Portraiture students display noteworthy artwork at Porter Library
Westlake Porter Public Library once again presents a quality art exhibit. For the entire month of April, past and present understudies of Bill Kufahl's Westlake School of Portraiture will display their drawings and paintings. The art work covers a range of portraits, landscapes, pets, wildlife, birds and cityscapes.
Among the outstanding portraits are those of Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Sean Connery, Elvis Presley, Dame Judi Dench, Marilyn Monroe, Scarlett Johansson and Frank Zane. The age of the artists ranges from eight to 80.
Of note is a memorial exhibit of five portraits done by the late Kathy Hollis (1942-2006), a much-loved art teacher at the Ben Franklin School in Cleveland. A portrait of Ben Franklin as modeled by Frank Strain, which she completed in class at the Westlake School of Portraiture, still hangs at the school that bears Franklin's name.
Many notable artists have benefited from Kufahl's class and have developed national careers. Among these are Kim Saigh, tattoo artist and national TV personality, and former Westlake resident Paul Beel, published artist and teacher with a major painting at the National Academy of Portraiture in London. Beel now resides in Florence, Italy.
Rob Hartshorn, respected Tremont artist and joint gallery owner, as well as Jerome T. White, muralist and high school art teacher, have also studied with Kufahl and have major works on display in the group show.
Bill Kufahl
Portrait artist and teacher