"The most rewarding aspect of my work is the customers' positive reaction to it. So much so, that in addition to purchasing one or more pieces, some customers tell me that they were inspired to take in that stray or abandoned dog or cat that they found."

Ms. Flinn's award winning art has received much critical acclaim. Jill believes that by bringing joy to her viewers, her art serves as an inspiration to share that joy with others, whether of the same species or not.

"STORY telling is closely analogous to my work. Each painting is actually a connected series of smaller paintings that tell a story…The basic MEDIUM is water-proof, color-fast durable acrylic paint on canvas. The STYLE of much of my paintings employs a technique which allows the un-painted warm canvas to show through the surrounding painted areas to form a unique image. These and vibrant color areas are frequently contrasted with stark white negative spaces.." Trena McNabb

At 70, Linda Leeger Stokes has been painting and photographing for what she states, "Seems like forever." Linda's works have been featured in many galleries, exhibits, and shows throughout the Southeast. Linda's ability to capture nature in it's purest moments have won her several awards as well.

Cher began painting shortly after the death of her gifted mother. As Cher explains this event opened a "Pandora's box" of emotions and memories. Painting these memories seemed the best way to express and preserve her cherished childhood. In 1978 with no formal training, Cher began transferring her memories to canvas. It was a significant factor in healing her grief over the loss of her Mom.

The rural south is depicted eloquently and passionately in the oil paintings of Greg Osterhaus. From moody to brilliant, Greg's use of color affords him unlimited freedom to create on his canvas a world rich with life yet seemingly untouched. "Paintings are as much about the paint as they are about the subject matter," explains the artist. His impressionistic style invites the viewer in, and allows others to share his vision of the south and it's inhabitants.

Morning Star Gallery takes special pleasure in bringing you the art of Norma Malerich, whose paintings, assemblages, and mixed media wall hangings have graced the gallery walls since 1988. Norma's creative spirit was cultivated in Italy and Japan where she lived for many years. Ms. Malerich currently divides her time between Ohio and Florida, and paints, paints, paints! Please request photos of her current work at Morning Star Gallery

North Carolina painter, Brad Stroman, brings an unusual sense of abstraction and realism to his art. In Brad's words, "as a contemporary painter I continually challenge myself to create thought provoking compositions based on our environment." The acrylic paintings on masonite are highly textural and finely detailed. Brad's tromp l'oeil technique adds great visual excitement to each painting.