Christina Girardi is an artist who grew up in the Washington, DC area and works as an artist in Arlington, VA, continuing to draw inspiration from her hometown. With a focus on local landscapes and portraiture, her approach incorporates the freshness of observation from life, with a unique perspective that inspires new ways of looking.

“All my work is from life, as I feel that is the richest inspiration. My aim is simple: to capture the character of my subject through direct observation. I seek out unique perspectives to represent my subjects, although they may be iconic or familiar locales. My goal is to connect with the viewer by inspiring a memory or deeper connection to the landscape.

I paint “en plein air,” directly from the landscape, and I love the challenge of translating the emotional and physical presence of the scene into my paintings. With the limited time due to changing light and changing weather, these constraints force me to capture just the right amount of detail to impart a unique sense of place, through time of day or season it was painted in. I also infuse my portraiture with this direct approach of painting from life.

The sights around my neighborhood in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC inspire my work, and I aim to continue to document this exciting and evolving area through plein air. ”

You can learn more about Christina and her work at christinagirardi.com or Instagram @christina_girardi.