“ON THE DEATH OF MY FATHER”: This 1980 work by Charles David Viera is part of his exhibition “Painting Women: Variations on a Theme,” on view January 7 through February 4 at the Arts Council of Princeton. An artist’s reception is on January 7 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will present an exhibition of paintings by Charles David Viera, “Painting Women: Variations on a Theme,” which will include a selection of Viera’s paintings on the subject of women. Many of the paintings have rarely been exhibited, with some works dating as far back as 1975. This exhibition, on view January 7 through February 4, will coincide with an adult painting class taught by Viera.

The community is invited to an artist’s reception on Saturday, January 7 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The paintings were selected not only for their representation of the female form, but also for their stylistic variations, psychological impact, and how they would contribute to and support the special adult painting class.

“I’ve been painting for over 45 years, and many of my artworks have involved women,” said Viera. “As a male my view is that of an outsider, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying to understand and illustrate what women contribute to the human condition. I have been inspired by not only their beauty and sensuality, but I’ve also tried to understand and illustrate how they feel and act. I have used women in paintings to serve as players in a narrative and physiological drama, but I have also used the female form as a starting point for abstract compositions.

“As an artist I feel my images communicate with the viewer in a better way than I could with words, and my hope is that when the viewers see these works they will come away with an understanding of my deep-seated reverence and respect for women and also that, after all these years, I am still in awe of them.”

The exhibition includes academic, expressionist, and abstract artworks and it is the mechanics of these varied techniques that will be at the core of the five session studio class that is offered by the Arts Council. The class will be offered on Mondays starting on January 9.

The Arts Council of Princeton is at 102 Witherspoon Street. For more information, visit artscouncilofprinceton.org, call (609) 924-8777, or go to charlesdavidviera.com.