Age: 50… (mumble) | Title: Design Whisperer

How early in your life did you discover a love for art?
In second grade, I was drawing on my report card cover and the teacher said, “You are an artist!” It resonated with me. Every year after that it seemed I was the class artist. My goals were to be a fashion designer and the President of the United States. At least everyone would look good! Ha!

But you sort of strayed from it a little bit?
I was in a creative writing class in junior high and that stirred my imagination, giving me a love for writing. In high school, I took a journalism class and eventually became the editor of the high school paper. Naturally, I wanted to be a journalist and while on a college tour of Eastern New Mexico University, I saw the PBS station and knew right then that is what I wanted to do. I began my broadcasting career in college at 17 years old, spending every waking hour and weekends hanging out at the TV station and learning about all the equipment.

It didn’t take long for art to find you again, though—even in the journalism field.
While I was majoring in broadcasting, I minored in art. While I was working at the PBS station as a student, the art director left and I asked to fill that position. I was directing a television show at the same time. It was the best of two loves.

You spent the bulk of your career in Florida. How did you end up there?
After I graduated, family matters brought us to Orlando. I got a job right away at WOFL-FOX35 working in master control. In 1983, broadcast engineering was largely male dominated, so I was the only woman in the department for four years. When the station got a new graphics system, I went for the position as the first on-air electronic graphic designer… and got it! It was so new and cutting edge. I had the opportunity to travel and learn new ways to bring moving graphics to the small screen. I was one of the first women in Orlando to be in an on-air designer position. After 13 years at FOX, I applied for the Art Director position at the CBS station in Orlando and worked at WKMG-TV6 for the next 13 years. I loved working in broadcasting as an artist. So much creativity and learning on the job with my crew.

While you were caught up in graphic design at work, did you focus on any other types of art at home?
I really had a busy life with a demanding career and two sons involved with school and sports. I was always quick sketching at work to show how animations would move or how the anchors would stand next to graphics, so that still kept me involved with the tactile experience of pen to paper. It wasn’t until my boys got closer to graduating high school when I started to paint at home. I had to design very tightly for television and I wanted to loosen up and have fun and get messy. I was slapping paint on the canvas and getting back to my roots. I joined a group of artists in Casselberry where we exchanged themed art journals and studied “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Creating in those sketchbooks inspired me and taught me how to work with different mediums. I created a sketchbook of caricatures of my family saying wacky things for the Brooklyn Library and submitted it for their permanent collection.

Where did your career take you next?
After my sons graduated, my husband and I moved to Steubenville, Ohio. I had never been to such an industrial area in my entire life. My eyes drooled with all the machinery and the architecture in the area. Very exciting. As it turns out, the newspaper was looking for a graphic designer and I got the job! I believe in synchronicity and the publisher came in one day holding up a caricature map of a city and asked, “Who can illustrate something like this?” After working on those sketchbooks, I had honed my skills and I raised my hand. I just finished my fifth caricature map with the Fun Map of Lynchburg. It is now a 1000-piece puzzle.

We love the Lynchburg puzzle! How long did it take to complete?
It took me three months to draw everything. When I am creating a piece of art, I first see it in my mind. I would go to sleep and dream of drawing and placing everything.

How did you decide whom to feature?
With a timeframe in mind, I went to everyone I could get to in Lynchburg and sold spots on the map. Some of the people I included because I needed folks to model for me. My friend’s children, my art friends and, of course, my husband is fishing in the front.

What goes in to designing and sketching each building?
I sketch out the whole lay of the land on paper. Where the river goes, where the mountains will be, where the different areas of town will be located. I take pictures of the buildings and the people so I see their features. I also use Google and Bing maps to get placement of buildings in relation to each other. I create each drawing in its own file and drop it into the big map so I can move it around if needed. The main map gets to be about three gigs. I’ve pushed it to four gigs, but Photoshop starts balking.

While the caricature maps are your “bread and butter,” you love experimenting with other kinds of art. What else keeps you busy?
I love pastels, acrylics, colored pencils and encaustic wax. Encaustic is the oldest form of painting. Beeswax and resin are heated to a certain temperature and pure pigment is then added. “Encaustics” originates from the Greek word enkaustikos. I started painting with encaustics on the back of cigar boxes. I like being outside painting nature and street scenes with pastels. I am a consummate learner and recently started painting with acrylics.

