Gail Savage – “Awakening” – Capturing the Beauty of Wildlife Through Art
For the months of April and May, Lebanon Picture Frame & Fine Art Gallery is excited to present “Awakening,” an exhibition of the wildlife artwork of Gail Savage. A realist painter, Savage’s preferred medium is watercolor, though she also works with acrylic, graphite, and colored pencil, often combining media to bring depth and texture to her work. Each piece in this extraordinary exhibit captures not only a fleeting moment in nature but also tells a deeper story—one that reflects the delicate and complex relationship between wildlife and humans. The exhibition’s opening is Friday, April 4, 2025 from 10am to 6pm and is also open during normal business hours through Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Born in Reading, Gail Savage has been creating art since the age of two, using any surface she could find as her canvas. Her deep appreciation for birds, animals, and the natural world was nurtured by her father, who shared his extensive knowledge of nature with her from an early age. At the same time, her artistic passion was fostered by her mother, who encouraged her creativity by drawing alongside her every day. This profound connection to both art and the environment continues to inspire her work, bringing the beauty of the natural world to life through her artistry.
For over 40 years, Savage has specialized in painting wildlife, with a particular focus on birds and animals. Her home and studio, set on 23 acres of woodland in the heart of the Blue Mountains north of Bethel, PA, provide endless inspiration. “Our only close neighbors here on the mountain are birds and animals,” she says. “I’m lucky to live among them as quietly as I can, observing them in every season.”
Savage’s formal art education began in childhood when her kindergarten teacher recognized her talent and arranged a full scholarship for her to study at the Wyomissing Institute of Fine Art. There, she trained under the late Jean Baker Gross, a classically trained illustrator, and her talented circle of artists for over a dozen years. Since then, she has continued her artistic development as a self-taught painter, drawing inspiration from close observation of the birds and animals she so deeply admires.
Her latest exhibit reflects the joy she experiences each spring as the world awakens from winter’s grasp. Through her work, she invites viewers to see nature as she does—to marvel at its intricacies and find delight in the gentle creatures that inhabit what she lovingly calls “Savage Woods.” Her hope is that her paintings inspire the same sense of wonder she feels every day, fostering a deeper appreciation for the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
She has been a featured artist at the Reading Public Museum and has had a solo show at the Berks County Agriculture Center, arranged by former State Representative Sheila Miller. She has been artist-in-residence at Bethel Elementary School and has taught summer art classes for a foster care agency.
Lebanon Picture Frame & Fine Art Gallery has been serving the regional artistic community since 1999. Aside from professional and quality archival custom framing, its gallery regularly features exhibitions of local artists, as well as unique handcrafted gift items such as jewelry, paintings, ceramics, sculptures and more.
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If you would like more information, please call (717) 279-7725 or email at info@LebanonPictureFrame.com.