Robert Hudson works on a mural in an alley in downtown Warsaw on Tuesday, Aug. 20. InkFreeNews photos by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW — Robert Hudson is working on his 30th mural in Indiana and said he’s excited to finally be doing one in Warsaw, where he graduated from high school in 1971.

The 66-year-old, who lives in Mentone, said the chance to do a mural in Warsaw is an opportunity to leave his mark on the town and send another message to a former high school art teacher that he was wrong.

“He told me to take phys ed because I had no talent and I was wasting my time,” Hudson said. “I’ve got 34 murals under my belt. I’ve sold thousands of paintings and drawings. Not bad for a guy without talent.”

His latest effort — the first public mural in recent history in Warsaw — is coming to life on the north side of the alley wall adjacent to The Vic at 110 Craft Meatery. 

The longtime local artist was commissioned by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council to do the project. He started about 10 days ago and predicts it will take a few more weeks to complete.

When finished, the mural will depict the courthouse and a scene from Center Lake with dramatic lighting and a series of air balloons in the sky.

It also marks the third mural he has done on corrugated metal, which makes the work a little more challenging, he said.

Other samples of his work can be found in numerous small towns in northern Indiana. He has 12 in Ligonier, two in Mentone, one in Akron and one in Silver Lake.

The mural is the youth council’s first project.

To cover the $7,500 cost of the work, the advisory council is using a $5,000 grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and planned to cover the remaining cost with private donations. 

Robert Hudson pauses for a moment while working on a mural in downtown Warsaw.