And you’ve enjoyed getting to know other artists in town in a very creative way.
I started an altered art journal group here in Lynchburg because I need the camaraderie of other artists. We meet once a month and swap journals and teach each other our different methods of painting with all kinds of mediums and tools. My current journal’s theme is “naked.” This group is so creative and I love the surprise of what everyone has created when we meet. So fun.

As an artist, what inspires you to paint or create?
I take my camera everywhere I go and take pictures of whatever inspires me. Tight shots of mushrooms, bugs and flowers are so wonderful. I like it when a little bug sneaks into my photo and I don’t see it until I download my photos into my computer. Whenever my husband and I travel, I get some interesting phone photos as I take pictures of whatever we’re passing. It’s usually a “look at that!” as we’re zooming by. I start thinking about my photos at night when I’m drifting off to sleep and what I can create from them. I’ve put my street scenes on earrings, in paintings and on cigar boxes. Inspiration comes from taking a walk in the neighborhood and seeing the asphalt cracks after the rain. Learning new techniques with different mediums makes me question how I can use them in my next journal entry or painting. I see faces everywhere and humor always inspires me.

What advice do you have for other aspiring artists?
Learn the basics of your craft. Know what your paint or medium does and how to use it. Ask questions. Make friends with lots of other artists. Take classes. Paint or draw every day. Go to sleep with a design challenge and then dream of the solution. Keep files of inspiration. Watch videos. Go to movies. Listen to music and podcasts. Read. Be curious and open. Push past your fear. Don’t judge.

What do you like best about being an artist in the Hill City?
I find inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds us. I enjoy the company of some very smart, talented creative folks and we learn from one another. There are some exciting art and creative experiences offered here in Lynchburg and more places are opening up for local artists to share their work with the public.

How can readers get in touch with you?
My website is www.lillianbrue.com. I am also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as Lillian Brue art.

Vote Today
Visit lynchburgliving.com today to cast your vote in two of our very popular contests!

Nominations are now open for the Best Of Lynchburg Awards—recognizing your favorite businesses, restaurants, destinations and more. Voting ends on September 28. The results will be published in the January/February 2019 issue of Lynchburg Living.

Voting for our Giving Back Awards continues through July 30. Select the nonprofit you think should be recognized for its contributions to the Central Virginia region. The winning nonprofits will be featured in our November/
December issue.

Feedback
From the text to the photography and beyond, the Lynchburg Living team works hard to make sure our story subjects are well represented. We appreciated hearing this positive feedback from our May/June issue’s Artist Profile, Kathy Cudlin:

“I just wanted to tell you how thrilled I am! … The layout is just beautiful, and you all picked exactly the photos I loved the best from the photo shoot, so thank you, thank you! The magazine is always truly gorgeous, anyway, and I am so pleased to be in it.”

Send us an e-mail to shelley@lynchburgmag.com. Correspondents must identify themselves; names may be withheld on request. Lynchburg Living may edit or condense.

Headlines from the Region’s Parks and Beyond

Kayaking for Kids

New this year at Ivy Creek Park’s Clemmons Lake—children as young as 8 years old can sign up for kayaking or canoeing lessons. The Lynchburg Parks and Rec employees who oversee those lessons are all certified by the American Canoe Association. Once your child knows the ropes, you can take the whole family out for a day on the water! Visit lynchburgparksandrec.com/our-parks/ivy-creek-park to learn more.

Get Some Air!

After a grassroots effort led by skaters and local business owners, the Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark on Ninth Street has reopened to the public. The previous owner, Amazement Square, transferred the deed to the city earlier this year. This 14,000-square-foot complex includes a street course and a bowl for skaters to improve their skills. Hours are subject to weather.

Trailing Off

Looking for a new path to take? Check out the New London Tech Trails in Bedford County, located at the New London Business and Technology Center off Route 460. Runners, hikers and bikers can enjoy 6.5 miles of multi-use trails on more than 500 acres—all created by the Bedford County Parks and Rec team. The system is a great “power hour lunch” for park employees, but it’s open for the public to use too!

A Whole New Level

You may not realize it—but you now live next to “America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital.” Virginia’s Blue Ridge is now an official Silver-Level Ride Center™, a designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association. There are only 15 Silver-Level Ride Centers in the world and one on the East Coast. Lee Wilhelm, Chair of Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, calls the designation a “game changer.”

