Gus Muller at Greenspring in Springfield, Virginia

by Keith Gamboa

After retiring from a career as a civil engineer, Gus Muller fulfilled a life-long desire to study art and paint seriously . . . deciding to use watercolors because of the creative effects he could achieve with the medium’s transparent paints.

He specialized in landscapes, seascapes, florals, and portraits, many of which are displayed in various locations in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. In the late 1990s, he did paintings of Mother Theresa and Mary, the Blessed Mother. “I respect Mother Theresa so much,” he says.

Gus has illustrated the book, Speak, Lord, I Am Listening, written by Christine Haapala in 2001, that helps children understand the mysteries of the rosary. He has also lent his talents to Scarecrow Joe, and two books related to assisted living and Alzheimer’s care—Moments, Memories, and Mission and Remembering to Care.

Special commission for Greenspring: Gus was commissioned to paint a watercolor series entitled Hurting, Helping, Healing, and Hope to depict the destruction that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001 and the inspiring recovery from that devastating national experience.

During the commemoration ceremony, Greenspring’s pastoral ministries coordinator noted that “hurting, helping, and healing are ongoing processes. And as we move along the process, hope emerges.”

Gus’s paintings were displayed at the General Assembly building in the State Capitol in Richmond, Va.

His exhibits: “I used to exhibit at galleries in Occoquan (a small, art-oriented community in Virginia), and a lot of shows at malls and beaches.”

His beach scenes: “I’ve done a lot of seascapes from when visiting beach communities along the coast.”