Astrid Heimer Tuttle 

Inspired at an early age by an elementary art teacher to paint from life, I am drawn to plein air painting.  I love color and in my paintings you will see that I use very bold colors.  I was born in Cuba with its sunny skies and beautiful blue sea.  Perhaps it is those early memories on that Island where the colors were so vivid that move me to push the color in my present landscapes.  I feel fortunate to live in the Shenandoah Valley where there are so many beautiful farms, rivers, pastures and mountains, challenging me to paint not only what I see, but what I feel.

Painting on location, or plein air painting, allows me to be united with nature. Years later, a small study will remind me of that place and why I wanted to paint that scene.  My dramatic use of color, light, and capturing the form, are my way of sharing with others my personal observations.

I have taken art classes at Blue Ridge Community College , the University of Virginia , and Beverley Street Studio School .  I graduated from Mary Baldwin College and have won many awards with my paintings and printmaking.   I am a member of the Shenandoah Valley Art Center, the Staunton Augusta Art Center, Beverley Street Studio School, Co ART Gallery and the Tuesday Paletteers.

Education:   

1993   BA Mary Baldwin College , Staunton , VA

2000   Web Design and Programming, Learning Tree Institute, Reston , VA

2003   Web Design, Blue Ridge Community College , Weyers Cave , VA

Art Educational Workshops and Studies:

2003-2007 Oil Painting with Ron Boehmer, Art Instructor at Beverley Street Studio School
2005-2007 Printmaking with Dymph de Wild, Art Instructor at Beverley Street Studio School
2005 -   San Miguel, Mexico Travel Art Workshop with Jan Olsson

2006 -    Design Workshop with Betty Calabra, Art Professor, Bridgewater College
2006 -   Art Workshop with Brett Busand � Richmond , VA Plein Air Artist
2007 -   Art Workshop with Richard Crozier -  Art Professor, University of Virginia
2007 -   Art Workshop with Armand Cabrera California Plein Air Artist
2008 -   Antigua , Guatemala Travel Art Study
2014 -  Spello, Italy Travel Art Workshop with Bill White
2017-   BSSS Art Workshop with Frank Hobbs

2014-2018  Exhibitions:

 Avoli Restaurant, Staunton, VA
Art at the Mill, Berryville, VA
Augusta Health Out Patient Care, Staunton, VA
Bath County Art Show, Warm Springs, VA
Beverley Street Studio School Juried Exhibition, Staunton , VA
Virginia Legislature, Richmond , VA
Summit Square , Waynesboro , VA  
Shenandoah Pizza, Staunton, VA
Blue Mountain Cafe, Staunton , VA   (2 Artists Show)
Woodrow Wilson, Fishersville , VA    (2 Artists Show)
Virginia Mennonite Retirement Center , Harrisonburg , VA  
Featured Artist, Co Art Gallery, Staunton, VA
Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville, VA (Solo Exhibit)
Waynesboro Country Club, Waynesboro, VA (Solo Exhibit)
Lynchburg Art Show
Cross Keys Vineyard, Harrisonburg, VA

Recent Awards

2018 Lexington Art ShowShow                 Best In Show
2017 Lynchburg  Art Show               William Thomason Family Award
2014 Lynchburg Art Show               Waterworks Award
2014 Bath County Art Show                 First Place Oils
2013 Lynchburg Art Show               Anne Robertson Massie Award
2012 Waynesboro Juried Show                 Best In Show