Maryland artist Rana Geralis finds her most constant inspiration in the beauty of the natural world, an inspiration born from a childhood spent among the woods and streams of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Lynchburg, VA. This deep-rooted
affinity with nature is powerfully evident in her work, in both the studio paintings and those produced in the plein air tradition. Informed by an instinctive understanding of composition and a masterful skill with palette knife and brush, her paintings are a celebration of light, texture, and color, evoking in the viewer happy memories of a ramble through the spring countryside, a quiet hour spent in a summer garden, or the fresh, salty air of the seaside.

Mrs. Geralis’ award-winning work has been juried into numerous national and regional exhibitions and plein air competitions and is included in numerous private and corporate collections—including the Walt Disney Company. She is represented by The Artists’ Gallery, Main Street, Ellicott City, MD, and maintains a studio practice in Columbia, MD, where she resides with her husband and daughter.

Education and Training
The Maryland College of Art and Design, Silver Spring, MD
Workshops in oil with Walt Bartman (2019-2024)
Professional Associations
The Art League, Alexandria, VA
Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery, Glen Echo, MD
Professional Experience
Judge of Awards, “Color Columbia” Plein Air Competition, Columbia, MD (2023)
Instructor in oils, Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery, Glen Echo, MD (beginning Fall, 2024)
Publications
Plein Air Magazine, Streamline Publishing (Dec2020/Jan2021)

Selected Exhibitions and Awards
“Beyond the Blues,” Columbia Art Center, Columbia, MD (2024): Third Place Juror Award
“Paint It! Ellicott City” Plein Air Competition, Ellicott City, MD (2023): Open Category Second Place
“Art Howard County,” Ellicott City, MD (2021): First Place
Yellow Barn Juried Members’ Show, Glen Echo, MD (2021): Honorable Mention
“Paint It! Ellicott City” Plein Air Competition, Ellicott City, MD (2020): The Gino Award
“Color Columbia” Plein Air Competition, Columbia, MD (2018): Third Place – Stefanie Feldman
Award
Annual Strathmore Artists Juried Exhibitions, Bethesda, MD: Honorable Mention (2014, 2000)
The Art League Patrons’ Show, Alexandria, VA (2011): Honorable Mention
The Art League Open Monthly Exhibitions, Alexandria, VA: Eleanor Boudreau Jordan Award
(2012); Honorable Mention (2018, 2017, 2009, 2008, 2007); Equal Merit Award (2004, 2002)

Rana has won numerous awards in many plein air competitions and exhibitions. She was selected (juried in) to compete in the prestigious Annapolis Plein Air competition (2025) this year. Only 30 or so painters nationwide are selected to compete each year.