JOSEPH BURROUGH
(804) 320-6894
Painting in Grand Teton National Park at String Lake
Photo by William G. Smith (an extraordinary artist in his own right)
I first picked up my brushes and began working in oils as a hobby at age 15. I am largely self-taught although I took one intermediate painting course as an elective my senior year in college and have attended two workshops since. All through late high school, college and into my adult life, I painted whenever I could, and I actually improved ... a little. After leaving a career in facilities management in 1993, I pursued a lifelong dream to paint full-time. My plein-air (onsite) oil paintings of Virginia and North Carolina are a balance to my more detailed, retrospective works of historical Richmond. I love to paint the various moods and seasons of nature. I enjoy painting outdoors on location or as the French Impressionists called it: "en plein aire" (in open air). I can often be found painting these “plein air”, on-site studies in the middle of the James River, in scenic gardens around Richmond, on the shoulder of a road in rural Virginia or on the windblown shores of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. To see some of these paintings click on "Available Paintings" on the home page and take a tour. Be sure and check out the Italy and “Tetons” sections, too.

I’ve published seven limited edition prints: two are of 19th century Richmond depicting the warehouse and business district on the Great Turning Basin of the James River and Kanawha Canal, two prints of the skyline of Richmond: one modern view and the same view as it looked in 1858, a print of a modern view of Shockoe Bottom entitled, “Cruising on the Canal”, and a print of the original Rotunda of Ruffner Hall at Longwood College. In 2000, I was honored to be selected by the Richmond Times-Dispatch to produce the limited edition print “Morning Delivery” to commemorate their 150th anniversary and to raise donations for the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund. I also have 3 giclee (digital art print) editions of the James River, including one of the scenic ACL Bridge at Sunset.


Juried Exhibitions:

Paint America 2ndMini50 in 2007 (2 paintings)
Arts for the Parks Top 200 in 2006 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (2 paintings)
Oil Painters of America 2006 Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition

Awards:

“Best in Show” Arts on the Lawn at Bellgrade, 1994
“Second Place Oils/Acrylics “ Arts at Valentine Riverside, 1995
“Honorable Mention” Arts on the Lawn at Bellgrade, 1996
“First Place Oils/Acrylics” Arts on the Lawn at Bellgrade, 1997
“Judges Choice” Arts at Bellgrade, 1998
“Best in Show” and “First Place Oils” Hanover Artfest, 1998
“Second Place Oils/Acrylics” Hanover Artfest, 1999
“Second Place Oils/Acrylics” Arts on the Lawn, Johnston-Willis, 2001
"Judges Choice Oils/Acrylics" Arts on the Lawn, Johnston-Willis, 2002

Memberships:

Associate Member, Oil Painters of America, 2005-Present
Jack Woodson Sketch Club, 1997 - Present
Member, Metropolitan Artists Association, Richmond, VA 1994 - 2003

Collections:

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
The Medical College of Virginia
Media General
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
Johnston-Willis Medical Center
Painting the Richmond Skyline
Painting: Outer Banks, NC
In Perspective

Art is what I do to make a living. It is what I enjoy as well. I am privileged to be able to do both. My paintings should last a millennium or more if handled responsibly. You know, few things in life really last that long. No life, in fact, does. At least in the way we normally think of life. Most everything we know will eventually breakdown, die or disintegrate. (This will turn upbeat in a minute, stay with me.) It has been said that there are only two things that will last into eternity: people (their souls, that is) and the Word of God (what He has spoken to and through humans). I’m not sure if that is an all-inclusive statement, but the point is we can’t take most of the wonderful material things we work so hard for in this life with us when we leave this world. In 100 years, my oils will possibly still grace someone’s walls, but it won’t be the person who bought it. So then, what does matter? What will last? Where should we put our highest priorities in life?

If people are indeed a high priority, both now and into eternity, then an investment in them would be incalculable. That said, let me tell you about an orphanage in Uganda that I briefly visited and worked at in 2000 and 2001. Each year for the past 7 summers, two friends I’ve known since college have led or been a part of a small team of workers who travel to this orphanage to assist in a variety of ways. Due to the rampant spread of Aids, war and disease many children have been orphaned in this beautiful country labeled The Pearl of Africa. In the mid-90’s, a native pastor and his wife somehow ended up caring for 4 orphans in their home. Little did they know how in time, both friends and strangers would continue bringing them more and more children to care for. With help from individuals and a couple of churches in the US, their home has grown to include100 children and has been named “Canaan Children’s Home”. Living in a dormitory style setting, the children are divided up by age groups and live with one adult supervisor per group. The kids are fed, clothed, given housing, private education and most importantly, love. I have visited there twice and know this to be true. The above costs plus the staff salaries are funded through a child sponsorship arrangement. 100% of donations go to the operation of the orphanage. If you would consider a monthly investment in these children, (and here’s my pitch) it would have a lasting impact into eternity. Please visit the web site of Canaan Children’s Home now, to see their faces.Then if you have anything left over, come back, and buy a priceless oil painting.

Thanks for visiting my site. Click on any "Contact the Artist" links, if you have any questions about Canaan or would like to acquire a work of art. - Joseph Burrough
BACK