GETTIN' THERE... It's about ME, Frank Emrick

 My art education started pre kindergarten watching my father copy Popeye from the comic section of the newspaper. Seemed like a good way to start. My education continued with Saturday art classes at Bradley University. Also studied with Ed Nicholson, a full time fine artist and portrait painter. As a high school senior I won a National Scholastic Awards Competition scholarship in 1948. Frank Young Sr., the president of The American Academy of Art in Chicago, was one of the 3 judges of the competition and chose me for his school where I studied life drawing and painting under the tutelage of Bill Mosby.
After art school I entered the world of commercial art and during the next 19 years became proficient in design, production, illustration and photo retouching at several ad agencies and art studios in Illinois and Wisconsin. That “eating” thing.
In 1969, I started my own business as Emrick & Associates and in 1976, I became one of the founders of Ads Infinitum, an advertising agency. My main function was as Account Executive, advising clients on how to spend their money for advertising. I also was the source for the creative content and copy writing for my accounts. In sixteen years our agency won more than 100 awards for excellence in advertising. Also learned more about manure handling equipment and the reproductive anatomy of cows than you can work into most conversations.
In 1992, I “retired” from ad biz to pursue a more leisurely lifestyle. While the leisure phase has dominated my life since then, I have been devoting more and more time to fine art and attending workshops by many of today’s well known fine artists.
I don’t have a niche. I paint what interests me. My background is “commercial” art. “Graphic” art now days. Sounds better. PC.
After 80 summers, I’m now enjoying the “fine” art phase of my life.
The kick off of this phase was prompted by being juried into the Oil Painters of America national show in 2005, with a portrait of my son-in-law titled, “Been There, Done That”. The OPA 2009 Eastern Regional show was also instrumental in getting gallery representation by the Wee Gallery of Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ.
My art competition activity has been limited:
1. Secura Insurance Co. annual competition “Best of Show” in 1999, and several Honorable Mention awards in other years.
2. Juried into The 2005 Oil Painters of America National show at the Hilligoss Galleries in Chicago for a portrait titled, “Been There, Done That”.
3. Juried into six Richeson 75 competitions. The latest, Still Life & Floral, July & August, and Figure & Portrait in September & October. Entries shown above and below.
4. Still life, “Reincarnation” juried into the 2008 OPA Eastern Regional exhibit at the Richland Gallery in Nashville. Awarded a $500 Award of Excellence.
5. Painting “Good Dog” juried into the 2009 OPA Eastern Regional Competition. Sold.
6. Listed in top 15% of entries in the FineArtonLine, artists web site host, monthly competition for September and November, 2009.

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