Local artist describes success
By Anna Skinner
When J. Rodney Reveal got his first taste of creating art in high school, he couldn’t imagine his life without it. A high school art teacher originally inspired him, and he progressed to taking classes from a well-known Indiana watercolor painter and attending workshops at the University of Kansas.
Reveal eventually attended California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, double majoring in sculpture and painting. He then advanced to the Herron Art School at IUPUI.
Now, at 65, Reveal lives in Arcadia and shows his work in various art exhibits across the nation. He has his own studio in Noblesville at Nickel Plate Arts located at 107 South 8th St.
Reveal paints, and doesn’t sculpt anymore even though he holds a major in that medium. He said that he uses mostly oils and watercolors for his paintings.
Most of Reveal’s work consists of historic landscapes; some of them are iconic places in Noblesville.
Reveal still has his work that he did when he was younger.
“I do have a lot of historical paintings I did back when I was a kid from the movie theater to sledding at Forest Park,” he said.
Reveal has been in a variety of art shows across America, such as Paint America and Paint the Parks. Currently, he hopes to be selected for the “Birds in Art” show taking place in Minnesota this fall. He has participated in major art shows in Texas and Ohio.
His work is featured in galleries across Indiana, such as Carmel, Bloomington, Brown County, Madison, a Lafayette art museum and he is even featured in a gallery in Tucson, Arizona.
“I always have other things I want to accomplish,” Reveal said. “My favorite painting is always my next one.”
Mostly, Reveal does historic paintings, especially around Noblesville. However, some of his work revolves around wildlife and nature as well.
Reveal took part in the Top 100 Western Arts show and was featured in the Top 10 International American Watercolor magazine.
Even though his favorite class in college was “definitely not watercolor” because of a disagreement with the professor, Reveal does love watercolor now, and will have classes in his art gallery in Carmel in July.
He said he will probably hold some classes at his studio at Nickel Plate and even more at the Hamilton County Artists Association, located at Noblesville’s Birdie Gallery downtown.
Reveal’s art and offered classes are available through his website, jrodneyreveal.com.
“I’ve always liked accomplishing something that other people enjoy and like,” Reveal said. “It’s a challenge, and once it gets in your blood, it’s there. I have withdrawals if I stop painting or go for a while without working on something. It’s been with me for a long time.”
More about Rodney Reveal
Family: Anita Reveal (wife, 34 years), step-daughter Tara who lives in Atlanta, Ga.
Pets: Three dogs, five cats, a wildlife rehab, a donkey and a horse
Hobbies: Fly fishing
Residence: Arcadia, on a 35-acre mini-farm
Favorite Noblesville Spot: Potter’s Bridge
