Article published in on-line magazine

Andrea Melione met me and my art at the Athens ARTSfest this past May. She expressed interest in writing an article about my artwork and I readily agreed! Andrea and her mother visited me at my home and were given a tour of my cellar studio. I did some demonstrating and talking. We had an enjoyable afternoon. Soon after Andrea emailed me that the article was finished and published online. What a great layout and article! Click on the link Art Trader and then go to page 38 to see the article. Thank you Andrea!

The artist as a young man

Actually, I'm just dreaming. I'm standing with Dale Ulkins who was just gifted by his brother Doug with one of my paintings. Doug asked me to make something with Dale's name and some Gretsch guitars. I felt honored to see Dale's delight in the gift. Dale has recorded some music for kids - "You Gotta Read" was inspired by his daughter Sarah's love of reading. The photo was taken by Dale's son Graham.

Wedding and painting

My son Nathan and his lovely bride Lindsay renewed their vows this past weekend at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Williamsport. Below is the wedding painting I was able to make for them. Corey and Lana have their names and little symbols embedded in the textures, as do Nate and Linz.
Here is the happy couple as taken by my camera!

Rainy evening in Williamsport

I enjoyed meeting many people on First Friday. I demonstated and talked and gathered a couple new ideas. I did gain an interesting commission - I'm to do a painting for a man who worked for Trimtex for many years. I'm going to try three paintings using only Trimtex products to make the textures. Below is part of my display in the store - there are a few of the wares in the foreground.
Trimtex makes every kind of trim, yarn, patches, bling that exist. Here is an early machine that is loaded with lots of thread to make another piece of trim.

In the photo below, Kristina is waiting on a customer. Kristina was, about four years ago, one of the student teachers that I supervised for MU. She is that one who hooked me up with the store for First Friday.

There is free trolley service every First Friday so that everyone can get to all the displays and functions.

Williamsport Sun-Gazette Thursday supplement.

The paper put my painting on the cover of "showcase." I'll be demonstrating from 6 to 9 pm tomorrow night at the Trimtex store. Should be fun as there will be lots of other artists and exhibits in various stores on Fourth Street.

New Video

A youtube video showing how I make transparencies and adhere them to my textured paintings has been posted. Click here.

Three man show at North Hall, Mansfield University

Tom Kisiel sent me these photos of the ART exhibit in North Hall. His paintings are fun and serious at the same time. Below are two photo examples of his work.
Next are some of the things that Owen Crumb has made. He likes to work with natural things and uses his superior craftmanship and analytical mind to build varied things.

Below we have photos of some of Randy McKee's posters that he has designed for his artroom at the R.B.Walter Elementary School.

Isn't ART great! There are so many ways to express oneself. There are so many powerful statements to be made. There is so much wonder in what can BE.

Athens ARTSfest 3

I spent both days of the ARTSfest demonstrating and talking to interested persons. Sometimes I talked to fast. I met a teacher who told me she taught science and physics. I was totally impressed, but I think she took offense when I said something like - women usually didn't know about that stuff. Sorry.
Corey posed beside "Sponge Bob" who was made by my friend Andy Wales, his students and student teacher Mat Malloy. Corey was hoping to win the raffle and take Sponge Bob home!

I believe that this year was the first to have carnival rides at the ARTSfest. Below Corey and his grandfather are on the ferris wheel.

I visit with Norm every year. His wife makes soaps and lotions and he help her. They live outside of Port Allegany about a mile from my brother-in-law's farm.

Athens ARTSfest 2

Andy shot this photo of me behind my demonstration table and with my work in the background. While sitting at his table, Andy Wales captured this "comicization" of me.
The bagpipers marched past during the first afternoon. Very impressive and touching! Grandson Corey posed with me while his other grandfather took this picture to show off my blue ribbon.

Athens ARTSfest 1

The ARTSfest was hugh again this year. Thousands of people walked through our little corner of the show (cafeteria #1) and many stopped to talk, look, watch and buy. Below is former MU art ed student Lynn Rosenberger talking to the art teacher/comic book maker Andy Wales.
Below Andy is pencilling the final version of a comic book page.

"Stones by Stalkers" was set up near the door to the parking lot - lots of foot traffic here!

Jillian's penguins sold out the first day, so she had to travel home to make more - another late night.

Val West and her daughter Mandy spend two days away from Mansfield (my town, too) selling gourds in the hallway between the two cafeterias. All told there were nearly 200 artisans exhibiting during the ARTSfest!