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Nearly three dozen works of art by Russell Schools Jr. provide visitors to Suffolk Art Gallery a tour of the region and the world.

The Suffolk Art League presents “Journeys #2,” a one-person show by Russell Schools Jr., runs through Aug. 18  at the gallery, 118 Bosley Ave.

Schools was the first-place winner of the Art League’s 2022 annual Juried Exhibition. Part of his award is the opportunity to present an exhibit at the Gallery. 

“I took up painting and photography partly as a recovery tool. When I decided I wanted to learn to paint, I started by taking photographs to sketch from,” Schools said in his artist statement. “As I developed, I found that I like both mediums; photography for detail and painting for a looser, more interpretive rendering of the subject matter. People comment on my use of color, but color to me is secondary to value changes. I like a certain vagueness and mystery in a painting”.

The Schools’ exhibit includes 30 paintings and five photographs. Many of the images were taken on his trips to New Mexico, Greece, Peru and India, while others are from the Hampton Roads region and “within walking distance of my home.” 

Visitors to the gallery can also enjoy works of art from the Blackwater Artists League.

Based at the Rawls Museum Arts in Courtland, nine of its members are have provided a variety of works for their exhibit. Many mediums are represented including watercolor, oil, photography, acrylic, cold wax and ceramics.

Suffolk Art Gallery is open from a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. 

For information about this and other programs offered by the Suffolk Art League, visit suffolkartleague.com or call 757-925-0448.