The Gallery @ YMI’s welcomes Geraldine “Jerrie” Settles, Kuumba Artist in Residence, for a new exhibit showcasing her unique watercolor, ink, and digital art. The show, entitled “Crowned in Glory,” focuses on themes of family, history, and faith.

Many of Settles subjects stare out at the viewer, engaging and inviting them to make a soulful connection. “People’s eyes draw you in,” she says, “The eyes are the windows into their soul and heart. You can tell a person through their eyes.” Growing up in Connecticut, Settles’ mother was an evangelist so “I was in church a lot. I started drawing on the bulletins. And the eyes were the first thing I learned to draw.” Settles parents encouraged her to explore her creativity. Over the years, her art has taken on new dimensions, where she has tutored art students, taught art therapy classes, and eventually expanded to digital art. No matter what the medium or the platform, “the grace and love of God is always expressed in every creative work.”