Fetterman’s “In Lambertville”

Description

Alan R. Fetterman (born 1958)

Alan Fetterman is an American contemporary artist whose work reflects modern themes and expressive technique. Alan R. Fetterman (born September 8, 1958) – Poet-Painter of Bucks County Light and Landscape Early Life & Inspiration

Alan Roy Fetterman was born on September 8, 1958 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, to a military family that moved to Bucks County in 1963. He spent much of his youth in the Delaware River Valley, where the distinctive light and landscape became a lifelong source of creative inspiration.  At age 35, during a visit to the Louvre in Paris, he encountered works that transformed his artistic direction. After ten hours immersed in Old Master paintings, he decided to begin painting professionally, despite having no formal art school training.

Education & Intellectual Foundation
Alan earned an A.A. in American Studies from Bucks County Community College (1998) and was awarded a prestigious Kay Scholarship in Philosophy, which supported his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008.

Artistic Practice & Style
Identified as a neo-Impressionist, Fetterman paints predominantly en plein air in oil-often on linen or even glass-depicting still lifes, landscapes, and the architecture of Bucks County. His signature is a vibrant palette and energetic brushwork that seeks to express a deep emotional resonance with his environment.

Creative Range & Career Highlights
In addition to painting, Alan is a sculptor, poet, musician, photographer, and writer. Career highlights include over 40 solo exhibitions and participation in more than 150 venues, in locations ranging from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, to Curitiba, Brazil, and Vero Beach, Florida.

He holds the distinction of being Bucks County’s first official Artist-in-Residence, and in 2017 was  awarded the Philadelphia Sketch Club Medal of Honor for Excellence and Contribution to the Arts.

Community Impact & Public Art
Alan is a founding board member of the Arts and Cultural Council of Bucks County, and a long-time member of both the Philadelphia Sketch Club and New York’s Salmagundi Club.
Portions of his work are displayed in public spaces-including largescale paintings at Doylestown Hospital, Heritage Conservancy’s Aldie Mansion, and Gettysburg College’s Eisenhower House. He also contributed public sculpture (“Strength of Liberty”) to the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown.

Artistic Philosophy
Fetterman describes art as a “sacred action,” born from intuitive and intellectual inspiration. His creativity reflects a deep philosophical connection to nature, and he sees each painting as a living seed planted in the viewer’s emotions.

Legacy & Presence
With over 1,000 paintings to his name, Alan’s art is deeply embedded in Bucks County’s visual identity. Though self-taught, he is widely regarded as one of the region’s most influential contemporary impressionist painters.