~~~ A TRIBUTE and REMEMBRANCE ~~~

Orville Gail Poole
In Loving Memory

"Poole," as he is affectionately known by his friends and collectors, has painted for more than half a century. A native Oklahoman, born in the small town of Marlow in 1935, many of his works depict both the landscape and the subtle attitudes of the untamed Southwestern plains. A dedicated artist, untamed in his own right, Poole successfully manages to transcend easy and traditional classification. Of his work, Poole simply states, "I am influenced by the world around me, and the world always provides me with new information." He thus nurtures his passions for artistic experimentation and design and has quietly, steadily created a diverse and inspired body of work - an artist's portfolio eagerly collected and highly respected by his art peers across the country.
Prior to making the decision to become a full-time artist, Poole worked as an award-winning advertising artist and illustrator for almost two decades. He created and served as chairman of the Oklahoma City Art Directors Guild, and opened a groundbreaking advertising art studio in Oklahoma City, Poole-Hobbes, Inc., which grew to be the most influential and creative studio of its kind in the state. In 1972, Poole was invited to participate in an international exhibition of Western art in Düsseldorf, Germany. That show was a catalyst for Poole; it encouraged him to abandon the creative limitations of advertising art and forge a new career as a full-time fine arts painter. Since that time, he has become an internationally sought-after talent, both as an artist and an art instructor, respected as much for his mastery as for his love of experimentation. A life-long student himself, Poole has personally enjoyed the tutelage of some of the finest American artists, including his mentor and great friend, the late Richard V. Goetz, as well as Mark Daly, David Leffel and Sherrie McGraw, to name just a few.