BETHEL — Table Rock Arts Center will exhibit the paintings of Melanie Tornberg from Oct. 5 to Nov. 10 at 162 Main St.
A reception for Tornberg and her work will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the gallery. The event is open to the public.
A native of Maine, Tornberg created her first oil painting at the age of 12 while taking after school art classes with the Western Maine Art Group. She learned the basics of realistic painting from WMAG founders Lajos Matolcsy and Lee Bean. Focused on art, after high school she entered the BFA program at the University of New Hampshire, where she studied with painters John Laurent and John Hatch.
Over the years, Tornberg’s painting style has evolved into something looser and reflects the hills and mountains of the area near her home in Bethel.
“Creating art is a joyous thing for me,” she said. “Living and working in Bethel and the Mahoosuc region is a privilege. I love this gorgeous area where I never run out of inspiration to paint. Every day I get to do what I love to do best — just sit and paint. It brings me great joy and I consider myself one of the luckiest people around because of it.”
Tornberg has claimed top prizes at local juried art exhibitions, including the Mahoosuc Land Trust Art Show in Bethel and the WMAG Summer Art Show in Norway. For the past three years, she hasbeen president of the Western Maine Art Group.
For more information, visit www.tablerockartscenter.com.
PHOTO: “Beyond the Rocks,” by Melanie Tornberg (Submitted photo)
