Artist Bob Mazur, left, gives a demonstration in his studio for Toledo Central Catholic High School students George Pipoly, Erika Roth, Nicole Leirer and Hannah Gatton. (Photo courtesy of Central Catholic High School)

Mr. Mazur, a 1956 graduate of CCHS who has been exhibiting his work since 1960, said he wanted to “give back” to CCHS for everything that the school had done for him. This is the third year students from CCHS have visited him.

Mr. Mazur has participated in more than 125 gallery shows. He has been an educator for more than 35 years and is a professor emeritus at BGSU and former chairman of BGSU’s art department. He retired in the late 1990s.

Most of the students in the CCHS art class plan to major in art in college, and their teacher says the time spent with Mr. Mazur has been invaluable.

“Bob takes the students into his home in Bowling Green and treats them like family,” Mr. Wilson says. “We sit around in his living room and talk about all the aspects of being an artist, from putting together a portfolio, stretching canvas, generating an image, and painting techniques, to exhibiting and marketing your work. Then we adjourn to his home studio where he holds a question and answer session.

“He also gives us a demonstration of exactly how he goes about composing and executing his paintings,” Mr. Wilson continues. “Bob is not only knowledgeable, but he is also a raconteur so there’s never a dull moment. He leaves the students with a standing invitation to visit him whenever they need some advice, or just for a critical response to their college work. Our visits are definitely one of the high points of the year.”

The CCHS students who took part in the field trip were Hannah Gatton, Katie Heft, Nicole Leirer, Claire McDonald, George Pipoly, Erika Roth, Ben Szymanski and Kelly Thomas.