Electrician Turned Painter Brushes on Vivid Color by Randi Atwood Special to the Democrat John Metcalfe Has Always Been Creative
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PAGE 4 / Sunday, May 22, 2011 Tallahassee Democrat / TLH Electrician turned painter brushes on vivid color By Randi Atwood SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT John Metcalfe has always been creative. A professional electrician for 25 years, even his electrical work reflects sion. He played guitar his artistic spirit. and bass semi-profes- “I’ve had inspec- sionally for a number tors saying to me that of years, but didn’t feel my electrical instal- like he had the excep- lations are beautiful tional musical talent to look at,” he laughs. needed to make it in “One said, ‘Most people the industry. just run spaghetti but About 10 years ago, you’ve created art.’ ” ever on the lookout for Metcalfe stud- a creative outlet, he ied architectural and taught himself how to mechanical drafting in paint. He always had a high school, but never natural talent for draw- pursued it as a profes- ing, he says, and his John Metcalfe started selling his work on eBay with great DIAMONDS success. drafting studies devel- “I had an art profes- oped his eye for per- sor come in once and “Confetti Grove” by John Metcalfe will be on display at the spective and color. ask what compelled Artport Gallery. “As a kid, I did lots me to put those colors of figural work and I together,” remembers selling his paintings on enjoyed drawing mon- Metcalfe. “He recog- IF YOU GO eBay. He has sold his sters,” says Metcal- nized that those par- What: “Impression work to buyers in Ire- fe. “My mother was a ticular colors don’t tra- of a Moment: Paint- land, Israel, Canada, big horror fan and my ditionally work well ings by John E. Met- Nigeria and all over the monster drawings were together, but he was calfe,” part of the City U.S. always on the fridge.” surprised to see that, in of Tallahassee’s Art in “When I sold my Now he paints this instance, they did Public Places program first painting on eBay abstract landscapes. work. I don’t know why When: Wednesday it went for about $300 His paintings have I did it that way. To me, through July 25 and I couldn’t believe been described to him it was just what that Where: Artport Gal- it,” he says. “I sold as “what would have the piece needed.” lery, Tallahassee 70 paintings in three happened if Monet Metcalfe considers Regional Airport months.” met Jackson Pollock.” himself to have more Contact: Call COCA One collector from at 224-2500 or visit Metcalfe uses what is of a skill than a talent, www.cocanet.org St. Louis buys a paint- known as a “fauve” col- and that skill allows ing from Metcalfe every or palette, from an ear- him to see each color in year, because she is ly 20th-century artis- the painting separately. ing his work almost certain his work will Jewelry • Diamonds tic movement known “I look at the can- immediately after he someday be in muse- for emphasizing strong vas and think, ‘That started painting. ums. Fine Gems colors rather than real- purple bit needs to be “The first hundred “By now she has 18 or ism. orange’ or ‘I need to paintings weren’t that 20 of my paintings for “A dog doesn’t have add a green dot right good, but people bought sure,” he says. “We send to be brown and white there,’ ” he explains. them anyway,” says emails to each other, — it can be a blue dog “I know a painting is Metcalfe. “I’ve been and she updates me on or a pink dog,” explains done when there’s noth- really lucky as an art- her health and tells me 3501 Thomasville Rd Metcalfe. “Trees don’t ing that bothers me. If ist.” about her kids. She’s (850) 893-4171 have to be green, and something bothers me, Metcalfe is also an become a virtual part www.gemcollection.com water doesn’t have to be I keep painting.” astute business person, blue.” Metcalfe started sell- and was quick to start See ARTIST, PAGE 5 /TLH TD-0000175539 TLH / Tallahassee Democrat Sunday, May 22, 2011 / PAGE 5 County’s Vince Long chases words, loves music SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT mance you saw? car for my sons’ Cub CONTACT COCA A: I recently saw Scout den. (I mean, A few artful ques- Visit COCA’s web- my 5-year-old daugh- they made it on their tions for incoming sites at www.cocanet. ter, Riley, in a play at own.) Leon