David J. Vanderpool

"The talent there is amazing," he said of the group of inmates he teaches. "Some, they know how to draw but want to go to the next step. Some are so good they just sit in the back and work on their projects."

 

One of Vanderpool's pieces in the current show, "Dickey Moore and Petey" (the "Our Gang" character and his dog), served as a teaching tool for his class. Another of a 1926 Ford Model T was used in class and was the last work finished for the exhibit.

 

After the enthusiastic reception to his first solo show last summer, David Gordon, the council's executive director, asked if Vanderpool would be interested in another exhibition.

 

Gordon described Vanderpool's work as extremely sensitive, running the gamut of values from the darkest darks to lightest lights.

 

"People really respond to his art, first by his talent then the subject matter," Gordon wrote in an email. "They find it so hard to believe that someone can do this type of work. He brings a respect from visitors that few do.

"His work is so thorough with detail and execution that I am not sure if it intimidates or encourages people to create and explore pencil drawing themselves."

 

Of the 21 drawings on display, more than half are new, created in the last year. While his job as a marketing assistant for Delano Regional Medical Center during the week and his teaching at Corcoran on Saturdays take up most of his time, Vanderpool sets aside evening hours and Sundays to draw. 

 

Using free domain images or those from his photographer colleagues, he creates a reference photo for each work. 

 

Creating a unique image is key for his work, the artist said.

 

"You don’t want to just take any photo and copy it. That’s great for practice but as an artist you want something original."

 

For some works, especially those set in medieval or other time periods, he researches appropriate backgrounds, then depicts modern models in period settings.  

 

One example is his new work "Cory." Starting with a photo of a model friend, whom the artist describes as "just a shirtless gentleman," Vanderpool created a Viking-era piece. The bat he was holding like a club became a pike and the plain black background gave way to a river and mountain scene. 

 

Vanderpool joked that viewers may initially miss the finer details or see them "after the guy's arms and muscles."

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Most of the works, both the originals and prints, will be available for sale. There will also be two giveaways, one for those attending the opening reception and another for the run of the exhibit, which goes through Jan. 27. Reception attendees can enter their name to win a print of "Dickey Moore and Petey" while later attendees have a chance to win a "Little Giants" print, featuring actor James Dean.

 

Thursday, artist David Vanderpool debuts his second solo exhibit in as many years at the Arts Council of Kern. You may have seen his art displayed at the Kern County Fair, where his drawings have won many awards over the years, but it was his work at Kern Valley and Corcoran state prisons that caught the eye of the Arts Council. Of course, that work was as an instructor for Arts-in-Corrections, which provides rehabilitative arts services in state correctional facilities.

 

"The talent there is amazing," he said of the group of inmates he teaches. "Some, they know how to draw but want to go to the next step. Some are so good they just sit in the back and work on their projects."

 

One of Vanderpool's pieces in the current show, "Dickey Moore and Petey" (the "Our Gang" character and his dog), served as a teaching tool for his class. Another of a 1926 Ford Model T was used in class and was the last work finished for the exhibit.

 

After the enthusiastic reception to his first solo show last summer, David Gordon, the council's executive director, asked if Vanderpool would be interested in another exhibition.

 

Gordon described Vanderpool's work as extremely sensitive, running the gamut of values from the darkest darks to lightest lights.

 

"People really respond to his art, first by his talent then the subject matter," Gordon wrote in an email. "They find it so hard to believe that someone can do this type of work. He brings a respect from visitors that few do.

"His work is so thorough with detail and execution that I am not sure if it intimidates or encourages people to create and explore pencil drawing themselves."

 

Of the 21 drawings on display, more than half are new, created in the last year. While his job as a marketing assistant for Delano Regional Medical Center during the week and his teaching at Corcoran on Saturdays take up most of his time, Vanderpool sets aside evening hours and Sundays to draw. 

 

Using free domain images or those from his photographer colleagues, he creates a reference photo for each work. 

 

Creating a unique image is key for his work, the artist said.

 

"You don’t want to just take any photo and copy it. That’s great for practice but as an artist you want something original."

 

For some works, especially those set in medieval or other time periods, he researches appropriate backgrounds, then depicts modern models in period settings.  

 

One example is his new work "Cory." Starting with a photo of a model friend, whom the artist describes as "just a shirtless gentleman," Vanderpool created a Viking-era piece. The bat he was holding like a club became a pike and the plain black background gave way to a river and mountain scene. 

 

Vanderpool joked that viewers may initially miss the finer details or see them "after the guy's arms and muscles."

Most of the works, both the originals and prints, will be available for sale. There will also be two giveaways, one for those attending the opening reception and another for the run of the exhibit, which goes through Jan. 27. Reception attendees can enter their name to win a print of "Dickey Moore and Petey" while later attendees have a chance to win a "Little Giants" print, featuring actor James Dean.

 

 

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