Meramec art professor shares his love of drawing with students
By: DOMINIQUE CAMPBELL
Staff Writor
STLCC – Meramec drawing Professor Nate Gaefcke took an interest in art when he was four years old and since 2014, he has been sharing this interest with Meramec students. Gaefcke teaches Drawing II, Figure I, Figure II and Figure III.
“My sister was always coloring in coloring books and she was much better at it than I was. I wanted to beat her, so I started really putting in an effort to color in the lines. From there, things built momentum and I am where I am today,” Gaefcke said.
Not only is he an art professor but he is also an artist, Gaefcke said.
“Most of my work is in drawing and printmaking, but I am classically trained in painting as well. As for showcasing my art, I regularly have work in my shows. Just this past fall I had work in two national publications; ‘The Figure: Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture’ and ‘Art Journey Portraits and Figures; The best of contemporary drawing in Graphite, Pastel, and Colored Pencil,’” Gaefcke said.
Gaefcke said he recently decided to take a break from exhibitions. When school work eases up a bit he is going to submit his work to more of the national shows.
Not only does Gaefcke teach part time at Meramec, but he also attends graduate school at Fontbonne University.
Gaefcke said he agrees with most students that finding time is a challenge. He does promotional work for the Shen Yun Performing Arts Company as well as Human Rights Advocating for the Missouri Falun Dafa Association. The Missouri Falun Dafa Association is a high order of Chinese exercise of the mind and body. It has a long history and was made public in 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi.
“I’m helping to raise awareness about persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China and abroad. With Shen Yun promotions, I am helping to revive the 5,000 years of Chinese culture that is in grave danger of being lost,” Gaefcke said.
“Spare time, what’s that? As for spare time, I don’t have any at the moment. I do meditate frequently though, which might be considered time for relaxation,” Gaefcke said.
Artists should do what they enjoy or they shouldn’t be doing it, Gaefcke said. He said that he absolutely enjoys what he does.
