As a graduate of The Maryland Institute, College of Art in 1971, Douglas
Gillette began his professional career as an illustrator for the Johns Hopkins
University. During that time, he furthered his education by earning a Master’s
Degree in Art Education from Towson University. While at Johns Hopkins,
various pieces of his artwork were exhibited at such places as the Whitney
Museum in New York, the Smithsonian Institution and the Department of the
Interior in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge University in London, England.
Upon moving his family to Lynchburg, Virginia in 1976, Doug assumed two
roles, one as Art Director of the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center where he taught
drawing, painting and printmaking, and the other as Associate Professor of Art at
Central Virginia Community College, teaching drawing, painting, graphic arts,
printmaking and art history.
In keeping with his philosophy that drawing should be the foundation of most
artwork, Doug has spent many years developing a finely detailed drawing and
painting style that has earned him numerous awards and recognition. Doug has
had four one-man shows, two at the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center in Virginia, one
at Sweet Briar College in Amherst, VA, and one at Western New England
College in Springfield, MA. In addition, his work was featured in a two-man
show at Western New England College. Other exhibitions and awards include
Best of Show at the 2003 Monson Arts Council 10th Annual Spring Art
Exhibition, acceptance in the 2003 Birds in Art Show, and best drawing and
painting awards in numerous New England area juried and invitational shows.
Recently, Doug’s work was published in the Fall 2004 issue of American Artist
Drawing magazine.
Currently, Doug’s home and studio is in Enfield, CT, where he works to apply
his skill toward commission work, historical rendering and story illustration. He
is Vice President of the Academic Artists Association of Springfield, MA, and
President of the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts.
What is silverpoint drawing?
Silverpoint drawings on a gessoed panel or paper are characterized by a
certain delicacy of line. Unless immediately protected by fixative, the lines
acquire a tarnish such as forms on all silver surfaces. This color change,
however, is usually desired and the drawings are therefore left unfixed
until is occurs.
Silverpoint drawings are usually done on gessoed paper or wood panel. The
silverpoint itself is a sharpened rod of silver wire secured in a mechanical
pencil or stylus. Local jewelers are a source for silver wire at a small cost.
Gold, platinum and copper are also used for metalpoint drawings.