Artist of the Month - Robert Sefton

“You’ll never be a real artist, but maybe you could become an illustrator and paint beer ads someday.” As a high school student, I got that advice from an art professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Growing up in Pittsburgh, I had been receiving weekly art instruction through the Carnegie Institute since I was in the fifth grade. Drawing has always been part of who I am. Nevertheless, I never seriously considered art as a career.

I got my degree in Chemistry, and as luck would have it, landed a job in the industrial paint industry. I soon found myself making automobile paint in Detroit. I got a good basic education in pigments, resins and solvents. I also had an introduction to color measurement, the science of color vision, and how color is perceived as a marketing tool in consumer products.

Retirement gave me the time for art work, but it wasn’t until I discovered the great studio facilities and education programs of our All About Art Club that I really got fired up about improving my art work.

I don’t expect to become a “professional grade” artist. After all, you wouldn’t expect to become a professional level musician or golfer without thousands of hours of dedicated practice. For me, the All About Art club provides a near perfect opportunity to work in a supportive and content-rich environment. It is great fun also.

Bob Sefton

Click here to see more paintings.

Kelly Logan Graham Demo at Membership Meeting

Kelly Logan Graham provided an oil painting demonstration and an entertaining account of his experiences as a Bluffton Artist at the General Membership Meeting on April 27. He painted one of his famous blue crab portraits on a salvaged six pane window. To see more of Kelly's work, check out his website.