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Her work reflects complete compositions from an artist's vision. She paints without sketching, so no two pieces are alike. Tracie Griffith Tso etsy.com/shop/TracieGriffithTso Tracie Griffith Tso painted her first bamboo brushstrokes as a child at a brush painter's studio in California. She specializes in traditional Chinese spontaneous flower-bird painting. The award-winning artist developed her brushpainting style on paper with a teacher schooled by a Hong Kong master. She learned to throw pots at age 12 at a neighborhood art center, a skill which, when combined with painting, produces functional clay art. Her work reflects complete compositions from an artist's vision. She paints without sketching, so no two pieces are alike. She specializes in the freestyle drawing of plants and animals as she enjoys reflecting emotion and movement in body language. Her subjects include koi, rabbits, squirrels, siamese cats, birds, horses, frogs bamboo, peonies, blossoms and more. She has shown her at the Factory since 2008; see her work on her ground floor Studio 22 Fire On. Bunny pitcher Chinese brush-painted stoneware bunny blossom mini pitcher with sculpted detail Dancing in the Sleet Red-capped crane ink painting on rice paper Koi lotus wine chiller Chinese brushpainted koi lotus stoneware wine chiller Panda teaset Chinese brushpainted brown stoneware giant panda teaset with bamboo and blossoms

One  of her favorite locales for shooting is West Virginia. Eve thought it is lush and colorful there, she prefers black & white because stripping a scene of its color allows the viewer to see it in a different way. joanntooley.com Jo Ann Tooley Jo Ann Tooley has taken pictures most of her adult life. Her father was a professional photographer in east Tennessee. One of her favorite locales for shooting is West Virginia. Eve thought it is lush and colorful there, she prefers black & white because stripping a scene of its color allows the viewer to see it in a different way. Tooley shoots mostly with film and prints her own images using the finest papers and archival inks. She has exhibited widely in the DC area. Abner Cloud Train Station Side Porch Long Road

Support TFAA The Torpedo Factory Artists' Association is focused on fostering and sustaining the visual arts community in Alexandria, Virginia and the greater DMV. Established in 1974, the TFAA continues to build on its past successes and is dedicated to providing vital support to artists in the local community and beyond. Please join us in supporting the arts by donating today! Learn about TFAA Artist Membership Become a TFAA Art Patron Business Sponsorships Support your art community Business Sponsorship We hope you will consider joining the TFAA as a local partner or business sponsor. Local partners and business sponsors will have their names listed on our website. Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors will have their company logos featured. Business Sponsors will be included in social media posts and advertisements. We will promote your business on all of our platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Become a Sponsor Art Patron Memberships Calling all Art Lovers We encourage art lovers and art collectors to join the TFAA as an Art Patron. Your donation allows us to spread opportunities for art throughout the Alexandria community and beyond. Contributions can be made online or by mailing a check payable to the Torpedo Factory Artists' Association, 105 N. Union, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. TFAA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Become an Art Patron Donate Now

Tamara Embrey is a Washington, DC–based artist and garment designer with over 20 years of experience, holding degrees from Hofstra University and the University of Oregon, and a former resident artist at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Tamara Embrey devilmademedoit Washington, DC-based artist Tamara Embrey has been making her own patterns and one-of-a-kind clothing for over 20 years. After earning her B.A. from Hofstra University, Ms. Embrey moved to New York City and began developing her art, primarily through painting and poetry. While pursuing these interests, she supported herself by working in design firms in New York City, and with freelance work for several New York-based galleries and for the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In 2004, she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oregon. Shortly thereafter she began making and selling her handmade garments professionally. In 2007, she moved to the DC Metropolitan area, and in 2008 she juried in to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria Virginia and became a resident artist at the Fiberworks Studio. Artist’s Statement Aesthetically, I see my work as a conversation between seeming opposites: between hot and cool colors; between straight lines and curvy flounces; between whimsy and elegance and punk; between what people consider junk and what they consider art; and between the old and unwanted, and the renewed and wanted again. Process Since I work exclusively with repurposed materials, my process begins at my local thrift store. I spend countless hours scouring these stores for interesting vintage and “pre-loved” garments, primarily tops and sweaters. These garments start out as ordinary, sometimes even dowdy or unstylish sweaters or shirts, often with holes, stains, or some other sort of “flaw” that has prompted their donation. But I see their greater potential. An overwhelming floral print that makes for an unflattering sweater can easily make a lovely flounce on a skirt, jacket or scarf. As it is cut and transformed, the impression of the print changes, becomes less domineering, more abstract. Lately, I’ve been especially interested in introducing several different prints to each other, seeing how stripes and flowers and abstracts interact and play off one-another, both clashing with, then enhancing one another in new and surprising ways. Instead of thinking of a design, then finding materials to express that idea, I consider the materials that I find and then let them lead me to where they will go. It’s a very Eastern way of working. Technique All of my works are made using the fabric draping technique. Instead of using patterns, I “sculpt” each piece of fabric on the dress-form before it gets sewn. I then sew the pieces together using a serger. Traditionally, sergers (or overlock machines) have been used to finish edges and seams that go on the inside of garments, stitches that are not meant to be seen. I turn this idea “inside out” and not only expose all of this sewing, but make it a design feature. With these “exposed threads” I’m able to add color (with the choice of thread), texture (with the choice of stitch and tension on the thread), and embellishment (with the choice of where I place these lines of thread). In this way, the structural “sews” blend together with the “sews” that are embellishments, creating an overall surface design that is integrated and visually exciting. Philosophy I like that recycling fabric is good for the planet; I also like that these natural fibers are gorgeous to touch and are able to live long lives. But what I really love about working with recycled materials is that the fiber has a “memory”. What I mean by that is, the fiber is able to “remember”, not just its former shape and function (as the sleeve of a sweater, a pocket, a collar...), but the fabric retains some of the personality and essence, not just of its former life as a sweater, but of the person who once wore—and perhaps loved—it. Add to this my own intervention and reshaping --a sleeve becomes the side of a skirt or a flounce on a jacket; a pocket becomes part of a hat or the petals of a flower—and you have layers of intentions... memories... meanings. Radiant Heart Dress Repurposed wool, 26 x 36" Mend Repurposed wool, 48 x 48" Love Skirt Repurposed merino wool, 16 x 28" Cashmere Armies Repurposed cashmere, 3 x 10" Grey Gardens Dress Repurposed cashmere, 26 x 36"

...Studied with Washington, DC artist Ralph deBurgos and Washington Color School artist Paul Reed. Niki Pickett Color is Niki’s inspiration using flowers as her models. With loose brush strokes on large canvasses she strives to capture their essence. Niki received her BA degree in Art at the University of Iowa. She studied with Washington, DC artist Ralph deBurgos and Washington Color School artist Paul Reed. Her paintings are part of numerous private and corporate collections throughout the United States. New Peonies 32 x 44 Acrylic on canvas Poppy Grasses 42 x 40 Acrylic on canvas Meadow Grass 30 x 24 Acrylic on canvas Cherry Blossoms 40 x 40 Acrylic on canvas

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