Ron Cummings displaying art work at West Lafayette Library
Ron Cummings will have his art work on display at the West Lafayette Branch Library during the month of June. He is pictured here with a painting he is working on and a mural he created that is on display in his classroom at the Church of Christ. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – Ron Cummings has always been interested in art.
“I can remember being a little kid and going to the bank with my Dad and just staring at the mural they had in there,” he said.
Cummings won his first blue ribbon in the second grade and is known to have a sketch book and pencil or pen handy.
Fairgoers have been seeing his work for almost 40 straight years, but this month people will also be able to enjoy some of his pieces at the West Lafayette Branch Library.
Cummings uses a variety of media in his art including pastels and ink and even decorates gourds.
“I like the challenge of painting gourds because they aren’t a flat paper or canvas,” he said.
What he is probably known best for though are his portraits of people.
“I like to draw people and then get their autographs,” Cummings said.
His sketch book is filled with several famous people he’s had the opportunity to meet and different bands and people who have performed at the Warehouse Steak n’ Stein where Cummings worked for several years.
“I did a picture of Garth Brooks and when I got his autograph he told me of all the pictures he’s had done of him I was the one who got closest to his nose.”
Cummings is mostly a self taught artist, but has taken some classes here and there over the years.
“I like to experiment with different styles of art,” he said. “My new style right now is using markers on glossy photo paper. It really makes a bright shiny piece.”
Cummings has examples of his new adventure in art in his display at the library.
To view his display, stop by the library in West Lafayette from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, noon to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday or 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The library is located at 601 East Main St.
“I’m inspired by everything around me, but I also really like history,” Cummings said. “Art should tell a story and everyone has one to share.”
Category: Arts & Entertainment
