Artist brings characters to life on canvas

Ray Freeman was well received at the January meeting of the Nevada Artists Association where he demonstrated and explained his techniques while working on a landscape in oil.

He is a featured artist at Artistic Viewpoints Gallery, 1368 Highway 395, Gardnerville.

There will be a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at the gallery and Freeman will also be offering a workshop at Artistic Viewpoints from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 11.

Freeman has been interested and involved in art (mostly drawing) since early childhood. He once considered pursuing a career in teaching art, but instead became a police officer after serving in the military. He retired from law enforcement after 28 years of service. While serving as a police officer, he was a forensic artist for a short time.

During that time he received training in facial sketching techniques used by forensic artists. His preferred medium is oil, but he is also very comfortable with pastels, pencil, and charcoal.

His preferred subjects are people - ones with character - but he also enjoys painting landscapes and still life paintings.

Freeman has been married to his high school sweetheart, Gayle, for 37 years. They have two children and two grandchildren who live in the Carson City/Reno area.

The Freemans are all native Nevadans. Gayle teaches Special Education at Carson Valley Middle School in Gardnerville.

For more information contact Artistic Viewpoints, 783-0633.