Grain Elevator

      “Born in 1947, I was educated at Willamette University and received my Masters Degree in counseling at Portland State University. I have had a love of drawing since my youth and am mostly self taught as an artist. I have been exhibiting since 1973 and am proud to have been included in the 1978 Artists of Oregon Show at Portland Art Museum. I have been represented by the Lawrence Gallery since 1978. My work has been purchased by Washington County in the Percent for Arts program and this past year my work has been purchased for the Visual Chronicle of the City of Tualatin. In addition to the Lawrence Gallery I currently have works on display at the Sun River Lodge in Bend, The White Bird Gallery in Cannon Beach and the Dana Gallery in Missoula, Montana.

      “The influences of my early career were those of Winslow Homer, Wyeth and those of the Brandywine School; Edward Hopper's work was and is an inspiration. I was fascinated with the realism especially in the watercolors. Most lately I have been trying to create a more painterly approach. Again realists tend to be a major influence in my work. The landscape of William Beckman, Robert Bechtle's architectural realism and the color and composition of Wolf Kahn influence me.”

      “As a Native Oregonian, the coastal estuaries, the valleys of the Tualatin and Willamette River and Central and Eastern Oregon abound with deep inspirational meaning. I have been plein air painting and finish thee work in my studio from these locations. I sketch in pencil, wax crayon, oil pastel or colored pencil on location and take reference photographs as necessary. As I seek the solitude of the landscape, I would hope my work would convey through the use of color, texture, contrast, value and composition the respect and spiritual reverence for our environment, and the land upon which we live, grow and die.”

                                 Robert Schlegel

                                   January 2004