Local art teacher's works on display at town hall Nessa Neilson Morse's "Not Quite Spring," which depicts a scene from Middletown's Poricy Park, is one of several of her paintings on display in Holmdel this month. HOLMDEL - Brush-stroked scenes of New Jersey landscapes and elsewhere will grace the Holmdel Township Gallery this month as local painter Nessa Neilson Morse displays her latest exhibit. The display will feature about nine pastel and watercolor paintings, showcasing scenes as nearby as Poricy Park in Middletown and as far as Williamsburg, Va. "I really like the places I've been, and they've struck my heart," Morse said. Morse describes her background in the art field with passion and genuine joy, recalling her adoration of art as a child and her continual journey in developing her craft. Morse's career has spanned many artistic areas, including theater costume design, painting and teaching. A longtime Shrewsbury resident, Morse is a retired art teacher from Middletown High School North. She now holds a position as adjunct professor at Brookdale Community College, Middletown, where most recently her classes have centered on computer art. Morse's contributions in the local art arena have led her to participate in many groups in the area, including the Guild of Creative Art, the Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast, and the Monmouth County Arts Council. Her work has been displayed collectively with these affiliations, and she plans to hold two larger solo exhibitions at Brookdale and the West Long Branch Library next year. Morse believes she owes part of her success to the people who have helped her throughout her career. "I really appreciate the teachers I have had," she said. The exhibit can be seen through the rest of August in Holmdel Township Gallery, located in the Holmdel Municipal building. Visitors are welcome during regular business hours. - Lauren Piro