Our Featured Artists:

Theresa Wells Stifel As the proprietor and artist in residence of Stifel and Capra, Theresa is keeping busy. Her custom pillows, original art dolls, and mixed media collages are featured in the store, on this site, and in living rooms all over the country.

To see examples of her work, check out Theresa's Galleries

Theresa also has an Etsy store http://www.TheresaWellsStifel.etsy.com

Christine Bartoletta Designer & Metalsmith:

u•nique |yoo'nek| adjective: being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else; particularly remarkable, or special. Handmade to be like no other. Rare, Distinctive, Unusual, Remarkable.

For Christine, jewelry can be more than just an accessory that brightens the face or completes an outfit. It can also be an expression of identity, mood, or personal style. Allowing us to share something unique about ourselves with the world around us.

Blessed with the freedom to make what she loves, Christine hopes her creations nurture the spirit and invite the wearer to express and celebrate their own style. To see more of Christine's work, please visit http://www.societyhilldesigns.com/index.html

Cheryl Bearss works in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. She is an FCPS elementary art teacher. She has been a practicing artist and art teacher for 25 years. Cheryl works with old family photos and cityscapes in an expressionistic style. Her work is often done in black and white or sepia tones. Her work at times portrays still-life objects and landscapes.

She accepts commissions if you would like your own photo reproduced. Cheryl has shown her work at the Torpedo Factory and has sold her work in her sister's Chicago coffee shop. "Memories, family, places, and objects play an important role in my art."

Come and visit her upstairs in Studio F.

Laura Clerici works with traditional materials in the Orthodox tradition to produce icons..

In the early 90’s, she was a diplomat stationed in New York City when she first encountered the Russian founder of the Prosopon School, which emphasizes spiritual involvement and Orthodox traditions in the creation of religious images. She was unable to take advantage of the class, but never gave up the idea of doing icons. Consequently, when she was assigned to the US Embassy in Moscow seven years later, she was delighted to learn of another Russian willing to teach foreigners to paint icons. It was only much later that she learned that her instructor was in fact affiliated with the Prosopon School. When she returned to the US she began taking workshops with the School several times a year, often traveling from her overseas assignments for this purpose. Most recently she has been studying with other advanced students at a retreat center in Chatawa, Mississippi and at Princeton University.

Laura retired from the State Department in 2006, and so is able to devote more time to art. She is also a volunteer chaplain at the INOVA Alexandria Hospital.
In addition to the icons available at her studio at Stifel and Capra, Laura takes commissions. Please see Laura's gallery.

Ashleigh Collins’ shop, My Two Monkeys, is colorful and constantly changing with a wide variety of unusual, fun, and funky treasures. Ashleigh has everything from retro lighting, artistic pottery, and timeless artwork to vintage couture clothing, glamorous jewelry, and stylish handbags. She has been “treasure hunting” for over 20 years and loves sharing her finds with others.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Ashleigh lives in Falls Church City with her husband, Peter, and her two ”monkeys,” Grinden and Avery. She graduated from the University of Richmond and thought she would stay in Northern Virginia for a year or two before returning back to Texas. Thank goodness life never goes as planned. After twenty years in Northern Virginia, Falls Church has become her true home.

Deborah Conn has had a longtime interest in drawing, but it wasn’t until 1998 that she first picked up a watercolor brush - and has rarely put it down since. "The most exciting thing about painting, for me, is the way it has altered my way of seeing things," she said. "My goal is to express these newfound patterns, colors, and connections in my work."

Deborah Conn works in transparent watercolor to create florals, portraits and figures, still lifes, and landscapes. Check out Deborah's Gallery to see examples of her work. All pieces are available as fine art giclees and note cards. To view original paintings that are still available for sale, check out Deborah's items

Jane McElvany Coonce "The way light falls on an object has always fascinated me. In paintings and in sculpture, I strive to capture the interesting effect that light plays on the subject."