Melodies and Memories

Listen out for some sweet sounds this summer at Riverside Park. In early May, Kids’ Haven and the Junior League of Lynchburg partnered together to install a Weenotes instrument that children can play. It’s dedicated to every child who has lost a loved one, which aligns with the mission of Kids’ Haven. The Junior League helped establish the nonprofit 20 years ago to raise awareness and provide comfort for grieving children in the community.

Mark Your Calendars July/August

Don’t let the heat keep you on the couch this summer! Check out these active events in the Hill City that will get your blood pumping.

Down Dog at the Water Dog
July 28 & Aug. 25, 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.

A workout doesn’t sound so bad when it’s accompanied by a tasty craft beer! The Water Dog is partnering with Yoga Goodness Studio for these fun, refreshing yoga sessions. One brew of your choice is included with your $12 admission. Love beer but aren’t sure about yoga? This class is perfect for beginners and is offered monthly through the end of the year. Register at yogagoodnesslynchburg.com.

The Great Cardboard Boat Race
Aug. 11, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Put your design and engineering expertise to the test with this fun event for all ages at Miller Park Pool. The challenge is to paddle your vessel to the finish line—but don’t be intimidated by failure. There’s also the Titanic Award for the “Most Dramatic Sinking.” Cost is $10/boat. Register by August 9 at lynchburgparksandrec.org.

Love. Pets. Match. Tennis Tournament
Aug. 31 – Sept. 2

Practice your serve and perfect your backhand—then show off your skills at Oakwood Country Club for a good cause. Proceeds from this weekend-long event will benefit the pets at the Lynchburg Humane Society. For registration and sponsorship information, visit lynchburghumane.org to learn more.

Find more events in our Calendar on page 136!

Local Openings & Closings

Hello! to new bakery truck, Where the Sweet Things Are.

Hello! to a brick and mortar location of Mama Crockett’s Cider Donuts, opening soon on Fifth Street.

Hello! to Eden and Vine, a floral and gift shop on Forest Road.

Goodbye to the Patriotic Peacock boutique/art studio on Main Street.

Hello! to Harry’s Bakery and Catering on Jefferson Street.

Hello! to a new location of Joe Bean’s in Altavista.

Goodbye to T&E Catering’s Campbell Avenue location.
(But hello! to a new location very soon.)

Hello! to Skyline Rooftop Bar, William and Henry Steakhouse, and Marigold Coffee and Wine Bar, all under the roof of the new Virginian Hotel.

Goodbye to Altus Chocolate on Main Street.

Behind the Scenes

After keeping in touch with the staff at the Virginian Hotel for over a year, we were thrilled to finally take a Lynchburg Living team on a tour of the finished project on May 22.
Writer Suzanne Ramsey, photographer Heather Kidd and managing editor Shelley Basinger were escorted through every main room of the hotel by general manager Dennis Marcinik and catering/sales manager Shelley Simpson.

Marcinik and Simpson took their time and made sure to stop and elaborate on different art displays, décor decisions and much more. There were also plenty of side conversations about the building’s history. A big thanks to the Virginian staff for their hospitality!

(Also, we are working on a plan to make sure copies of Lynchburg Living are always on hand for out-of-town visitors at this local destination!)

Read our full feature about the Virginian on page 45.

From day camps to outdoor events, check out these 13 family-friendly ideas.

Academy Center of the Arts
Calling all actors and artists (and their awesome parents): The Academy is hosting six youth theatre camps in addition to a summer full of art and pottery camps. Paint a masterpiece, throw on the pottery wheel, act in a play, animate a story, and more in our summer camps! Visit academycenter.org or call (434) 846-8499 to learn more and register.

Endstation Theatre Company
Looking to shake things up this summer? Endstation Theatre Company brings the best of live professional theatre to Lynchburg. Hosted on the Randolph College campus, their productions are chosen specifically for the Central Virginia audience by drawing on the interests, stories, and landscape of our area. Their 2018 season includes the rockin’ musical “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story,” an outdoor adaptation of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” and the drama-heavy play “Br’er Cotton” set right here in Lynchburg. Tickets available now at EndstationTheatre.org

Amazement Square
Amazement Square is an award-winning, interactive and family-friendly museum located in historic Riverfront Lynchburg. The museum’s 4 floors of multidisciplinary interactive exhibits are designed for guests of all ages. Whether you are into science, the arts, music, building or pretend play, there is something for all to do and learn! If you have little kids, the museum has exhibitions for kids 5 & under and 3 & under, where you can explore the world of the farmland and the seas. The museum’s Paint Box, where guests can paint the walls to their heart’s desire; James River Gallery, where they can create a rainstorm over downtown Lynchburg; and its new innovative and inquisitive learning Makerspace Lab have become a landmark and destination for visitors to Lynchburg! For more information visit amazementsquare.org or call 434-845-1888.

