Compass studios
COMPASS ART CENTER is home to a dozen artists' studios. Our artists work in a variety of media, styles, and subject matter. You can find them in their studios creating round the clock and visit them at Open Studio events. Check them out below, visit their websites, & follow them on social.
Kara LIN - studio 1A
Medium: oil painter, figurative
Kara's story: Playing dress up usually means silly clothing and pretending you are someone or something you are not. I still like to play dress up though its meaning for me has changed as i've grown. Throughout my life my everyday clothing, body modifications and makeup were a way for me to express myself. Dressing up was my way of hiding from myself. By painting myself in costume, dressing up would become my way to feel my most authentic self. I was able to see that no matter what I wore I still have the same eyes, same face, and the same bones underneath it all.
Through my use of subject, a high contrast palette and mix of large loose brushstrokes with moments of controlled detail I call back to the macabre and theatrical elements of the pre raphaelite and Baroque eras. Being a bit dark and dramatic myself, this is further emphasized by the method in which I paint.
Website: https://karalinart.com/
Socials: @karalinart
Willow Frohardt - 1B
Medium: drawing, painting, figurative
Willow’s story: Willow Frohardt’s artwork is an endeavor of understanding; both a way to process their own experiences, emotions and relationships, as well as force that understanding onto the viewer. They use controlled, illusionistic techniques to create narrative works which explore the interplay between guilt, love, anxiety, despair and nostalgia. Their recent work has been a reflection on the relationship between the current self and childhood self, and the way gender identity and mental health struggles can inform this relationship. Frohardt primarily focuses on drawing, utilizing a variety of mediums including pen, ink, oil stick and watercolor.
Website: WillowFrohardt.com
Socials: @willowmay.art
dEREK SYMER - studio 2
Medium: Oil painting, Interpretive
Derek's story: As a counterbalance to his career serving in the risk management, insurance and nonprofit industry for nearly 25 years, Derek interprets feelings and sounds in his oil paintings. During his 2024-2025 studio residency at Compass Art Center, Derek will be exploring an associative synesthesia project he calls Symethesia where he will distill feelings, shapes, and colors that spontaneously emanate from some of his favorite musical works. Derek works intuitively with committed and passionate brushstrokes to convey his ideas.
Instagram: @syme_artstyle
Matthew Mccarthy - studio 3
Gloria Capron - studio 4
Medium: Fine Art & Interior Design; Artist, Professional ASID Interior Designer
Gloria’s story: Passionate about art and design, powered by a full career of creative experiences in Residential and Commercial Interior Design, Fine Arts installations, Showhouses, Event Planning and Floral Design.
Always the artist, curator for client details and collections of fine art for home and office. All for people living, loving and working their best life in the Washington Area and across the country.
Her work takes followers on a journey within the complexity of determining all the details; of art, color, line, form, material type, space and texture.
Now she brings all that style and experience from her interior design work life and family to her FINE ART. Its the work of the Interior designer but always from the heart of an artist!
Set up a consultation to include her vision in your next design project.
& Check out her fine art in Studio Gallery 4, the place she shares her fine art of inspiration and style!
Bridget Kuzma / Kensington art therapy - studio 5
Medium: oil painter, landscape & figurative
Bridget's story:
Bridget is an artist and creative psychotherapist. She provides holistic expressive, sensory-based, and talk psychotherapy services. Her art engages elements of inner and outer landscapes. Her primary medium is oil paint. She also works with found objects, building materials, and clay. Bridget uses the creative process to explore emotional and natural terrains through line, texture, color, and form.
Bridget's background includes 20 years of work at non-profits and hospitals in MD, DC and NY with people facing serious illnesses and the end of life. She studied studio art and psychology at The University of Dallas then completed her masters in art therapy and creativity development at the Pratt Institute. Bridget has shown her work in Austin, Brooklyn, DC and Maryland and has lived in Italy, Ireland, and Ecuador.]
Website: kensingtonarttherapy.com
Phone: 301-785-1720
Daniel Whitstock - studio 6
Sam Guindon - studio 6
Medium: oil painter, plein air, alla prima
Sam's story: Sam is a current Master Artist Program student at the Compass Atelier. He has been drawing since he was 2 years old and oil painting since age 19. Over the years he has taken classes at The Compass Atelier, as well as at CalArts, RISD, the Art Students League, and the Glasgow School of Art. In 2021 he received the J Barney Moore prize in art from Hamilton College, which is awarded to one to two students each year who excel in studio art. Since then he has exhibited and sold work in a number of group shows, and in 2023 sold out his first solo exhibition.
"Through the meditative lens of painting I have found great appreciation for the beauty of everyday life. I hope to impart that reverence to others through my work and teaching."
Socials: @samguindon.art
Karash Payne - studio 7
Medium: oil painter, figurative
Karash's story: My journey as an artist kicked off when I found myself amid a major life shift-going from full time parent to empty nester. I decided to dive headfirst into painting, an interest I always felt but never made time to explore.
My first series focuses on figures immersed in water. The process of planning, photographing, and painting my kids has helped me explore my complex feelings that include pride, joy, fear and anxiety over their adventures away from home.
I’m eager to dig deeper into the themes of introspection and connection, to play with different techniques, and to develop more bonds within the artistic community in the Washington D.C. area.
