Welcome to Arts & Grafts
Come explore the wonders of the natural world and the intricacies of the human mind with us
Painting by Charlotte Levy and Photography by Stuart Chirtel
schirtel@gmail.com
About Us
We have been married for over 35 years and have three grown children. One of our sons and a close family friend came up with the name Arts & Grafts. We started this site to share our love for nature and art with you. Whenever we travel, we like to explore local art museums and are lucky to have so many great ones near us in Washington, D.C.
Charlotte
Stuart
I have been taking art classes and making art since I was a child. My mom, an occupational therapist, was very crafty and taught us to make block prints, puppets, pastel drawings, and papier-mâché. Both my parents also loved nature. While my dad frequently took us on nature walks, my mom taught us the names of the birds, trees, and flowers we encountered on those walks. My degrees are in English Literature and Library Science. I have worked as an English teacher, a librarian, and a private tutor. In recent years, I have continued developing my skills independently and in community art classes. Most of my work is abstract painting that incorporates elements of collage and other mixed media. I am particularly interested in texture and line. The natural world is always my inspiration.
I started taking photos when I was 18 during a summer trip to Europe. I took several photography courses in college, mostly focused on shooting with black and white film and developing it in a darkroom, as well as a class on art appreciation that introduced me to design principles. After graduating, I brought these lessons home and began taking countless photos of my family, especially when we were on vacation or at the beach. I recently retired after 31 years with the government as a mathematical statistician at the FDA and now plan to work on my photography full-time. The last few years I have primarily focused on bird, landscape, reflection, and nature photography with my more versatile (if less hands-on) digital camera. Of the three local photo contests I’ve entered, I’ve won one (Friends of Royal Lake Summer 2023) and received honorable mentions from two.
A Taste of our Work
Birders' Delight
Want to experience the unparalleled beauty of the scarlet tanager or prothonotary warbler without trekking into the woods? We are lifelong birders, and I have captured thousands of photos of hundreds of avian species. And lots of other animals too!
Worlds of Texture
Abstract art is often maligned as clinical and heartless, but not mine! Filled with vibrant colors, bold lines, and organic forms, my paintings are as immersive as any landscape and as personal as any portrait.
Putting it all Together
My work is almost never limited to just paint. Construction paper, magazine cutouts, and countless other add-ons and mix-ins give my pieces the three-dimensional and tactile textures that make you experience them with your whole body.
Funhouse Mirrors
As long as I have been taking photos, I've been fascinated by reflection and refraction. There's just something magical about the way shiny surfaces (water, oil slicks, windows, even regular old mirrors) transform solid objects into shimmering holograms.
Thank you for visiting! Check out Charlotte's Gallery and Stuart's Gallery to see more. If you would like to purchase any of our work, please contact us, or visit our Etsy page
Contact Us
Get in touch with us for inquiries, collaborations, or to purchase our artwork.