Visual Art

at the Wilson Center

Ploch Art Gallery

Rodger Bechtold
Landscape Fascination

On view through April 22

Ploch Season presented by

Brookfield

Southeast Corner of Forty Acres by Rodger Bechtold

Barn in Deep Yellow and Gray by Rodger Bechtold

Rodger Bechtold’s colorful and vibrant oil paintings give the viewer a transformative vision of landscapes through his rich interpretations of the Midwest.

Born in Flint, Michigan in 1945, Rodger Bechtold moved to Illinois when he was two and grew up in the town of Peoria. The outdoors was a significant part of his early years. Bechtold regularly visited and spent time on his uncle’s farm in Indiana. This provided him with early experiences of Midwestern land. Bechtold trained as a commercial artist at the American Academy of Art, Chicago, from 1963-65. He continued his education at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1984-86. Bechtold left commercial art to become a freelanced painter full time in the mid 1980’s. This is when oils became his medium of choice.

Bechtold says his subject has always been landscape, and his artwork as a whole has always been about color. He frequently works and teaches en plein aire, working directly outdoors. He continues to exhibit regularly both locally and nationally.

Contributing support for the season by

Andrea and Anthony Bryant

Susan and James Cerletty

This exhibition is sponsored by

Pat and Phil Crump

Elaine Peterson