She began her 'learning experience' in art nine years ago when she first moved to Mesquite. Now, Barbara Withelder has been named Artist of the Month at the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery.

"I started out in acrylics. Then I went to pencils and water colors. Now, I'm doing mixed media. I just can't stand doing one thing more than two or three months," Withelder remarked.

The Mesquite Citizen Journal video-taped an interview with Withelder at last week's art reception at the Gallery.

Saying she does a lot of small water color art pieces at the Friday drop-in class at the Gallery, "I just do the little ones so I can get them done in the two hours. They're just fun little things."

Withelder explained a pencil drawing she did of a photograph with her and her cousins when they were children. "We were sitting on a bench in 1945, right

after the war. The photograph has always been a family favorite."

Commenting on her once-in-a-lifetime shot, Withelder described her photograph of the moon 'kissing' the rock cliff in the Virgin River gorge. "I had packed everything up, turned around and there it was. I unpacked everything and took the photo."

"I just love abstract [art]. It makes me think about design and mixing colors together, and what works and what doesn't work," she said. Withelder will be teaching her art in a class scheduled for May 25.

"Pottery is a fun thing. It's relaxing," she remarked as she showed her display of pottery works available at the Gallery.

"It's been a real joy to be an artist in Mesquite," Withelder concluded.

There's only a few days left to enjoy Withelder's Artist of the Month display so hurry down to the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery located at 15 W. Mesquite Blvd.