673: Draft
Karres Gallery sits at the tail end of Sixth Street in Royal Oak, near the train tracks. It’s a simple building, but it screams on the inside.
Art lines the beige walls, some of Sam’s some of it was done by his wife Diana. A mirror stands next to one of the paintings Diana’s working on, and near that is a display of a palette, with various paints and brushes next to it.
Sam sketches constantly, taking paper wherever he goes, so much so it doesn’t feel like he is working.
“I can sit down on a bench anywhere and start sketching and nothing’s happening,” he said. “Suddenly, an airplane, a bird, a guy on a bike and before you know it you got a terrific composition.”
Stacks of Sam’s watercolors sit underneath the air conditioner, streetscapes from various eras, and various places: Washington DC, Royal Oak, Wyandotte and, of course, Detroit. The bulk of his gallery is the watercolor streetscapes, living pictures of eras gone by. Some are only a few years old, others are dated from 80’s, showing sights no longer seen, dress now consider passé and cars that are relegated to junk yards or car shows.
Karres used to drive in his full-sized van and stop wherever caught his fancy, that is, until his eyesight started to go. A form of glaucoma has affected his left eye, making it hard to focus, but leaving his peripheral vision in tact. It doesn’t affect his paiting, most of the time.
“Sometimes I’m painting a nude and say ‘Wait a minute! I see four breasts there!’ And I’ll just shut the left eye.”
Born in Wyandotte in 1929, Karres’ interest in art came from a multitude of sources, starting with comic strips and exemplified by his interest in bodybuilding, winning the state championship in 1949.
He attended Wayne State (then just Wayne University) from 1947 until 1953. The diploma hangs behind his desk along with pictures from his weight lifting days.
The 82-year-old Karres speaks fast, with conviction and life. When talks - about art, weight lifting, investments-his eyes light up, he smiles and his hands move like he’s painting. He wars a white buttoned-up shirt and his pocket is filled with pens, his sleeves rolled part of the way up and tucked into beige kakis. Despite his age, the muscle he built in his youth still resides in his shoulders and he walks with confidence.
Art lines the beige walls, some of Sam’s some of it was done by his wife Diana. A mirror stands next to one of the paintings Diana’s working on, and near that is a display of a palette, with various paints and brushes next to it.
Sam sketches constantly, taking paper wherever he goes, so much so it doesn’t feel like he is working.
“I can sit down on a bench anywhere and start sketching and nothing’s happening,” he said. “Suddenly, an airplane, a bird, a guy on a bike and before you know it you got a terrific composition.”
Stacks of Sam’s watercolors sit underneath the air conditioner, streetscapes from various eras, and various places: Washington DC, Royal Oak, Wyandotte and, of course, Detroit. The bulk of his gallery is the watercolor streetscapes, living pictures of eras gone by. Some are only a few years old, others are dated from 80’s, showing sights no longer seen, dress now consider passé and cars that are relegated to junk yards or car shows.
Karres used to drive in his full-sized van and stop wherever caught his fancy, that is, until his eyesight started to go. A form of glaucoma has affected his left eye, making it hard to focus, but leaving his peripheral vision in tact. It doesn’t affect his paiting, most of the time.
“Sometimes I’m painting a nude and say ‘Wait a minute! I see four breasts there!’ And I’ll just shut the left eye.”
Born in Wyandotte in 1929, Karres’ interest in art came from a multitude of sources, starting with comic strips and exemplified by his interest in bodybuilding, winning the state championship in 1949.
He attended Wayne State (then just Wayne University) from 1947 until 1953. The diploma hangs behind his desk along with pictures from his weight lifting days.
The 82-year-old Karres speaks fast, with conviction and life. When talks - about art, weight lifting, investments-his eyes light up, he smiles and his hands move like he’s painting. He wars a white buttoned-up shirt and his pocket is filled with pens, his sleeves rolled part of the way up and tucked into beige kakis. Despite his age, the muscle he built in his youth still resides in his shoulders and he walks with confidence.