Portrait of Obama

By KATIE SEMINARA

Artist says his ‘chicken scratch’ shows hope in president-electSFlb

Bill Dotson depicts President-elect Obama with simple black ink pens.

YOUNGSTOWN — Bill Dotson describes his artwork as “chicken scratch.”

Visitors at Butler Institute of American Art would beg to differ.

“My chicken scratch wouldn’t look that good,” said Chuck Veltri of Austintown.

Veltri and his wife, Kim, were visiting the Butler and had the chance to see Dotson at work Thursday.

Dotson, a Youngstown portrait artist, is currently working on two pieces in the museum’s Fine Arts Gallery — a single portrait of President-elect Barack Obama and a portrait of the soon-to-be first family.

His style of artistry requires only black pens and a scribbling motion.

“We saw him working and thought we’d stop and see. It’s absolutely phenomenal,” said Kim.

“The shading he does with a pen is amazing.”

Dotson has been working at his craft throughout his entire life. He said prefers to work on contemporary subjects.

He began his portrait of Obama on Wednesday after the election. He hopes the completed portrait will be displayed as part of the presidential inauguration in January.

“An artist can only be an artist when he can reflect the times and changes of his life,” Dotson said.

Obama won’t be the first president he has drawn. Dotson also captured the likenesses of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan on paper.

But he said there is more meaning in his latest portrait.

“You can sense a hope. He’s a leaning pole for a lot of people,” Dotson said of those who see Obama as support system and presence of hope in the country.

Dotson has a collection of portraits of influential blacks and has done drawings of Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey.

The portrait of Obama will be the most gratifying, said Dotson’s 28-year-old daughter, Cammie.

“It’s very historic, and my father is very humble, just like Barack,” said Cammie while watching her father demonstrate his abilities to visitors at the Butler.

While Dotson’s level of concentration allows him to block out distractions, he enjoys working in an environment surrounded by other pieces of art. He also uses feedback from passers-by as inspiration.

“By doing it around people I can feel people and I like the feel I get around other artists’ work,” said Dotson.

His plan is to have both portraits completed within two weeks.

During that time, visitors at the Butler might have the opportunity to watch Dotson demonstrate his talent.

Being a local artist, Dotson has had numerous exhibits displayed at the Butler.

“It just seemed fitting that he would demonstrate his technique and do the official Bill Dotson portrait of the 44th president at the Butler,” said Dr. Louis Zona, executive director and chief curator.

“I’m amazed that he has the ability to scribble and have an image appear,” he said.

The museum plans to set up an exhibit in February 2009 of Dotson’s portraits commemorating Black History Month. The group of portraits will include his drawing of the first family, Zona said.