Over the holidays, I was searching for a caricature artist and was lucky enough to connect with…read moreAlexandra (Alex) Cheek from Caricature Artists Group LLC on Christmas Eve. She patiently listened to my vision for a retirement gift and immediately put me at ease with her friendly, professional approach. Alex gave me a realistic timeline that allowed time for review and edits, which I really appreciated. She quickly delivered a draft that perfectly captured my colleague's personality, and the final inked and colored caricature exceeded my expectations! Amazing talent, great communication, and a wonderful experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!

I recently commissioned Audrey to create a caricature as a gift for a high-profile individual, and…read morethe entire experience was exceptional. From the very beginning, Audrey was incredibly patient and thoughtful. She took the time to understand the vision, asked insightful questions, and made sure every detail was handled with care and discretion. Her communication was clear, timely, and professional throughout the process, which gave me complete confidence--especially given the importance of the recipient. When it came to delivery, she exceeded all expectations. The final piece was not only beautifully executed but tasteful, polished, and perfectly suited for such a distinguished person. Aubrey has a rare combination of artistic talent, professionalism, and grace. I would absolutely work with her again!!!

I hired Samantha from Painted Palettes to hand letter mini pumpkins for a fall themed event and it…read morewas THE HIT FROM THE PARTY (even three months later, in the dead of winter my personalized pumpkin is still going strong and it's so beautiful I do not have the heart to throw it away). Samantha was easy to work with from start to finish and was able to stay professional despite the long lines at the party (I mean, how could you not want something so beautiful as a keepsake?). I could picture using her for corporate events, bridal showers, baby showers and any other celebration that could you a personalized twist. She can write on any material and even engraves on glass! I have not had the chance to check out her Intro to Hand Lettering classes yet but for now, I'll leave it to the pros. Painted Palettes is simply the best!

I first saw and met Samantha from Painted Palettes at a Yelp Elite event back in 2018. Then I…read morestarted following her work on Instagram (@painted_palettes). A couple months ago, my friend Kim and I took an Intro to Hand Lettering class with Samantha at Steadfast Supply in DC. Oh that rush hour traffic and $20 parking was sooo worth it! Turns out, Samantha used to be a teacher, and it shows in the way she articulates the class. It was easy to follow her instructions, and she was very hands-on with showing examples. Plus we got a pretty decent set of tools and goodies to take home with us! Since, I've purchased some of her watercolor artwork to hang at home. I am such a fan! The artwork can be found on her website or in various shops in the area. And her classes are actually affordable! Next I want to take her Pointed Pen class!

Some of the most beautiful colors and designs with creativity at its peak. Add value to your wall…read morewith one of her paintings. I did and I'm eternally grateful.

I bought an amazing piece of art work from this young lady! i watched her start the piece from…read morebeginning to end. I just knew I had to have it. so I contacted her through instagram and she was very kind and nice, and i was excited when i finally received my master piece. Check her out.

Beautiful! I enjoy visiting the Trisha Adams Gallery and Studio. Her paintings are vibrant and…read morealways make me feel happy. Trisha is a pleasure to talk and helpful when making an art selection or commissioning a custom painting. It's a small space with refreshing light and comfortable seating while you enjoy looking at the artwork. I've bought a couple of her paintings and love them more every time I see them. (Fair warning - they do sell fast. Someone else bought one of the paintings I liked before I decided on it so I didn't delay on the next one.) She works on the paintings right there in the studio so you can see what's about to be ready. The gallery is in the Herndon historic district right next to the bike path. I like to make a day of it and have lunch etc. Because it's open "by chance or appointment", make sure to call ahead using the number on her website ( https://trishaadams.com/ ) to see if she's there. I once called when I realized I'd be nearby and she came right over!

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is housed in a former WWI munitions plant along the waterfront in…read moreOld Town. This is a unique building with three floors of artist studios. Many of the artists are working and you can go in and watch them in their studio and ask them about the process. What I enjoyed was that that there were so many styles and mediums. We particularly enjoyed the 3-D sculptures and bought some pottery for a friend. We enjoyed our visit so much that we went back the next day. Admission is free. On the way out, I stepped on the scale -- oops! -- it was unfortunately, all too accurate.

