HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Hollidaysburg Area Public Library is displaying the artwork of “The Real McCoys — Father & His Sons” through June 1.
Dave McCoy passed along his love for art to his sons Matthew and Eric.
McCoy went to school for drafting, design and photography, but never thought of painting.
When his sons were young, he took them to children’s art classes at the Holliday Art Studio (Charlotte Aungst, instructor) and participated with them.
He learned the basics of painting, but never took it seriously until he was about 55.
His father was a carpenter and taught him the trade, and he used this skill in designing and building sets for Mark Dodson’s dance studio.
He later worked with Penn State Altoona’s theater department as a scenic designer, scene shop foreman and instructor (stagecraft). He left the position in 2005 and started to paint more and do woodworking.
McCoy also has designed sets for the Altoona Community Theatre, Allegheny Regional Theatre, Northern Bedford High School and Tyrone Area High School. He works part time with Michael Allison of Studio EFX.
Matthew McCoy is autistic. His parents discovered at an early age that he had autism and a lot of art talent. At age 5, he was drawing pictures on a chalkboard, and as soon as he would finish one he would erase it. His parents then gave him pencils and paper, so his art wouldn’t be lost. His specialty is pencil sketching, although the last few years he’s been taking watercolor classes at the Holliday Art Studio (Cathy Dixon, instructor) with his father.
Eric McCoy will graduate this month from Penn State Altoona with a degree in integrative arts.
When he was a young teenager, Eric started drawing cartoon characters. He’s now interested in Japanese anime.
The last couple of years, he’s been taking oil painting classes (Cindy Rabold, instructor).
In his senior year of high school, he was one of three nominated for Most Artistic. He aspires to be a graphic artist or animator.
