A reception honored SF State professor Beverly Voloshin’s artistic endeavors Wednesday and marked the opening of an exhibit that showcased some of the English professor’s artwork.

“My house is full of my paintings and drawings,” she said. “I just picked some of my favorites to display. I decided not to hang any nudes in the dean’s office.”

The exhibit, titled “Paintings and Works on Paper,” which runs through Nov. 3, displayed 35 of Voloshin’s vast array of works she has produced in the last three years. The reception, held in the College of Humanities Office where her exhibit is on display, drew at least 20 of the artist’s family, friends and faculty.

The selected pieces demonstrated the artist’s interest in a variety of diverse techniques, with styles ranging from modern abstracts to lifelike portraits.

One painting was done in an Aboriginal style. Called “Dream of Girl Running,” the piece featured swirls, circular designs and dots in earthy tones, with two small blank spaces to represent her daughter running along a path. Aborigines, whose paintings are called “dreamings” and are meant to tell stories, depict humans or animals in their art as tracks on the ground, and Voloshin stayed true to that tradition.

Another piece called “Petaluma II” portrayed a cluster of abstract shapes with deep turquoise and blue tones. Still more displayed realistic representations of vases of flowers and likenesses of acquaintances and family members.

When asked about her wide range of styles and media, Voloshin said she enjoys experimenting.

“Oil is my favorite medium to work with, but it would take a lifetime to master it. It’s very difficult,” said Voloshin. “I haven’t found my personal style yet, so I’m trying everything.”

Voloshin has been teaching on campus since 1987. She is the faculty coordinator of the Office of Academic Honors and Scholarships and campus coordinator for the California Pre-Doctoral Program, a CSU-wide scholarship program.

Despite her busy schedule, she still finds time to paint or draw at least once a week. Since renewing her interest in art, she has been consistently studying at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Petaluma campus. Next on her slate is to enter her work into the realm of art collectors.

“I would absolutely love to sell some of my stuff,” she said. “I’m hoping to get some hung at a café or somewhere like that. I’m at the point where I would just love to sell something.”

Voloshin said she took up painting and drawing five years ago after her two children left for college. Her daughter, Rachel, said she likes seeing her mom’s works up on display.

“I love seeing them all together. I’ve seen probably half of these works individually, but the way their colors borrow from each other makes it a different experience,” said Rachel Voloshin, 23.

Beverly Voloshin said her major influences include Cezanne, Richard Diebenkorn and Picasso. She hopes to expand her repertoire to other influential painters.

“I really love the old masters,” said the artist. “I would love to study and learn more about the renaissance painters and learn their techniques.”

The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Humanities Building room 484.