In 1959 at age 18, aspiring illustrator Peter Caras sought out his idol, the legendary Norman Rockwell. Rockwell took Caras under his wing, and tutored him with artistic advice and guidance. Caras gained a vast amount of illustration knowledge from Rockwell and more importantly, learned what it meant to be a professional illustrator. At age 21, Caras met and was trained by famed western artist James Bama. Bama was one of the most popular paperback cover artists of the time and he helped Caras refine his skills in the art of picture making. To date, Caras has over 1,700 published illustrations to his credit and is considered one of today?s foremost paperback cover artists.
In 1978, feeling that it was his turn to give back, Caras decided to teach his craft at the duCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. In nearly three decades of teaching, Caras has turned many enthusiastic students into professional artists who have gone on to pursue careers in the field of illustration. Reunited, former students now professional illustrators, join their mentor in this very special exhibit titled “Caras and Colleagues.”
