Participating in this year’s Not So Bad Art by Good People contest hosted by the Logan County Art League was a natural fit for Logan County Commissioner Joe Antram, who has been inspired throughout his lifetime by talented artists in his family and also by his former art teacher.

He said Lea Lewis was his junior high school art teacher and was a respected artist in the Indian Lake area.

“She worked with me on projects that featured landscapes. So I’ve dabbled with painting and drawing since I was a youngster.”

In addition, Antram’s mother, Janie, took several art courses at Urbana University and was quite the artist, he noted.

“We have a few of her creations displayed in our home.”

Then in more recent years, some of that artistic flare has filtered through the generations and Antram’s daughter, Melanie, is currently an art teacher. She was very helpful in deciding how to approach his painting for the contest, entitled, “Sunset on Old Field Beach.”

“Her advice regarding perspective helped with painting the shadows produced by the sunlight at dusk,” the county commissioner said. “Melanie also recommended gradually smaller strokes on the waves as they got further away from the observer and closer to the shoreline.”

Antram said he selected Old Field Beach as his subject for the painting because he enjoys “motoring by there each time I am boating on Indian Lake.

“Looking west across the water at sunset can be very dramatic when there is light cloud cover.”

One of his goals for the work involved contrasting textures from the smooth sky to the rough white caps on the lake surface.

“The red, pink and orange colors of the sky are mirrored on the waves directly under the glowing sun. I also used quite a bit of water and movement to add random patterns to the sunshine, cloud and tree line areas of the composition.

“The makeup of the shoreline includes three red-roofed structures that make it easily identified as Old Field Beach.”

The Indian Lake High School graduate said he hopes his painting evokes a calming peace that time spent on the water can bring.

“For many, a beautiful sunset is a relaxing recognition of the end of a day well-lived.
“The total content of the work should give anyone familiar with Indian Lake the warm feeling you get when watching the sun slowly set on the horizon of one of the most beautiful areas in Logan County.”

Antram is among 10 celebrity artists whose pieces are now displayed at Citizens Federal Savings & Loan, 100 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, during bank lobby hours Monday through Friday for public voting.

Continuing through Jan. 26, everyone in the community is invited to view the art and vote for their favorites. Voting is $1 per vote, and there are no restrictions on the number of times a person can vote.

In addition, voting will be available online at the Art League’s website: https://logancountyartleague.org/.
The winner of the community vote will be announced at a celebration event and dinner, slated for Jan. 26 at the Bellefontaine VFW, 216 Orchard Ave., beginning at 5 p.m.
After the celebration dinner, all of the works of art are auctioned off, with proceeds supporting the activities of the Logan County Art League.

Anyone in the community is invited to attend the celebration dinner; tickets are required for food and drinks being served from 5 to 6 p.m. A reservation form is available at the Citizen’s Federal art display or on the Art League website.

The public is also invited to attend the auction that begins at 7 p.m. and participate free of charge.

A number of community companies have donated to support Not So Bad Art By Good People. At this point, sponsors include Citizen’s Federal Savings and Loan, Richwood Bank, Liberty Chiropractic, Alan Galvez Insurance, The Middlefield Banking Company and The Lions Club.

Logan County Commissioner Joe Antram paints “Sunset on Old Field Beach” for the Not So Bad Art by Good People contest. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)