No Degree Required For Art

Many artists shy away from doing portraits, preferring not even to try to capture an emotion, a mood, or a moment as it flickers across a human face. On the living room walls of a Marion home are portraits made by a self taught artist, who lives there with his wife. His best work is "Faces," a montage of an American tap dancer, an actor a scientist, the composite between three famous comedians, the traditional cast members of a long running science fiction TV series, a former TV reporter, various rock stars, athletes and entertainers, and his friends. He does it by capturing pictures from videos, which can create really funny faces. For a year and a half, he painted the faces of people who meant something to him, making the montage a sort of tribute. Obtain further advice on portrait artist commissions and the subject of paintings.

Individual portraits of the lead singer from Babes in Toyland, a Russian gymnast, and a songwriter decorate the other walls. He always needs pencil, graphite, and charcoal at hand to do his work. His toolbox was filled out by conte crayon and then colored pencils. Colored pencils became another of his skills with his first sketch of him and his Japanese wife, who is from Kobe. He mixed and matched American and Japanese wood block print styles. Adding personal and Japanese symbols, he began the drawing with his wedding photograph, taken at City Hall in December 1996, as the foundation.

Their trio of cats, not present at the actual wedding, had to be included in the drawing. The face of one cat was turned into a Japanese opera mask, said to fend off evil spirits. There is a position of good luck, in which he draws the second cat.

The couples are dressed in kimonos in the drawing. With the kikyo, a flower that is her matriarchal symbol, he drew his wife. The third cat sits behind the vertical blinds outside the room, where he placed a gingko tree. Longevity is symbolized by the gingko, which the artist thought of drawing after he saw a tree at the University of Iowa. To read other paintings articles make sure to visit portrait painting photo.

This 1997 drawing marks the first time the couple worked together. He delegated brainstorming and testing to his wife. A special spot is reserved in their hearts for this work. He would be delighted if he could conquer landscapes, as long as he can insert the figures he likes to draw so much.

Books are his primary exposure, with four featured and one on the cover, though he has not had his own exhibit. A staff member showed his work to the book editor. He received an email from the editor, who praised his artistic talent in combining portraiture with architecture, and weaving intelligence and humor throughout the work. Whereas action heroes and rock stars were his primary subjects as a child, his present subjects are much more complex. No image or even impression is too hard for him now. First, he perceives reality, which he improves with his own additions or abstractions.