Al Sanfilippo has always been interested in art.
But it wasn’t until his retirement from a 50-year career in education that he started exploring his artistic ability at the Greensburg Art Center in Hempfield.
About nine years later, Sanfilippo’s artwork is on display until mid-March at the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library through the art center’s regular “Picture This” exhibit.
Sanfilippo taught English at Greensburg Salem High School for 38 years. He left the position in 2002 and became an adjunct professor at Saint Vincent College, supervising student teachers for 13 years.
“I enjoyed that,” said Sanfilippo, 81, of Hempfield. “It was an opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned over all those years of being in the classroom, in mentoring these young teachers.”
When he retired, he came across the Greensburg Art Center and began taking classes.
Although he dabbles in watercolor and acrylic painting, pastels are his favorite medium. Drawing from his 18 years of experience as a Penn State master gardener, Sanfilippo often paints landscape and nature scenes.
The Master Gardening volunteer program is run by Penn State Extension, which provides education to local communities on topics surrounding agriculture, animal systems, horticulture, food and health through its county offices across the state.
Master gardeners are trained by Penn State Extension to educate the public on composting, soil improvement, pest control, pruning and vegetable and flower gardening. The volunteers host workshops, answer horticulture questions from the public and maintain gardens used for demonstrations.
Sanfilippo served as a master gardener until 2020. These days, he is focused on his art.
But he was surprised when art center Chairperson Rose Sovyak suggested his artwork be featured in the “Picture This” exhibit.
“There have been so many very talented artists displaying there in the past,” Sanfilippo said. “It’s just great to be part of it.”
The exhibit is titled “Seasons of Color.” It will include 15 of his paintings.
The “Picture This” series started about eight years ago. It typically features five or six artists in a season, which runs from late winter or early spring through Thanksgiving, Sovyak said. Each artists’ work is displayed at the library for about eight weeks.
“It brightens up the library and it gets our artists out there and known,” she said. “I think it’s a great community endeavor on both our parts.”
Sanfilippo’s eclectic, colorful style will bring a homey feel to the library, Sovyak said.
“(I hope) people appreciate what I’ve done,” Sanfilippo said, “and perhaps be inspired to move on in their own way with something different after retirement.”
