March 2024

Colors to Cure the Winter Blues

The Orcas Island Library’s exhibit for the month of March will feature art by Gail Anderson-Toombs. The show of brilliantly colored work is aptly entitled Colors to Cure the Winter Blues. In Gail’s words: “Color is very important to me. It affects how I feel and can be soothing, exciting, irritating, happy, etc…I use colors that mostly make me feel happy!”

Gail is originally from Colorado, but has lived on Orcas since 1998. She has exhibited her art many times in many Island locations, but is honored to have her work on display for the first time at the Orcas Library. 

Gail’s drawings are rendered in ink and many layers of colored pencil. Her paintings are done in acrylics, often incorporating jewelry, watches and other unique items. 

Growing up in a family of artists, Gail can’t remember a moment in life without a pencil, crayon, marker or paintbrush in her hand. She and her siblings grew up making all their gifts, using sewing, papier-mâché, drawings, embroidery, etc. She received no formal art training after high school art classes.