Fearrington painter Deborah Sanks is the featured artist for May at the Campbell House Galleries.

"Celebrating Life Through Art," with oil paintings by Deborah Sanks, opens Friday, May 6, with a reception to meet the artist from 6 to 8 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

Sanks, a native of West Virginia, began her painting career in 2000. From the first time she put oil on a canvas, Sanks knew she had found her niche in life. She began a self-directed education through independent study, mentorships and workshops.

The pivotal point in her career came while working with nationally known artist Susan Sarback, founder of the school of light and color. Sarback encouraged Sanks to slow down, observe the way light affects color, to think about the composition and to plan before putting the first brush stroke on the canvas.

Growing up in the "mountain state" gave Sanks a deep appreciation of nature and greatly influenced the direction of her painting. She enjoys painting outdoors because it allows her to -capture the light, range of colors, and atmospheric conditions that are unique to a particular location and time of day.

Sanks paints exclusively in oils with both brush and palette knife, giving her paintings an intriguing texture. Her work is representational in nature with a strong use of color. She has developed a distinctive, trademark style that makes the viewer feel like he or she is at the scene of the painting.

Sanks believes each painting is a story about what is important to her and gives her pleasure and comfort. Her goal is to share these feelings and to impact the lives of others.

"If I can give the viewer a place to connect, to escape, to feel and to remember, then I have achieved my goal," says Sanks.

The exhibit is on- -display through May 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The Campbell House Galleries are located at 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines.

For more information about the May exhibit, contact the Arts Council of Moore County at 692-2787 or visit the website at www.moore art.org.