Painting The Town Red

Layered Backgrounds, Art in April, and Dragons, Oh My!

There. Now that that's out of my system, I can get on with the body of this blog post!

First and foremost, I'm going to post a little recap of the presentor at Tuesday's meeting: Brandy Gerber

Brandy Gerber is a local artist based in Ida, MI who describes herself as "self-taught." She's currently the artist-in-residence at the Battlefield Museum in Monroe as well.

Gerber's work is described as “Finding a Painting Within a Layer Background,” and this is what she spent the better part of an hour talking about on Tuesday.

"My painting process allows freedom of imagination and elements of intuitive art play all while building my own 'clouds' on a canvas. I'm able to do all of this through the use of a variety of hands-on painting methods," Gerber's slide show quoted.

She also asked questions of the members and public who attended, having them look at pictures and asking them to describe what they saw.

The clouds were just one of many images that Gerber went over in what inspires her.

She also likes to look for background symbols to use in her work: "I use symbols that are meaningful to me, or are just something I love sketching," Gerber's slide show quoted. "You'll see lots of dog paws, flowers, eyes, circular motives, grides, and so much more in my painting backgrounds. I also make up [my] own symbols and use them. I often use my initals in a decorative signature, and i also use a barebones sketch interpretation of a painting I love."

The art league was in almost full attendance for Gerber's demonstration--not a chair left in the United Way building that night.
In addition to the presentation by Gerber, the audience was able to see tactile examples of Gerber's work, as well as given the opportunity to purchase some of her work, including her children's alphabet picture book (which can be purchased here or checked out of our local library system here--that is, if you've got your library card!)

A very big thank you to Brandy Gerber for taking her time to talk to the Monroe Art League on Tuesday!
And, as always, a thank you to the League's Vice-President, Nancy Abb, for getting us such a wonderful demonstrator!

Next up, I want to spend some time talking about an event that many members of the Monroe Art League partifipate in, the Art in April event in downtown Monroe, MI.

The event took place on Thursday, April 27th, 2023 and it seemed to be a real hit!

Of course, any chance to go view and purchase art from local artisans is going to be a hit, because you get to look at art and maybe even buy some if it calls out to you (and you have the funds! I know if I were a billionaire, first I'd pay off my student loans. And then maybe invest some money into the environment, education, etc. But after all that, I'd buy myself a giant house and go to random art galleries and buy up people's art to decorate it).

But this one was especially great to our members that participated, and hopefully will be something we get to do for years to come!

Check out some picture from the night:

Finally, I'm going to end with a fun note for everyone reading.

One of the League's very own members, Becky Mullins, pulled me aside during the Tuesday meeting to share the most amazing news.
Her dragon piece (featured on the cover of this website) has an accompanying story, written for her daughter.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I'm always down to learn about the lore of things! I thought it would also be a great way to end this blog post, and ring in May.
So, without further ado:

     In the strange land of Eerie lived many kind and gentle souls. They all dwelled there peacefully for millennium.
     One ordinary, sunny day, a mighty dragon stumbled onto this normally quiet existence of Eerie. He was large, frightening, and ferocious.

     This beautiful land was being destroyed by this evil intruder!  The once fertile land, that the villagers planted and tenderly cared for, and nurtured, had been trampled. The crops that sustained the village were left in ruins in the dragons wake. Why did this once peaceful place become the target of the angry beast?
     What was to become of Eerie and the frightened inhabitants? The village stood, staring around stunned.

     Until, that is, through the crowd stepped a timid but brave young woman named Sasha.

     The usually quiet, exotic beauty raised her beautiful eyes to the dark ominous sky and silently vowed to rescue her village. She had been born and grew up with these kind people. She could not allow this tragedy to go forward. She could never see such gentle people suffer so. Her heart of gold would break, as she loved the souls in this land of her birth more than life itself. She had to do something drastic.
     As these kind people discussed what to do, Sasha knew they would not allow her to risk her life!
     The citizens talked of plans to rid the land of the destructive Dragon. Several strong and kind hearted men in the village resolve to be brave and take on the Dragon. With no experience or violence in their hearts it was doubtful they would prevail.

     As the newfound warriors were preparing, with the help of the whole village, Sasha had her own plans. She crept off to her home, looking for her old cedar chest. She found it only after a moment of searching, and dug through it until she found her best royal blue gown. She knew this gown was to be her wedding gown and she always felt so special when she would put it on. She knew it would help her with her plan; it would help her feel powerful. So she quickly stepped into the lovely garment and felt herself gain confidence.

     Just as she was getting ready to leave, suddenly, at the bottom of her cedar trunk, she spotted something she had never noticed before At the very bottom of the old but sturdy trunk, wrapped in a tissue paper covered with diamond dust, was a beautiful golden crown. Sasha thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She carefully placed it on her head, over her raven curls. She stepped to the small sliver of a mirror she had hanging on the wall. Some of the diamond dust from the tissue had stuck to her beautiful long hair. It was a magical sight. Sasha knew immediately what she was meant to do. She glided out of the solid wooden door of her home. She knew nothing about her would ever be the same again
     Sasha felt brave and strong. Her heart swelled in her chest and she became calm, but powerful. She walked with quiet purpose, her head held high and her heart full of determination.
     As Sasha walked along she felt sure of herself and all of her fear was gone. Sasha knew she was doing the right thing for herself and the future of the people she loved. As her slippered feet moved across the forest, she felt stronger with every step. Soon she came upon a massive cave. As she gazed around her, it had become quite dark.

     With only the soft glow of the full, golden, harvest moon above her, Sasha stood right outside of the solid stone cave in the side of a mountain. As she stood, gazing inside, she heard the booming thuds, so loud and thunderous it shook the earth she stood upon. As she slowly turned, approaching her was the enormous dragon. His face was of what nightmares are made. His teeth were bright white and very large and sharp. He had horns all over his large head and down his long, enormous back.

     In the middle of his head was a twisting, long horn made of thick bone. His body was covered in silver armor plates. As the moonlight hit his scales they turned bronze. As he came ominously closer, the scales looked even larger and like stone. His wings were the largest part of him and they stretched out like giant bat wings with large hook like nails on the ends. It was as if he was built to strike fear in every man’s heart.
     Yet as Sasha looked at him, she only felt calm, and breathed easily as a gentle warm breeze swirled around her. She could feel her heart as a strong thud in her chest. She would be okay.

     The dragon approached and towered over her, his massive head was directly above hers. Sasha gazed up, her eyes searched and found his, of gold and black.
     At that very momentus moment in time the connection was made. A bond was formed, like a bridge from one world to another. Sasha stretched upward, her hand slowly and gently touch the only part of the dragon she could reach: his rough scaly chin.

     Suddenly, the diamond dust from her hair scattered in the breeze. It’s magical powers filled her hand and it’s love filled the dragons heart. The sparkles shot through his head and upward, to the tip of his horn. It was so powerful and magical that the shimmer of the golden crown flowed like a river down Sasha’s back, all the way to the ground. Sasha and the dragon were held in a bond that could never be broken.
     They stood together for what seemed like a full lifetime before they left together to head down to the village, ready to tell everyone that the dragon would no longer be an evil intruder.
     Sasha saved both the village and the people, whom she loved with all her heart, as well as the dragon. But more than anyone or anything, Sasha saved herself! She finally believed in who she was.

And just like that, another blog post wrapped up.
Join me next week, when I'll cover more things art and art league related!

Until then though, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! :)