Art show to showcase work of two area artists

An upcoming Elyria Arts Council show will showcase over 100 years of combined experience.

An upcoming Elyria Arts Council show will showcase over 100 years of combined experience between two local artists.

David Pavlak and Megan Rowe, both Elyria residents, will show off art that spans their entire careers during the 100 Years of Art opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m., April 21, in the Elyria Arts Council Community Art Center and Gallery, 336 Broad St.

“We’ve both been painting for 50 years,” said Pavlak, who along with Rowe are founding members of the arts council board. “We came up with the idea of doing a retrospective and using the space here to show our combined works from earliest to latest.”

Rowe said her earliest painting was when she was 8 years old.

“I remember always being interested in art and having a brush in my hand,” she said. “I remember receiving a scholarship for a summer art camp through Allen School for one of my paintings. I’ve been painting ever since.”

Rowe described her painting career as off and on.

“My occupation for a while was as a picture framer,” she said. “I have also done a good amount of volunteer work for the community. I took time to raise a family, but art has been a passion of mine throughout the different chapters of my life.”

Pavlak said his art career had a similar path of being off and on.

“I didn’t solely sell art for a living until after I was laid off,” he said. “I use to live and work in Lorain at the steel mill, but I was laid off in 1982. The next five and half years I supported myself as an artist before working with race horses.”

Pavlak likens his painting process to that of an architect.

“I find architecture very fascinating,” he said. “It is all very well planned out and decided ahead of time. That is how I like to approach my paintings, with that same type of process. My love of architecture is also shown in my love for painting buildings. Buildings and structures often draw my eye and work as great subjects for my paintings.”

Rowe said she tends to lean more toward organic subject matter.

“I love drawing the curvy lines in nature,” she said. “Nature is beautiful and there is something about being able to capture nature at a certain point in time that always inspires me. Nature also allows me to look at and work with different shadings.”

Rowe said those who want to have art as a career need to be prepared for the difficulties the career brings.

“You should have a backup plan,” she said. “You need to have another job in place in case things to not go as planned. You also shouldn’t expect to get rich off of your art. You need to constantly work at it and schedule to show your art ahead of time. Make sure it is something you want to do, but follow your dreams if you are passionate about art”

Following the grand opening on April 21, the display will remain up until May 27 and be viewable Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.