Age places no limit on the talent of Rudi Swol, father of Diane Johnston, Export Distribution Account Manager at United Performance Metals. A Navy Medic during WWII, Rudi used funds from his GI Bill to study illustration. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, University of Massachusetts and Westfield University, Rudi spent years crafting original pieces in stained glass and painting in oil and acrylics. His family grew up surrounded by lovely and interesting art work reflecting the Northeast territory he called home.
“I can remember our yearly vacations to Cape Cod where Dad would sit out on the beach early in the morning with his easel and paints always capturing the most beautiful scenes of the birds and sunrises” recalls Diane.
Rudi has turned more recently to watercolors and has developed a fancy for painting on rocks of all shapes and sizes. The fondness his family and friends have developed for his work is evident in the pieces they display themselves. The bowl of strawberries pictured above center resided on Diane’s desk here at UPM in Hamilton, Ohio much to the envy of her coworkers! Diane also displays her favorite ocean scenes her father painted on her living room walls even now.
Rudi imparts his love for the work he creates as well. “I feel fortunate to have been given a gift that can be shared with so many.” Fortunately for the rest of us, he has no intention of stopping anytime soon!
At 86, Rudi is still being honored for his remarkable exhibitions, most recently at the Chicopee, Massachusetts Library. His polish pottery style adorned an entry for the Planes of Chicopee Gala. A fiberglass model of a C5 airplane was painted and auctioned off to benefit the Senior Center of Chicopee, MA. We’ll look forward to Rudi’s next inspiration!
Posted August 05, 2012
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