By Doug Carman, Staff Writer
EAST WINDSOR Jules Weber saw the Robbins Reef Lighthouse while on a boating trip in New York Harbor.
Located in Bayonne, the lighthouse is quite a ways from the New York skyline, tucked just beneath the backdrop of Jersey City.
He overcame a bit of a sea sickness to take a few photos, then went back to his Port Redding home studio, where he sketched the details on paper. He then took to his painting knives.
The re-creation ”realism, but a little impressionistic,” by Mr. Weber’s description is among 20 paintings on display at the Meadow Lakes art gallery through the end of February.
The display includes several award-winning paintings from the 44th New Jersey Senior Art Show, which was hosted there in October.
Meadow Lakes resident Ann Benedict, who is part of the retirement center’s art committee, said she first noticed Mr. Weber’s paintings at Meadow Lakes’ 2009 arts show. She has taken an interest in his work since.
After last year’s show, she said Mr. Weber asked if he could put his work on display. She was happy to approve the request.
”I think it’s lovely, I think he does a very nice job,” Ms. Benedict said. “I like his style of work that he does.”
Part of his tactic is in recreating his photos. When painting a portrait of an oil refinery he visited in Perth Amboy, Mr. Weber, 76, said he used the edge of his painting knife to get every pipeline in its detail. His technique is to let the paint dry, then touch it up with a few more layers to make them stand out.
In all of his works, Mr. Weber said he likes to focus on painting his impressions of older architecture and ruins that he sees in his travels. Though he may capture obvious landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the detail in the foreground is dedicated to fences, ships and more mundane structures where he’s standing.
”I look for that color,” Mr. Weber said. “I like to key in on the snow, the birds, the shadows.”
The gallery is open every day inside Meadow Lakes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
