Artist Fred Mobley to be honored with opening reception on Sunday

Published 12:00 pm Friday, May 2, 2014

This Sunday, May 4, artist Fred Mobley will be honored with a reception by the Leeds Arts Council, Inc.

His work will be on exhibit through May 29. The reception will be at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center, 8140 Parkway Drive, downtown Leeds, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  The public is invited. There is no fee; however, his work will be available for purchase.

Fred Mobley has been drawing for as long as  he can remember.  His uncle taught him perspective drawing when he was six.  As a child, he tore open paper grocery bags to get large sheets of paper.  In high school, he majored in art and received several awards from the national magazine Scholastic.  However, after high school, he decided to pursue engineering drafting and design and let his interest in art wane.  He satisfied his creative urges through photography and won several awards for his photographs in the 1980s and 1990s.  His photographs appeared in some regional and national calendars.  

As time passed, other responsibilities led to less and less time to spend on photography so he put his cameras on the shelf.   In retirement, he, again, became interested in the arts.  He watched and followed the instructions given by a television artist.  After seeing one of paintings, a family member challenged him to get back to his own painting.   At first he made excuses but finally bought some paints and brushes and an instruction book or two and began to paint his first painting in over twenty years. 

Mobley has concentrated on landscapes and has been working in oils, acrylics, watercolor, and watercolor with pen and ink.  Although some of his favorite artists are Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, Grant Wood and Andrew Wythe, he does not try to follow one style or school of painting.  As he says, he tries to take a little from here and a little from there.   While developing his own personal style, he tries to learn techniques from others but not copy their particular styles.

Mobley’s desire is to produce paintings that strike him as beautiful.  Many of his paintings tell a story but it is up to the viewers to bring their own stories to his paintings.  His desire is to produce something that caresses the eye and produces a feeling of pleasure or perhaps, nostalgia.   Mobley credits God for his artistic talent and his desire to create, giving Him credit for whatever paintings he is able to create.

Mobley is a member of the Watercolor Society of Alabama and of the Fultondale Arts Council.  He recently was awarded an honorable mention in an art contest in support of the new  Warrior, Alabama library. 

For more information regarding the reception and/or to inquire about upcoming activities, make reservations for May events; or join the arts council; call the art center at 699-1892 and visit the arts council’s website at www.leedsartscouncil.org.  Gallery hours are Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and during LAC events.  In case of inclement weather, call ahead to check on re-scheduling plans.