James River Day School
Summer fun is just around the corner! Take advantage of the many summer camps James River Day School has to offer. Your child will have a great time (and still learn a bit)!

There are camps for children coming into kindergarten through students going into 9th grade. Kids can get outdoors for hiking adventures and searching for geocaches. There’s even a camp-out at the school! With games and pizza!

Kids can create art, including objects made with a 3D printer. Or, they can make their own percussion instruments and learn playing techniques. Want to learn a bit of Spanish? James River has that, too! Kids from all over come to camps at James River Day School and have tons of fun. Sign up at jrds.school/summer-camps.

Lynchburg Hillcats Baseball
There’s no better way to spend a summer night than at Lynchburg City Stadium cheering on the Hillcats. The team plays 23 home games throughout May and June, highlighted by several exceptional promotions and giveaways. May 4th is Star Wars Night, along with a Southpaw bobblehead giveaway. Greatefully Dead Christmas Night is on May 19th, presented by My Guitar Shop and Speakertree Records, featuring a pre-game cover band performance, and post-game fireworks presented by Woodforest National Bank. The Hillcats will wear Gratefully Dead Christmas-themed jerseys which will be auctioned off during the game. June 22nd is Jurassic at the Park Night, and fans will receive a Francisco Mejia bobblehead. For tickets and more information visit Lynchburg-Hillcats.com, call (434) 528-1144 or visit the Hillcats Box Office.

Lynchburg City Parks & Recreation
Bring your family, friends, a blanket or chair, and join Lynchburg Parks & Recreation for the third Movies in the Park Summer Season! This summer, we’re hosting four Movies in the Park, where families and friends can catch a free flick under the stars. Screening times start at 8:00pm for each movie. Visit www.lynchburgparksandrec.com for updates and more information.

Lynchburg Museum System
The Lynchburg Museum System is gearing up for some summer fun! Join us for Teacher Recertification Camp June 25-29, Discover Lynchburg Summer Camp for Kids July 9-13, and Afternoon Painting at the Point on August 11th. Please go to Lynchburgmuseum.org to find out more information pertaining to these amazing programs!

National D-Day Memorial
A 1940s HOMEFRONT FESTIVAL
When the teacher asks what they did this summer, your kids will be able to say, “Traveled back in time!” The National D-Day Memorial presents “A 1940s Homefront Festival” on Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. –3 p.m. Kids get in free during the ever-popular family event.

World War II veterans will tell their real-life tales from the front lines. Living historians, dressed in full costume, show what life was like at home and at war. Visitors can hold history in their hands as actual artifacts will be on display. Jive and swing to the music of the day. The annual festival is held rain or shine on Memorial grounds. The National D-Day Memorial is located at 3 Overlord Circle, just off U.S. 460 in Bedford.

Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
The beauty of Red Hill and the landscape surrounding it is virtually unchanged from the days when Patrick Henry lived here. The peacefulness in this place Henry called the “garden spot of the world” flourishes.

July 4th at Red Hill is a day full of living history, music, patriotism and fireworks! Events begin at 3:00PM, fireworks at dusk. Open year-round. www.redhill.org

Putt-Putt Fun Center of Lynchburg
Get ready for unforgettable summer memories without leaving town! Putt-Putt Fun Center Lynchburg offers affordable, daily fun for a staycation you can enjoy all summer long. With laser tag, bumper cars, an arcade, go-karts, bumper boats, batting cages, and Putt-Putt Golf, you can sizzle in the sun or beat the heat with our array of outdoor and indoor activities! 8105 Timberlake Road. (434) 237-PUTT. www.puttputt.com/lynchburg

Sluggo’s Sundae Drive
Serving premium, hand-crafted ice cream made fresh several times each week, this family home turned homemade ice cream parlor is open year-round. Indoor seating is complemented by front porch and yard seating when warm enough. Established in 2014, Sluggo’s Sundae Drive has set the Lynchburg area standard with 5 star ratings and customer proclaimed “best ever ice cream.” 177 Elon Road, Madison Heights. www.facebook.com/Sluggos.sundae.drive

Thomas Road Baptist Church
Attention Parents! Don’t miss out on an incredible summer opportunity for your kids at Camp Hydaway! Join us for a fun-filled week of exciting activities, crazy party nights and theme days, new friendships, and awesome worship and Bible study. Camp is a unique place for children to experience and know the love of Jesus Christ. Register today at camphydaway.com

YMCA
For more than 160 years, the YMCA of Central Virginia has been listening to and responding to our community’s needs. Through innovative programming and initiatives, we are developing youth, working to prevent chronic disease, and building a healthier community.

