FALCONER - The Prismacolor pencil drawings of Bill Cotter are on exhibit now at the Falconer Public Library.
Following a 31-year career as a professor of biological sciences at Jamestown Community College, Cotter began retirement by searching for a passion which would be both rewarding and relaxing.
Officially retired as a full-time professor in August 2000, Cotter had a rewarding and successful career teaching human anatomy and physiology, health science and personal health and safety. With the help of his loving and supportive family and absolutely no art courses, he decided to try his hand at drawing wildlife.
Following experiments with a variety of techniques and different types of pencils, Cotter discovered a favorite in the brightly-colored Prismacolor colored pencils. For a more realistic, textured, three-dimensional look, Cotter typically uses embossing tools on his detailed drawings.
Since his beginning in 2000, Cotter has drawn literally hundreds of pictures. In the last few years, he has exhibited some of his art pieces at the Jamestown Audubon Society Nature Center, the JCC Arts and Sciences Building, as well as the Falconer Public Library - at the latter in both 2004 and 2006.
Through the years, he has donated drawings to numerous causes including the Reg Lenna Civic Center's Take A Seat Auction and the Charity Links Auction held at the Moonbrook Country Club. Cotter and his wife, Carol, are East Mosher Street residents in the village of Falconer.
''There is a local interest because he was a former professor at the school,'' said Sue Seamans, library director, of the library's February exhibitor. ''A lot of people like him very much.''
The work of the Falconer Public Library's artist for February will remain up through the end of the month. The Falconer Public Library is located at 101 W. Main St. in Falconer and can be reached by calling 665-3504.