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By Eric Neurohr

Gazette Staff Writer

The great thing about looking at good art is that it will make you say, “Wow.” For their third exhibit on display through June 29 in the Bedford County Art Center, the eclectic artwork of Eric and Tracy Feather will mesmerize many viewers and leave them saying, “Wow.”

    Eric has been a artist for the majority of his life, but it was only by chance in early 2000 that Tracy joined him in the art world. Tracy, a former legal secretary, said she just couldn’t sit still while Eric was painting.

    “I was in his studio watching him work and needed something to do so I said give me a lump of clay,” Tracy said.

    Tracy said she mainly uses just a pottery wheel and an oven to make most of her creations, but for some of the more “twisted” designs she also uses an extruder that’s like a Play-doh press.

    One of those cylindrical designs, “Some Guy I Know,” that’s special to her is holding a paintbrush and an easel.

    “This is my idea of a portrait of Eric,” Tracy said.

    Eric uses a variety of different paints, acrylics, charcoal and even inserts pieces of newspaper to add life to his abstract art. Eric said he usually starts with a preconceived concept and a sketch, then the painting starts to take form.

    “Creative art induces creative thought,” Eric said as he points to a painting of lilies called “Universe in Reverse.” “It’s a reciprocal process.”

    “Universe in Reverse” is a unique painting, much like the rest of Eric’s paintings. But it’s how he got the idea for the painting that’s amazing.
“The board that this is painted on used to be a pallet that I kept paint cans on,” Eric said, pointing to circles in the painting. The old paint cans left round stains on the pallet and Eric incorporated the stains into the painting.

    Many artists start a painting with a blank canvas. Eric said canvas is OK, but he would rather use a nice sturdy piece of wood.
“The wood is just better to work on for the mixed media art that I usually do,” Eric said.

    Eric enhances his art by adding physical touches, like the newspaper pieces and even a light switch, to make the painting jump out at the viewer.
A native of Bedford County, Eric found a hidden interest in art at a young age from watercolor paints given to him by his parents.

    “They probably did it just to keep me busy at the time,” Eric said.

    Eric’s parents encouraged his desire by paying for private art lessons with local artist Jane Gayman.

    Eric studied art through college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education in 1991.

    Eric said it was at IUP that he started to experiment and his art
started to become what people see today.

    “I studied with a lot of abstract expressionism professors,” Eric said.

    Along with creating extraordinary art of his own, he also helps shape young artists by teaching art at Tyrone Area High School.

    Eric said in his nine years of teaching there have been many student artists that left him saying, “Wow.”

    One of the paintings on display is a portrait of one of Eric’s former students called “Wordlessness.” The painting has a written story on top of the portrait.  “This kid was really talented, but he had a lot of crazy ideas, and the story explains some of that,” Eric said.

    Eric is a member of several other art organizations including Bedford Arts Council, Art In Common in Altoona and the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh.
    Eric and Tracy will be in attendance for a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. June 8 at the arts center.

    The Bedford County Arts Center is located in the Anderson House at 137 E. Pitt St. The gallery and shop are open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through
Saturday.

    Eric and Tracy are also planning to open their new studio gallery at their home in Imler by early summer.  For more information, visit the Web site www.ericfeather.com.