She points to her painting of a small dog exhibited on the panels. It only has three colors—yellow, blue and burnt sienna. “I can mix them and don’t need a lot.” Sanaie has been painting for 20 years. “My parents didn’t encourage an art degree so I became a lawyer.” But when she retired and the children were gone she had time, so she began to paint more. “It’s fun and I like to see that I have a product. It’s all you.” She encourages people to just go take a class. She started with adult education in Fairfax.  “There’s so much you can do now including online classes.”

The McLean Art Society (MAS), in existence since 1955, has sponsored the art show held at Walker Chapel United Methodist Church in Arlington.  Lori Lisiecki who is in charge of this show says they started setting up on Thursday and spent most of the day on the mechanics, then today the 21 artists brought in the 84 hanging exhibits as well as the smaller paintings displayed on the tables.

The McLean Art Society members include working artists, beginners and individuals who have an interest in art.  They hold monthly meetings open to the public at the McLean Community Center as well as demonstrations and lectures.  Anna Katalkina, President of McLean Art Society is greeting visitors but says she doesn’t have any of her oil paintings in the Old Dutch Masters style on exhibit for this show. “I am in three shows at the same time and just couldn’t do it.”

Jane McElvary Coonce, Arlington, is exhibiting a variety of oil paintings including a large koi in a rock pond selling for $600, a smaller peony picture for $250, a crab, and a landscape of Key Bridge.  She says she teaches art at the Arlington Adult Center but began painting with her mother 40 years ago. She remembers her mother loved to paint birds. 

Coonce says her koi picture took a while. “You don’t just do it one sitting. You have to draw it out first, then start blocking the color down to see if it is working. Then you have to refine it. You don’t want the fish floating on top of the water so you have to work with the water.”

Coonce says she exhibits in different shows. “The problem with painting is that if you don’t sell them, your house is full of paintings. COVID was really bad because I made the commitment to paint every day. I had so many.”

For more information www.mcleanartsociety.org