`PAINTING IS ALWAYS ON MY MIND'; JUDI BREY EXHIBIT OPENS AT U. MUSEUM

A painting begins when something beautiful, whether color, shape, pattern or texture, excites the mind of the artist.

"The Art of Flowers," an exhibit of watercolor paintings by Judi Brey that will open Sunday, is a collection of such images.

"My studio is an upstairs room with all windows on three sides," said Brey. "It overlooks my flower garden where many of my inspirations begin."

Brey, of Cape Girardeau, is an accomplished artist who also paints landscapes, portraits, and children.

The exhibit includes about 20 recent watercolor paintings by Brey. All of the paintings in the collection are of flowers. It opens Sunday at the Southeast Missouri State University Museum.

Brey said having a studio in her home keeps painting from being a solitary pursuit.

"Painting is such a lonely profession," she said. "I like being around the house so I can keep tabs on the household and my teenage daughter."

Brey often uses flowers from her own garden for her paintings, and sometimes borrows flowers from "generous" friends. When local gardens are not in bloom, she buy flowers from a florist and arranges them herself.

Many times she'll take photographs of the flowers to help her see, and then render details. She also uses those photographs to analyze and convincingly depict light, she said.

"I'm painting the light on the flowers, not just the flowers themselves," she said.

Working in watercolor gives her the control needed to create the effects of light on her subjects, she said.

Brey studied oil painting and figure drawing at the Kansas City Institute while living in Kansas City for four years. She moved back to her native Cape Girardeau in 1987.

A self-taught watercolor artist, Brey has received several awards for her paintings, including the Award of Excellence at the Metcalf Art Show.

She has been named Artist of the Month by the Greater Kansas City Association, of which she is still a member, and won a Patrons Purchase Award for Art in the Woods, Overland Park, Kan. She also exhibited in many juried art shows in the Kansas City area.

She has had a one-woman show at the Art Images Gallery in Kansas City and still returns there to exhibit at various shows. In fall 1988, she exhibited works at Gallery 100 in Cape Girardeau and was recently accepted into the National Exhibition of Kentucky Watercolor Society.

She has painted professionally for eight years.

Brey said painting has opened her eyes and senses to the visual joys of the world.

"I feel as if there is always a new challenge waiting for me: either color, light, shape, perspective or content," she said. "I strive to transmit the same sense of wonderment and fascination to the viewer that I experience when I see."

Brey said the best thing about being an artist is living life at her own pace.

"The worst thing is the emotional swings," she said. "I really put a great deal of psychic energy into a painting. How the work is progressing effects how I feel."

She said painting is a passion for her.

"Painting is always on my mind, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

Brey will be present at a reception that is open to the public and will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the museum gallery. The exhibit runs through July 26.

Visitors are welcome to the gallery during regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

Brey's watercolors will be available for sale through the museum gallery in Memorial Hall on Southeast's campus.