Jane McElvany Coonce has been in the art field for over 35 years. She works in acrylic, oil , pastel and in terra cotta. Her works are held by private collectors, and her corporate collectors include the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, the International Country Club of Fairfax, Virginia, Georgetown University, and the Rickover Naval Academy. She has won numerous awards for both her paintings and her sculptures, including first prize at the International Miniature Society of Washington D.C. in 2000 and first prize in the plein air competition of Kensington in 2005. She was a featured artist in Elan Magazine, June 2004, with her art work appearing on the cover. In the Spring of 2007, she was the featured artist at NBC News in Washington, D.C. In the summer of 2002, she had a solo exhibit at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus. One of her paintings was featured on the cover of the Washington Post Magazine, Oct. 14, 2001 and The Olde Town Crier, April 2001. Her work is featured in the newly published book, How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Still Lifes and Florals Vol. II , published by International Artist Publishing. Prints and cards by the artist are carried at Georgetown University. In 2005, she was commissioned to do the portrait of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear submarine. Her work is represented by The Kevin Butler Gallery in Martha’s Vineyard, MA and in West Hampton, N.Y, and Aerie Art Gallery in Rehoboth, DE.

She has been an art instructor for Arlington County Adult Education since 1980. She presently teaches at Drew Model School in Arlington. She is the founder and president of the Arlington Artists Alliance and is the former vice president of the Miniature Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Gravers of Washington, D.C.

Born in Washington, D.C., Jane McElvany Coonce was raised in Arlington, Virginia and still resides there with her husband and three sons. http://www.jmcelvany.com

Jane will teaching classes at Stifel and Capra.. For more information about Jane's work and her classes, please contact Theresa at Theresa@StifelandCapra.com. Check out Jane's items or for more examples of her work, look at Jane's Gallery.

Amy Fromm of Interlaken Soak Company - Interlaken Soak Company is based in Arlington, VA. Owned and operated by Amy Fromm, it all started with her love of a good “soak” and an article on how to make homemade bath salts. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession turned business venture. All products are hand-crafted with love by Amy and tested on friends and family - never animals.

Our Name and Inspiration - The name Interlaken literally means between two lakes but I like to think of it as "where waters meet..." and was inspired by a place near and dear to my heart.I have the good fortune of having a family cottage in the beautiful lake region of northern Ontario called Muskoka - "the land of many lakes". This area is known for dense green forests and deep dark waters. Walk a mile through the woods in any direction and you are bound to end up in an ancient glacial lake surrounded by towering pines and shores dotted with happy cottages. Growing up I spent my summers here on a small lake enjoying carefree days on the dock and in the water and woods. This is my happy place. No matter where I am I can close my eyes and feel the sun on my skin, smell the fragrant summer air and hear the sound of the water lapping against the rocky shoreline.

These memories and images, small moments of tranquility and peace in the north woods, are what I hope to share with you. So try a little "Sunshine" scrub in the shower to brighten your mood in the morning or go for a soak in the "Moonlight" to unwind before bed and may you find some moments of peace and tranquility where the waters meet...

DJ Gaskin has a passion for paper. Reading and writing and books have enticed DJ from the time she could turn a page. Also into art since childhood, she rediscovered that joy in recent years. Blending her love of artwork and wordwork, she now writes and draws and paints and collages and enjoys making things both fun and useful, including her unique books and cards….
• Hardback—DJ’s hardback journals feature covers resembling mini assemblage collages of trinkets and fibers, and spines bursting with fibers and beads, making each unique journal a celebration to use.
• Softcover—Her softcover journals are made from handmade and other decorative papers in patterns and textures from wild & colorful to soft & natural, some with a simple slip-stitch, others featuring Japanese stab binding and collaged front covers for every mood and expression.
• Limited-collection Coptic-stitch—DJ’s limited-collection Coptic-stitch journal books bind hand-torn natural papers to their covers with the intricate exposed-spine patterns of thread that make up the ancient Coptic stitch.

Charla Hayen - Name Portraits by Charla! A Name Portrait is an illustrated word. The mediums are pen and ink, color pencil, watercolor pen and embellished picture pieces from the early 1900's. The artist Charla Hayen begins each design in pencil on illustration board.. Charla also highlights each reproduction in color pencil so that every picture available has original work by the artist.

Charla is a Virginia artist who lives and works in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her studio overlooks the rooftops of the historic town of Winchester. As a young child Charla spent countless hours in her room illustrating her own stories. She always loved pen and ink...the black ink on a white background was exciting to explore. Lettering was another area which became of interest and she participated in various calligraphy classes. She had the opportunity of a long distance class with calligrapher Michael Sull...often featured in Victoria magazine. However, she does not consider herself a traditional calligrapher but rather a graphic artist. Her work is definitely enfluenced by the lettering of the past, but Charla designs her own lettering to fit the word that she is illustrating.

