Two Friends Just Returning from Long Vacations to Exhibit at RWC
Fresh off a two-month stay in Alaska, September RWC featured artist Kay Vincent is speaking for her co-exhibitor Joan Willoughby, who is off on an extended cruise and unavailable for interview.
Vincent and Willoughby met through an international group – PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization) and became fast friends. And while Vincent describes herself as a “dabbler” in the arts, she said Willoughby is much more serious.
The two women will show their art at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury as the September featured artists.
Willoughby embraced art life from a very young age, getting drawing tips from her grandmother where she grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. Since art was frowned upon as a “not very practical” career choice, she majored in nursing with a master’s degree in psychiatric nursing, got married and had three children. But, the “art itch” continued so she began taking art courses, wherever possible, along the way.
Willoughby and her family settled in Charlottesville, where she continued with art classes at Piedmont Community College or with local art teachers. She learned that she loved working with acrylics and watercolors, which provide transparency and fluidity in her work.
When they retired to Colorado, Willoughby decided that this was the first time in her life she could focus more on her art and she began winning awards. She studied with well-known Colorado artist Steven Quiller, and other artists. Quiller put her on a path of color and looser paintings which she strives to keep developing.
After moving back to Virginia, she feels fortunate to have found a thriving art community and displays her work at the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, where she continues to win more awards.
“Life often gets in the way of ‘scratching the itch,’ but I hope it never goes away,” Willoughby said. “I love doing art, mostly flowers and animals. When I am not doing art, I am thinking about it and trying to figure out how I could paint something in a new way. The ‘art itch’ is a good one to have.”
And while her good friend Kay Vincent calls herself a dabbler, she’s a lifelong artist in her own right. A Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as home economics) teacher, Vincent is more focused on the needle and fiber arts.
“My mom was a dabbler in the arts as well and so I learned to sew and just sewed and sewed,” she said.
“My grandmother started me on her treadle [sewing] machine when I was young and so that’s kind of where I started, mostly in fabrics. Both of my grandmothers sewed, crocheted, knitted, did cross stitch – all those things.”
Starting in high school, Vincent began quilting and has created 200 to 300 quilts since, making them for wedding, baby gifts or other special occasions. She just finished a Liberty of London quilt that took a year and a half to complete.
Vincent is also a member of RAL and has exhibited her work as well.
At the RWC art exhibition, she will have two large quilts and a number of smaller quilts, collages, baskets she’s made and some watercolors – many of cattle and horses inspired by her time living on an Oregon cattle ranch.
Vincent’s husband is a retired Marine and after years moving in and out of Quantico, they retired to Lancaster County about 14 years ago.
“My husband and I are both from Oregon, but Virginia is our adopted home,” she said. “We just love it here!”
The art exhibition is open to the local community 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily throughout September in Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury’s Gallery Hall.