White Stone artist Doug Mock’s journey is deeply rooted in the beauty of life’s simple moments—a sentiment echoed in his heartfelt artist statement.
“People and children inspire all that I am as an artist,” says Mock. “I capture all that is important and beautiful in life and hope that it moves you to think about the simple things that you value most.”
Mock is the August featured artist at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, 132 Lancaster Drive, Irvington. His work will be on display daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Gallery Hall. The exhibit is free and open to the community.
Growing up in a picturesque dairy farming community in central Pennsylvania, Mock embarked on an artistic career early. However, after spending years in corporate America, he made a pivotal leap of faith in 2005 to pursue his passion for art. As the owner and managing director of Young Rembrandts, a program teaching children how to draw, Mock rediscovered his creative spark.
“I’ve been teaching middle school kids four weeks every summer at Collegiate School for 17 years,” Mock said. “I usually do a variety of media throughout the summer because these kids love this, you know? It’s something I’m passionate about.”
As president of the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, Mock has an ongoing commitment to supporting and uplifting the local arts community.
“We bought the building five doors down and we’re going to be building out a full education center with a ceramic studio, a youth and teen center dedicated to kids and an expanded adult education program,” he said.
The RAL Art Center also is the primary space where Mock’s work can be found.
“I teach so much so I don’t have gallery representation at other places around the country simply because I’m not producing the inventory that I would need,” he said.
His paintings are characterized by strong, bold colors and depict subjects that resonate with the joys of childhood and nature.
“I am obsessed with the water, the waterfowl, the land where we reside,” he said. His upcoming exhibition will showcase a variety of works, including figure portraits, waterfowl native to the Chesapeake Bay region and other compositions that highlight the beauty of water and nature.
All pieces will be available for sale.
