A scientist and his paintbrush A scientist and his paintbrush (August 27, 2004)

CSMA displays works by Gary Cleary

By Katie Vaughn

Leave it to a scientist to turn a painting exhibition into a lesson about the artistic process. But Gary Cleary's collection of over 40 paintings and drawings, on display at the Community School of Music and Arts through Sept. 30, also chronicles and celebrates his lifelong journey in art.

Cleary, a scientist with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics, has developed and manufactured drug delivery systems for products such as contraceptives and nicotine patches. But he discovered his love of art much earlier in life, as a student.

"It all starts off in school," he said. "That's a reason I'm on the board of CSMA."

Cleary considered a career in art, but went the science route instead. Throughout his academic years, he took art classes in his spare time. Since the 1960s, Cleary has taken numerous workshops and classes to improve his skills.

Recently, he has attended drop-in drawing sessions at CSMA in which a nude model poses. The eleven figure drawings included in the exhibit come from these sessions. But most of the show features Cleary's landscape and figure paintings.

In most of his 15 landscapes, Cleary used broad brushstrokes and thick layers of oil paint that give an abstracted quality to the works. He did many in bright, upbeat colors, and the fact that viewers can tell the time of day when the scenes take place shows Cleary has studied the effects of light.

Some of the landscapes and other paintings are inspired by famous artists. After a teacher encouraged Cleary to copy master paintings, he created "A Holiday," based on a work by Edward Henry Potthast. The painting is an abstract depiction of seven figures on a sunny seashore. Cleary said he believes examining others' works enhanced this painting and others.

"It teaches you how to mix colors and work with figures," he said. "I never could have reached the color of blue if I hadn't studied Potthast."

"Village Bridge, Early Summer Morning in Germany" is more detailed and has a tighter feel than most of Cleary's other paintings. And this is for good reason: It's the oldest painting in the exhibit, which he painted from a photograph.

Offering a contrast to the landscapes in cool blues and greens are Cleary's figure studies, most of which he painted in warm reds, browns, oranges and tans. "Study of Female Nude, Reclining" shows a sitting woman from the back, leaning to the left. Other figural works include men and women in forward-facing portraiture poses.

Several of the figures are nude, an aspect some CSMA staff members thought children passing the exhibition might not be able to handle. But the paintings have become an opportunity for teachers and parents to teach students that artists often work from nude models.

The final teaching aids of the exhibit are two glass display cases showing how a scene becomes a painting. In one, a photograph of a landscape is pasted to a sketchbook containing Cleary's rendering of the scene. Next to the book are canvas paintings of the landscape, along with a box Cleary uses to carry his supplies.

While at times Cleary has found it difficult to concentrate on art while managing a career in science, he finds similarities between the two endeavors.

"It's the same sort of creative process," he said. "You're trying to create new ideas, new concepts, new ways to do things. You have to start with a blank canvas or notebook."

Cleary said that despite his involvement in the science field, art will hold a prominent place in his future.

"Someday I'd like to be a famous painter, whether I'm in science or not."

Information

What: Paintings and Sketches by Gary Cleary

Where: Mohr Gallery, Community School of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio Circle

When: Now through Sept. 30

Cost: Free

Call: 917-6800 or visit www.arts4all.org

E-mail a friend a link to this story.