Eldridge Bagley

Eldridge Bagley (1945- ) and his wife, Beth, and his son, Wade, live on the Southside Virginia farm where he grew up. He and his family worked hard raising crops and livestock. It was a harshly demanding yet gently nurturing lifestyle. This paradox remains a motivating force in his life and his art.
After twenty-seven years of experiencing the rural realities, more than the seasons began to change for him. Whether it was the awakening of a dormant dream or a change sparked by an article about Grandma Moses, Bagley found a means of bridging the gap between where he was and where he wanted to be. Dimestore paint sets and precious bits of time at the end of a day’s labor slowly evolved into a surprising career change.
Choosing not to pursue formal art training, Bagley developed his own unique approach to painting. When viewing his work of the previous three decades, an evolution of style becomes apparent. Brush strokes are now longer and more fluid; color tones are more subtle. Yet, despite a transition of approach, a consistent theme emerges. Bagley paints from his heart and from his experiences.