By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Art work by Laurie Ochs, Moline, a member of the RutabagA Art Gallery in Geneseo, is featured in January at the Geneseo Public Library. Her love of art began in junior high school and continued in high school where she graduated with an honor in art.

Her art became a hobby when starting a family and working full time at John Deere, from which she retired after 38 years of service.

Ochs’ medium began with oils, and she switched to acrylics about two years ago. Like most artists, she started with a realistic style but became interested in Abstract Realism and Impressionistic styles.

Her subjects are landscapes and animals. She began painting her daughters’ pets and has had several requests to paint the pets of friends. Ochs said she enjoys trying to capture the personality of each pet.