From his State College home a man attempts to paint the beautiful landscape he sees in the distance. Trees, flowers and sunlight come to life as he quietly goes about his work.

Steven Kondra began painting in earnest and experimenting with watercolors and pastels in 1984 when he moved to State College to be with his family.

"When he has something to paint he is much happier," said Susan Simpson, Kondra's daughter. "He doesn't stop painting until it is done."

Kondra said landscapes are his favorite things to paint. "I'm a very realistic artist," Kondra said.

Recently, Kondra had an exhibit on display in the West Lobby Gallery of Pattee Library. The exhibit, his second at the University, included oil paintings, watercolors and pastel drawings he has created during the past two years. "Old Main in Winter," "A View of PSU Campus" and "Nittany Lion" were some of the works on display. Kondra said "Nittany Lion" was his favorite work in this exhibit because of the contrast between the white lion and the dark background in the drawing.

Because he has little means of transportation, Kondra can only paint what he sees from his house. He often paints scenery from memory, or from a photograph his daughter brings him to copy. He also paints many portraits.

"He captures people very well. People are just so thrilled with it. They think it's a real treasure," Simpson said.

Nancy Lego, Pattee Library exhibits coordinator, said she chose Kondra's works because they were technically well done and the subjects were interesting. "A lot of people like them because they are pictures of the campus, but they are not photographs," Lego said.

She said "Charlotte in Blue," a portrait of Kondra's granddaughter and "Mountains of Nittany" were the drawings she liked best. "I just like the feeling that they give off," Lego said.

Some of Kondra's works were also recently shown at the Douglas Albert Gallery in State College.

Kondra said exhibits are new to him, and he has not had many of his paintings on display. Although his daughter encourages him to exhibit his work, he said he is not the type of artist that likes to show his paintings.

Kondra began his artistic career as a boy in Hungary, where he learned the art of textile making at his father's rehabilitation institute. Since his early childhood, however, he has always had a love for painting.

First introduced to oil painting in the eighth grade, Kondra tried to learn about the craft by following an artist friend. His friend taught him in his studio, and they made a few oil paintings together.

Because Kondra's father did not like the artistic life, he sent his son to economic school. Kondra eventually joined the army and was away from painting for a long time.

"He is a frustrated artist because he never had proper training," Simpson said.

Kondra left the army after World War II when the Russians entered Hungary, because he was anti-Communist. He set up a textile factory where he designed looms, and painted on and off as a hobby.

However, because he was not a member of the communist party, he was often forced to take bad jobs. Struggling just to feed his family, Kondra had little time to paint.

In 1956, he was able to move to England and start a textile business in his home where he made lace shawls. Since his retirement 12 years ago, he has been able to concentrate his efforts on his painting.

Simpson said her children love their grandfather's paintings. Kondra said he does not feel his work expresses anything particular about his personality.

"I don't have a special personality in my art, just realistics," Kondra said.

However, his daughter said she can see part of him in his work. "He does everything with a lot of patience and love," Simpson said. "It is part of his personality."