Elisabeth G. Hudgins - “I am inspired by everyday objects and scenes: cats napping in the afternoon, a family story, a song on the radio or my daughter’s jeans… these are the small things that start my creative process. My art is about taking these familiar things and depicting them in a new and unusual way. I use various media and processes in my work, depending upon the subject matter. I generally work with watercolor, acrylics, charcoal, pen and ink, monoprinting and collage.”

Elisabeth’s art journey started at a young age, when she was inspired by her grandmother, a working, teaching artist. Elisabeth was awarded her BFA from James Madison University and went on to a career as a Graphic Designer and Art Director. After her 2 children were born, she felt the need to reconnect with her creativity on a more personal level, and she began painting again. This leg of the journey has taken her from representational watercolor paintings, to her latest, mixed media studies that explore the link between past and present.

Elisabeth has served on the Board of Directors of the Arlington Artists Alliance, and is a member of the Art League of Alexandria. Her paintings have been accepted into many juried shows, and won several awards, including a First Prize in Connessione: Things in Common Art Show, Falls Church Arts. She has exhibited her work in solo and group shows through out the state of Virginia, and has recently been selected to have a solo show at the Fisher Gallery in the Schelsinger Art Center in Alexandria. Fine art giclees and note card sets of many of her paintings may be special ordered, and she accepts commissions. Contact Elisabeth at eghudgins@gmail.com or drop by her new studio space upstairs!

Check out Elisabeth's Gallery to see examples of her work.

David Jenkins Papercutting isn’t my day job—that is a senior management position with the federal government. But it is an expression of my creativity and, despite being compared to “doing brain surgery on paper,” I find it relaxing. I am a self-taught papercutter exhibiting at juried craft shows in Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1999. These shows include Holiday Craft Fairs in Arlington, McLean, Reston, Fairfax, and Falls Church, and the New Growth Arts Festival in Indiana, Pennsylvania. I am also a founding member of the Dominion Hills Fall Craft Show, featuring local Arlington artists. In addition, the Indiana Pennsylvania Arts Council featured my work in a three-month show in 2004, and collections of my work have been displayed at the Arlington Central and Westover Branch Libraries. Over the past ten years, I have sold over 1,000 original pieces, including numerous special commissions.

Artist’s Statement - "I use simple materials to create complex images out of paper. Silhouette paper is black on the front and white on the back where I draw my original designs in the reverse. Each piece is hand cut from a single sheet of paper, using an X-Acto knife or scissors. I take pride in the exactitude required to work with this rather unforgiving medium—one wrong cut and the piece is ruined. I also frequently employ vintage backgrounds, such as antique sheet music or ledger sheets, seeds packets, magazine advertisements or game piece cards, to contrast with the silhouette. Occasionally, I incorporate old postage stamps to inject color into a design, creating a stained glass effect. My designs are eclectic and range from more traditional works echoing German scherenschnitte to humorous contemporary pieces to elaborate alphabets depicting culinary, floral, musical, or marine subjects." Check out David Jenkins' Gallery to see examples of his work.

Leigh and Michael Designs is a small business focused on designing and crafting hand-made children’s clothing and accessories. The company was established by a husband and wife team (Abigail Leigh and Christopher Michael) that have always had a creative spark and an entrepreneurial spirit. Abigail’s stitching prowess was cultivated years ago when her mom introduced her to the sewing machine. From a young age, Abigail has always made unique gifts for family and friends—from homemade necklaces to hand-sewn clothing and accessories to framed original pieces of art—and with Christopher’s encouragement, assistance, and support, Abigail turned her hobby into a business. In addition to the main duo of Leigh & Michael Designs, Abigail and Christopher have a network of family and friends that help keep things going, including an executive/marketing writer, Shauna; a graphic designer, Paola; an inventory/business manager, Courtney; and a crocheting whiz, Grandma Arletta.

To create the one-of-a-kind merchandise offered by Leigh & Michael Designs, Abigail and Christopher use a variety of different materials, fabrics, and techniques, including high-quality 100% cotton jersey blanks, high-quality tulle, premium diapers, upcycled/repurposed/eco-friendly fabrics, non-toxic fabric paint, and appliques. The 100% cotton jersey blanks are used as a base for most clothing designs, including long- and short-sleeve t-shirts and onesies, bloomers, and dresses. Abigail and Christopher’s most common technique for adding designs and “flair” to their clothing is using appliques, where hand-sketched ideas are made into stencils, transferred to fabric, sewn to the front and/or back of the cotton jersey, and finished using non-toxic fabric paint to accent fine details. Abigail and Christopher make multiples of some items, while others are individual/original pieces of art that are created on request.

