SALEM, OR.- The Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University will open the exhibit John Van Dreal: Still Lifes and Figures starting on January 6 and running through March 3, 2007. John Van Dreal: Still Lifes and Figures features recent work by this highly regarded Salem painter, who draws on Old Master techniques to create still lifes, landscapes, and figures that are reminiscent of Dutch painters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but with a contemporary feel. The exhibition will include work created in 2005 and 2006.

A third generation Van Dreal artist, John began painting at age 7 with instruction from his father, an accomplished water color artist.With the support of his four parents, each providing encouragement in the form of ideas, creativity, work ethic and financial support, John continued to paint, study and refine his skills.

He earned his formal art education from Brigham Young University, receiving his BFA under the instruction of Greenwich Workshop artist James C. Christensen, oil painter Bruce Smith and printmaker Jenni Christenson.Following his BFA, John completed his graduate work in Educational Psychology.

An award-winning artist, John has received much recognition through solo and group exhibitions at Les Bijoux Fine Arts, Lawrence Gallery, Antoinette Hatfield Gallery, University of Oregon Museum of Art, Bakersfield Museum of Art and Alder Gallery.Some of his works are included in the collections of: Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Governor’s Mansion - Mahonia Hall, Bakersfield Museum of Art, University of Portland, and the print collections ofBYU and Illinois University.He is currently a signature member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.

Born in Colorado and raised in Southern California, John has also lived in Northern California, Utah, South Africa and has traveled throughout Europe.John lives in Salem with his two children.In addition to his work as an artist, he works as a school district psychologist for Salem-Keizer Schools.

“I have considerable admiration for the Masters and employ their established composition formulas to determine the dimension and design of my work.I then build surface and texture through layered oil painting combined with glazing to renderform and capture light.As a result of this process and style, my completed work is reminiscent of Classical Realism with a contemporary edge.

Although I often focus on light and form as content, my intrigue with symbolism and iconography tends to find dominance in many of my pieces.By combining symbol and form with established aesthetic principles and time-proven techniques I hope to create evocative, contemporary images that find expression on aesthetic, intellectual and spiritual levels.”