Tobias Pressler often paints his self portrait to judge his developing skills. Photo by Mary Hursh.

By Mary Hursh
Guest Columnist

SYRACUSE — On Aug. 24, Wawasee High School 2024 graduate Tobias Pressler will head to his new, four-year home at the Chicago Art Institute. There, he will major in art history with a focus on conservation and restoration of paintings.

“I am excited to go,” said Pressler. “I decided to apply at the end of my junior year. I submitted an application as well as a portfolio online. I also took my physical portfolio composed of 15 pieces to the art institute. They wanted items that represented me as a person. They wanted to see me in my works.”

As a result of his application, his interview and his portfolio, Pressler was not only accepted, but he was given a scholarship. “Eventually, I would like to continue at the Institute and get my master’s degree and apply for an apprenticeship in conservation and restoration. From there, I would like to eventually end up working at the Art Institute,” said Pressler.

One of the pieces in his portfolio is a painting of two Christmas ornaments and a gift in acrylic. “I mixed the paints by hand. I mixed pigment with gel to get the color I wanted. It took awhile to get used to mixing and my hand hurt. I very rarely use color out of the tube,” said Pressler.

When he was young, Pressler’s dad took him to the Art Institute, and from that time he has had a passion for attending school there. He often accompanies his dad for sketching trips, which they call “photosafaries.”

Over the years in the art department at Wawasee High School, Pressler took drawing, painting and art trade classes. He helped run the student gallery at school and worked with other students to produce works for Parkview Hospital in Warsaw after learning the techniques of mosaic wall hangings from his teacher Christine Ziebarth. “Mrs. Ziebarth gave me so many opportunities that someone else might not have given me. She gave me technique and life advice.”

Most of the work Pressler does is in acrylics. He paints a wide variety of objects, people and animals. “I really like painting ‘en plein air’ at the Between-the-Lakes property by the Channel Marker.”

Learning the techniques of conservatorship and restoration involves many skills and much study. “At the Chicago Art Institute, I will learn how to match paint and painting styles, how to repair canvas, how to apply chemicals to clean the surface of paintings, how to mend the canvas and how to stretch the canvas. I will have to be very patient.”