We offer a wide range of programs for the whole family. Swim lessons, child care, youth sports, chronic disease prevention, travel opportunities and classes for active adults, and wellness programs focus on creating a better community for all.

The Y connects people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds with the tools and resources they need to reach their full potential. Three convenient locations and donor-supported financial assistance ensure everyone has access to vital life-changing opportunities at the Y. For more information visit ymcacva.org or call Jamerson YMCA (434) 582-1900, Downtown YMCA (434) 847-5597, YMCA Express (434) 455-5996.

Local Bits and Pieces from the Industry

A Grassroots Effort Paid Off
Construction is finally underway on Grassroots Local Market, a community-owned natural foods store located on Main Street. The effort to recruit stakeholders launched in September 2012, and the project gained a lot of momentum within the past couple of years. After overcoming some loan hurdles, the store is expected to open for business by mid-summer! Find more updates on their Facebook page.

Free Fruit
Hangry kids in the grocery store? Kroger Mid-Atlantic has the solution—and it’s a healthy one! Cruise through the produce department when you arrive and you’ll find a child-size display of fruit. Children under the age of 12 are encouraged to pick out a piece for themselves. The goal is to make the shopping experience a little bit more pleasant for parents and reinforce healthy eating habits.

Sunday Supper Club
Who doesn’t love a good dinner party? Lynchburg’s new vegan restaurant, Urbavore, is now hosting an intimate Supper Club the last Sunday of each month at their restaurant on Church Street. By intimate we mean only 12 seats available. Tickets are up for sale two weeks before the event so you’ll have to act fast! Keep an eye on their website, www.urbavorekitchen.com, to register.

All Aboard the Veggie Van
Lynchburg Grows’ produce stand on wheels is back for the 2018 season—and they would love your help! According to a USDA study, over a quarter of Lynchburg residents live in what’s described as a food desert and don’t have easy access to healthy foods. The Veggie Van visits different drop-off points in the city that have the most need for fresh produce. To be a volunteer driver or passenger, visit lynchburggrows.org.

Beale’s Branches Out
The tasty brew made by Beale’s Brewery in Bedford is no longer just a local favorite. Beale’s began distributing in Roanoke, Lynchburg and Bedford in the fall of 2017. This past March, the brewery expanded its distribution even further to the Richmond area. Beale’s touts “approachable” beers that are low-ABV—from the popular Gold (their version of a Munich Helles lager) to Silver, Red, Black and Brown varieties.

Lynchburg Restaurant Week 2018 is presented by Lynchburg Living Magazine.

For a full week in June, we turn the phrase “let’s go out to eat” from an excuse (unmotivated, lack of food in the pantry, etc.) to a meaningful celebration of the Hill City’s thriving restaurant scene.

Our popular Lynchburg Restaurant Week is back for its 7th year with a big change you may notice. For the first time, restaurants can set the price for their discounted menus, allowing for a lot more creativity in choices for you. One carryover from 2017 is our featured nonprofit—Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia. This year, 25 percent of our business sponsorship proceeds are going straight to this incredible organization.

Flip through the following pages to see the mouthwatering menus from this year’s 30 participating restaurants—and start planning your stops today! Or for more information go to, lynchburgrestaurantweek.com.

Behind the Scenes

Art Director Chris Meligonis wanted to do something a little different for the cover of the Food Issue. He came up with the idea to spell out the Lynchburg Living masthead with seasonal fresh foods.

To accomplish the “L,” he made pasta from scratch with egg and flour and cranked it out in a pasta maker. Then, he let the noodles partially dry on a rack before the photo shoot.

Then, in the home office’s photo studio, Chris laid out his design on a piece of glass over the masthead to get the perfect shape. He and photographer, Dave Uhrin, took photographs and made sure proportions were just right.

Keeping to the theme of the issue, Chris incorporated this design on other pages throughout the magazine—including the adjacent Food News page.