Laura Bleau’s portraits in pastel at Merritt Bookstore

MILLBROOK — A reception was held to celebrate the work of contemporary artist Laura Bleau at the Merritt Bookstore Gallery on Saturday, July 8. Wine, cheese and artistic discussions were plentiful, and the exhibit was enjoyed by all who attended.

Bleau paints in pastels. There are 25 works on display at Merritt, and only three of them are not portraits. Most of the subjects are very casually posed, male, female, young and old. Some are full body, others are mostly torsos, some contain more color than others, but all of them are striking in their naturalness. 

Bleau studied painting and the academic figure at the Art Students League of New York for more than nine years, working under the instructors Ellen Eagle and Harvey Dinnerstein, both renowned artists in their own right. 

Bleau’s  work has been reproduced in two publications by James L. McElhinney and Instructors of the Art Students League of New York. She has exhibited in one-woman shows and in group exhibits. She has won numerous awards. 

Bleau’s work will be on exhibit at the Merritt Gallery through Sunday, July 30. For more information, call 845-677-5857 or go to www.merrittbooks.com. 

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