There will be a circle for everyone at the Redlands Art Association's September featured show by artist Rudolph Vessup.
“My main theme is to keep your circle happy,” Vessup said, talking about life and family.
He stumbled upon his first circle painting playing around with circles, then filling each one with paint. He liked it so much that he kept refining and adding this abstract style to his work, typically in the background. Geometric figures give the painting a movable effect.
(L-R) "Butterflies" and "Citrus Escape" by Rudolph Vessup. (Photos: Courtesy)
Circles are not the only shapes Vessup works with, he has a series of black and white checkered paintings. And currently, he also works on jazz inspired artwork. Years ago, he worked on violin and music instrument paintings but he couldn’t figure out how to finish them, by adding circles to the background he did.
"A Rainy Day" by Rudolph Vessup (Photo: Courtesy)
Last year, a man approached Vessup with an unusual request: beach scenes filled with snacks. "I can’t draw, but I’ve got some ideas I’d like to see,” the man explained. Vessup ran with it. “I still got those babies,” he said, laughing. “The idea and the challenging part, I love that.”
Drawing inspiration from family, great artists
“I was drawn to art because of my older brother,” he said. At age 12 he began playing around with painting, and continued both in junior high and high school. “I had this passion of creating.” His brother told him, “You have the power to make them think what you want them to think.”
As he got older, he was inspired by looking at old art books in thrift stores, which began a deep fascination with the great artists, Picasso and Pollock among them. The variety of artists in the world made him want to create in all kinds of artforms.
Working on acrylic art was a way for him to relax after a long work day. For a while he worked at the School of Hope in San Bernardino, the same place as July’s featured artist, Rich Cummings, who was an inspiration to him. He taught Vessup how to add depth to his art.
“I just like it popping,” Vessup said. The structure is created with sand and numerous layers of paint.
In the 1990’s Vessup exhibited his art throughout Southern California; The San Bernardino Cultural Center, Norman F. Fieldhym Library Gallery, UCLA Medical Center and more.
This culminated in Vessup renting two ball rooms at the Hilton Hotel in San Bernardino in 1994 to showcase his artwork. There was live music, an ice sculpture, appetizers and wine and a fashion show with clothes from around the world. Even though the event did not end up kick-starting a full-time art career, “We had a blast,” he said, never regretting having gone all in.
For a while life with raising 8 kids took priority over his art. Now in retirement it’s time to return to making more art and be an example to his 13 grandkids.
“There is so much negative,” he said, mentioning how he wants his artwork to be the opposite – optimistic and uplifting. He described art like a dirty kitchen, “You go in and wash the dishes and then everything is in its place. That’s the way it is with me and art.”
Sometimes a painting reveals surprises to him. A painting of the bird of paradise flower revealed hummingbirds and Vessup embraced the idea. “Oh, I am keeping it just like that, I am not going to correct it,” he said. “It’s fun with paint!”
Vessup has experienced people buying one of his pieces, and returning the next day to get another. One client bought eight paintings and invited him to see them displayed at their home.
Meet the artist
You can find Vessup’s original artwork both in Redlands and at Banning Art Gallery. He has participated in Art on State Street, Art in the Park, Art for Heaven’s Sake and at Escape Brewery in downtown Redlands. His work has been awarded at juried shows in the Redlands gallery, the 2023 Fall Festival of Art and the 2024 of the Wild West Festival Western Art Show.
To be the featured artist in Redlands is an honor.
“What I like about this gallery is you see so many variations of talents and that’s what encourages me to paint,” he said. Vessup’s artwork is flanked by poems written by his wife, Diana Vessup. She has written poetry since 1979, many of them are spiritual.
Come meet Vessup and his wife, see his original work at the upcoming Open House event on September 6th, from 1 to 4 p.m.
The show runs from August 30 to September 26.
About artist Rudolph Vessup
Instagram: @vessupgallery Facebook: look up ‘Rudolph Vessup’
About the Redlands Art Association Address: 215 E State St, Redlands CA 92373. RAA website: redlands-art.org RAA social media: facebook.com/RedlandsArtAssociation and @redlandsartassociation on Instagram. Opening hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays closed.
Featured artist show by artist Rudolph Vessup runs from August 30 to September 26. An open house event is planned for Saturday, September 6th from 1 to 4 p.m.
Siw is the ultimate cheerleader of what happens in Redlands. She is a dual citizen (Danish and American) who likes to write about what is new as much as about the things we take for granted.
