Angela White’s work combines moving shadows with winding orange, yellow and red shapes and moody dreamlike scenes, often dipped in blue.

Some of the Northwest Washington artist’s other pieces reflect colorful mixtures of the universe’s elements: earth, fire, wind and water.

"Water reminds me of the constant changes going on in my life," said White, who recently moved to the District from Montgomery County, Md.

White said this change is reflected in her pieces "Rebirth" and "Grace Resurfacing," which are among her 20 paintings that recently went on display at Wohlfarth Galleries in Northeast Washington’s Brookland neighborhood. White’s paintings will be on exhibit at the gallery, located at 3418 9th St. NE, through Jan. 9.

White said inspiration for many of her works comes to her during retreats when she practices insight meditation, which is based in Buddhism.

"For three days, we eat in silence and meditate," she said. White said each time she’s gone on a retreat she’s been able to dream and create pieces from them.

"I write my dreams down in my journal and the piece forms from there," she said.

"Silent Retreat" and "Meditational Retreat" are long, surreal underwater and evening scenes White completed after a weekend retreat last summer.

She describes her work as simplistic yet vivid, a blend of watercolors on rice or vegetable paper. She said it takes about three days to complete a painting.

Among White’s favorite painters are Paul Klee, Helen Frankenthaler, Kandinsky and Arthur Dove, who is known for nature pieces.

An art teacher in Montgomery County public schools, White has had 23 exhibitions in such diverse venues as the University of Maryland, the Art Institute and Gallery of Salisbury, Md., Touchstone Gallery in Northwest Washington and Colonel Brooks Tavern in Brookland. Her artistic talent apparently has rubbed off on her offspring, as well. Her son currently is completing art school in Connecticut.

White said she is working on a collection of paintings inspired by the theatrical circus "Cirque Du Soleil." One piece from the series titled "Making Magic" is part of the Wohlfarth exhibit. White prices her larger pieces up to $900, while her smaller works go for about $400.

Copyright 1998, The Common Denominator