GR Library hosts animal portrait display

The Sweetwater County Library has a new exhibit of paintings by Debora Soule on display through Jan. 30, titled “And a Bison, too.”

Soule is the director of the Community Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs.

Consisting of 27 paintings, the show is a series of animal and bird images.

“It all started with wanting to paint a portrait of my daughter’s dachshund,” Soule said. “She has such a fun personality that I wanted to capture.”

Expanding to ravens, Soule and Rick Kempa collaborated on an exhibit last spring featuring Kempa’s essays and poems that included ravens and Soule’s artwork. Currently she is “weaving a story” with the animals and birds - some serious, others whimsical.

“I have three cats and two dogs who keep me entertained and I find myself wondering what it going on in their heads. The series of cat paintings have been a way to tell a funny story in a single image, reading each title brings it together,” she said.

Soule has always stayed connected to the arts in one way or another - pottery, cartooning for GAF Viewmaster, custom bridal designs, painting, and graphic design. She has served as the director at the Community Fine Arts Center for 19 years and teaches drawing, relief printing, and other fine art techniques, as well as fiber arts.

“I have found a lot of satisfaction in working with artists and helping promote programming and projects that bring the arts to our community.”

Growing up as an Air Force brat, Soule has lived in several different states, but has made Wyoming her home for the past 38 years. She received a B.F.A. from East Carolina University and an M.A. from the University of Wyoming.

“For some artists, it is the end result that motivates them to create works of art. For others, it is entertainment, or an escape. Making art for me is the challenge of bringing ideas together in a visual representation – and it doesn’t hurt that it is cheaper than therapy,” she said.

The Sweetwater County Library Exhibits Committee meets throughout the year to review applications and schedule exhibits.

Artists interested in displaying their work are encouraged to submit an application for an individual exhibit. Application packets are available at any county library circulation desk and at the Community Fine Arts Center.

This exhibit can be seen at Sweetwater County Library, Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday noon until 5 p.m.

 

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