The public is invited to “Life Drawing Life,” an exhibition of figurative works and portraits by Jim Bean, January 26 – February 25 in the Wallace Barnes and Barbara Hackman Franklin Art Gallery at Tunxis. An opening reception with refreshments will be held Wed., Feb. 3, 5-8 p.m.

Discouraged by an art professor at Bates College, Bean switched his major from art to biology and economics. After graduating, he worked as a research assistant at Harvard Medical School, and a few years later joined his family’s manufacturing business in Connecticut. He later started his own manufacturing company and has been running it ever since.

“Twenty-five years after those discouraging words in college, I dusted off my charcoal, enrolled in Paul Iezzi’s life drawing class, and formally began training as an artist,” said Bean. He has also studied with Frederick Franck, Jerry Weiss, Cedric Egeli, and at the Lyme Academy. He works and resides in the Northwest corner of Connecticut.”

The Barnes-Franklin Gallery is located in the 600 Building. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, call 860.773.1974 or email Arthur Simoes at [email protected].