Capturing the light to expose another dimension Millstone resident has his first solo exhibition in New Hope, Pa. BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer BOI's of New Hope Director Lonn Braender with Millstone resident and artist Robert Gherman stand among Gherman's work on display at the gallery. MILLSTONE - He's trying to convey the fourth dimension through his painting. Whereas a two-dimensional photograph can give the appearance of a subject having three dimensions, Robert Gherman, of Millstone Township, said he hopes for his artwork to delve into the fourth dimension - a spiritual side that factors into the work as a result of the artist. "What's the difference between a photograph and a painting?" Gherman asked. "It's a spiritual essence you can't describe. Museums are filled with that spiritual essence." Gherman, who paints mostly in oils, is holding the first-ever solo exhibition of his artwork at BOI's of New Hope in Pennsylvania this month. He is showing more than 40 original oils at the gallery. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., his passion for painting began at the age of 9. "I've always had a love for painting and it always came from the inside," Gherman said. "It wasn't something that I tried to do. It was just something that was always there." Gherman's mother painted as a hobby, but he saw the art form as a professional career choice and eventually went to the University of Colorado, where he minored in art history and received a bachelor of fine arts degree. "I've always loved the smell of oils," Gherman said, reminiscing of the times his mother used to paint. "I thought it magnificent that something could appear on a blank canvas, and I always wanted to do that." A champion of the old masters, Gherman also studied at the Art Studio League of New York under teachers who were known as the classical modern masters. He studied landscape painting and life drawing with Frank Mason, David Lefel and Albert Handel to become an artist of representational still life, landscapes and figure paintings. His earlier works pay homage to the French Barbazon School and the Dutch masters. Gherman's paintings have been exhibited at venues across the country, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the University of Colorado Fine Art Museum, the Denver Museum and the Squibb Collection. Although he set aside his paints for about 15 years to take up business in the picture-framing and magazine-publishing industry and to raise his family, Gherman recently picked up the brushes again and has turned out almost a painting a day. "When the kids grew and left the nest, I pretty much got back into painting," Gherman said. "I did a couple of commissions that inspired me and I pretty much paint every day now." Gherman said his current work has changed somewhat from how he used to approach painting. His landscapes, he said, have more atmosphere - like those painted in the fashion of the Hudson River School. "There's no atmosphere in Colorado," Gherman said. "The light on the East Coast is more in tune with what I want. The edge is soft on the East Coast, and the edge is hard out west." He continued, "I started painting more in the style of Jan Vermeer in the last couple of years. My still lifes and portraits are more in the realistic vein." Gherman has been commissioned to paint portraits, but he also enjoys painting family members and friends. His still-life paintings replicate everyday things he uses around the house such as his coffee mug or a napkin basket. He also said he loves to paint New Jersey tomatoes and locally grown sunflowers. His landscapes, including some of those now on display at the gallery, include lighthouses, scenes from the Jersey Shore and local farms, he said. Most of all, Gherman said, he loves to paint light. "That's what most people say about my work," he said. "I capture the light. Regardless of subject matter, what's most important is the light." Gherman said he hopes his work brings a sense of joy to those who look at it. "When you think back to the 1600s, painting was one of the only means to have a visual treat in people's lives besides nature," Gherman said. "Today we have numerous visual art forms - photography, television, computer programs, but back in the 1600s, painting was it, and I hope my paintings bring the same sense of pleasure to people that painting back then did." Gherman, who hasn't publicly shown any of his work since 16 years ago, said it's not so much having the work in the gallery than it is painting again that brings him a sense of pride and joy these days. "When you run out of wall space in your home, you have to exhibit your work in a gallery," he said. "A gallery gives one an opportunity to view the work, and it's like a coming out. It's no longer a private show, but a public show, and I enjoy the excitement of that." He continued, "When the gallery calls and says someone is interested in a painting or someone purchased a painting or that everyone is enjoying your work, it gives you the inspiration to paint." Gherman, who has lived in Millstone since 1994, has worked with the Trenton Arts Commission as well as the 1884 Commission in Millstone Township. He helped design the logo the township uses on its plaques denoting historical sites throughout town. He continues to work as a trade magazine publisher whose hobby and art publications have examined such stories as Neil Young's endeavor to create a toy train that his quadriplegic son could operate and John Lennon's fascination with digital photography in the last years of his life. Gherman's exhibit at BOI's of New Hope will continue through Jan. 12. The gallery is located at 9 W. Mechanic St., New Hope, Pa., and its hours are Friday through Sunday noon to late evening and other evenings by appointment. For more information call (215) 862-8292 or visit www.BOIsofnewhope.com.