BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
JENNIFER AMATO Robert Pyke proudly displays his abstract paintings at the municipal building’s Gallery of Art. NORTH BRUNSWICK — Oil and water don’t mix.
But for Robert Pyke, 53, the Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services’ Artist of the Month, the two substances are a perfect match.
A resident of North Brunswick since 1999, Pyke says his main medium for painting is oil on canvas.
“I use a water base and oil. Water and oil naturally want to pull apart. The oil is underneath so the water color over it pulls and creates a skin effect,” he said.
Pyke is presenting his abstract paintings at the Gallery of Art at the municipal building throughout April.
“I do figuratives and still lifes, but I chose the theme of abstracts for the gallery,” he said.
Pyke said his paintings called “Fusion” resemble “blown-up skin cells.” His paintings titled “Chasm” have geometric lines. For texture, Pyke placed a piece of tracing paper onto the wet paint and briskly pulled it off.
“It makes the color come through so there is more of a design,” he said.
Pyke does not follow a strict regimen when completing his artwork.
“I like to do something every day because it is hard to start with a layer of paint with a few dabs of color and walk away. I can do one in a couple of days or I can do one in a couple of weeks if it is not working right. I can get very frustrated but I work through it,” he said.
“I start and see what works,” he continued. “The colors I use are arbitrary. I’m happy when I first see them, but after a few days, I might change the color and design. I see if the design flows together; if not, I paint over it.”
Pyke has been involved with art all of his life.
“I won an art medal in fifth or sixth grade. My main thing is drawing. Painting came to me in my teens and took over,” he said. “I would also like to sculpt.”
Pyke’s dream would have been a career in art.
“I wanted to be an artist, but it is hard to make a living. There is a lot of competition,” he said.
Instead, Pyke has been working at The Star-Ledger since 1994.
“I work in silk-screen printing. The pages come out as big negatives; we burn them onto plates, and then the plates go to the press. We know the news before the public does,” he said.
Pyke believes his artistic nature is a mixture of schooling and talent.
“I believe every artist is born with a certain talent. But I did go to art classes when I was young, and I went to the Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts in New York,” he said.
Pyke’s work has been displayed locally as well as in New York.
“I have shown my art at the Barnes & Noble on Route 1, VIP Gym, Mercer County Community College, and in Trenton, Queens, the East Village and SoHo.”
Pyke is inspired by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, American painters Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat and Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti.
“I try to be original. I get inspiration from other artists but I try not to copy them,” he said.
To contact Pyke about any of his artwork call (732) 940-8336. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The municipal building is at 710 Hermann Road. Call (732) 247-0922, ext. 475, for more information.