A collection of cartoons, photography, paintings and digital paintings are included in the upcoming exhibit “This and That” by artist Dennis Edwards on display at Gallery 200, 200 Main Street, West Chicago, throughout the month of March 2012.

Edwards first realized his interest in art during fourth grade, when he befriended a fellow classmate who enjoyed drawing superheroes. Edwards then began illustrating Peanuts characters which typically were drawn on the inside covers of paperback books he found at home. Eventually, his mother began questioning the lack of covers on the books in the bookcase and his “official” start as an artist began when his parents subsequently purchased his first drawing paper.

A year later, his best friend’s grandfather, retired commercial artist Paul Hamlin, noticed Edwards’ interest in illustration and approached his parents about the possibility of tutoring him in art. Edwards spent the next two years learning traditional commercial art techniques from a man whose skills were honed during a time when illustrations were drawn and type was set by hand.

Edwards has had time over the years to reflect on his tutoring with Hamlin and still treasures the framed and signed illustration his mentor presented to him. He now realizes that the skills he learned prior to Hamlin’s death were from a bygone era. Edwards said, “I wish I’d met him when I was older so that I could have appreciated him more.”

He went on to graduate from Judson College with a Fine Arts degree. His passion was for illustrating comic books and he began looking for work by sending samples to publishing companies after graduation. He was eventually hired by Baker Books to illustrate a 400-page religious comic storybook which took one and a half years to complete. He was subsequently hired and worked the next 10 years as a staff artist. This is where he learned computer graphic art skills.

A new venture for Edwards combines his love of art and his interest in automobiles as an art form. It began after turning a photograph of a 1957 Porsche into a digital painting. Since then, he has taken photographs of other antique cars in various stages of restoration and created digital images of what the finished car might look like. Edwards said, “I don’t consider myself a gear-head. My interest in cars is simply from a design perspective.”

Edwards has also enjoyed photography since high school and has recently taken classes to become more familiar with his digital SLR camera. A West Chicago resident for over 10 years, many of his images are of local landmarks and nature preserves and he prefers candid images of people as opposed to portraiture.

Working in varied capacities as an artist, he currently works as a freelance graphic design artist where he is able to combine his skills as a fine artist and computer artist. Although still in the beginning stages, Edwards’ next task involves working with a publisher to create comic-strip-style black and white cartoons to be presented in book form. Edwards said, “I am looking forward to the project, but I long for a day when I have time to create my own projects.”

A free Opening Reception on Saturday March 3, 2012, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Gallery 200, will include light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the artist and discuss his interest in a variety of media. His display will include original paintings, digital illustrations, photography and several books of illustrations for viewing.

Gallery 200 is a cultural initiative supported by the City of West Chicago and the West Chicago Cultural Arts Commission, and is one more reason West Chicago was named an Illinois Arts Friendly Community in 2007. Gallery 200 is open Thursday and Friday from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information, call (630) 293-9550 or visit www.gallery200.org.