Atlanta, Ga. resident Falynn Schmidt picks out a painting at the "Nature Is Our Muse" art show in Evolve on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Rebecca Grace Jones and Judy Rand met for the first time at an art show in Columbia, Md., to which they had both submitted work. Thirty-one years later, the couple have displayed their work together at a number of other events, including some art shows that featured their work alone.

Over the weekend, one such art show was held at Evolve. The “Nature Is Our Muse” art show featured the animal and nature-inspired paintings of Jones and the cat and nature-derived “works in wood” of Rand.

“We usually do one show at Evolve around Christmastime, but we wanted to try doing one during the Contemporary American Theater Festival, too,” Jones said, noting they plan to continue holding a show on the first weekend of December every year. “It seemed like a good idea, to share our work with people who have come to Shepherdstown to see some artistic performances.”

More than one such individual purchased art from the show, including Atlanta, Ga. resident Falynn Schmidt — a member of the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) board.

“I love coming to Evolve whenever I’m in Shepherdstown,” Schmidt said, as she selected a painting from Jones’ collection. “The art in here is always changing and the people who create it are so talented.”

Judy Rand, left, and Rebecca Grace Jones stand beside some of the art in their show, "Nature Is Our Muse," in Evolve on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Though the CATF crowds did visit the art show, it was primarily local residents and returning customers who walked through its doors. But, according to Rand, even those who had seen their work before were not disappointed, as the majority of the art they were showing over the weekend had never been displayed before.

“It’s all new art that I’ve done for this show,” Rand said. “You’ve got to keep it interesting and not do the same thing every time.”

Jones nodded in agreement. She, herself, had added a live element to the show, by working on a new piece of art there, in between chatting with customers.

“They’re all new pieces, but the same style,” Jones said. “As a young artist, I was an illustrator, working from photographs and realism. When I stopped doing that, I went in the opposite direction. I could finally be more creative and whimsical with my work.”

The designs of her paintings are now entirely derived from her imagination. However, Jones said, they are influenced a great deal by the pastoral, vibrant life she has lived since moving with Rand to Shepherdstown. Rand’s painted wood furniture and art pieces have been similarly impacted by life on their farm in Shepherdstown, now featuring familiar images such as woods, farmland, rivers and, on her mirrors, cats.

Shepherdstown-based artist Rebecca Grace Jones sketches out a painting on a block of wood at the "Nature Is Our Muse" art show in Evolve on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“It’s a bread-and-butter item,” Rand said of her mirrors. “People love their cats and are thrilled whenever one of my mirrors has a cat on it that looks like their own. I don’t think I’ll ever stop making them!”