WILBUR PEARSON:
Art and Architecture
Wilbur Pearson is an artist and architect. He trained in Alabama, California, and Massachusetts and practiced architecture for many years, principally in Miami, FL where he also taught architectural design and drawing at the University of Miami. Other chapters in his life include work at Tikal in Guatemala with the archeological project of the University of Pennsylvania and at Disney Studios.
Many of his architectural drawings are published in The New Classicists series. Pearson's renderings were selected several years in a row for the American Society of Architectural Perspectivists' travelling exhibition, and a figure-drawing was selected for the annual juried show of the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach. Other exhibits in South Florida took place at the AIA gallery in Coral Gables and the Clematis Gallery in West Palm Beach. In Amherst, Pearson has exhibited at the Nacul Center, Henion's Bakery, Wunderarts, and the Burnett Gallery.
While still in Florida, Pearson began drawing at Lee Willig’s studio, ArtWorks, where he concentrated on drawing the figure. Since moving to Amherst in 1998, he has been drawing with several open model groups in Amherst, Northampton, and Leverett.
Over the years, he has worked in many styles — from evocative sketches of the Guatemalan jungle to very precise architectural renderings, envisioned from plans before the buildings are built. He has always been drawn to the complexity of the human figure. Early on, his work echoed classical styles, once characterized as “painting with pencil.” More recently, his preferred medium is charcoal, where he works sometimes with just the line, more often with light and shadow — as in architecture — to capture the 3-dimensional dynamism of the postures.
Besides drawing and art history, Wilbur is passionate about all things aeronautical.
His website is www.WilburPearsonArt.com. The works are available for sale, as original drawings or fine art prints. He can be reached at his home in Amherst or through bzpearson@gmail.com.