Art Shop opens new exhibit of paintings

Al Fenske talks about one of his paintings on display at the Art Shop. Michelle Workman/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

Having displayed his photographs earlier this summer that he had taken over the years and around the world, Al Fenske is now exhibiting his paintings at the Art Shop for members of the community to view or purchase through the rest of July and August.

Fenske said he first started painting out of boredom shortly after he joined the military as a teenager, using paint-by-number canvasses, using his footlocker as a surface. While he did not especially like that style of painting, Fenske said it got him started in oils and began a hobby that would continue through the 1950s and '60s.

Upon leaving the army, Fenske considered attending the art institute in Chicago on the G.I. Bill, but ended up going to theater school instead.

"All of this kind of faded away," Fenske said of that hobby, adding he would sometimes paint over the weekends.

Eventually Fenske went to the art institute for his master's degree, but he did not start painting again until the past decade, completing a few paintings as props for a play in 2006 while he taught at Cottey College and several more upon his retirement.

Fenske also more recently discovered some of his first paintings, stored in that same footlocker he had used in the Army. Those paintings, as well as ones painted in recent years, will be on display at the Art Shop.

While he recently decided to put aside his photography for a time because of the large number of photos he already had at his home, Fenske said he might continue painting, especially after recently receiving canvasses from his daughter for Father's Day.

The paintings used as props, as well as paintings of scenes of photographs taken of Lincoln Park in Chicago, a country club in Canada and Mount Rainier as well as many other sights can be seen and purchased at the Art Shop.

Since he has used photographs for his paintings in the past, Fenske said he might begin using his own photographs he has taken over the years as inspiration for future paintings.

"The Art Shop is proud to host his work," said owner Andrew McNair.