Tamaqua artist Lance Hafer will show his work for the first time when his “Earth and Sky” exhibit debuts March 7 at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, located on Pine Street.

“I am more excited than nervous,” said Hafer, a 1988 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School who grew up in nearby Hometown. “I have been working to get an opportunity to present some of my pieces and doing it in my hometown seems like a good starting point.”

The arts center will host an opening reception and artist meet and greet at 6:30 p.m. March 7, with the exhibit on display through the end of March.

“Earth and Sky,” Hafer said, “represents what I observe while traveling and while being out in the wilderness. The things that are all around us to observe and appreciate by simply getting outside and spending some time in nature.”

Prior to his exhibit opening, Hafer - who started painting in 2017 - took time to discuss his art and hopes for the future.

Q:

What interested you in art, and was it wildlife or other subjects you drew off the bat?

A:

I always liked to draw, mostly dinosaurs when I was a child. I think the entire creative process is what got me interested in art, from the layout and sketching of ideas of the subject matter to finishing with color and detailing. I started drawing more wildlife as I spent more time in the forests and fields around my childhood home in Hometown.

Q:

Did your childhood home provide the biggest inspiration for your art?

A:

Definitely. My home provided most of the inspiration, allowing me to observe many birds and animals by simply being outside and near the forest.

Q: Who are some of your favorite/most influential artists?

A:

Ned Smith is a favorite artist of mine, having painted many of the covers for Pennsylvania Game News. He painted with such detail and accuracy, leaving no question as to what kind of bird or animal you were looking at in his paintings.

Bob Ross is a large influence, as well. He proved that a great painting does not have to take months to complete and that any mistake or wrong brush stroke can be fixed.

Q:

As a self-taught artist, do you have an educational background in art?

A:

I do not have a background in art, at least through formal education. I attended Penn State to study landscape architecture. Through that, I was able to continue drawing while in college and throughout my career while working with different landscape firms in Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Q:

How would you describe your art, and any favorites among your work?

A:

My art is mostly based on realism, trying to replicate what I see or take photos of. I try to create some kind of mood or situation to keep the paintings interesting. My favorite piece of art is whatever I am currently working on, because it is still fresh and evolving until completion.

Q:

Do you find it challenging, given your landscaping work, to find time to paint?

A:

My job allows me to stay busy artistically, designing landscapes with trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. This proves to be helpful when painting wildlife or landscapes because I am familiar with the plant material and colors that become part of the paintings.

Q:

What would you consider the highlights of your art career thus far?

A:

Seeing the joy or emotion that a painting can bring forth when someone looks at the painting. I find it very gratifying when someone chooses to bid on and pay for a painting that I created, even though they probably have no idea who I am as an artist.

Q:

Looking ahead, what would you like to accomplish in regard to your art?

A:

I would like to keep painting as long as my body and mind permit, while always striving to improve my own skill set. The ultimate goal is to make a living doing what I love: painting.