As we approach the holiday season, I often reflect as I suppose many of us do, on the past year and the new one to come. Today as I'm sitting in my gallery surrounded by exceptionally beautiful things and feeling pretty fortunate, I am struck by a quote by Michelangelo who said, "If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." As collectors we are don't always think about how the art we love is created – the hard work of the artist. We see the beautiful finished creations adorning our walls. Pieces that remind us of places we have been, sights that we may never see or times in which we have never lived. The art brings us joy – joy we want to share with others. This year when we think about the gift of art – or gifts of art – we should also think about the artists whose gifts are the true ones. Ria DeWit, A good friend and a great artist, reminds me often that although talent (or at least the ability to draw) is a component of artistry - talent is nothing without hard work and dedication. The artists we represent are as diverse as their work itself. They are impressionists, portrait artists, realists, expressionists, abstractionists - - but perfectionists all. They are young or young at heart and their experiences are as varied as the countries they live in or come from. Tang Wei Min Tang, an extraordinary painter and practicing Zen Buddhist lives in a monastery in order to be spiritually clean for the painting of art. He chooses to be surrounded by the objects he depicts in his work the world of the ancient China. Tang considers painting as his way to bring harmony, balance and beauty to the world. Our artists paint outside (plein aire) and in studios, from photographs and live models. Their subject matter can be found in nature or solely in their minds. Whether painting for five years or sixty-five years all are dedicated and all share with us the passion of creation and beauty and I believe they would all agree with another quote by Michelangelo, "Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish."

Happy holidays to art lovers, collectors, enthusiasts of all kinds, and most of all to artists everywhere! Adrienne Lewis is the owner of Trowbridge-Lewis Galleries on main street in Middleburg Va. The gallery sells original oil paintings and sculpture.