Someone bought Erin Breneman’s first floral piece before Karen Wray had a chance to hang it up for the up for the Christmas in Los Alamos exhibition, which opened Friday, Nov 24.

Breneman is the newest artist to show her work at The Karen Wray Gallery. Her floral pieces are luscious and lifelike. People are always surprised to hear that they were made with colored pencil. “They’re phenomenal,” gallery owner Karen Wray said. “I don’t know how she does it. Colored pencil takes so much patience.” The Christmas in Los Alamos exhibit features several local artists, with pieces that make perfect holiday gifts. The artists have all brought in new work for this show and they represent a wide variety of styles in different media.

There is truly something for everyone. Artist Sec Sandoval brought in seven paintings, some of them new and others that have been in his personal collection. Each of these paintings are in the traditional Sandoval style; winter and fall landscapes, colorful aspens and snowy mountains.

Sheridan Brown is offering her quirky greeting cards. These homemade cards are all different with a clever sayings.

The work by Reva Heron, who has been studying painting with Wray for four years festures oil paintings of flowers with deep rich colors and other everyday subjects.

Bird lovers will enjoy Margaret McIntyre’s oil paintings. There is one of ospreys in a nest that looks so real, it’s like you can feel the soft feathers in the breeze. McIntyre’s painting of two egrets grooming their plumage in a marsh show off McIntyre’s developing style.

Anyone looking for gifts that are beautiful, yet practical and inexpensive, will find pretty pens and pencils designed by Tom Petersen from White Rock. Each pen comes in a lush velvet case.

Kathy Hjeresen brought in more of her jewelry for this exhibit. Her collection includes high-quality necklaces, earrings, and bracelets at a great value.

Alice Slemmons is a chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who creates breathtaking glass ornaments, platters, bowls and sushi plates. Her pieces for the home are made with glass fired in the kiln, with layers of bright colors. One of her platters looks like ripples on the surface of the water.

Adam Baker’s western style paintings are striking in their simplicity, realism and contrast in colors.

Phil Noll, whose nature photography was featured in November, has several winter and Christmas themed paintings for this exhibit.

The Christmas in Los Alamos exhibition opened Nov. 24 and a reception with refreshments is noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. The Karen Wray Gallery is at 1247 Central Ave., Suite D-2 in Los Alamos. Contact the gallery at 505.660.6382 or visit www.karenwrayfineart.com.