Robert Hummel of Plainsboro is displaying his new creations at Orpha’s Coffee Shop in Skillman through November 30. The show, “”NJ Towns in Cartoon,”” features a collection of images from area towns that he is compiling for a book of the same name.
“”Imagine the Nassau Inn on snow-covered Palmer Square with the Christmas tree aglow as billowing smoke rises from the inn’s chimney,”” Hummel says. “”Another painted scene depicts nearby Cranbury’s Brainerd Lake with cotton-ball shaped clouds hovering over sailboats as they skim past everyone’s favorite lake house on a fall afternoon.””
A New Jersey native, he grew up in Sayreville where he performed and created his own magic show and continued to perform during his teen years. After many years working and living outside of New Jersey he settled in Plainsboro to be near family members.
Hummel studied commercial art and advertising design at the Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While there he worked for the WinterFest Boat Parade and later performed on cruise ships. A former creative artisan with the Macy’s parade studio in Hoboken, some of his creations can still be seen annually as part of the Thanksgiving Day parade. He has created murals in public places, presented “”Cranbury in Cartoon”” at the Cranbury Inn last year, and gives art lessons. His mural at the Residence at Forsgate features seven dogs playing poker and pool. Freddie, a Pomerian and a frequent visitor to the facility, was included in the 8′ by 16′ latex and acrylic painting.
“”Comedy always came naturally to me — I have a crazy sense of humor,”” he says. “”Now that I am older (close to 40), I much prefer expressing this in my cartoon creations and not in public.””
Hummel also paints murals and has designed themed stage set decor for events at KatManDu in Trenton. “”The outdoor stage design background was designed to appear as though your were looking out at a tropical sunset paradise,”” says Hummel.
On Saturday, December 2, Hummel will have his Hightstown art and cartoon studio open for tours in the historic Art Station Studios (www.artstationstudios.com). He will be working on his latest addition to the NJ Towns in Cartoon series. The 15 other resident artists will also host open houses that day.
“”I am a big fan of children’s books and their illustrators and I have been writing several of my own,”” he says. “”If only there was more time in a day.””
Art Show, Orpha’s Coffee Shop, 1330 Route 206,
Skillman, 609-430-2828. www.orphas.com. “”New Jersey Towns in Cartoon”” by Plainsboro artist Robert Hummel features area scenes from Princeton, Cranbury, and Kingston. Patricio Abarca and Linda Grimsley of Plainsboro, owners of Orpha’s, will be celebrating their third anniversary during November. Exhibit on view through November 30. Monday to Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
