Lion in the living room, silo in the school

After years of painting murals for family and friends, Upper Freehold's Dana Gale has decided to turn her creative talents into a business.

ERIC SUCAR staff Artist Dana Gale stands alongside one of the murals she created in her Upper Freehold home . Gale, 47, started working on murals about 10 years ago, and one she painted in her children's playroom won an honorable mention in a Better Homes and Gardens annual makeover and renovation contest. Her winning work depicts the charm of an oldfashioned Main Street and blends into a playhouse.

The artist has created a farmtheme mural in the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/ Middle School's cafeteria and gym. Another of her works graces the walls of the new Kiddie Academy at Cox's Corner.

Her latest and what she considers her best work can be found in the foyer of the home she and her husband Jeff built 15 years ago. Titled "Peaceable Kingdom," the sepia-toned image shows animals that are natural enemies coexisting contentedly together.

Before Gale embarks on any mural project, she collects photographic images to work from.

Artist Dana Gale painted this mural to finish a basement. Note how the tree makes the corner of the room disappear. "I used photos to work with every image in the 'Peaceable Kingdom.'" she said.

"Peaceable Kingdom" reflects the nature of its creator, as Gale stresses the importance of kindness to both animals and humans in all aspects of her life. Her family has a variety of pets, including Reno, an older dog that they recently adopted. Reno spends more time in Gale's arms than she does on her four paws.

Gale also recently wrote a "Kindness Book" that she hopes to have published. The children's book stresses the importance of recognizing the qualities in others that matter most, including goodness, kindness and perseverance.

The artist practices what she preaches and is involved in many volunteer activities. Born with a cleft palate, she works with Cleft Advocates, a group that helps those with cleft palate issues. She noted that while children with cleft palates in this country generally have corrective surgery at an early age, the same is not true in less developed parts of the world.

Her sensitivity to children's needs inspired her to become chief advisor of the middle school's newspaper "The Nest." While the students write the paper, she sets the operation's tone, she said. Over 50 children help produce the paper, which has three issues per year.

"We have a preview party before each issue comes out," Gale said, adding that her work on the paper is the most important thing she has done to date for kids.

Talent runs in Gale's family. Her daughter Erica, 12, loves to write, and Morgan, 10, enjoys art. Jeff, a state trooper, also has a knack for design and included many interesting elements in the construction of the family's house.

Gale takes great pleasure in decorating her home and is proud of her ability to see potential in what others consider useless.

"I'm always taking something cheap or broken and transforming it," she said.

For more information on Gale and her murals, visit www.theartisanwall.com.