‘Portrait of America’ Continues At Wheeling Artisan Center
Fitzpatrick’s Exhibit Continues Through Nov. 20
WHEELING – Wheeling Heritage’s current art exhibit features 55 ultra-realistic portrait paintings by Wheeling artist. Alan Fitzpatrick. His “Portrait of America” will run through Nov. 29 on the third floor of the Artisan Center, 1400 Main St.
An 18th century historian, author and lecturer, Fitzpatrick recently returned to his childhood passion of painting and drawing. He has drawn and painted many of the subjects that he has written about, as well as many Native people that he has met in the past years during his travels to the American Southwest.
Fitzpatrick’s portraits capture the emotion and spirit of individuals in an ultra-realistic style. This body of 55 pieces of his work, with both historical characters and contemporary models, is a testament to his passion for bringing the shared human expression of emotion and character to life.
Fitzpatrick is self-taught, having begun artwork three years ago with a drawing class offered by local artist Pat Jacobson, and a watercolor class with artist Janet Sheehan at Wheeling’s Artworks Around Town. From there, he turned to painting in oils, and now focuses his efforts exclusively on portraiture.
Fitzpatrick is a member of Wheeling’s Independent Artists Group, a life-drawing and painting group that meets weekly at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling. The Artisan Center gallery is open to the public Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
COMMENTS