As he points out, вЂњI referred to myself as an вЂeverything painterвЂ™ because my subject pool is vast. вЂњI focus on things we could all recognize and that we have in common during our time,вЂќ he explains.Д«ecause of the wide range of his work, he doesnвЂ™t fit neatly into any particular category. Instead, Beck often emphasized everyday scenes and places, such as bars, restaurants, shops, sports events, etc. But as curator David Leopold, who organized and catalogued the вЂњItвЂ™s PersonalвЂќ Michener exhibit, notes, вЂњHe did not want to recreate the paintings done by so many other historic artists of the area.вЂќ The Bucks County area is known as the Birthplace of Pennsylvania Impressionism, and has a storied artistic history. He also began moving away from portraiture, and found that the location offered many opportunities for his creativity - whether landscapes, on-site documentary painting from life, or studio work. He gravitated to the New Hope/Lambertville area, which was a gathering place for many artists, and he became a part of that community. In 1992, after two years at the Academy, he decided to venture forth, and see what the art world had in store for him. Could I be successful? I felt I could make a difference, that I had a voice, had something to say.вЂќ In addition, he points out, вЂњAt 40, I thought there was an opportunity to move forward. вЂњI knew that if I wanted to paint for a living, I had to learn from good people.вЂќ While he had already had success, including earning commissions for his portraits, he felt he needed more education in art. Then everything changed when, at the age of 40, he left his job, and enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. As he says, вЂњIвЂ™d see something, and IвЂ™d wonder if I could paint it.вЂќ His interest in painting continued over the years and, during his business career as a graphic artist for a packaging company, he regularly painted on weekends. His family moved from New Jersey to Bucks County, Pa., when he was 13, and this was to have a significant influence on him, both personally and ultimately professionally. Sports and music were important, and with a wide range of activities to engage him, he didnвЂ™t focus on any one pastime exclusively. I recognized early that visual imagery was a powerful language.вЂќД«eck was also exposed to art classes in school, and enjoyed sketching and painting, but he had other interests too. This was a huge influence on me as a child. вЂњHe did beautiful pencil drawings from photos of famous people, many on Navy stationery, while on a Pacific island in World War II. My father was a scientist, but talented with a pencil, and he would often draw his colleagues and others, including actors. His family enjoyed the arts, and as he recalls, вЂњArt was a part of life in my family. His creative journey actually began when he was a boy. His paintings are sought by art lovers, both knowledgeable collectors and individuals new to the world of art. The recipient of many awards and honors, Beck has exhibited his work in numerous museums, galleries, and other locations. Having taken up painting professionally at the age of 40, he has been remarkably successful. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., and вЂњRobert Beck: Recent WorksвЂќ at Morpeth Contemporary, the gallery in Hopewell. With their immediacy and compelling communication, his paintings engage the viewerвЂ™s attention and mindfulness, and indeed, recognition.Д¬urrently, his work is the focus of two exhibitions: вЂњItвЂ™s Personal: The Art of Robert BeckвЂќ at the James A. The work of painter Robert Beck does all of this. It may stimulate oneвЂ™s imagination, evoke a special memory, or introduce a new way of looking at something that appears familiar. So it is, also, that the meaning of a piece of art is unique to each beholder. (Photo by Bob Krist).Д« eauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder. ItвЂ™s a conversation - purposeful communication.вЂќ Painter Robert Beck is shown in his Solebury, Pa., studio. I try to give my viewers something to think about. ItвЂ™s all part of my life and the viewerвЂ™s. CONVERSATION AND COMMUNICATION: вЂњEvery painting I do, I set a challenge for myself, something I hope to learn and solve.

Eye of the beholder documentary