John Streeter

By Darla McCammon
Lakeland Art Association

We will return to our research on women in art next week, but first you need to know about an exciting new exhibit surfacing at the Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery on the main floor. This artist hails from Chicago, Ill., spends summer weekends here in our area on Lake Tippecanoe and we were privileged to meet up with him recently at another art exhibit and interviewed him at his lake home along with his delightful wife, Carol.

John Streeter grew up in Ohio and could not keep himself from drawing even at a very young age. Many famous artists find themselves with this penchant to constantly percolate art, almost from their pores. Streeter was no exception. He graduated from college and formal art training and began a successful graphic arts business in Chicago. During this time, he used many of the skills needed in his graphic arts world to hone his skills as a fine pastel artist. Once he hung up the shingle at the business in 2008, Streeter devoted his time and passion to becoming an excellent, award-winning pastel artist.

We are blessed to exhibit a number of his gorgeous florals done with an incredibly delicate touch along with an assortment of his other works that are equally fascinating. In his floral series, Streeter says he, “strives to capture the natural color and texture of native flowers of Indiana, Illinois and Florida.” Common themes and flower choices are hibiscus, peonies, orchids and roses. Many of these are nearly Georgia O’Keefe in size and point of reference — excellent.

Achieving an unusual depth and richness of color not often found in pastels, Streeter uses backlighting along with an amazing palette to achieve a three-dimensional feel to two-dimensional work.

Key West is another inspiration for Streeter, where he loves to capture brilliant seascapes and the ever-changing sunrises and sunsets of the Florida coast. Collectors across the U.S. have been so inspired by the beauty of these artworks that they have now become some of his most in-demand pieces. In addition to many awards, Streeter is a member of the Chicago Pastel Painters and Portrait Society of America along with the Lakeland Art Association. Regional awards are the norm and his work is now hanging in both corporate and private collections throughout the United States. If you are fortunate, you may be able to engage John Streeter in either private art lessons or one of the workshops he is now offering through Lakeland Art Association.

The John Streeter exhibit opens at Warsaw City Hall Gallery 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct.5.

Upcoming and Current Events:

• Adult and children’s workshops are always available. Call (574) 594-9950 for information.
• Honeywell photography competition opens October 1.
• Oct. 10, pastel class by John Streetor, contact LAA at (574) 594-9950 for information.
• LAA is located at 107 N. First St., Pierceton. Visit its website www.lakelandartassociation.org or “like” the association on Facebook. Contact your author/artist, Darla, at [email protected] with questions.