Colusa artist Tacker gains recognition for versatility

John Soares has a print of Hal Tacker's most famous painting, but he could not help but admire it still as it hung on the wall during the Colusa artist's show on Saturday.

And while the image that depicts Pappy Boyington skimming the surface of water in his Vought F4U Corsair is always an eye-catcher, Soares, of Colusa, and the others who attended "The Art of Hal Tacker" at the Colusa County Golf & Country Club had plenty to see.

"I've enjoyed it all," Soares said.

Tacker, once known almost exclusively as an aviation painter, is now gaining recognition for his versatility.

He recently returned from a very successful show in Carmel.

The local show offered everything from aviation pieces, to motorcycle and watercraft racing, to vintage automobiles to portraits of the famous, to images of everyday life.

And to Tacker's own amusement, there were even some dogs and ducks.

"I always said I would never paint dogs or ducks," said Tacker, who recently sold his fitness business to dedicate more time to his painting.

Among those works are commissioned pieces for hunters.

One that seemed to gain a great deal of attention from the visitors to the show was that of a golden lab carrying a sprig out from a pond.

"It looks so real. I swear the dog is walking right off the painting and dripping water on the floor," said Sandra Thomas, of Yuba City, who owns several pieces by Tacker, including an original drawing of an old car that reminded her of her father's Chevrolet.

Her husband had bought it for her a few years ago, and she became a fan of Tacker's right there and then.

Tacker admits to being a bit tired at the show, the result of long nights of organizing the event as well as finishing off some work.

He said since he has gotten back into art full-time, the commissions have rolled in.

"My favorites are the portraits, like the one of (Jimi) Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jerry Rice. They are just great," added Cory Thomas.

He was shopping for himself at this show.

"I'm not sure what I am going to get. There are lots of choices," Thomas said.