Courtesy Photo Barbara Weisenburg poses with her artwork above. A reception in her honor will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at Thunder Bay Arts Gallery, 127 W. Chisholm St. in Alpena.

ALPENA — Thunder Bay Arts and Gallery is honored to present Barbara Weisenburg as TBA Featured Artist for the months of November and December.

An open house will be held for her from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at the TBA Office/Gallery located at 127 W. Chisholm St., in Alpena.

Barbara’s exhibit, Storytellers, presents her interpretation and imagery from folklore from around the world and native legends. She has always loved reading and has collected many stories during her travels.

Her artistic process begins with inspiration, followed by planning and execution.

“Along the way, there might be a few distractions and mishaps, but the struggle is part of the journey,” she said in a press release. “The beginning is usually glorious, followed by ‘Uggh I hate this, what was I thinking?'”

If the artist stops here, at the struggle stage and begins again, she just gets good at beginnings…so the struggle and self-doubt is part of the journey. She usually tries to stop each day at a positive part of the painting, the press release explained.

Weisenburg and her art are certainly “Made in Michigan.” She grew up and lives in Michigan, studied art at Michigan State University and most of the scenes she paints are inspired by Michigan’s history and natural beauty.

Her art journey began when, having been the only child in kindergarten not to get an award for good behavior, her parents gave her a sketch book to keep her out of trouble! Since then she has spent most of her time making art, teaching art and selling art, including numerous one-woman exhibitions, juried-art competitions and having her work in many private and public collections.

To Weisenburg, creativity is the reaction that begins with that “Ah Hah” moment, the “inhale” that sparks the idea. The “exhale” is the outpouring of soul in creating the work, beginning with glorious abandon followed by a series of decisions that become smaller and smaller until she can finally sit back and say, “I’m done and I get it!”

She feels very honored to be part of the arts’ connection with the Thunder Bay Arts Council and the Thunder Bay Arts Gallery and to show her work there.

The Nov. 8 open house is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.