The Stokes County Arts Council is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibit of original paintings by artist Bruce Burgess in the Apple Gallery. A meet and greet is scheduled for Friday, February 21 from 5:30pm-7:00pm in the Apple Gallery of the Stokes County Arts Council 500 Main Street Danbury, NC.

Bruce Burgess is an artist who draws inspiration from his home in Stokes County, North Carolina. A natural love of doodling, while growing up, led to some high school commissions and opportunities that were followed by an education from Virginia Commonwealth University and an inspired study of painting and printmaking in Florence, Italy. Earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Communication Art and Design, Bruce went on to work as a freelance illustrator, designer, and mural painter in the Reno and Lake Tahoe area for six years. Now settled and raising a Family in Danbury, North Carolina, much of his art is oil painting, reflecting the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. “Painting ‘en plein air’ (on location) can allow me to be connected to the subject, in a visceral way, with the natural movements and changing of shadows with light. It’s a different challenge than working from photographs, like the illustration process. In a sense, the painting isn’t just the record of an experience, it is the experience.” Painting a sunrise or sunset is usually the most dramatic colors of the day, but the light is changing so fast that the painter must work quickly and try to capture the ideal moment. Another elusive pursuit has been his love of painting the Moon on the rise. Being in the right place, at the right time, with the right cloud cover doesn’t always happen, but when it does, Bruce wants to be set up with canvas and paints ready. Everything can be an interesting subject. Everyone can be a model, and when out enjoying live music Bruce may be found sketching the musicians or crowd. On occasion, a painting is created during a live music experience that is drawn right out of the moment, imagination, and collective consciousness. Mediums can include charcoal, pencil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, oil, and more. This is sometimes referred to as Visionary Art and is meant as a connective expression between the seen and unseen. Other creative projects include murals, theatre and set design, museum installments, illustrations for musical artists, portrait commissions, and art workshops for festivals. This is the first gallery show that brings together “Sunsets, Moonrise, and Something Behind the Eyes” a collection of plein air, illustration, and visionary art.

This exhibit will be on display from February 16-March 31, 2025 in the Apple Gallery. The Stokes County
Arts Council is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm, Saturday, 10:00a.m.-5:00p.m. and Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm. For additional information about the exhibit, please contact the Stokes County Arts Council at (336) 593-8159.