By Darla McCammon

Don Sheline

The Warsaw City Hall art gallery has had many notable exhibits for people’s enjoyment. Here comes another one! Don Sheline is a Korean War veteran. Recently, he completed his “Honor Flight” to Washington D.C. and he tells me he felt extremely honored to have the opportunity.

I was privileged to view the work of this creative man recently, and I know you will enjoy visiting his exhibit and learning more about him and his wonderful art. His work will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the City Hall areas provided for our art exhibits that are of community interest. On Fridays, you can meet the artist, as he will be there from 2 to 4 p.m.

Sheline resides in Goshen, but prior to that he lived on Lake Wawasee for 24 years. Today he spends his winters living in Fort Myers, Fla. Florida welcomes him back with good attendance at his many art lessons he provides eager students during the winter months.

Wearing yet another hat, Sheline, a certified and now retired minister, spent 42 years of his career in the ministry as a chaplain with both the Indiana State Police and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

If you like cars and vehicles, you will often find them as subjects in Sheline’s art work. He tells the story of how his art really first took off.

“I am self-taught,” said Sheline. “I started doing watercolor paintings 20 years ago, and being a fan of cars and trucks, I started painting a variety of pieces showing the many models I admired. Next thing you know, I displayed these paintings around my collector cars at various car shows. They sold rather quickly and then I began getting requests to paint vehicles of exhibitors’ cars.”

His popularity as an artist was not a fluke. Sheline began entering many art shows, including those formidable “juried” shows. He has since won Best of Show, First Place and many blue ribbons. His fame was spreading. In 2006 he combined his ministry with his love of painting and became the chaplain along with teaching art classes on a 108 day around the world cruise.

He made acquaintances of art lovers and students from all parts of the world. He still communicates with many of those new friends. His art work has been sold to people who live all over the world, including the United States.

Another accomplishment is something you will have to view to understand. Sheline invented Chrome Art a very difficult technical art process that has also won him accolades and awards. It is very unusual and has a great impact when you view it. You can find examples of this in his exhibit so please be sure to visit all the areas for art at Warsaw City Hall and enjoy the experience of art by Don Sheline.

Upcoming and Current Events:

• The Don Sheline exhibit will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 pm. daily from June 4 through Aug. 3 at Warsaw City Hall art gallery. Please go visit this free exhibit and appreciate his work.
• The Clark Gallery at Honeywell in Wabash, with an exhibit by Brenda Ramseier, will be open until June 17.
• The LAA show will be exhibited until June 30 at Heartland Gallery, 101 N. Michigan, Plymouth.

For more information on topics in this column, please contact Darla McCammon at [email protected] or (574) 527-4044. Older columns can be read at www.darlamc.com