By Ann Nichols, Arts Writer

For Casey McGlynn, spending every night in front of the television was a critical part of his art education. “From age 3 to 16, I sat on the floor in front of the TV with a 300-foot-long roll of tobacco bailing paper and drew for hours until bedtime,” he said. “I think that huge roll of brown paper was quite liberating for me and made me feel I could draw anything.”

This self-education paid off because, by age 33, Mr. McGlynn had had 15 solo exhibitions in Canada, the United States and Europe.

An exhibition of Mr. McGlynn’s work is on display at Tanner Hill Gallery. The show is composed of the artist’s mixed-media paintings that combine acrylic housepaint, crayons, pastel, pencil and ink.

“As a final touch, I always use a quill pen and India ink to outline and enhance detailed areas,” he said.

Each painting tells a story through the use of roughly depicted animals and people. The characters or images have special meaning to the artist. For example, he said horses symbolize “my old strong self,” and elephants represent the desire for family and strength. The figures are self-portraits — the larger ones his “older self with the burdens and benefits that come with age.”

Sometimes Mr. McGlynn’s subjects float throughout the picture plane. Sometimes, they are anchored within a grid system.

Though he was discouraged by his high school art teachers, whose design aesthetic was to clean up his “sloppy work,” Mr. McGlynn’s art school professors saw his special gift.

“They bought all my early work while I was a student, and they told me to remain untouched,” he said. “I have been teaching myself art every day for 35 years.”

“Casey McGlynn: New Work” can be seen through June 6.

Tanner Hill Gallery, 3069 S. Broad St., Suite 3, is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and by appointment. For information call 280-7182.