Manassas Journal Messenger | The beauty of nature

Picking up a paint brush over 30 years ago, Fairfax resident Marcia Weidler embarked on an artistic journey that has produced thousands of paintings, a successful art gallery, and pieces bought by collectors around the world. The Loft Gallery is showcasing “Summer to Winter,” a watercolor exhibit featuring Weidler’s landscape paintings, through Nov. 5.

“My inspiration for this show stems from a great love of the Virginia mountains and surrounding countryside,” said Weidler, a Chicago native raised in Northern Virginia.

With a deep appreciation for nature in its simplicity, Weidler hopes to symbolize the strengths of Mother Earth in her paintings.

“The passion for me is multifaceted, driven by a need to represent the parts of nature and the land that I love in a moment of permanence. There, it is that special beautiful moment saved to enjoy at will,” she said.

Much of Weidler’s motivation stems from visiting the Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Mountains.

“I wish to portray their quiet beauty and changing skies with the changes from summer gold fields to quiet still snow scenes,” she said. “This show allows me as an artist to portray these seasons and their changes.”

A nurse for many years, Weidler focused more on her creative craft when her son began school. Having taken many courses on various painting techniques, watercolor has become Weidler’s specialty and she takes pleasure in the challenge of generating each piece.

“Creating in watercolors always involves a little magic, paint, water, flow and a little special effect so the artist creates an illusion of a beautiful moment,” said Weidler, who holds 19th century watercolorist Winslow Homer in high esteem. “His work was fresh, bold, and his colors and palette truly beautiful,” she said.

In 1986, Weidler and fellow artist Jackie Paetzold set forth on opening a gallery that would “provide artists with an opportunity to show professional art while further developing their art careers.”

More than 20 years in business, The Loft Gallery now has 20 artists and exhibits running through each season.

Enthusiastic about her current showcase, Weidler looks forward to sharing her scenic displays, receiving feedback, and hopefully attracting some newfound admirers of her work.

“My favorite part for creating art is the special joy of watching a particular person fall in love with a painting. Being able to capture a scene which inspires another person is always a joy,” said Weidler. “Hopefully they will feel the quiet, peaceful tranquility that these scenes provide me.”

WHEN YOU GO

* “Summer to Winter”

* Through Nov 5

* The Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan

* Opening reception from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday

* 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

* (703) 490-1117 or loftgallery.org/