ournal

Iwanttobeabletogivebacktoacaringcommunitywhile havingasenseofsolitudeandpleasure.

A PORTRAIT OF BRUCE DELLINGER

Autumn Breeze

Without a Whisper of Weakness

WhenBruceDellingerofTimberville,Virginia
receivedthenewsthathewasthisyearsrecipientoftheArttoArtPalette Journalaward,heknewthatamilestonehadbeensurpassed.Nearly30years ofstudy,practice,andawholelotofpatiencehadfinallybeguntopayoff. BrucewasnotabletoaccepthisawardinpersonforAutumnBreeze becauseoftheextremeplanningand arrangementsthathadtobemadefor travelbuthewasthrilledjustthesame. Itwasnotuntilaftertheuplifting phonecallthatcamefromtheWassenberg ArtCenterinVanWert,Ohio,hostsofthe 55thAnnualJuneArtExhibitthatthe judgeslearnedjusthowremarkablethis artistwas.Basicallyselftaught,this amazingnaturesketchartistapplieseach strokeofthepencilwiththeonlytool availabletohim,histeeth.

OnJuly11,1981,Brucewashelpingneighbors balehay.Hisdesignatedspotwasinthetopofthe haymountwherebalesarrivedforstacking.Nota strangertothechoreathand,Brucewasbusyat workwhenayellowjacketapproachedhim.The normalresponsewastoswatatthepeskybeeand thisiswhentheyoungteenageboyfoundhimself introuble.Hisfeetbecametangledintwine, balancecompromisedandatumbleof25hayloft ensued.This14yearoldwasleftwithhis5thand 6thvertebraedamagedbeyondrepair,changinghis lifeforever. Asaquadriplegic,Dellingerhadtoaccepta newroleinaworldthatisnotverygivingor comfortablewiththoseslightlydifferent.After copingwithshockandadjustment,thefarmboys roughandtoughattitudebegantoemerge. Duringthesummerofhissophomoreyear,Bruce becameintriguedwiththeoilpaintingsofhisAunt Becky.Heneededanoutletforhisnewlifeandart seemedagoodwaytobegin. Oils,pastelsandfinallycharcoalweredifferent mediasthatDellingertried.KenSchuler, renownedpencilartist,begantoinfluenceBruceto

thebeautyanddetailofeverythinglivingaround him.Thedesireforcapturingnaturalscenesbegan toemergeandtheyoungmanfoundhimself fascinatedbythisnewoutlookonlife.Working withSchulerandotherartists,Brucediscovereda joythathethoughtwasgoneforever. ArtistssuchasRosemaryMillete,TerryRedlin andJerryGadamuscontinuetoinspireDellinger ashestrivestodelivertheessenceofperfectionin outdoorthemesandwildlife.Limitedtoaflat surfacewithpencilinplace,Bruceworksin15 minuteintervalssometimeshavingtotwistand placethepaperindifferentpositionsinorderto workondetails,curvesandfigures.Kingofthe Hillwasonesuchdrawingwheresomeofthe workwasactuallydoneupsidedown. WhenadmirersofDellingersworkseepieces suchasTheOldAndersonPlace,personal memoriesemerge,takingthemtoaquiet,happier time.ThisisthetypeofreactionthatBruceis thrilledtosee. Iwanttobeabletogivebacktoacaring communitywhilehavingasenseofsolitudeand
SeeWhispernextpage

King of the Hill

Whisper
pleasure,saysDellinger. Artworkliterallyfellintomy lapandImgladitdid. BrucehasaBSinPsychology andaminorinSpecial Education.Hehasgiven lecturestoareaschoolsand clubsbuthisrealpassionis witnessingnature,capturingits essenceandputtingtopaper. Hedonatesprintseachyearto differentorganizationsandisa memberofvariouswildlifeand natureorganizations. Hisphilosophyissimpleand tothepoint.Keepontruckin andgoasfarasyoucango. Alwaysbepassionateinyour workandrememberthatyour greatestgiftisgivingtoothers. Iwantotherstobeabletosense thespiritofnatureandreally watchhowwildlifemoves. Evokingemotionandhaving scenesjumpoffthepageismy ultimategoal. VisitBruceDellingers websiteat www.brucedellinger.comfor moreinformationonordering printsorschedulingoriginal work.Dellingerresideswith hisfamilyandtwocatsinthe beautifulhillsofVirginiawhere hecontinueshisgoaltobethe bestwildlifeandnatureartist possible. Dellingerhasneverusedhis unusualmethodofpaintingasa sensationbuthaslethiswork standonitsownmerit.The refusaltobeweakand unyieldinginhispassionof naturalbeautyisfinallypaying off.Followthisemergingartist closelyashebeginstomake headlines.
arttoartpalettejournal.comBruceDellinger2011

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