Nicholas Vernetti, of Webster, N.Y., Shows Illustrations at Popular Eatery

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Nicholas Vernetti's illustration is part of the decor at the Cazenovia NY McDonalds Restaurant

CAZENOVIA, NY (05/06/2011)(readMedia)-- Four Cazenovia College students have illustrations hanging in the McDonald's Restaurant in Cazenovia. The display features the work of Riley Battaglini, Endicott, N.Y.; Christina Crimarco, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; Amanda Sammons, St. Johnsville, N.Y.; and Nicholas C. Vernetti, Webster and Rochester, N.Y.

The illustrations celebrate the colorful tradition of circus posters, and were created in Associate Professor Laurie Selleck's Digital Illustration class. She noted that the project was to create a poster, hand drawn on the computer, that celebrated the 1919 debut of the Ringling Bros. - Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows. She said, "The students did a great job capturing the style and mood of turn-of-the-century illustrations, circus alphabets and print ephemera. They were very successful in using a digital tablet as an artist's paintbrush. The results are colorful, inviting, and evocative of the magic of the circus."

Vernetti, a graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, and now a junior at Cazenovia College, is working toward a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual communications. Vernetti says, "In my illustration I have reached into a stylistic realism that is heavily reminiscent of painting. I worked to evoke the same feel as vintage hand-painted circus posters from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Overall the results were an interesting blend that still feels right for the time-honored tradition of the circus."

Cazenovia College's association with the local McDonald's Restaurant began when interior design students were offered a unique learning experience – the opportunity to assist with the interior design/décor of the recently rebuilt McDonald's restaurant in Cazenovia. Under the guidance of Professor Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore and Assistant Professor Grace Baker '04, a group of students was assembled to participate in the process of selecting the most promising design proposal for the restaurant.

Selleck says, "Scott Jensen (assistant professor of visual communications) saw the project in Reisman Hall, and, thinking they would look good with the décor at McDonalds, asked Betsy Moore to facilitate their hanging in the restaurant."

Cazenovia College, founded in 1824, is an independent, co-educational, baccalaureate college near Syracuse, N.Y., offering a comprehensive liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. Cazenovia, named one of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report, is also a national College of Distinction. For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu.