By Emily Burleigh

Locals still have two weekends to view the exhibition “Paintings by Beverly Tuggle Boren’’ at Gallery One Eleven in Leesville.

This is the first exhibition at the gallery in a number of years. “The gallery suspended exhibits and focused on work in the Leesville Art Park during the Pandemic,” said Tony McDonald, gallery coordinator.

The installation was chosen because of McDonald’s personal connection to Boren and her work. “I met Beverly Tuggle Boren on a drawing trip in Tuscany a few years ago, and have followed her work since then,” he explained. “I felt her painting would be very popular with our audience, and a good kick off to a new exhibition season.”

Boren is a Texas native and a signature member of the Outdoor Painters Society and the Southwestern Watercolor Society, as well as a member of the Oil Painters of American, American Impressionist Society and American Watercolor Society.

She said inspiration can come at any time and any place, and paints to establish a connection with her environment, be it people or a landscape.

“Trying to describe or explain my efforts at painting or drawing seems like a futile effort,” Borne stated on her website. “After all, I want my work to express itself without the necessity of words. My best hope is that my work will stand simply on its own, and find a connection with viewers where words fail.”

Boren’s work is a brushstroke of fresh air. The subjects of her paintings range from still lifes to portraits to landscapes in oil and watercolor.

“Beverly’s work is very fresh and active,” said McDonald. “Her oil paintings do not hide brushstrokes …  and her knowledge of light is amazing. Also, her watercolors have a wonderful atmosphere about them.”

This collection features nearly 50 oil and watercolor paintings. The subjects of these paintings include still life, portraits and landscapes.

The gallery is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The last day to see the exhibition is Friday, February 10.