THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 9, 1995 TAG: 9511070103
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
Some matchmaking by an Ocean View postal worker has resulted in a ``heavenly inspired'' collaboration between two Norfolk artists.
``I had no doubt they'd hit it off,'' said Henry Luning, a window technician for the Ocean View Post Office at 4th View Street. ``They seemed perfect for each other.''
A writer of children's books, Gayle Gillerlain frequently visits the Ocean View Post Office at 4th View Street to mail off query letters, manuscripts and other correspondence to publishers. So does Diane Renis, a painter/illustrator who specializes in artwork tailored to children. Both women work in their homes, with little creative feedback from others.
Renis lives in Ocean View and Gillerlain in Bayview.
A chatty guy who likes to get to know his customers, Luning struck up friendships with the artists during their many visits. After their discussions, he realized each could use a creative soul mate.
``I was careful not to pry in anyone's personal life, and I wasn't trying to matchmake, but in asking what they were mailing so I could provide them with the best service and the best rates, I found out all about them,'' he said.
The result was natural, the postal worker said: Put the writer with the illustrator.
``It's the friendliest post office I've ever been in,'' Renis said with a laugh.
Added Gillerlain: ``They're always so happy to see you, and they know everybody's names. It's a delightful place.''
Luning has a history of successful customer ``matches.'' Perhaps his most successful was putting together a motorcycle enthusiast with a Dutch interpreter. The two got married not long afterward.
So a year ago, after Gillerlain expressed some dissatisfication with her illustrator, Henry decided to put the two women in touch.
``There's so many talented people living in Ocean View,'' he said. ``There had to be a solution for her here.''
With Renis' approval, he gave her phone number to Gillerlain and suggested she call the painter. Initially hesitant, Gillerlain finally made the call two weeks later.
From their first conversation, the two women hit it off immediately.
``I'd been interested in meeting other people in the arts since I'd moved here, and I knew there were people in my neighborhood who were players in the arts, but it was hard finding them,'' explained Renis, who moved to Norfolk from California three years ago. ``Gayle and I are both oriented toward children, and we're both Christians. We just hit it off personally.''
``Our Christian faith is important to both of us, and we have so much in common,'' added Gillerlain, a Norfolk native. ``Since then, we've become great friends.''
They now get together often to talk over projects, discuss problems and get the other's advice on dealing with publishers, agents and creative ``blocks.'' They've also attended literary conferences together.
Eventually, they hope to collaborate on a project, preferably a Christian children's book. But until recently, both have been immersed in other projects.
A former elementary school librarian, Gillerlain's first book, titled ``The Reverend Thomas's False Teeth,'' was released in September by Troll Associates, an imprint of Bridgewater Books. Based on a Chesapeake Bay folk tale, the book already has received considerable attention. It is now featured as a Junior Literary Guild selection.
``I had sent some other stories around to publishers, but I knew right away that this one was right, that I had a quality story,'' noted Gillerlain, who had been ``playing around with writing'' for more than 10 years before publishers offered her a deal 2 1/2 years ago.
Like Gillerlain, Renis had some of her work published this fall. In September, Zondervan Publishing Co. released Renis' book of illustrated postcards based on Bible stories titled ``Always Faithful.''
``They're inspirational messages, an encourgagement that no matter what God is going to bail you out; he's always there to help,'' Renis explained. ``I wanted to do something that expresses my faith, because as an artist that's where I get my inspiration from.''
A Michigan native with no formal training in art, Renis was working in Florida as a corporate advertising manager eight years ago, enjoying all the monetary frills of a successful life when she realized she was not happy.
``I wasn't doing what I wanted to do, but I didn't know what it was I wanted to do,'' she recalled.
She quit her job, sold everything, bought a backpack and a one-way ticket to London, and left on a journey around the world. Friends and family thought she was crazy.
After six months touring Europe, she landed in Jerusalem. It was there her life changed. She began seeing ornate visions of artwork. At first, she did nothing to reconstruct them; but they kept coming. Eventually, after returning to the United States, she started painting her visions in watercolors. Other than children dabblings, she had never painted before.
``It all comes from my spirit,'' Renis explained. ``I can't paint something by looking at it. That's just not the realm I work in.''
Her unusual renditions and unique style of using watercolors soon drew a following in California, where she was living with her sister. Since moving to Norfolk to ``escape'' the West Coast, she has been involved in a number of projects. She was one of a group of painters who decorated rooms and walls and provided pieces of artwork for hangings at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
By getting together, the two artists believe they've been able to develop stronger creative messages - those based on faith, inspiration and a new-found friendship.
They thank their ``angel'' at the post office for the ``heaven-sent'' match.
``If it wasn't for him,'' Renis said, ``we'd probably never have found each other. He's a great little matchmaker. He sure made a perfect one in us.''
Noted Luning: ``I was just doing my job.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Diane Renis, left, and Gayle Gillerlain make quite a talented team.
SEE THEIR WORK
Gayle Gillerlain and Denis Renis will be featured at a
collaborative reading/demonstration targeted for children from 2 to
4 p.m. Sunday at Barnes & Noble booksellers in Virginia Beach.
Gillerlain will read her recently released book, ``The Reverend
Thomas's False Teeth,'' and Renis will hold a painting
demonstration. Examples of her artwork will also be on display.
Barnes & Noble is located at 4485 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Later in the month, Gillerlain will give another reading at
Walden Books at Greenbrier Mall. That reading is set for 1:30 p.m.,
Saturday, Nov. 18.
by CNB