]Book on bi*rds provides inspiration for local artist it was a book about birds he hap- pened to <'ome across in a library ini 19j80 tha' *,!ially gave ocus and suh- ject to th1e. talents ol'drtist Anthony Keating. 111 thought it was beautiful," he says of the J. F'enwick Lansdowne book. "And I thought that's what I want to do." The Oshawa resident, whose own paintings of various birds are now on display at the Whitby Publie Library, had always dabbled in art and enjoyed country walks while growing up ju*é" outside of' Havelock, near Petýrborough. "I specialize in North American birds, mostly in thisarea," he says of his colorful subjects, which in- clude waterbirds, songbirds and birds of prey, depicted in a varîety of settings or habitats. While working al General Motors in the late 70's, Keating took a correspondence'course in art for several months and then a 1-week course in conventioflal illustration at Durham Coll1ege. "But it really wasn't what 1 en- joyed doing, " he -relates. Then, aU- ter discovering birds, he studied with artist Michael Dumas, an in- structor at the Buckhorn School of Fine Art. At a recent shôw of Keating's works at the Festival of Swallows in Pembroke, Dumas was keynote speaker. Another showing of Keating's works is at the Burdette Art Gallery in Orton (near Orangevillw) this month. In 198:3, Keating and Brian Mar- shall held an art show in Oshawa. -We sold a [air bit of art there. -.but it was quite an experience, in a business sense." Fie says a simîlar show is being considered by another group of artists. Keating admits that sales'of his works have been regular but "nothing spectacular** and he in- vites anyone to view his work at his 314-560) Waverly St. N. home. Fie gets, on occasion, commissions but insists he do them in his own style. "People can choose the bird and species. but lFi paint it the way 1 wa nt." He enjoys the combination of ab- stract and realism in the works ot Mort Sahlberg. and has even con- sidered trying that style. But Keating is more apt to follow the "simplistic" and '-realism'- tha.is the trademark of Lansdowne, the' Vancouver artist revered by Keating as a -legend in his own time.p. "That's what 1 like. Uni not trying to copy him but 1 just use that style of art... .Fd like to build on his style oU art. - Keating saw Lansdowne*s ANTHONY KEATING with one of h is works on display at the WhitbY librarY- Free Press photo origi nais tor m1 irst timne at a about it, a combination oft That s exact ly what1 m striving previous-ghow in Don Milîs. discipline, talent and knowledge ot' for. Fiow close 1 arn. l'il leave Up to -HFis work really bas an aura suh.Iect malter. the viewer." Bell phone books are A color photograph of the Little Madawaska River in the heart of Algonquin Park, as it looks in early spring, is. on the cover of the 1987 'Bell telephone directory for Durham Region.% Some 192,000 copies of the direc- ,tory are beîng delivered f rom Oct. 2 to Oct. 15, says Orma Lyttle. local Bell Canada manager. Subscribers who wish to find out what telecommuni cations equip- ment is available at the nearest Phonecentre, and prices, should caîl witho-ut charge 1-800-387-5185. The number is listed in customner services. 'How to Reach Us' section of the introductory pages. Anyone who does not receive a copy of the new directory should caîl the Bell busifess office after the delivery period. ln this wortd, there's alway; room for one more. Cali your WeIcome Wagon, Hostess now. Phono 668-8943 s 7 ý -R i