Local artist on display

Will Portis once worked drawing for a tire company, today he has a gallery in Fresno

By Kirsten Coachman
The Collegian

Local artist Will Portis discovered his interest for painting in the seventh grade. Portis started his career in art as a display artist for the Goodrich Tire & Rubber Company.

“I started doing quite a bit, and I was recommended to go to a vocational school for original art. I completed that, and then went into art professionally,” Portis said.

Portis attended the University of Akron for Fine and Commercial Arts, and earned a master’s degree in education.

Portis was an Artist in Residence at the Mansfield Museum of Art, and the African-American Cultural and Historical Museum. He also led many art and art related lectures, seminars and classes.

Portis is proficient in different artistic mediums, such as printing, sculpting and painting.

“All I do now is paint. I learned the rest through training, but I thought I would become a painter,” Portis said. “I just plan to pursue art for the rest of my life.”

Portis, who said that he is influenced by Renaissance painters, described his work as “Natural Realism.”

“Natural Realism is things that naturally happen, throughout the day, they’re real, a far as naturally real.

There’s different types of realism. There’s realism where you can’t really distinguish the details. I’m very detailed. And I like to take events that are very natural and paint them,” Portis said.

Portis said that the paintings that will be shown at the Lyles Gallery exhibit will be portraits, landscapes and scenescapes. His involvement in the exhibit came by word of mouth, and a recommendation from Karen Paschal, the Assistant to the Dean of the Craig School of Business

“I had recommended Mr. Portis’ artwork as an opportunity to showcase an underexposed culture on our campus. Mr. Portis actually paints a variety of cultures and American experiences that signify the variety of our country’s fabric,” Paschal said in an e-mail.

Paschal said Portis’ art encompasses America in action, citing his works, “Me Eat Watermelon” and “Days to Remember.” She said Fresno’s history is on display with “Napolean’s Fruit Truck.”

Paschal said she thinks students who attend the exhibit in the Lyles Gallery will get a sample of American culture from a different perspective.

“Everyone brings something to the canvas of life. All are very much appreciated and to be celebrated. It is about experiences. I believe just about everyone can relate to having fun with their friends in the swimming pool or some other group activity, or watching a little one enjoying a slice of watermelon or their favorite fruit. We have a lot in common and sharing those commonalities is what makes [Portis’] paintings endearing,” Paschal said.

Portis’ art will be on display in the Lyles Gallery through May 19. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. The gallery will also be open one hour before curtain for the University Theatre’s “Gospel at Colonus,” which opens May 5.

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