Untold Stories of Berks County Artists

John Manuel Rodriguez Draws Inspiration From The Stars To Create Connectivism

John Manuel Rodriguez started drawing at 3 ½ years old and coloring and loved it. He pursued painting at 21 years old. His Dad draws and he admires how his Dad can draw something from nothing. John’s uncle is a sculptor, one of the best known artists in Puerto Rico. Acrylic, oil, pastels and portraits are all in John’s toolbox. He likes oil because it’s fun and acrylic because it’s fast. He does a lot of Puerto Rico art which depicts island life and enjoys portrait painting. John says, ͞If you don’t know what you are doing with art, go for it anyway .... Make it work! John created connectivism as a sort of social statement. It says something about how we are hyper-connected yet dis-connected. He drew inspiration for this from the stars and constellations. John shares a number of stories of inspiration in his life and he shares the story of his real name!

Meet Mr Anomaly

Christian Egbert is a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School and has been pursuing his craft since graduation. He calls himself an experimentalist and tries his hand at art in all different mediums. He has identified acrylic painting as his strength and he says it is best suited for murals. He loves painting animals and ‘space things’. He is currently working on painting an indoor mural at The ‘Wellness Center For Pets And Their People’. The mural will be an underwater scene because that creates a calming environment. Christian says, “I like to provide to the community … artists can help small businesses grow”. Christian says artwork draws people in. He loves painting animals and ‘space things’. He is writing a book to help other artists avoid the mistakes he made along the way. Listen to his story and find out why he calls himself ‘Mr. Anomaly’.

Robert "Bob" Seabourne, Landscape Painter

Robert Seabourne was born in Bethlehem, PA in 1963. He lived there until 1977, when he moved with his family to the scenic countryside of Berks County, PA. His love for art started the way any other child’s would start, but when his mother asked him to draw a train the way she had drawn it, he drew it exactly the way she had. She knew then that he had a very special, natural talent. This talent was fostered with many different private art lessons. In high school, after his second year of art classes, the teacher could not teach him anymore, because he had reached her limit of knowledge. He was told then that he could write his own curriculum for his third year. Robert went to Kutztown University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art, Cum Luada. After college, he taught himself Graphic Design so he could make a living, though he never stopped painting. Some of Robert’s early endeavors included wildlife painting in caseins and watercolour and hand-drawn animation. He has taught himself the use of the computer and most of the Adobe programs.

Sandra Kaye Functional Art Invites You To Slow Down And Enjoy Moments

Sandra is a glass fusing artist with a requirement. She says all her pieces must have a job. The beautiful art pieces she creates are extremely durable. They are meant to be used, not just sit on a shelf! Sandra says, “I think color and design should be incorporated into everything you do everyday”. Her art invites you to slow down and enjoy moments. She has always been an artist and describes her younger self as that shy girl who always had a drawing pad. She started out as a portrait artist and her path changed when she moved to PA and applied for a job at a glassblowing production studio despite the fact that she had no experience. This tenacious woman got the job and experimented with glass fusing kiln and developed a product line for her employer. Sandra Kaye raised her kids by making functional art. Her untold story also reveals a tenaciousness that saved her son’s life. She has a studio on Lancaster Avenue in Reading where she teaches the art of glass fusing. The last quarter of the year is filled with glass ornament workshops, the rest of the year she is busy filling galleries all across the country with her beautiful functional art. You can find more about Sandra Kaye and her art at www.sandrakayestudios.com.

Theron Cook Says “You Gotta Go Big!”

A sports injury in high school turned the tables for Theron Cook and he found art to be a healthy outlet for self-expression. He gives a shout out to his teachers who played a major part in his art development. Theron has a degree in advertising design but relies on the fine arts to express himself when dealing with life changing situations. Advertising design and graphic art is all about meeting customer’s needs. Theron is successful designing for BMW and staging his own art shows in Brooklyn, New York. He credits Hydra Studios in Reading for helping him prepare to stage art shows. Theron uses his art to engage people in thought and conversation. Theron overflows with creativity and has branched out into textile art, using everyday items, clothing and pillows as a canvas for art. He stays busy with big paintings, advertising and graphic design, and commissioned textile art. You can see more of Theron’s work or commission him.