NORWICH – The Chenango County Council of the Arts, Norwich, announces a gallery exhibit by local artists Jill Kraft and Tina Phetteplace. The opening will be held Friday, Jan. 14, in the Council’s Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft galleries at 27 West Main St., Norwich.

Jill S. Kraft, of Norwich, is a versatile painter and photographer, whose works range from traditional to abstract. Kraft recalls an early interest in art and remembers thinking that one day she would express her creativity to others. Kraft was raised in upstate New York and attributes her initial inspiration to the rolling landscapes of the area.

“I am very interested in Impressionism, not only because these artists brought a new understanding of what art could be, but for the use of color they conveyed in their work,” she said. Kraft’s work as a painter began officially in the summer of 2007. She began with landscapes and has since moved on to the human figure and abstracts. Kraft works with varying media including, oil, acrylic and mixed media. No matter the painting, Kraft says all her work has the common thread of a lot of color. Most recently, Kraft began to go further with her abstract work. “My work has everything from glass, to gels, to specialty paper, to roses, each piece unique in its own way,” said Kraft.