Professor speaks at museum Artist offers inspiration, views by Nick Church The Ranger reporter

Robert Jessup, an associate professor of art at the University of North Texas in Denton, gave a talk and slide presentation at Amarillo College Tuesday.

"I like the exposure," Jessup said. "That is why we do this: to share this with people."

A preview of Jessup's paintings which will go on display next month at the Amarillo Museum of Art followed his presentation.

"I liked his sense of humor, and he is not afraid to be the modern definition of an artist," said Ryan Swanson, a fine arts major.

Jessup's exhibit is co-sponsored by the AC Art Club and the Museum of Art.

"I have more than 300 paintings of mine in collections all over the country," he said.

One of Jessup's paintings sold for $30,000. His first widely recognized painting was "Dog Instructions II" in a group show in New York.

"I believe the future artists will be inspired, because he used his own method in his own way to establish himself," said John Petty, a fine arts major.

Some of the paintings displayed in a slide show fit into the domestic genre, single figures and allegories categories.

"Professor Jessup is successful, and he has a unique style," Swanson said.

"It will teach the new, upcoming artists not to be afraid of having individual style."
Jessup has been at UNT for 12 years and has been a professional for 23 years.

"I teach my students how to paint the picture or a painting from a painting, and I teach all levels of figure drawing and painting," he said.

The paintings on exhibition were created specifically for the Amarillo Museum of Art.

"I think AC brought Jessup here so they can extend more culture into Amarillo," Petty said. "It is always good to bring people from other places to extend our culture."

"Turkey" and "Man with a Hummingbird" were the paintings on display at the museum.

Jessup piles up the paint with a thick texture, and there always is a historical reference to his artwork. Most of his work is figurative art.

"I make it up as I go along," he said. "My paintings stand for something.
"I've been using oil paint for 20 years."

"His art was so real," Swanson said. "I liked it."

"Robert Jessup: Myth and Magic" will be on display at the Museum of Art from May 4 through June 22.