SIKESTON PAINTER'S WORK ON EXHIBIT AT GALLERY 100

A self-taught artist who considers the pencil to be the most important tool in art will display her work at Gallery 100 during December.

The exhibit by Sikeston painter Mona Yates is titled "Expressions from the Heart."

"Pencil drawing can be very emotional," Yates says. "While working on the tone of a leaf or petal, you suddenly press down so hard the lead may break. Sometimes hand and fingertips will quiver and this affects the quality of the pencil lead on the paper and adds excitement to the drawing."

Yates began painting in watercolor several years ago, and her work shops the influence of the Expressionists Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Klee and Macke. She believes color and shape alone can produce emotion in a painting.

"Art for me is an expression of my experience of life and offers me a way to communicate my feelings on paper," she says.

An opening reception for the artist will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the gallery, located at 1707 Mt. Auburn Road.

The paintings will be on display through Dec. 22. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.