At just 3 years old, Anne Gerlofs first set pencil to paper. Now in her senior year in Grand Valley State University’s Art and Design program, she is ready to make a career of her lifelong love for drawing.

“I used to bring drawing stuff to everything,” said Gerlofs, 22.

As a little girl, she carried a tin of pencils and a sketch pad with her. She brought it to her brother’s baseball games, to study hall at school and on family trips.

“It wasn’t really a question of if I would go to college for art, it was just a question of where,” she said.

With an emphasis in illustration, Gerlofs is set to graduate this spring. Her artwork, along with the work of fellow student artist Stephanie Nienhouse, will be featured in an exhibit in the Padnos Student Gallery from March 28-31. A reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 31.

Since her days of doodling as a child, Gerlofs has developed a keen interest in interior and exterior design. Many of her works focus on buildings and architecture.

“My works are less about people and more about spaces,” she said. “They’re really different subjects. People are complex. Spaces are simpler. I’m just realistic. I like things to be straightforward and honest. When you look at space, it’s all there to see. Nothing is hidden.”

At the BFA exhibit, Gerlofs will display six pieces combining illustration and painting. She is currently working to finish the paintings, which are based on the writings of Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Edith Wharton.

Gerlofs said her pieces will focus on contrasting the ideals and reality of society during the Industrial Revolution.

“The times were characterized by romantic ideals and writing, but the roles of men and women were really skewed,” she said.

Gerlofs sought inspiration for her paintings from historical photos of buildings she found in books and online. She also took photos of architecture in Grand Rapids and Chicago.

To contrast the stark reality of 1900s society life with the romantic ideals the people held, she added layers of vivid colors and fluttery markings to her depictions of the buildings to represent the people.

Gerlofs said she is excited to share her work and be that much closer to finishing school. After graduation, she wants to move to Paris. She has already taken some French and wants to become fluent.

“That’s always where I have wanted to go, and art wise, it’s a place you have to go,” she said. “I just want to explore and see the world.”

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