaining an openness to experimentation and cross-disciplinary influence. Sener also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Ceramics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His teaching philosophy emphasizes both rigorous technical foundations and intellectual curiosity. He encourages students to approach clay analytically as well as intuitively, helping them build confidence in their individual artistic voices. Sener currently holds a studio residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, where he works within a vibrant and diverse artistic community. He also contributes to the broader cultural field as a panelist for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), supporting initiatives that strengthen and expand the arts ecosystem. Guess Where Ceramics H14 x W13 x D11 Sky-High Above The Sea Ceramics H16 x W9 x D10 Lighting Sculpture Ceramics H14 x W15 x D8 A Strange Friendship Ceramics H8 x W9 x D6 Murat Sener Ceramic Artist | Adjunct Professor | Co-founder of MUSZ Studio / Panelist Studio 321 .muszstudio.com Murat Sener is a contemporary ceramic artist whose work explores the relationship between structure, space, and material sensitivity. Centering his practice around clay, he investigates how form can emerge through repetition, alteration, and controlled unpredictability. For Sener, the studio is not only a production site but a thinking space—where material decisions shape conceptual direction. As a co-founder of MUSZ Studio, he actively contributes to a collaborative creative environment focused on quality, innovation, and technical excellence. His works reflect a refined attention to detail while maintaining an openness to experimentation and cross-disciplinary influence. Sener also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Ceramics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. His teaching philosophy emphasizes both rigorous technical foundations and intellectual curiosity. He encourages students to approach clay analytically as well as intuitively, helping them build confidence in their individual artistic voices. Sener currently holds a studio residency at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, where he works within a vibrant and diverse artistic community. He also contributes to the broader cultural field as a panelist for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH), supporting initiatives that strengthen and expand the arts ecosystem. Guess Where Ceramics H14 x W13 x D11 Sky-High Above The Sea Ceramics H16 x W9 x D10 Lighting Sculpture Ceramics H14 x W15 x D8 A Strange Friendship Ceramics H8 x W9 x D6

Lisa Schumaier  is a mixed-media artist primarily working with recycled materials and Raku ceramics. lisaschumaier.square.site/s/shop Lisa Schumaier Lisa Schumaier is a mixed-media artist primarily working with recycled materials and Raku ceramics. Lisa spent many hours as a child playing in and later helping to clean-out the warehouse that is now home to the Torpedo Factory Art Center. During the early days of the Torpedo Factory, Lisa was mentored by some of the first artists-in-residence there. After receiving her BFA with a concentration in ceramics and printmaking from Radford University, Lisa worked for many years in retail as a buyer and creating storefront displays for a small, independent store in Old Town, Alexandria. In 1996, after a devastating, personal tragedy, Lisa turned back to art-making as a source of healing. She took classes through a local college, under the guidance of ceramicist Bill Schran, where she was first introduced to the method of the Japanese firing technique of Raku. Starting with making simple, brown bowls, Lisa was able to more deeply explore the ceramic medium and started to sculpt again. Her life as a full-time, working artist truly began in 2004 when she was juried into the Torpedo Factory, where she currently has her studio to this day. On the banks of the Potomac Nest girl 1

High School Art Mentorship Program Calling all high school artists in the D.C. Metropolitan Area. The Torpedo Factory Artist Association believes in fostering emerging young art talent. We encourage all eligible high school students in the DC metropolitan area to apply to its high school art mentorship program for the fall 2025 semester. Each eligible student applicant will be paired with a Torpedo Factory Artist as a mentor. The student will have the opportunity to learn experiment with new art techniques and learn some business aspects of the art profession. Students who successfully complete the program will have completed artwork featured in a special group exhibition in the TFAA's Online Gallery in December, 2025. Eligibility Requirements Painting, Ceramics, Jewelry Making, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Photography, Digital art, Drawing No toxic substances Winning artwork must be exhibit ready. Artwork larger than __ will not exhibited except in photograph form. Artwork Requirements Application Details

Sierra Barnes is a cartoonist and history buff whose work is inspired by the relationship between history and folklore. sierrabravoart.com/about Sierra Barnes Sierra Barnes is a cartoonist and history buff whose work is inspired by the relationship between history and folklore. Her work has been published by various publishers, including Dark Horse Comics, Mad Cave Studios, Bad Neighbor Press, and more, and was part of the Ringo-nominated anthology Lower Your Sights. She is interested in using her art and comics to foster empathy toward other people by looking into the past. She can be found in Studio 331.

