“GREEN BEE EATER”: This acrylic painting by Siri Ranaweera is featured in an exhibition of his works on view at the Plainsboro Library Gallery January 7-29. A reception is Sunday, January 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Plainsboro Library Gallery will present acrylic paintings by Siri Ranaweera this January. The exhibit runs January 7–29, with an art reception on Sunday, January 12, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Ranging from realistic to abstract, the exhibit’s themes revolve around landscape and animals in motion. Ranaweera works with both brush and palette knife, paying particular attention to color and the subtle variations in light on his subject.

Originally from Sri Lanka, the artist earned a masters and PhD in biochemistry from Friendship University in Moscow, Russia. He was a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura (Sri Lanka) for 20 years, and, after immigrating to the U.S. had a long career in the pharmaceutical industry at Bristol-Myers as a research scientist.

Ranaweera has been a Plainsboro resident for 20 years. Now retired, he returns to his art — he has been drawing since his childhood, and has received several national and international awards. He is widely traveled, and pulls from a variety of cultures and landscapes for his art.

The Plainsboro Library is located at 9 Van Doren Street, Plainsboro. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For more information, call (609) 275-2897.