Gainesville

Zach grew up in a traveling military family giving him the opportunity to see the world through young wondrous eyes. As they traveled through Europe and parts of Africa, he became surrounded by works of art by the masters. At a young age he fell in love with art and the positive outlet it was. As he grew so did a passion to teach and show other what a positive and great thing art can be. He started by having art sessions with his nieces and nephews then grew to teaching fundamentals of drawing and cartooning classes to elementary students. He is open to working in all mediums and loves the challenge of different mediums and styles but he mostly works with acrylic and spray paints. He has had the privilege of being displayed at several galleries and has been chosen to be the artist of the month by multiple art centers. Outside of painting he likes to hike, bike, kayak, adventure around DC and read comics.

Sonja Roux is a Virginia resident artist that paints under her maiden name as Sonja Forster ART. Art is Sonja's passion and she would love to share her passion whilst having bucket loads of fun doing it! Sonja was born in South Africa, first generation as her parents moved from Germany to South Africa growing up on a farm and relocated in to Virginia USA in 2016. Her close interaction with nature shaped her remarkable powers of intimate observation. Since discovering her drawing talent as a young child, Sonja dedicated herself to working hard and developing her skills. She completed her studies in Nature Conservation but decided on a career in arts. Her love for nature is evident in her art. Sonja traveled to various countries and got her inspiration from studying different art skills. Her favorite medium is oil and subject matter ranges from portraits, landscapes and still life. Her paintings are executed in a detailed realistic manner from oils on canvas.

Surrounded by the sound of roaring jets and a sea of blue uniforms, Matthew dreamt of being a fighter jet pilot as a child. That dream turned into a passion for speed and beauty. As he grew, he worked tirelessly at athletics and the arts, believing that life was about creating whoever you want to be. The legend continues to grow as Matthew never says no to adventure, and embraces the journey as much as the destination.

Katelyn was born in Beckley, West Virginia and moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia at a young age. She graduated from James Madison University in 2012 with a B.F.A in Studio Art and a minor in Art History. Katelyn was the Curatorial and Exhibitions Intern at Arlington Arts Center and was the intermittent Exhibitions Assistant in 2015. She graduated with an M.F.A. in Studio Art from American University in 2016 and participated in the GlogauAIR Residency Program in Berlin, Germany. She currently resides and works in Broadway, VA

Rebecca Hayes is a graduate of St. Mary's College of Maryland, where she initially discovered her love for painting, inspired by the sunsets on the St. Mary's River. Using acrylic, watercolor, and oil paint, Rebecca works in a variety of genres, including abstract and impressionist styles. Her multi-media portfolio of original artwork ranges from landscapes and dreamscapes to portraits and silhouettes. In 2014, she formally began accepting commissions for custom work through her website, www.thepurplehayes.gallery. Rebecca is member of the Art Guild of Clifton, VA, and has competed in its annual "Plein Air Festival." Aside from painting, Rebecca is an avid fitness enthusiast and stays healthy with a variety of activities, including swimming and kickboxing. She also blogs about life as a mother, writes poetry and short stories. Prior to focusing on art and family, she spent 10 years working as a financial planner and three years as a realtor. Now, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, and finds much of her inspiration for art through them. Rebecca joined Muse's team of artists in 2016 and is eager to share her passion for painting.

Maria Cheshire is a certified teacher with a passion for art and creativity. A graduate from James Madison University, she spends her time teaching, coaching, running, writing and painting. Maria loves to travel to new places, both far and near, and delights in trying out new restaurants and wineries. She coaches cross-country at a local high school and is writing a young adult novel centered around the sport. Maria believes that everyone has creative potential and is excited to help others explore their creativity while having a great time at Muse!

5. Christopher Lambert graduated Temple University and Tyler School of Art in 2013. He has experience working with a variety of materials such as painting (acrylic and oil), drawing, ceramics, stained glass, and jewelry. After completing his BFA in Metals/Jewelry/Cad-Cam he began to explore the possibilities of making never before seen products, especially in men's accessories. He now holds a U.S. patent for one of his inventions, the Tieverso. Besides art, his hobbies include soccer, professional DJ'ing , and Frisbee golf.

Developing her creative skills over the years, Tori has a passion for painting and sketching and also dabbles in sculpting and jewelry making. Her favorite thing about Muse is a relaxed and fun atmosphere to drink and paint with friends! She enjoys long walks on the beach and panting pictures of her cats.