For several years, I have talked to a fellow Marine and local resident about his collection of paintings he amassed since he began the work in 1963. Finally on Sunday afternoon, I paid him a visit at his home and studio on Lake Devine at Huntersford Road.
We have an unusual relationship, as his mother was my godmother in 1925. His family was strong in my church, , and at 81, he was just a bit younger than I. Although he missed World War II, he did do a couple of years with the U.S. Marines in the Korean conflict.
As we looked over his collection of more than 400 works of art, he said his mother told him I was quite small as a baby, saying that I would have fit in a shoe box at baptism.
He didn't want to sell the paintings, but he has sold pictures of them — surprising it seemed that he loved doing Indians, especially Apaches, such as Geronimo, Lone Wolf, McGoosh, and Black Dog, who was Assiniboin. I think he liked the facial features of Indians, and I brought home his rendition of the four that accompany this blog entry.
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His home was designed by his son, who is an excellent architect, and sits with great views of Lake Devine with outdoor decks and pictures windows to give one a good feeling of ease and comfort there.
John says he got his start in painting through Brother Mathews of St. Joseph Hill fame in 1963, and spent some time with Joe McCue, a noted artist of Pacific, MO.
He feels he had a God-given talent and spent a lot of time letting that natural ability show itself. He enjoys his works, and says that people from all over come to see them.
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As I sat in his home, I tried to come up with a proper title for my blog. For once, I was at a loss for words. Maybe it is enough to say that the community is lucky to have someone with his talent and wisdom in our midst.
So keep that paint aflowing, John Devine.