By: Katy Coakley
Beautiful and inspiring figure drawings are now on display in a new exhibition from painter and drawer, Jeffery Cote de Luna.
The show opened on Sept. 27 in the O’Connor Art Gallery and featured a variety of drawings and portraits made by Cote de Luna from 1972 to 2003. A gallery talk and reception was also held.
Cote de Luna said his portrait courses at the Art Institute of Chicago influenced his drawings in the gallery.
“I had to learn really quickly because when you are drawing examples for students, you have to be pretty good or else you will not be credible,” said Cote de Luna. “When doing the demonstrations, I learned that I really liked working figures and portraits.”
He explained how he wants guests to appreciate all the figures, portraits, and mark making in the drawings.
“Everyone’s handwriting is different, so you can see my hand in my drawings,” said Cote de Luna. “That is something I really push with my students because I have taught figure drawing since I got here. This is the first semester I am not teaching it because I am planning to retire.”
Cote de Luna also stated that the process of the drawings would take about six to eight hours.
“The model would come over for a three-hour session per drawing,” said Cote de Luna. “We like to call them slow drawings and I think the longer you take to develop a drawing, the more time it takes to appreciate the drawing. I was thinking about doing two rows of drawings on the wall, but it would take up more time.”
Frank Spidale, an assistant painting professor, talked about how impressive it is to watch Cote de Luna help students learn how to draw.
“What Jeffery is teaching is essentially what he is doing as well,” said Spidale. “Jeffery has been teaching for almost 30 years and it is good to see that he has been working on his own drawings.”
Spidale believes that painting and drawing students will be inspired by Cote de Luna’s sketches.
“A lot of what we do in our own classes follow in the lines of what Jeffery’s work has shown,” said Spidale. “If you look at what he is doing, you will see that it is a continuation for students to look at and learn from.”
Bill Kerr, a graphic design professor, said he thinks the exhibition presents both the development of Cote de Luna’s art and dedication to his craft.
“We are lucky to have such an example of excellence right here at Dominican,” said Kerr. “His work demonstrates curiosity, rigor, and excellence.”
Kerr stated that he appreciated how all Cote de Luna’s drawings were arranged chronologically.
“I’m quite fond of the final series of studies in the chronology,” said Kerr. “While many of these wonderful drawings are important as quick studies, this series shows how strong portraits are so much more than good likenesses.”
The exhibition will run through Oct. 25, and is open from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
