Photos by Mark Layman
In her 88 years, Pickerington resident Lois Clark has developed a tremendous talent for appreciating and creating beauty.
Clark has lived in Pickerington since 1977, when she moved to the community with her husband, Bill, and their five children.
For the past five years, Clark has taught watercolor classes at the Pickerington Senior Center. Several area artists meet at the center for fellowship, inspiration and Clark’s instruction from 1-3 p.m. Mondays.
Prior to teaching the finer points of watercolor painting to fellow seniors, Clark taught disabled children through the Franklin County Board of DD. Though the two audiences to which she’s taught are vastly different, Clark appreciates everyone’s talent.
“Art provides people with a way to connect with life. It’s good for the soul. Anyone can learn to do it, if they really want to,” Clark says. “I find that, when people say they cannot draw or cannot paint, it really means that they don’t have any interest in it. It’s something you can learn if it’s important to you.”
Clark’s watercolor skills are almost completely self-taught. She took art classes in junior high and high schools, painting only every once in a while before deciding to really learn to paint.
“I painted every morning right after breakfast. I made it a habit until I could learn how to do it,” she says.
“I just bought a bunch of art supplies, and I had some books. I did take a few classes from Nancy Brackbill. She had an exhibit at the library every so often, and I participated in that.”
Landscape is Clark’s favorite art form. Her living room walls provide a gallery for several of her paintings, including her favorite landscapes, floral compositions and an amazingly accurate portrait of her black-and-white cat, Mitty Kitty.
“I’ve always loved watercolor,” Clark says. “I love the freshness and transparency of the colors.”
One of the paintings portrays the farm in Meigs County where she and her family lived before moving to Pickerington. Bill grew up on the family farm until leaving to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After his father’s untimely death from a farming accident, Bill returned to the farm and he and Lois married.
All five of the couple’s children are grown and married, and they have 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. One of the sons is a pilot like his father, and another inherited Lois’s artistic talent.
“He was a commercial artist for a while,” Clark says. “He didn’t do watercolor like I do. He did chalks and oil paints. He studied art at (The Ohio State University).”
Another wall in Clark’s home is covered with photographs from days gone by. Her parents and grandparents, her husband’s parents and grandparents, and others, dressed in the styles of yesteryear, gaze steadily from images captured many decades ago.
“They’ve been gone a long time, but I still think of them,” Clark says.
When not painting or teaching, Clark spends a good amount of time in her garden.
“I don’t do the mowing anymore, but I still tend the garden,” she says. “I plant, weed and trim. I even dig it up with a spade in the spring.”
The deep back yard of her Pickerington home is well-kept, with gardens and feeding stations that attract a busy congregation of songbirds, bees and butterflies. Birds are another favorite subject for her watercolors.
Clark’s studio is in the basement of her home. Modesty prevents her from bragging, but a cluster of ribbons and awards hangs over her work table; she was a member of the Ohio Watercolor Society until travel became difficult for her. Paints and palettes surround her seat, and reference photographs are at hand.
“I like to work from photographs,” she says. “But I never paint the scenes exactly as they are in the photographs. I take things out, put things in and move things around to make the best composition.”
Clark’s watercolor classes at the Senior Center are open to all members. Experienced artists and beginners alike are welcome to participate.
For more information, inquire at the center or call 614-837-3020. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Pickerington resident Brenda Layman is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
