Drawn from the personal, private collections of his children and family, The Other Side of Howard Schroeder is an exhibition of work not readily associated with this iconic artist of the Henlopen school of Delaware artists. With paintings, pastels, drawings and watercolors in all styles and sizes, each represents a facet of the artist’s extensive production over his many decades as a leading fine artist of the region – and an adventuresome ambassador to the world beyond – a world he explored with some regularity.

Even on the home-front, Howard’s eye was restless for new perspectives and expressive points of view. And, as all artists learn early, ‘Practice makes perfect.’ So, a recurring number of themes and interests beyond his usual production manifest themselves in this engaging exhibition.

A keystone in the structure of the Rehoboth Art League’s educational programming, he was also the backbone of Open Studio Sketch Group. Howard used each session to hone his skills and explore new opportunities – often with a bold palette- and sometimes in an edgy abstract composition while waiting for the model to arrive.

Very aware of the larger art world beyond, Howard’s hand could produce a lyric modernist examination of the figure as reclining Venus or Deco goddess. Quick poses with the model were opportunities for extravagant color and bold lines. Cartoon sensibilities were explored as caricature in aggressive, almost grotesque, portraits. Reductive stylizations yielded to the creation of mood and sensitivity rather than visual identity. Howard could do it all – and regularly did.

With a focus on the Sketch Group works, his keenly muscled abstractions, unique views from abroad, elemental studies of the nude and character studies in the portrait, there truly is ‘something for everyone’ in this charming and revealing exhibition.

Life Through A Box, oil, 1965, Howard Schroeder