Couple creates art book for all

More than 60 paintings, from pink dancing women to green swirling designs, hang on the orange, hot-purple and sky-blue walls.

"It's like walking into an art gallery," said Linda Fernandez, a friend of the Freels.

Among the vibrant walls and artwork is a blue, yellow and red painting of Mirle's, a simple design of color and shape and form. It's one of the most significant paintings in the home, which is in Continental Ranch.

When Judy first looked at it, she saw an aardvark and a young boy in the design.

She wrote a poem about what she saw, and began writing for more of Mirle's paintings.

In March, the couple released "Aardvark, Aardvark, How Do You Do!", an art book for children that features Judy's poetry and Mirle's paintings. It was published by Publish America Inc. and is available online at Barnes and Noble and Publish America.

It's meant to teach young readers about non-representational art, one of the Freels' favorite art forms, which focuses on the elements of art rather than images.

"For me it's the basis of all art," said Mirle, 67, who was an art professor at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Mont. "It gives you an awareness of structure, even when looking at realistic objects."

Because not many people know about non-representational art, the book isn't solely for kids.

"It's also great for adults who don't know the first thing about art," said Fernandez, a lifelong artist.

In addition to teaching everything from painting to photography to art history, Mirle Freel was a working artist who exhibited all over the United States and abroad, Judy O'Toole-Freel said. In the meantime, she taught everything from preschool to higher education.

She also taught for 11 years at the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind.

The couple lived in Tucson in the late 1970s, when Mirle worked at the Tucson Museum of Art and was a well-known photographer.

They moved to Mesa in the mid-1980s, then moved to Montana until they returned to Tucson in 2000 to escape Montana's harsh weather.

After 41 years of marriage, the book was the Freels' first true artistic collaboration.

"It was exciting for us to do something together," said Judy, 67, who has a collection of poetry published as well. "Our lives are really joined, we do things together, and so this was very meaningful."

Especially for a couple who base their lives on their art.

Though they sell some of the pieces, art for them isn't about the money, it's about expressing themselves, like when Judy created a faux fireplace out of wood, paint and candles to make the room look warmer on a cold day.

"(Art) is about learning more about what we are as human beings," Judy said. "I get so excited every day when I do something new."

If you go

What: Exhibit of "Colors of Arizona," Mirle Freel's photographs.

When: Throughout June.

Where: Western National Parks Association Store, 12880 N. Vistoso Village Drive. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Attend the reception: A reception, presentation and book signing on the Freels' collaborative art book, "Aardvark, Aardvark, How Do You Do!" will be held at noon and again at 2 p.m. June 14 at the Western National Parks Association Store. Mirle Freel also will give a talk on his color photographs. The reception will begin after the 2 p.m. presentation and end at 5 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made beginning one week in advance of the reception, which is free. Call 622-6014 to make a reservation.

View the Freels' artwork online or buy the book

For more information about the Freels' artwork, visit their Web site, www.mjfreelart.com. Clink on "Books" and you'll find a link to Publish America's Web site, where "Aardvark, Aardvark, How Do You Do!" is available for $16.96 plus shipping. It's also available from www.barnesandnoble.com for $19.95. For more information, send an e-mail to freeldestudios@msn. com.