Artist
puts Corinth history into books
Published Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008
By Jebb Johnston
Daily
Corinthian Staff Writer
Tony Bullard's
realistic paintings capturing the city's history and flavor
aren't child's play, but his newest creation is.
The
Corinth artist recently completed a "Historic Corinth Coloring
Book," and he's hoping kids of all ages will enjoy putting
colors on his playful canvas.
The
book will be launched at the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery at
507 Cruise Street on Saturday. A reception is set for 3 until
5 p.m., although Bullard plans to be at the gallery throughout
the regular hours, which begin at 10 a.m., and also after the
Christmas
parade. The gallery will remain open, even if parking in the
area is blocked for some of the day.
The
idea for the coloring book took hold as Bullard worked on paintings
such as the one depicting a pre-fame Elvis Presley outside Borroum's
Drug Store.
"A
lot of times when I'm researching for these Corinth oil paintings,
I'll stumble across other information about Corinth that never
gets used in the painting," said Bullard. "I was trying
to find an outlet for that other information. Also, I've noticed
there's not really anything for kids about Corinth that they
can put their hands on. The idea of the coloring book was to
have not only a coloring book but a book they could learn from
as they progress through each page."
Some
of the pages in the book are adapted from Bullard's paintings,
and there are also some games mixed in.
"The
coloring book starts with the Civil War, but it comes all the
way to the 2008 Chili Festival," said the artist. "It
touches on things like Roscoe Turner and the Waldron Hotel,
and I bring it all the way up to things like the '94 ice storm."
A
factoid accompanies each picture.
He
hopes the coloring book will spark a creative interest in children
and a curiosity about history.
"I
want them to know they're a part of the history, and the history
is continuing," said Bullard. That's why I've got current
happenings like the Chili Festival included, because I want
them to know that they're still making history happen."
He
started work on the coloring book in November 2007 and, with
breaks to work on some paintings, estimates he spent at least
six months to put it together.
If
the response to the book is good, he plans to produce more volumes
-- Bullard said he has material for a series of four or five.
The
main edition of the coloring book bears the depot on the front
cover, but he is also offering four limited editions with alternate
covers and an exclusive bonus drawing contained in each. One
hundred signed and numbered copies of each will be available.
All
five will be available at the gallery, and L&L, Spice of
Life, Generals' Quarters and Square Nest will each sell one
of the limited editions. Twenty-five local sponsors helped fund
production of the coloring book, and it has been produced entirely
in Corinth, noted Bullard.
His
latest painting project has been one of his occasional celebrity
pieces.
"A lot of times when I'm doing these drawings and paintings
over the years, I'm watching Jay Leno," he said. "I
thought it would be neat to do a painting of him since he's
about to leave the show."
The
frame he's using for the late-night host mimics the look of
a modern flat-panel, widescreen television.
Bullard
is still eyeing The Waldron Hotel as his next big Corinth history
painting, but he's hoping that might have to wait until volume
two of the Corinth Coloring Book is complete.
Purchase
Coloring Books here
