Art Exhibitions at the Arboretum

For Our May & June Art Exhibition

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum Welcomes

Kelli Hertzler

Watercolor painting of a mountainous landscape at sunset, featuring layers of blue mountains and colorful foliage in the foreground.

About the Artist

After earning a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art (with Biology minor – a huge influence on my art) from James Madison University in 1996, I began working for a small business as an artist and web designer/manager. That was twenty-one years in which I drew, painted and designed at work. On my own, I pursued watercolor – a medium in which I still consider myself an enthusiastic learner. I also enjoy oil painting and drawing.

At a local homeschool co-op, I teach art classes each Autumn. Occassionally, I give classes and workshops for children or adults on drawing, painting and nature journaling.

My favorite activity – even better than studio painting – is taking long hikes in one of the many public forests or state/national parks in my local area and throughout Virginia. You can bet I will have art supplies in my backpack.

Artist Statement

“When you painted on Earth, it was because you caught glimpses of Heaven in the earthly landscape. The success of your paintings was that it enabled others to see the glimpses, too.”
-a snippet of conversation between the spirits of two dead artists from The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis.

From the painter’s perspective, I love contrast and will often choose to focus on changes in value or texture. Sometimes, I intentionally use the transparent and opaque qualities of different watercolor pigments to contrast against one another. I enjoy working with a limited palette. Many pieces are created with only three or four main pigments. Sculpting a believable three-dimensional space on a flat piece of paper is a perpetual challenge. But light is always the subject.

Learn More About Kelli Hertzler:

Visit Kelli's Website

Past Exhibitions

List of previously featured artists
2025 Jan - Feb \| Marydean Draws Mar - Apr \| Karen Brown Arnold May - June \| Kelli Hertzler 2024 Jan - Feb \| Erin Harrigan Mar - Apr \| Kate Duffy May - Jun \| Jane Goodman July - Aug \| Theresa Markiw Sept - Oct \| Caitlin Garvey Nov - Dec \| Laura Thompson 2023 Jan - Feb \| Zachary Sensabaugh Mar - Apr \| Janet Pearlman May - Jun \| Judith Lochbrunner Jul - Aug \| Paul Cook Sept-Oct \| Mia Ackerson & Janet Lee Nov-Dec \| Sandra Parks 2022 Jan - Feb \| Kelli Hertzler Mar - Apr \| Marydean Hairston Marydean Draws May - June \| Laura-Paige Keller LPM Pottery July - Aug \| Peg Sheridan Sep - Oct \| Rocktown Urban Wood Nov - Dec \| Kary Haun	2021 July - Aug \| Brenda Hounshell Oct - Dec \| Elaine Hurst 2020 Jan - Feb \| JMU Student Exhibition Mar - Apr \| Frances Coates 2019 Jan - Feb \| Erica Lohan Mar - Apr \| Jackie Labovitz May - June \| Tony DiStefano July - Aug \| Ann Currie & Christine Andreae Sept - Oct \| Andrea Finch Nov - Dec \| Lotta Helleberg 2018 Jan - Feb \| Gene Gibb Mar - Apr \| Kelli Hertzler May - June \| Carol Kirkham Martin July - Aug \| Dabney Kirchman Sept - Oct \| Celia Culver Rutt Nov - Dec \| Lynn Whitmore

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Frances Plecker Education Center
MSC 3705
780 University Blvd
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807

Email Us
(540)-568-3194

Grounds: Free to the public
Dawn to dusk | 365 days a year
Frances Plecker Education Center:
M-F | 8 AM - 4 PM