What people see as empty space, David Varmecky, assistant professor of art and graphic design, perceives as an opportunity to uncover art in its most basic form.

Photography and art has always been an interesting hobby for Varmecky. Since 1982, he has consistently entered his art and photos in competitions and galleries all around Tulsa, Okla.

“Seeing is the main focus of my creative efforts,” Varmecky said. “Learning to draw taught me how to begin seeing and seeing led me to photography.”

Varmecky has been teaching art and photography since 2002. Originally at the University of Tulsa and he has been teaching there until this year, when he came to Missouri Southern.

Fortunately, there is always a need for art, to entertain everyone and anyone who is willing to appreciate it.

Not only has Varmecky been teaching art and photography, he has also donated his work to charities and organizations to help raise money for scholarships programs for students who are interested in pursuing art or graphic design as a career.

“There is always a need for artists, if it gets printed or goes on the Internet, someone has to create it,” Varmecky said.

As an active participant in the Tulsa Photography Collective for more than 25 years, Varmecky not only served several terms as president of the non-profit organization, but also donated his time as a photographer and graphic designer to several other non-profit organizations such as the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers and the Tulsa Global Alliance.

“I want viewers of my work to see what they see for themselves instead of what I saw when I made the image,” Varmecky said. “Let the image stand on its own.”

Varmecky has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in graphic design and photography and is now teaching those courses at Southern.