County Adminis- org and www.more- Young Actors Theatre. Q: When was the trator Vince Long. thanyouthought.com. She has another one last time you were Q: Can you play a Send suggestions for this week, and I’ll be in on a stage? musical instrument? artist profiles, news the front row. A: I played the lead A: To borrow and items, story ideas or Q: What movie has as Christopher Colum- butcher a quote from fun facts to COCA at most affected you? bus in a fourth-grade John Adams, I studied [email protected]. A: “How Green Was play and it’s been all politics so that my sons My Valley” (1941). It downhill since. Actual- (and daughters) might to growing up soon. really affected me as a ly, I was in a stand-up study art and music. Q: What was the young child because of comedy charity event I cannot play a musi- first concert you ever the powerful storyline on May 11. cal instrument (unless attended? of the hardworking par- Q: What artistic a really bad harmoni- A: As a young kid, I ents (Welsh miners) talent do you wish ca counts), but I have a lived in New York City. and their hopes that you had? deep love and apprecia- I can’t remember the their children would A: I think the writ- tion for many different first one, but we were have a better life. I try ten and spoken word types of music. My iPod big fans of the free con- to watch it once a year. have the power to cap- looks like it is shared cert series in Central It still moves me. ture the imagination in by a group of strangers. Park. One of my earli- Q: What was the beautiful and meaning- My wife and I encour- est recollections was last thing you made ful ways. That’s a tal- age all of our three chil- being blown away by by hand? ent that I chase every dren to play an instru- Tony Bennett. A: A pinewood derby day. ment. Q: What book is Q: Do you own any on your nightstand original art? right now? A: My wife and I have A: “Linchpin: Are talked for years about You Indispensable?” by our desire to own more Seth Godin. original art. We love MIKE EWEN/Democrat Q: When was the (Florida) Highway- Vince Long is the current deputy county administrator for Leon the last time you men and local artists’ County. danced? paintings of Charlotte A: Two weeks ago, Harbor, where my wife plans to own local art- Unfortunately for us, when the Lakers were is from (and where she ists Steve Andrews and it’s been all kid stuff swept in the playoffs. Painful comes from a long line Lance de Haven-Smith for the last decade, but Q: What was the of fishermen). We have (one of my dear friends). we’re looking forward last live perfor- Varicose Veins? Varicose veins are not always a cosmetic issue. at the right time and his painting of his and exhibit at the Artport There is a solution that is covered by Medicare and ARTIST made some money,” say, “It’s a JEM.” That’s Gallery at Tallahassee From Page 4 / TLH most medical insurance plans. says Metcalfe. “I decid- what he named his gal- Regional Airport. Met- ® ed that this could be lery: “It’s a JEM Fine calfe says that having VNUS Closure is a clinically proven, minimally of my family. the only opportunity I Art.” The gallery sells this exhibit may be the invasive office-based procedure that treats About six years ago, would ever have to open his work and the work proudest moment in his varicose veins and their underlying cause, venous Metcalfe’s wife’s job a gallery. I bought a of other artists, and art career to date. reflux. brought them from space in Havana and he also rents space to “I get young artists ® Sarasota to Tallahas- remodeled it.” antiques vendors. in to my gallery all the Call to find out if VNUS Closure procedure is right for you. see, and instead of find- Metcalfe signs all In June and July, for time, and I tell them all Most Insurance Plans Accepted. ing a job here as an his work with his ini- what is the 10th anni- the same thing: have CAPITAL SURGICAL ASSOCIATES electrician, he took a tials, J.E.M. — for versary of this self- no fear. Show your J. Patrick Neal, M.D. chance and started a John Edward Metcal- taught painter’s begin- work,” he says. “If you BOARD CERTIFIED full-time art career. fe — and once he over- nings, his work will love it, someone else is 2910 Capital Medical Blvd • Tallahassee, FL 32308 “We sold our house heard someone look at be displayed in a solo going to love it, too.” Phone (850) 656-2926.