Meet the Artist - Russell O'Neal

 
A former policeman and a father of five, Russell O’Neil, 78, began painting about 30 years ago when he was unable to pursue his carving hobby. “I used to do wood carvings of animals. Then my arthritis kicked up, and that was the end of my painting,” he says. O’Neal’s oil painting “Home before Dark” is one of the works on display for “Celebrate Arts and Aging” being sponsored by PCA and Phillyfunguide this May. Now on exhibit at Rembrandt’s restaurant in the city’s Fairmount section, the oil painting depicts a street of houses at night, with warm yellow light glowing in their windows. “The light shows that people are home, and nobody’s heading home,” the artist explains.

Russell prefers to work with oil, which he calls more forgiving than any other paint. “If you don’t like what you did, you can wipe it off and start all over,” he says.

Since retiring from his last job, managing a food cupboard for the AIDS Task Force of Philadelphia, Russell has devoted himself wholeheartedly to artistic pursuits. A resident of Philadelphia’s Bridesburg neighborhood, he studied painting briefly through non-credit classes at Holy Family College.  For the past 14 years, he has pursued his avocation through painting classes at Community College of Philadelphia, where he takes advantage of the senior discount and enjoys the camaraderie of fellow artists, many of whom are in his age group. 

“Usually I paint alone in my studio. This way I’m with other people,” O’Neal says. He also pursues his art studies through independent reading. His home art studio doubles as an art library, with books “A to Z” on artists, art techniques, and museums worldwide.

 Asked if makes a living though art, O’Neal shrugs. “I sell three to four paintings a year on average. Then I use my profits to buy more painting supplies.”

The “Celebrate Arts and Aging” exhibit at Rembrandt’s Restaurant, 741 North 23rd Street, is open Monday – Friday, 11:30 am - 5:00 pm, through  May 28. (Call 215-763-2228 for Saturday and Sunday hours. )

“Celebrate Art and Aging” also features four Meet-the-Artists receptions this month, including the reception at Rembrandt’s on Sunday, May 23,  2 – 4 p.m. Click here for more information on exhibit sites and receptions.