Charlene Romanos
The PebbleCreek Art Club (PCAC) added a new category to this year’s fall show in order to recognize members who demonstrate a “Professional Excellence” in their artwork. The three judges who officiated over the award presentations selected two PCAC members who demonstrated this excellence in their work.
Gary Kotula who is a multi-talented artist was awarded a ribbon in this category, for his submission, Devils Arch.
Gary has been drawing for most of his life. He is a self-taught artist who has the gift of instinctively knowing how to create the perfect image on paper. Whether he is drawing caricatures or creating fine art portraiture in pen and ink, a magical talent emerges when his pen touches the paper.
Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Gary began his career as a technical illustrator for General Motors and Chrysler Defense. Although he was content at drawing car parts for service manuals, his dream was to be a western artist. He was finally able to fulfill his dream after he relocated to Arizona in 1986. The beauty of the state, with its scenic landscape, beautiful sunsets, 350 days of sunny weather, along with its wild western heritage became the inspiration for his many western-themed pen and ink drawings.
Along the way, creating caricatures became a natural extension of Gary’s humorous nature, calling them, ‘Garycatures.’ His special talent for drawing how a person would look in cartoon form made him a popular part of the entertainment at parties and events. Gary’s talent also extends to one-of-a-kind custom greeting cards, and logos for all types of businesses.
In addition to his membership and participation in the PCAC, Gary has been very active in the entertainment industry in Arizona and is known as an all-around entertainer, appearing in comedy shows, dinner theater, film, and commercials as well as singing and playing various musical instruments in bands at venues around the state. Currently, Gary has been appearing with a folk band called The Arizona Trio since 2008.
We congratulate Gary on winning this prodigious award and look forward to his continued work with the PCAC.
Curtis Patchin was also a recipient of the “Professional Excellence” award for his Mystical Vortex submission. His biography and photo will be in next month’s PebbleCreek Post issue.