Don't miss this outstanding exhibition of paintings and drawings by talented local artists
The December 13th exhibition features the work of Spring Valley artist Bill Swisher, Streator artist Gayle Akerman, and Princeton artist Earlene Campbell.
Princeton-area artist Earlene Campbell will join Spring Valley artist Bill Swisher and Streator artist Gayle Akerman at the 2024 December art exhibition in the NCI ARTworks Gallery in the west wing of the Westclox Building on December 13th 2024. The artists' opening reception begins at 6 pm and is free. All are welcome to enjoy refreshments and art and common ground.
Princeton-area artist Earlene Campbell will join Spring Valley artist Bill Swisher and Streator artist Gayle Akerman at the 2024 December art exhibition in the NCI ARTworks Gallery in the west wing of the Westclox Building on December 13th 2024. The artists' opening reception begins at 6 pm and is free. All are welcome to enjoy refreshments and art and common ground.
Bill Swisher
Born and raised in Mendota, Illinois, Bill always loved art and its many mediums. As a young man, he took lessons from very good local instructors, including Victor Wedemyer who was a teacher in Mendota High School and portrait artist Edith Steincross who was a neighbor in Mendota. In addition, he often sketched and painted the sites that he visited as a sailor in the US Navy. Images from ports of call abound in his artistic repertoire: Haiti, Venice, France, Italy, Greece.
According to Bill, "I guess you could say that art is in my DNA, as my grandfather and my uncle were artists as was a cousin in Missouri whose artwork for Osage and Outdoor billboards could be found throughout the Ozarks. Throughout my life, I have enjoyed gallery exhibitions in the USA and abroad. I’ve seen “The Vatican Collection" in Chicago, the many masterpieces of The Hermitage of St. Petersburg, Russia, and the artworks in the Vatican itself. From music to canvas, I love every form of God's gift to create."
Born and raised in Mendota, Illinois, Bill always loved art and its many mediums. As a young man, he took lessons from very good local instructors, including Victor Wedemyer who was a teacher in Mendota High School and portrait artist Edith Steincross who was a neighbor in Mendota. In addition, he often sketched and painted the sites that he visited as a sailor in the US Navy. Images from ports of call abound in his artistic repertoire: Haiti, Venice, France, Italy, Greece.
According to Bill, "I guess you could say that art is in my DNA, as my grandfather and my uncle were artists as was a cousin in Missouri whose artwork for Osage and Outdoor billboards could be found throughout the Ozarks. Throughout my life, I have enjoyed gallery exhibitions in the USA and abroad. I’ve seen “The Vatican Collection" in Chicago, the many masterpieces of The Hermitage of St. Petersburg, Russia, and the artworks in the Vatican itself. From music to canvas, I love every form of God's gift to create."
Gayle Akerman
I have created my own little world in the middle of a small Midwest town in Illinois. My corner lot has transformed into a myriad of trees, shrubs, arches covered with vines, and stone pathways winding through flowers bursting into a sea of color.
My artwork has been inspired by all of my experiences , both abroad and at home. I am intrigued by the small wonders of everyday life. I can see beauty in an old weathered fence post, the last rose of summer, or a street scene in Italy.
Now, as the last days of healing breeze of summer reflect on my 80-ish years, I am reminded of my youth, when I first began sketching flowers and bugs. By the time I was 10, I had fun painting a mural of Cinderella's pumpkin coach on my neighbor's wall!
When I was a freshman in high school, my art teacher gave me an old canvas, and I painted over it, winning first prize for my self portrait.
As my journey unfolded I realized that I loved working with oils because of their texture and blending qualities. All of my education in art gave me knowledge but nothing can compare to experience and practice. I learn more about myself every time I hold a brush. I am still amazed that a blank canvas can turn into such as expression of design, exciting color, and accomplishment. I love the smell of the oil paints and linseed oil that fill my studio--and I'm constantly looking forward to my net painting.
I have created my own little world in the middle of a small Midwest town in Illinois. My corner lot has transformed into a myriad of trees, shrubs, arches covered with vines, and stone pathways winding through flowers bursting into a sea of color.
My artwork has been inspired by all of my experiences , both abroad and at home. I am intrigued by the small wonders of everyday life. I can see beauty in an old weathered fence post, the last rose of summer, or a street scene in Italy.
Now, as the last days of healing breeze of summer reflect on my 80-ish years, I am reminded of my youth, when I first began sketching flowers and bugs. By the time I was 10, I had fun painting a mural of Cinderella's pumpkin coach on my neighbor's wall!
When I was a freshman in high school, my art teacher gave me an old canvas, and I painted over it, winning first prize for my self portrait.
As my journey unfolded I realized that I loved working with oils because of their texture and blending qualities. All of my education in art gave me knowledge but nothing can compare to experience and practice. I learn more about myself every time I hold a brush. I am still amazed that a blank canvas can turn into such as expression of design, exciting color, and accomplishment. I love the smell of the oil paints and linseed oil that fill my studio--and I'm constantly looking forward to my net painting.
Earlene Campbell
Princeton-area artist Earlene Campbell began painting as a young woman and as she entered her seventh decade, she began concentrating primarily on subjects that made her—and everyone around her—smile. Many of her paintings are whimsical, featuring fantastical creatures depicted in bright, vibrant colors. As she honed her skills watching YouTube videos, she discovered pour painting. She then began to produce art with this medium, creating a successful small business she called “Art After 80” as a delightful play on words referring to her age and her location (near Route 80). Her approach to pour painting is different from traditional paint pours in that she uses the pour as the base for creating realistic images on the poured canvas. Her work graces the homes and businesses of many local residents.
Princeton-area artist Earlene Campbell began painting as a young woman and as she entered her seventh decade, she began concentrating primarily on subjects that made her—and everyone around her—smile. Many of her paintings are whimsical, featuring fantastical creatures depicted in bright, vibrant colors. As she honed her skills watching YouTube videos, she discovered pour painting. She then began to produce art with this medium, creating a successful small business she called “Art After 80” as a delightful play on words referring to her age and her location (near Route 80). Her approach to pour painting is different from traditional paint pours in that she uses the pour as the base for creating realistic images on the poured canvas. Her work graces the homes and businesses of many local residents.