Logo

December 2001 Demonstration

Our demonstrator for December, 2001 was Ron Straka.

We have some photographs of the event in case you could not make it to the show in person. You can click on any of the images on this page to view a larger version of it. Then, use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

Ron showed us how he paints a landscape in oil and gave us many tips about applying color to keep the painting lively. He uses an underpainting of complementary colors. The underpainting shows through the colors which he puts on top of it, thus keeping the painting vibrant. Also, the colors of the underpainting show through the interstices between the large shapes of colors.

Here is a photo of Ron at the easel during the demonstration.

Ron Straka

Take special note of his palette. He uses a palette which is a neutral color that is a middle value in the gray scale. That way he can tell more accurately how the value of the color he is mixing will appear on the canvas than he could if he used a white palette.

During the break we went up to get a closer look. Ron kept working.

Break

BACKGROUND

Ron is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland and worked for the U.S. government as a physical scientist. He began painting in his early teens and later was fortunate to have received instructions from many prominent Cape Ann artists including: Martin Ahearn, Emile Gruppe, Zyg Jankowski, Andrew Menna, Mike Stoffa, and Paul Strisik. His love for plein-air painting and travelling has inspired him to seek new motifs throughout the U.S. and in Europe.

MEMBERSHIP

He is an artist member of the following: Rockport Art Association (former Board of Governors), North Shore Arts Association (Pres. 1995-96, hon. Board member), Academic Artists Association, and the International Society of Marine Painters

HONORS

Ron is listed in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, International Who's Who of Intellectuals, and the International Men of Achievement. In 1994, one of his paintings was selected by the US State Department to hang in the American Embassy residence in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

TEACHER

Ron loves teaching art and inspiring art students at all levels. He formerly taught art at the Boston Center for Adult Education, Boston, and currently teaches painting at the Rockport Art Association, the American Association Retired Persons (AARP) classes in Rockport, the North Shore Arts Association, at New England area oil painting workshops, and private lessons.




Mission Statement    About Us    Our Program    Membership    Schedule   

General Information    Archives   




Home


Search     Acknowledgements and Links

Add Sidebar Menu    





This web site and all of its content, text and images are Copyright © 2000 - 2003 Reading Art Association
All rights reserved.

Last updated January 11, 2003