Vibrant scenes of the Shippensburg area filled the white walls of the town’s art gallery Friday, giving onlookers the chance to see the works of a local artist.

From fish to fire hydrants, Paul Buhan painted what he saw and loved of the local area. The late Shippensburg University biology professor’s work is being displayed at the Shippensburg Arts Programming and Education (SHAPE) gallery until Oct. 28.

Named “A Local View,” the gallery features paintings of churches, shops and scenery familiar to Shippensburg and Chambersburg residents. About 20 of his paintings are on display, with about another 20 divided between family and friends. Many of the paintings at the gallery are for sale.By the end of the night, more than $2,000 were raised from Buhan’s artwork. Thirty percent of the profits go toward SHAPE and the remaining is Bridgetta Buhan’s to keep.

Buhan took up painting as a hobby, his step-daughter Pam McLaughlin said. He never had any formal training, except for taking a few classes at Pennsylvania State University. She said he would take a photo of whatever caught his eye and then paint the photo at his home.

Founding SHAPE board member Kurt Smith said he met Buhan when the artist came to Smith’s Vivid Imagery printing shop. The two became friends, centered on their familiar interest in art.

“As an artist myself, I loved his work,” Smith said, describing Buhan’s paintings as an impressionist style. Smith’s eyes lit up as he recalled how Buhan would do a lot of experimenting and was not afraid to try something new.

“A Local View” is the first time an entire gallery at SHAPE featured a deceased artist’s work.Buhan’s wife, Bridgetta Buhan, slowly walked around the gallery looking at her late husband’s work.

She pointed at one called the “Park Ave. Pharmacy” and told of how Paul and her lived three blocks away from it. The painting featured a red and blue building with a man walking into it. Supposedly, Bridgetta said, the man was Paul, but he looks skinnier in the painting.

“I think he would be very happy,” she said of how Paul would feel if he were at the gallery.

Thinking back, she said she did not know why he started painting, but recalled him saying he painted little toy soldiers when he was young.

Many of the paintings featured different species of fish in murky brown and green water. McLaughlin and Bridgetta said he loved fish and often went fishing. Smith explained how Buhan studied fish immensely and incorporated that into his hobby and professional life.

Several paintings were of the Conococheague Creek, which he loved to fish in, McLaughlin said. His “Scotland Arch Conococheague #2” draws the viewer’s eye downstream with his thick, wispy blue, brown and white paint strokes. The golden arch penetrates the middle of the painting and coniferous trees line the outer edges.

Other paintings are of local bridges and railroad crossings. Vibrant blue skies with white streaks or soft light grey skies are a common theme, along with yellow flowers and leaves. Many pieces featured recognizable buildings around Shippensburg, such as the Farner’s Corner and the former Bigler’s Grocery.

Paul’s techniques often included thick brush strokes that were distinctively noticeable up close, but from afar, made an elegant scene. Only a few paintings contained people, because, as Smith said, his figurines were not up to par.

“He wasn’t out to be an artist,” Smith said, “he was doing it because it was fun.”

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