3 floors of art studios, and many welcoming artists! This is a great place to get out of the…read moresummer heat, and there's free admission! While it's open daily from 10am to 6pm, the amount of studios closed/opened varies. I feel that there's more open on Fridays and through the weekend. There's a great variety in art here, and I'm sure everyone can find a new favorite artist!

08.03.2018 'The Power of Nature' artist reception…read more Great place to check out art from local artists and purchase works from members of the Arlington Artists Alliance. Will post updated pics and videos soon. __ I eat. @f.hux I thrift. @DCthriftish

I haven't been to the Gallery proper enough times to merit a review, but I have been through the…read moreCrystal City Fotowalk more times than I can count. I love walking through the Fotowalk - it makes this entire sprawling underground maze much more beautiful and much more interesting! Some of the photography exhibits have incredible themes - I loved the 'Color' theme. So many of the photos in that exhibit were just spellbinding! The themes rotate every few months and always highlight something intriguing. I think the most recent one was on sights from across the US. Anyways, a free gallery exhibit of amazing photos taken by mostly DMV-based photographers in a spot where you can take your time and explore and soak in all the goodness? A definite win, so take a few minutes next time you're on the blue/yellow line to stop off at Crystal City and get a dose of art in your life.

Great family business. I've seen it driving past my husband's work but didn't realize they offer…read moreclasses until I googled. So glad my friend and I came to take a short project class. We really enjoyed ourselves and will be back. Great instruction, designs offered, and value. They also have small gifts up front if you don't have time for a class, but want something hand made locally.

Fiscus Glassworks is a gem in Alexandria. I have now taken all of their classes from beginner to…read morestructure/dimension and design and build. I even entered my pieces I created in these classes at the Arlington County Fair and won the Reserve Grand Champion for my division! I now frequent their studio during open hours with their studio time passes. Brad and Maré are kind, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable! They can help you create patterns and make your stained glass visions come true. Definitely check Fiscus out!

Great place for custom neon signs Craig and his associates…read morewere very helpful in the design and fabrication process of a neon sculpture I wanted for my private home. Send him an email, very friendly man.

From the owner: Custom neon sculpture and art.read more

Splendid & Swanky didn't just stage our house; they orchestrated a breathtaking transformation…read more Their keen eye for design, paired with an unparalleled commitment to excellence, brought our vision to life. Every corner of our home evoked elegance, style, and sophistication. What truly sets Splendid & Swanky apart is their remarkable ability to deliver results. Within just 48 hours of our home hitting the market, we received an offer! Their strategic staging not only captured the attention of potential buyers but also elicited an emotional connection that sealed the deal in record time. Splendid & Swanky's dedication to their craft and their unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, sets them apart as true industry leaders. We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a phenomenal team and wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in search of a transformative home staging experience. Thank you, Splendid & Swanky, for making our dreams a reality and for proving that when it comes to staging, there's simply no better team and your house will sell quickly! -Dana

We really loved our experience working with Splendid & Swanky. They first staged our previous home…read morefor sale and did a lovely job integrating our existing furniture with fresh new options that really helped seal the deal. Once we moved into our new townhome, we needed help rethinking our previous style with the shape and dynamics of our new place. Newsha and Nahal were terrific, providing clever approaches to integrating our old furniture with new pieces and lighting that really showed the new place off at its best. What we appreciated most was their communication and collaborative spirit. We've worked with designers before who had no idea of what good customer service looks like, and we were delighted to have such an engaging and creative collaboration with these designers. They did push us a bit out of our comfort zone with some choices, but THEY WERE RIGHT. Some furniture we weren't sure about turned out to be the biggest hits in our new decor, drawing tons of compliments from our friends when they came for our housewarming. We'd work with Splendid & Swanky again in a heartbeat!