Casey Greget was working the cash register at CVS when a customer said openly, “I like your face.”

“I was surprised, shocked really,” Greget said. “I didn’t know who the woman was and I didn’t know why she was saying anything like that.”

Lindy Bruggink identified herself as a portrait artist and said that she had been looking for a young woman with red hair as a subject for a painting. Greget was the person she had been hoping to find.

Greget agreed to sit for a portrait at Lindy Bruggink’s studio in Ozark and was excited to have the opportunity.

She was in attendance at the artists’ reception for Bruggink and Chris Beck at the Johnson Center for the Arts Thursday night. She viewed the three framed portraits of “The Girl with Red Hair” and said, simply, that Bruggink is “amazing.”

Bruggink’s “Faces and Spaces” exhibit attracted a large group of art enthusiasts to Thursday night’s reception and art talk and walk.

Bruggink’s give insight into the methods she uses to achieve the effect that she desires.

She studied with Rick Weaver at the Art League School in Alexandria, Virginia.

“There, I learned that, if I wanted to become a good portrait artist, I had to forget detail, to keep it simple,” Bruggink said. “So, to capture the likeness of a person, I use shadows and light, hard and soft edges, and colors that will reveal the person’s personality.

“When I paint,” I want to create drama, realism and a particular mood. If I am painting a person, I hope the viewer will be able to sense what the person is really like. When I paint, I attempt to capture a person’s spirit –his sense of self.”

Bruggink took her JCA audience on a walking tour of her exhibit and talked candidly about her subjects, which include her two daughters-in-law, one Jordanian and the other Italian.

She has several paintings in the exhibit of her husband, Judge Eric Bruggink — one in his judge’s robe and another a Southern gentleman’s seersucker jacket and straw hat.

Bruggink has the ability to capture the essence of her subjects outside their  elements.

Her portrait of John Walker won fourth place in the International Competition Portrait Society of America.

“John Walker was doing yard work for us and I asked him if he would like to make some money while sitting down for a while,” Bruggink said. “He said that he would and he sat for a portrait. I wanted to capture his spirit, the man that he is.”

Bruggink finds her subjects in unlikely places. The Junior Sullivan, contractor for the house she and her husband were building, was in a most unlikely place.

Bruggink attended the wedding of Sullivan’s son and noticed Junior’s distinguished appearance.

“I asked him if he would sit for a portrait and he agreed,” Bruggink said. “I rented him a tuxedo and the portrait turned out the way I had hoped.”

Although Sullivan was attired in formal wear, Bruggink was able to capture the rugged nature of the man.

His face tells the story of a strong, determined man who isn’t afraid of hard work and seeks it out. She captured the spirit of the man by keeping it simple.”

Bruggink’s portrait titled “Hugh” was awarded a certificate of excellence and attracts viewers like a magnet.

“Hugh” has the appearance of an Orthodox Monk but is actually a member of an Ozark church with a strong interest in theater. He agreed to be a subject for one of Bruggink’s painting.

“I asked ‘Hugh’ to let his hair and beard grow for a while and, for the portrait, I told him to throw on something big and heavy and bring along something that would catch the light,” Bruggink said.

“Hugh” threw on an old raincoat and brought along a small glass vessel. He gave Bruggink a look that was perfect for the mood she was hoping to capture. And, she did — in true Lindy Bruggink fashion.

“Lindy Bruggink’s “Faces and Spaces’ exhibit is a true display of talent and skill in portraiture art,’ said Carrie Jaxon, Johnson Center for the Arts exhibition coordinator. “What amazes me the most is how her work will leave a viewer lingering in the gaze of her painted subjects.

“Lindy has a special ability to make her subjects’ eyes follow you as you walk past the painting. She manages to capture her subjects in a beautiful light and has a stunning way of revealing their personalities through her work. This show is definitely one to not be missed.”

The “Faces and Spaces” exhibit will run through June 18 at the Johnson Center for the Arts. Chris Beck’s metal sculpture exhibit is in the lower gallery. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and until 3 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.