Ralph Felder
Ralph Felder, MBA, CQE {retired} is a self taught developing artist. His profession was a manager for 34 years with BellSouth Corporation (now AT&T) in the New Orleans area beginning in 1973. He received an MBA from Tulane University in 1971 and the American Society for Quality Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification in 1997 with a specialty in multivariate statistical analysis. 1966 Undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from Lamar State Technology in Beaumont, Texas helped provide background in this technical field. Interest in the visual arts began in 1975. Copying modern master works such as Paul Cezanne and Paul Gauguin, using charcoal, pastels, and acrylics was the major learning approach. Original works soon included the woodcut block print. By late 1983, he stopped creating art work but experienced a renewed interest in 2006. Hurricane Katrina destroyed almost all his early works. The combination of this calamity and approaching retirement awakened new sensitivities and purpose, resulting in special commitment to becoming a highly skilled artist. But painting in oils, initially learned from instructor Walter Johnson in Delgado Community College oil painting classes, is now a favorite medium. The challenge of portraiture and the human figure (including the nude) entices Ralph to draw, paint, and create sculptures using live models in New Orleans Art Academy, a learning establishment started in 1978 by Auseklis Ozols for artists interested in a serious traditional study of the visual arts. Other subject matter interest is the landscape, including western United States desert scenes. Ralph’s driving source of motivation for creating beauty is best expressed by Eric Liddell in the movie ‘Chariots of Fire’ when he said: "I believe God made me for a purpose. He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure"! |
