September 19 – October 19, 2010
Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery
Robert Withers was born in 1927 in Los Angeles, California. At an early age he exhibited an unusual interest in drawing ships, locomotives, airplanes and such. His interest in things mechanical led to a career in engineering, from which he retired in 1989. His love of drawing led to his taking up oil painting in 1945 while recuperating at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He pursued painting off and on over the years. Some art instruction was provided by his uncle, Ted Withers, a professional artist, and painting classes at the Flemish Art Studio in North Hollywood.
A September 2000 study of Alice Kent Stoddard's portraint of Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones. From the permanent collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
In 1993 Withers decided to make painting his second career. Seeking further instruction he attended Albright College in 1993 and then the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) from 1994 through 2001.
Withers has exhibited paintings at nine PAFA student exhibitions, the 23rd Daylesford Abbey Show, three Chester Springs Studio Shows, the 101st PAFA Fellowship Exhibition, several Wayne Art Center Juried Art Exhibitions, and, in 2010, a solo exhibition at the Wayne Art Center.
In addition, his work has been displayed and sold by Gallery 20, Reading, the Windy Bush Gallery, New Hope, and the White Swan Gallery, Elverson, Pennsylvania.
Withers currently maintains an active studio in Geigertown, Pennsylvania.
Image: Robert Withers, Bill