Finding inspiration in everyday things, Abigail and Christopher sketch ideas/designs and draw inspiration from available fabrics and resources. They think of creative ways to incorporate holidays, seasons, events, and adult fashion into pieces that will look great on a baby or toddler. Abigail and Christopher have a son, and Courtney has a daughter nine days younger—so, there is always an available model to test and show off new creative designs! Constantly looking for fabrics and materials that will be a great balance between cute and sophisticated, some of the items that Abigail and Christopher produce include adorable tutus for various occasions; holiday, seasonal, and traditional t-shirt and onesie designs; premium diaper cakes (made to look like gourmet wedding cakes) that are perfect gifts for showers or birthday parties; and other baby accessories including embellished burp cloths, sippy cups, pacifier clips, mitten clips, and crocheted hats. Additional items beings added to the product line often.

To see more, visit their website at Leigh and Michael Designs

Marsha Lederman - Artist and illustrator Marsha Lederman lives and works in Arlington where she specializes in commissioned works for print as well as portraiture of people, pets and places. She has been drawing since she could hold a pencil, and her education and training include a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design. Marsha also loves life drawing and can be found sketching people surreptitiously in all kinds of venues, from PTA meetings to the Metro.

Clients have included The National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Wildlife Federation, Habitat for Humanity, Defenders of Wildlife, National Public Radio, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ford’s Theatre, United States Information Agency, National Institutes of Health, Child Welfare League of America, National Geographic World, and Heifer International. She has also completed commissions for other associations, public and private organizations, and law firms. Marsha recently art directed and completed over 100 images for a children’s book that follows the Virginia 4th-grade SOLs in History: Virginia: An Alphabetical Journey through History. She presents book talks at area schools on the process of making her book, from research to printing.

Marsha works in a variety of mediums, finding that pastel lends itself to fur for pet portraits and watercolor is wonderful for houses and historic structures. She enjoys working in black and white for portraiture and houses as well. Her yearly humorous black-and-white catalog covers for a legal-book publisher––done in a combination of watercolor and pencil––are available as individual prints. She is also happy to take commissions for portraits as well as personalized art for kids’ rooms. She is noted for her anthropomorphized animals and can combine a child’s favorite animal with special activities and interests.

Marsha enjoys getting to know the people she works with and loves to be able to take her own photographs of subjects, in addition to working from existing photos. Check out Marsha's gallery to see examples of her work.

Elizabeth Geers Loftis - I'm inspired by patterns and primitive works. I love using oil pastels because it puts me close to my work- I'm happiest when my hands are dirty." Elizabeth begins with a pencil sketch and then layers on the color! She favors earthy, ethnic combinations that refer back to her international travels while her husband was in the Foreign Service. After Elizabeth is happy with her colors she applies a layer of watercolor to provide a neutral base for her composition. Elizabeth has both framed and unframed pieces in the shop and can be tapped to do custom pieces as well! Check out Elizabeth's Gallery - some originals are still available, fine art giclees and note card sets are available for all of her works, just contact Theresa. We have some items listed separately - Check out Elizabeth's items

Phil Napala - Digital technology has changed us dramatically over the last decade. We do things faster, better and ways unthinkable by individuals from previous generations. With photographic computer manipulation software, endless combinations of effects and filters can be applied to an original image. But many of these combinations are just blind alleys that make no coherent sense. We can do many tricks, but often we end up with too little. I needed a guide where form follows feeling and I found Japanese woodblock print masters as my guides. Japanese woodblocks capture the control, precision, and clarity of the period landscapes and natural forms. I follow the Japanese woodblock path to make my photographic message stronger and clearer.

Simplicity and form: what I try to do is take photographic images and strip out the nonessential. Photography is transcription art form that records everything that is in front of the lens. It’s too much information, coming from all possible angles, at too great a speed. The way we live right now is similar with 24-hour news reports and mobile phones, video streaming and impossible emails that demand personal attention. Basically what I did a few years ago was to shut down. I need a more intimate impression of the world, a more stripped down version.

“You can have anything you want, but you can’t have every thing.” I filter the world, seeing small, more snug, with more intimacy. I show what I see, not what the camera sees a much more narrower view.

To learn more about Phil's art, check out Phil's online gallery at S&C to see examples of his work. Or you can stop by the Studio and Shops at Stifel and Capra.

Sandi Parker - Arlington, Virginia artist Sandi Parker works in oil, with a specialty in Provence and Tuscany landscapes, seascapes, and youth sports.

