New Monthly Gathering of Illustrators welcomes all local artists

March 22, 2018 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Veteran artist Michael Kelleher presented a drawing workshop at last week’s meeting of the Western Massachusetts Monthly gathering of Illustrators.
Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – Love to draw and want to join in a local drawing community? Veteran artist Michael Kelleher has the answer for you.

Kelleher has started the Western Massachusetts Monthly Gathering of Illustrators, a group of professional, semi-pro and amateur artists who meet at the Bing Arts Center, 716 Sumner Ave., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month.

There is no admission fee and no membership dues and Kelleher has paid the Bing’s use fee for the first six months. He hopes to have a art show and fundraiser during the summer

At the first meeting, about 16 artists talked, listened to Kelleher present a talk on how to draw a human head, discussed their projects and looked at each other’s work.

Kelleher is an artist with more than 30 years experience in comics and has a company, Kellustration, that has become well known for its restoration of vintage comic book art for contemporary reprints.

He explained to Reminder Publications this isn’t his first effort to simply get area artists together and he used to do something similar at Trinity Methodist Church a few years ago. He said those meetings grew out of going to comic book conventions, talking with fellow artists and realizing some had formal training while others did not. They were artists because of their love of comic books.

“We all realized that we did things differently,” Kelleher added.

Eventually though fewer and fewer people attended. This effort is different as aspiring artists as well as veteran ones are invited to join.

“We can learn from one another,” Kelleher said.

Kelleher said the direction the art takes is from comics, but he explained comics and cartooning have their roots in fine art and what is discussed in the meetings can apply to both, as well to how to frame a photo.

“Everything is based on good drawing skills, the basic of art,” he added

Even fans who are not artists are invited to attend Kelleher said.

During the first meeting, he said he spoke to one man who sought advice about a career in art, something Kelleher enjoyed.

“At least come and have a good conversation,” he urged.

The next meeting will be April 11. More information can found at https://www.facebook.com/gatheringofillustrators.

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