Published: October 03, 2008 05:55 pm            

Vigo County Library spotlights artists during October

The spotlight is on artists James Dugger, Bryan Stallings, Monty Jones and Margaret McKee during October in the Vigo County Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.

Dugger was born and raised in Vigo County. The 78-year-old artist was inspired by an eighth-grade field trip to the Swope Art Museum.

As a young man, Dugger worked for RCA and trained at two trade schools, in tool room machine repair and as an electrician, and was an apprentice in both. Dugger then studied drafting and design through Purdue Extension and earned an associate’s degree in electronic communications. He then built and designed machinery for Chrysler and General Motors.

After retiring, Dugger returned to his interest in the visual arts. He studied wet-on-wet oil painting techniques for one year and then studied under Sharon King at her Gosport studio for another year. Dugger has painted professionally for the past 12 years.

Stallings was born and raised in the northern part of Terre Haute. He attended Deming, McClean and was among the first graduates from North Vigo High School.

Stallings graduated from Indiana State University in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in art, with an emphasis in graphic design. He also holds an associate’s degree from Ivy Tech Community

College in visual communications. Stallings is enrolled in a photography correspondence class with the New York Institution of Photography.

Stallings’ interest in art has spanned over many years, as he was attracted to the arts at an early age. He began pencil drawings of people in notebooks then advanced to charcoal, oils and acrylics. Stallings also is a self-taught airbrush artist, painting on anything from T-shirts to murals.

Stallings owns a small business called BLS Graphics, where he continues to show the versatility of his art interests. His portfolio includes works in photography, logos, custom designs, airbrushing and computer imaging.

Stallings and his wife, Venita, have two sons — Bryan “Zachary” and Julius — and reside in Terre Haute.

Jones was born just north of Terre Haute in 1941. He has always enjoyed drawing and painting. Jones is self taught with a deep interest in nature and the great outdoors. He is an avid racing fan and collects Indian relics. Thus, Jones has become known as “Indiana Jones.”

When Jones retired in 2002 from his career in offset printing, his wife gave him a gift of a modern wood-burning machine. Jones works on wood panels such as basswood rounds, wood boxes, and other wood items. He uses wood burning along with acrylic paints to produce amazingly realistic textures and contrast of light and shadow.

Jones recently has been experimenting with acrylic paint on black mat board to produce images of show cars and race cars. Displayed in the library are two cars he painted from photographs taken at the Packard Museum in Dayton, a 1934 Packard touring car and a 1935 Auburn Speedster.

Jones has won many first- and second-place awards at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis and “Best of Show” 2005/2006 “Associates” show in Rockville.

He has been married to his wife, Phyllis, for 44 years and they have three children.

Mckee became interested in painting after retiring from CBS. She paints at the Senior Center every Monday morning. When Mckee started painting at the center, Virginia Erwin, now deceased, was the instructor. Mckee credits Erwin with the help and inspiration that helped her to continue painting. Melody Miller is now the Instructor. There are many paintings hanging in the Senior Center on Poplar Street across from the AP&S Clinic. Mckee invites everyone to stop in and browse.

Mckee has many awards to her credit including a “Best of Show” at the State Fair. She won two blue ribbons, two red and two white at this year’s Vigo County Fair.

Mckee will display the works “Ocean Vue” and “Harvesting.”

Visit www.wabashvalleyartguild.org to learn more about these artists or many have works on display in the “Raven Gallery” at 817 Ohio St.

        

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