Website: https://karash.net/
Socials: @karashpayne
Cynthia Johnson - studio 8
Medium: Gouache, Acrylic, Collage, Found Objects
Cynthia’s story: There was never a time in my life when I was not drawing or painting. In the high school for commercial art that I attended in New York City, I was introduced to gouache paints. It remains my preferred medium because of the vibrancy of the colors. Nonetheless, I enjoy exploring and working with other media. For 25 years, my work as a diplomat took me to West Africa, Central, and South America. Being exposed to the art practices in those regions was an inspiration that endures to this day.
Our world is full of rich, beautiful colors. My goal as an artist is to record beauty. In the process, I hope my art will bring joy into the viewer’s life.
Website: www.cfjfinearts.com
Socials: @cynthiafarrelljohnson
Leslie hansley - studio 8
Leslie's story: As a self-taught artist, I started to paint in retirement after working as an accountant for 30+ years in corporate America.
When I came to the US in the early eighties from Jamaica, I became very aware of my African heritage. Also, my husband traveled overseas to Africa for work and brought back many wonderful pieces of artwork from each country. These are the influences that shaped the path for me as an artist.
Acrylic paint is my preferred medium, allowing me to use the “brightest of colors” to create interpretations of my ethnic heritage and culture. I call this abstract style of work Boho Ethnic Art.
In addition to painting on canvas, I discovered that my artwork looks “Happy” on accessories and home decor.
Website: lesancreates.com
Mary Vinograd - studio 9
Medium: acrylic and oil painter
Mary's story: After raising a family and nurturing several other life-roles, Mary is humbled to have the opportunity to paint full time. “This is my bucket list dream, my around-the-world cruise!”
Mary finds that working and selling her paintings in the local community, brings purpose and meaning to her work. Mary paints as a resident artist every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in her shop at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Bethesda, as well as in her studio at Compass Art Center. Her work values everyday living as both a treasured moment and a mark of history, reflecting humanity where she finds it, locally, in landscape, still life and portraiture.
Socials: @MaryVinogradFineArt
Susan Billington - studio 10
Medium: oil, acrylic, water color, pen and ink, photography
Susan’s story: Susan's color-drenched canvases have been described as "happy calm".
A lifelong artist Susan, received her BA in painting and drawing from Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri. Subsequently, she returned to the DC area where she has lived most of her life and received a MA degree in speech-language pathology from GWU. Susan practiced as a pediatric speech pathologist for 28 years while continuing to make art and taking classes at the Washington Studio School. After retiring her speech path practice in 2019, Susan returned to art full time. She loves the vibrant arts community in the DMV area and is a member of both CH/Art and the Washington Water Color Association (WWCA). She has exhibited her work in collective shows at local venues including Arts Club of Washington, Glen Echo, Hill Center Galleries, Women's Club of Chevy Chase, Windows on Wisconsin and at libraries and community centers. Recently, Susan won a 1st place award for her drawing at a local juried show. She is thrilled to join the artist community at Compass.
Website: www.susantbillington.com
Socials: @susantbillington.art
Rebecca Ravenal - studio 11
Medium: oil painter, figurative
Rebecca's story: I have been a studio artist for more than 30 years, making pottery, mosaics, and mixed media sculpture. Recently I began incorporating painting into my work.
My pieces are inspired by tradition but updated with the use of non-traditional techniques and materials. Often featuring animals and floral designs, my work is bold, colorful, and fun.
My artwork has been juried into numerous shows and sold in stores and galleries. I studied locally at The Corcoran College of Art and Design and at crafts schools across the country. I teach classes for adults and children at area schools and art centers.
sara hitchcock - studio 11
Kerry Richardson - studio 12
Medium: Multimedia art, design, and interiors.
Kerry’s Story: A self taught artist and interior curator Kerry sees in color, dreams in textures, and exists for the opportunity to create something each and every day. Her love and passion for space planning and merchandising have paired well with her obsession for furniture, and home decor which she also paints and restyles.
Kerry’s canvas can be described as a composition in texture, color blending and cultural symbolism. The manipulation of paper, fabric, and paints result in pieces that offer depth and conversation. Her surface of choice ranges from canvas to wood, to fabric, to metal. No surface is off limits.
In her jewelry realm Kerry loves a mixed media design approach as well... leather, beads, metals, paints, paper... yes, please.
At the root of her artistry is her connection and upliftment of symbolic meaning. Her use of the adinkra (originating from Ghana) is her love letter to cultural expression, wisdom without words, and beauty. The Adinkra is visible throughout her work and in her studio.
Kerry also offers Kreative Flow workshops inviting others to engage their inherent creative muscles.
Instagram: @Kreative_Jungle
rachael rice - studio 14
Rachael has been creating art for the last 5 decades. She has worked with metals, clay, fiber and wood but now is concentrating her energy on creating glass mosaics and abstract fluid acrylic paintings. She also uses her fluid art paintings and metals to create jewelry.
She strives to bring her mosaic glasswork to life with elements of painting, using brushstroke shaped tesserae, to mimic impressionist paint strokes. She enjoys conveying animation, depth, emotionality, movement, and a sense of richness through her approach. Mosaics allows her to take a two-dimensional design and bring it to life with the three-dimensional aspects of glass on board.
Her love of color and movement is visible in all her vibrant paintings. Her abstract work is inspired by her love of the ocean, sunsets and nature.
Website: www.rachaelallisondesigns.com
Instagram: #rachael_allison_designs