Sandi is a member of the Arlington Artists Alliance, the Art League of Alexandria, Falls Church Arts, and the Rehoboth Art League. She regularly exhibits and sells her work at local cafes and offices around Arlington, at numerous art shows in the area, and out of her studio/gallery on the second floor of Stifel and Capra. She has received several awards for her work at local juried shows.

Sandi donates a portion of income from art sold to a charity she started called “The Kids Fitting In Fund.” The fund supports students in need at Arlington’s Middle Schools and High Schools.

Artist's Statement:
"I am especially drawn to the vivid purples of lavender fields in Provence, the yellows of Tuscan sunflower fields, and the pastels of the sea. In these works I attempt to create a soothing mood through the use of color. In my paintings of youth sports I strive to capture the action, drama, and touching interaction between players and coaches."

Sandi's work can be seen on her website, http://www.sandiparker.com. Many of Sandi’s works are also available as giclees upon request, and on notecards, which sell for $10 for a package of 10. See what we have in her gallery. For more information, contact Sandi at sparkerart@yahoo.com.

Concetta Scott - Concetta Scott finds her inspiration in the abstract geometry of subjects, natural and man-made. She inspired by the line in an object. The multi- layering of colors gives depth and richness to her works. The mediums selected are determined by the subject ,i.e. watercolor,
alkyd/oil, pastel.

Concetta is a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia. She has had a successful career in Advertising Design working for Art Agencies and Retail in Philadelphia and in Washington DC. She became the Art director for the Woodward and Lothrop Stores of Washington DC. Her works in both in Advertising Design and later in Painting have been accepted with recognition in regional and national shows.

Upon retiring from the commercial art field to raise a family, Concetta continued free lance art and design and she also explored the fiber arts medium. While continuing studies in fine arts and workshops, she taught art part time at a Montessori school and also privately.

Her paintings are in private and corporate collections and her watercolors were featured in the ‘elan magazine 2000,the national North Lightbook, Splash 6, and several other publications. She has illustrated two children’s books. Concetta was the Artist in Residence in the city of Dinan, France, May 1999 and the city of Dinan owns one of her paintings from her solo show. She is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who in America 2003- 2009. She is an active member in several local art societies.

Signature Memberships: Baltimore Watercolor Society, Virginia Water Color Society, Philadelphia Watercolor Society, National League of American Pen Women, The Miniature Society(MPSGS) of Washington D.C. Juried Memberships: Potomac Valley Watercolorists, Washington Water Color Association

Cathy Soltys - When she is not busy creating new jewelry designs, Cathy Soltys enjoys time spent with her husband, Peter, their two daughters, Madison and Lillian, and two greyhound children, Kirby and Ellen. Cathy, who is a graphic designer by training and education, moved from Indianapolis, her home town, to Fairfax, Virginia, and began a career with a defense contractor. Several years later her first daughter was born, and she became a full time stay-at-home mother. One more child, two dogs, and twelve years later, Cathy discovered the joy of making jewelry, thus the name of her business – Joie de Beads. Designing and making jewelry is the perfect marriage of colors, shapes, and movement, plus some basic engineering. Her designs are simply sophisticated and uniquely elegant. For Cathy, “life gets richer and lovelier with every passing year.” To find our more about Cathy, come see her at the Shops and Studios at Stifel and Capra, or check out her website at http://www.joiedebeads.com

Cathy Summers is a nature photographer based in Falls Church. Cathy's primary subject areas are landscapes and macro images reflecting the diversity of the seasons in the Mid-Atlantic and other areas in the United States.

While photographs are static two dimensional images, Cathy tries to convey more than just the moment in time when the shutter was opened and the image recorded. Cathy tries to help the viewer see more in a familiar flower, face or place than the viewer may have noticed standing beside her when Cathy took the image. To see a sample of a variety of Cathy's work, please check out her gallery.

Cathy has found the digital darkroom to be a better way to make prints that match her feelings and what she wants to communicate while remaining faithful to the image captured in her viewfinder. Read about Cathy's perspective on "Is it real?" here.

Angela Markeen Williams is a fine artist working in mixed media. She is inspired by stories and rich history layered in landscape and surfaces and people who are full of life, passion and tradition. Angela creates surfaces and line studies of landscapes and figures in dramatic gestures inspired by emotions and experiences. The elegant use of line and experimental use of color in her work creates a unique and thought provoking experience for the viewer.