Lael Gray

 Gray's paintings exemplify a Modern Impressionist's perspective on familiar landscapes. A gifted visual artist, violin teacher, and local entrepreneur.   Gray focused in on art at a young age. Her mother taught after school art classes to encourage creative freedom through art. There were always art materials around the house and art was encouraged. Gray majored in Design with a minor in Art at University of California at Davis. She enjoys oils, oil pastels, acrylics, watercolors, and silk painting. In 1976 she opened the first T-shirt shop in the Flathead Valley. She made her own silkscreens and designs to put on the shirts. She was making shirts for KUFM, Huckleberry Days, The Whitefish Winter Carnival, and other events. Gray owned the Northwind T-shirt shop on Central Avenue in Whitefish for thirty-four years before selling it. After selling the business, Gray concentrated on her passion for fine art. She studied with Joe Abbrecia from Kalispell, Kevin MacPherson at the Scottsdale Artist School and the Tucson Art Academy.