This September visitors can experience work from three artists who are new to Sophia Street Studios. Sue Henderson, Anne Parks, and R.L. Klingbeil all joined the studio this July. Their show entitled, “Changing Seasons, Changing Faces,” will show off their new original work in the studio.

Sophia Street Studios was opened in 1982 by the late Phil Chapman. In 1995, his wife, Trista Chapman, joined the studio. Since then, the two have worked through a fire, a rebuild and remodeling to make the place what it is today. Chapman passed away in 2008, and Trista began to look for more artists to join her. With the three new additions from July, the studio has a total of six artists. In October, the popular store Pots and Palettes will move into the downstairs area.

“We all really like each other," Sue Henderson says. "That doesn't always happen, and I was pleasantly surprised.”

Henderson's work involves photography from all over the world.

“I've traveled with Royal Caribbean cruise line, taking pictures wherever I went, but I also want to express the local themes of Fredericksburg,” she says.

Henderson's pictures of Fredericksburg don't always come easily to her.

“I find that I know too many people here,” she says with a laugh. “I try to take pictures of strangers in their everyday path of life, and sometimes that's hard to find.”

Henderson appreciates the theme of the show, not only because she's ready for fall, but also because she feels her work is in a transition phase.

“I want to move away from travel photography and focus more on being home based. I want to give a fair representation of Fredericksburg and really take the time to look at it with an artistic eye.”

All of Henderson's photographs come with a written story. She sees a story with every picture she takes, and wants the viewer to get that sense as well.

“Photos have a universality very much like music, they speak to everyone in some way,” she says.

In addition to Henderson's photography, Anne Parks will show a variety of her oil paintings in September's show. Her work involves a series of rural scenes, her inspiration coming from the escape of the city.

“I want the viewer to get a sense of peace out of my work,” she says.

Parks grew up painting from a young age.

“My mother gave me painting lessons every Monday night for three hours at a time," she says, “but to me it only felt like 30 minutes.”

Now that Parks has raised her kids, she is excited to delve deeper into her love of painting.

“I'm ready to be more creative and explore my talent,” she says, "I'm glad I have the studio space to do that.”

R. L. Klingbeil is another oil painter, whose work this September will feature the back roads of Fredericksburg, as well as a study of Winslow Homer’s watercolors.

Klingbeil is a self-taught artist. After an accident in 2006, he began painting as a form of physical therapy.

“Painting allows me to escape into a relaxing area and find some solitude,” he says.

This is Klingbeil’s first time working full-time as an artist, and he hopes that others will like his work.

“I see a story in all of my work, and I hope the viewer sees the story as well as I do in my head," he says and laughs, “and then I hope they buy it.”

Henderson, Parks and Klingbeil will all have original work on display throughout the month of September. The First Friday opening reception is Sept. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the Studio is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..