 'John Eberly, interim director of the Hutchinson Art Center, poses with one of his oil paintings titled 'The New Arrivals.' By Clara Kilbourn The Hutchinson News Artist John Eberly recalls his first serious painting, based on a Picasso rendition of a woman's face on a copy of Time magazine. "I was 8 years old," he said. "I remember it clear as a bell. I copied it with watercolors, and I've been hooked on art ever since." He came from two families of artists, and there were always pencils and art materials available in his home. Going back further, Eberly, 51, said he might have done his best work in kindergarten. From those early days, his life with art added studies at Emporia State University with abstract impressionist Richard Slimon, who had studied with Max Beckmann, "the last of the great German expressionists." Those studies led him to the "loud and clear" appreciation of the German expressionists. Eberly came to Hutchinson in 1993 to teach art at Hutchinson Community College. In addition to teaching, he's written about art and painted book covers. At present, he serves as interim director at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 North Washington, a display gallery for local and guest artists. After the watercolors, in the early days his medium was oil, but with children and a concern about the toxic environment, he changed to acrylics, which he's come to love. " ... you can throw an easel, paints and a jug of water in the back of a truck and go paint," he said. "The only thing you have to contend with is the Kansas wind or an occasional farm truck that goes by." Prompted by a discussion of art in the great European cathedrals, Eberly moved to Kansas grain elevators, "the cathedrals of the prairies." He once used the Partridge elevator as an axis and circled it in a series of six or seven paintings. Other subjects range from photographs to imagination to nature. "Everything is grist for the mill as far as I'm concerned," he said. "Lots of things can come through if you let it happen." Mark Rassette, executive director of the Hutchinson Reno Arts and Humanities Council, called Eberly one of the most intensely creative people he's ever known. While they might both be looking at the same view, Eberly sees the world as creative people do, Rassette said. When a piece is finished, you don't go back, Eberly advised. Another Eberly philosophy: Keep on going even if you get stuck, rather than thinking "Gee, that painting really worked, and I'm never going to do that well again." "It shouldn't matter what the outcome is. You should enjoy the process," he said. "If it's pleasing to someone who wants to purchase it, that's wonderful." |