The Great American Art Works History
...it all started in an open studio session in 1980. Bob Strohsahl was a charcoal sketch artist, the person to his left was an oil painter, and to his right sat a soft pastelist.
By the time Bob had his initial sketch lined up and the painter had the first mixture of skin tone just right, the soft pastel artist had already completed their first painting. Needless to say, Bob switched mediums and fell in love with the product so much that he wanted to make his own soft pastel line. Noticing some inconsistencies in the products he was using, he studied how to make them even better... and even better after that. Soon he was making the best pastels on the planet! And that is how the company started. Using nothing but a home kitchen, a chemical engineering background, and an understanding of the spiritual in art, Bob created Great American Art Works; making the best pastels on the planet out of Cincinnati, Ohio... and it was just a coincidence the Great American Ball Park opened down the road in 2003! |
In 2024, Bob Strohsahl and assistant Diane Schear handed over the reins of the company to Levi Rinker and partner Sonia Caldwell.
Levi's passion for the arts, his early color studies with abstract photography, sculpture, and painting led him to GAAW to apprentice under Bob. After learning the secrets of the trade, it was do or die. So he convinced Sonia to join him in the adventure to take on yet another project. ...so they moved Great American Art Works to Anderson, Indiana, where they are both heavily involved in the local art scene; building community and pushing the revitalization of their downtown neighborhood. |
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Home is where our heart is.
Here are the ways we have committed to give back to our community: A Town Center, Inc. - 501c3 Artist Cooperative Anderson Artist Alley - Outdoor Gallery Space The Walking Man Project - Public Art Initiative
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