Miriam Young is a creative director living in color in Roanoke.

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Ever wondered what it takes to get art featured in a gallery? I recently consulted three young artists to find out. All three hail from Roanoke and seem determined to make a life as an artist work here, rather than moving to a larger metropolitan area. Each has advice for others contemplating a stab (or dab) at our area's gallery scene.

Ashley Williams

Age: 20

See an example of her work.

The youngest of the three, Williams comes from a family of artists/designers. Williams started painting on a large scale only five years ago, but her paintings are stunning. With a palette reminiscent of Venice and imagery both modern and medieval, Williams did not have much trouble getting her work in a gallery.

"As a high school student, I participated in several shows for young artists, one of which was hosted by Gallery 108 in downtown Roanoke. After the show, the gallery members asked if I would like to be their featured artist for a month."

HER ADVICE: "Talk to other artists in this area, travel and learn everything you can about anything you can. New experiences and knowledge will provide you with an unlimited source for ideas. A great place to start displaying art is at the [Art Museum of Western Virginia's] Sidewalk Art Show. I received so much encouragement and inspiration from the other artists there."

WHERE TO SEE IT: Williams' work is at Gallery 108 in downtown Roanoke (www.gallery108.biz). You can view it online at www.studiobohemia.com/AshleyWilliams.htm

Zephren Turner

Age: 26

See an example of his work.

Turner has an interesting manner of rendering charcoal and rust into prints, melding man and machine. His work won first place in the drawing and printmaking category at this year's Sidewalk Art Show.

"Coming into the gallery scene, I admit that I had no idea how to approach it. Luckily my wife met [people who] put me in contact with Richard Kurshan at Studios on the Square. I was able to set up a show, and afterward I was able to [get] shows through the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge and the Sidewalk Art Show. I have learned that shows must be booked months in advance."

HIS ADVICE: "Being an artist in a town like Roanoke is a double-edged sword. It was easy to make contacts and 'find' the art scene, but your options are also limited. I find it is easier to work as an independent artist than to find a job in either the illustration or graphic design fields. My advice to people on a similar path is first, get involved. Get to know the people who run the galleries. Set up meetings and show your portfolio. Second, do not undervalue your work. And most importantly, make no excuses for the way a piece turns out."

WHERE TO SEE IT: Turner's art prints can be seen in the Roanoke Valley Printworks store (www.roanokevalleyprintworks.com) and in his third-floor studio at Studios on the Square Gallery (www.studiosonthesquare.com), both of which are in downtown Roanoke.

Jennifer Fowler

Age: 27

See an example of her work.

Fowler was a walking cliche on career day back in the first grade -- donning a French beret, white apron and palette, she knew she wanted to be an artist. Her current work involves "manipulating monoprints," but she is better known for her previous series of manipulated photographs shown at the Salem Museum, exploring her grandfather's experience as a Japanese POW in World War II.

Fowler got her work exhibited at the Salem Museum with relative ease, but she finds the Roanoke gallery scene different. "A clique definitely exists between the more well-known Roanoke artists and the galleries in which they are members. The clique is hard to crack."

HER ADVICE: "College sets you up with the ideal environment for creating and you flourish; then you move back home ... it is hard to keep creating when the sense of community is gone. I am searching for a group of artists to create a feeling of community with. I know Roanoke has younger artists, but I can't seem to find them. My advice to younger artists would be: Find me so we can build a community of younger artists and work together."

WHERE TO SEE IT: The Salem Museum in Salem (www.salemmuseum.org) or her Web site at

www.jenniferlfowler.com.

Miriam Young is a marketing manager living in color in Roanoke. View her past columns at www.fishcards.com/culturevulture.