Art Show Review:

In their first exhibiting association, representation artists Paul Chamberlain and Dahl Delu, both designers by trade, might display differing styles and methods, but in juxtaposition of the Glendale residents’ canvases, this union works out to be a beautiful collaboration.

Chamberlain’s artistic passion was ignited inside the walls of the art department while attending Eagle Rock High School.

“The teacher provided me and one other student a place to draw and paint,” he said. “I knew this was what I wanted to do.”

His acceptance into the prestigious Art Center College of Design followed. Upon graduation, Chamberlain left his hometown to take on various design projects nationwide, including a position as a designer of major appliances while living in Detroit. One of his finest achievements would come later, that of creating the logo for the Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco. To this day each BART train running graces his designed logo.

After returning home to Glendale, and settling into a career in advertising and graphic design, Chamberlain was approached by a close friend, a working artist, who encouraged him to return to his passion for painting.

After a 40-year hiatus from his brushes, out came the easel and onto the canvas he painted scenic memories, recalled by his travels on business throughout the United States, as illustrated in his piece “From West Seattle.” His inspiration for streams, deserts and numerous valleys didn’t stop there.

Many of his landscapes have been motivated by locations right here at home — including his own lush backyard.

“I’ve always loved color and shapes and off-beat subject matters,” Chamberlain said.

His affection for color is obvious. In addition to the brightness gracing many of his works, some of his greatest explosions of color, most interestingly, are reserved for his portraits of another passion, vintage hot rods and dragsters.

“I like the Impressionist view of automotive art” he said.

These works are particularly good. They grab and harness not just a mood, a time line, but they capture an event, and the excitement of that event as a spectator might feel it.