Shelby Township Senior Center selects featured artist for May and June

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Township Senior Center has announced its featured artist for May and June.

The featured artist is Gale Reno. Her display has been set up at the Shelby Township Senior Center since April 21 and will be continuing until the end of June.

Reno said that, when she was young, she always loved watching Bob Ross on PBS.

“His painting and style mesmerized me, and he made it look so easy. I bought the supplies and tried, but my painting turned out awful. I packed everything away, including my dream of being able to paint,” she said.

She said that when she retired and her husband did too, they moved to a smaller home. In the process of moving, Reno discovered the box of painting supplies that she had packed away so many years before. She said she wanted to try her hand at painting, but she felt that her brain was “too left-sided,” meaning too geared toward logic and not enough toward creativity.

She then started watching videos on YouTube about how to paint. The videos led her to acrylic pour paint, and she found painting with it to be relaxing and satisfying.

“The abstract nature provides total freedom, and it’s fun to see what emerges when you interact with the paint and canvas,” she said.

She has participated in various art shows such as the Berkley Art Bash, the Hazel Park Art Fair and the Shelby Township Art Fair. She also teaches acrylic pour classes at the Rochester Older Persons’ Commission. She even has her own business called Alleluia Art.

Becky Scott, a recent paint party participant, said she really enjoyed the party run by Reno.

“My group really enjoyed themselves at our paint party. Gale is a very knowledgeable and entertaining artist and helped us create some beautiful pieces. We were quite pleased with how our paintings turned out,” she said.

Cheryl DeMoss, a longtime friend, said she enjoys the variety of designs in the art Reno makes.

“One of the things I really like about Gale’s paintings is that, every time I look, I see something different and new. And the colors are so vibrant. I have one hanging in my foyer,” she said.