There is so much magic under the sea and I love capturing it; really taking a close look and allowing us all to marvel at what swims beneath the surface.In Jelly Undulations and Seadragon’s Surprise, I’m combining photos and creating my own underwater world. Jennifer Brewer Stone Jennifer Brewer Stone lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and son. She has been painting since 2008, focusing on bright color, texture, and natural subjects. She has been collected around the world, with solo shows ‘Blooming Brightly’ at Strathmore Mansion and ‘Fantasy of the Real’ at the Art League of Alexandria, VA. She had her own studio-gallery for 6 years at the Torpedo Factory Art Center and continues to show at Van Landingham Gallery on the third floor of the Factory. Her Dance of Life series is featured in public art in the D.C. area, on vintage police call boxes in downtown D.C.,and on traffic control boxes in Alexandria, VA. Her large resin artwork ‘Magenta Sea’ was granted at the American Geosciences Institute. She has also shown at Superfine DC in 2023 and Tephra ICA Arts Festival in 2023 and 2025. https://jenniferbrewerstone.com/ "I began painting my Dance of Life series in 2008, inspired by doing sidewalk chalk drawings of flowers with children and taking a trip to visit my grandmother and sister in the Sonoran Desert. My artistic loves highlight nature’s gems: bright color, texture, and transparency. A small bite of the yawning & vast natural world. My love for transparency and the exotic and rare brought me more and more into the underwater world. There is so much magic under the sea and I love capturing it; really taking a close look and allowing us all to marvel at what swims beneath the surface. In Jelly Undulations and Seadragon’s Surprise, I’m combining photos and creating my own underwater world. With Seadragon’s Surprise I decided to make the subjects slightly surreal, and added a flower into that underwater world for the seadragon to look at. I took that a step farther in Tulip & Jellyfish Embrace, emphasizing the relationship between the jellyfish and the flower, and starting to explore adding molding paste in the base. There are at least 50 texture paintings in between these two paintings as I grew and explored that molding paste base as a medium, and at least another 100 paintings exploring resin before I envisioned Jellyfish Rising. My most recent Grace series is a culmination of working with these different media separately over the past 15 years. I layer molding paste, then oil paint, and on some pieces such as Jellyfish Rising, I layer resin on parts of the painting before finishing with hyper-realistic oil painting on the surface. I largely paint on panel. I use thin layers and dry brushes at times to keep the color sharp and the edges crisp. Jellyfish Rising and all the Grace series explores water in many forms through texture & transparency: the way waves look when seen from a plane, watching the bank of a river or a cresting wave in the sea, and the wave’s tiny droplets. I apply the paste with a large palette knife, then remove some by using a pull up motion to create this wavy texture. The tentacles of the jellyfish were applied with a small liner brush. This piece overall took 140 hours to complete over the course of a year." Tulip and Jellyfish Mixed Media on Panel 24" x 24" Jelly Undulations Oil on Canvas 20" x 30" Seadragons Surprise Oil on Canvas 20" x 30" Jellyfish Rising Mixed Media on Panel 18"x 36"

The aim of my work is to educate the viewer and make them ponder about the arguments which I illustrate on sometimes historical forms with a bit of humor. Marcel Deolazo thehornypotter.bigcartel.com The primary objective of work I am presenting is the exploration of the “drawn line” and how it can be used to continue my journey of “illustration” from two-dimensional pen and ink drawing styles onto three-dimensional forms of hand made ceramics and sculpture. The presentation takes inspiration from the re-interpretations of Iconic Art and Chinese Wares of Yuan and Song Dynasties and the underlying symbolism of animals, figures and decorative motifs to illustrate historical ceramics, the desire to create a series of “Modern Day Artifacts” using a bit of humor to lighten the slight edginess of my work. These vessels that tell stories that reflect today’s society:global warming, sexuality, minorities violence, mental health issues and segregation which are some of the themes illustrated onto these “ Modern day Time Capsules.” The work further explores the use of mixing mediums with ceramics as a way to embellish ceramic pieces to make them lighter and with less technical problems of firing and the sometimes unwelcome outcomes of the kiln. Utilizing other techniques like paper machié, embroidery and quilting or sewing. I can enrich the embellishments and take the “drawn line”a step further by means of a sewn line or embroidered stitch. This also resolves many setbacks in engineering of how to hang or place a sculptural form which can be installed in an easier manner, with out the weightiness of only ceramic pieces. The aim of my work is to educate the viewer and make them ponder about the arguments which I illustrate on sometimes historical forms with a bit of humor. A series of Modern Day relics that will be a reminder of what is happening in today’s society. A social conscious of forms put on display Water World 2 Social Isolation 1 The Farmer's Daughter Love is Love