Fred Clark — North Webster Self-Taught Artist
By Caleigh Byrer
InkFreeNews
NORTH WEBSTER — Fred Clark is a longtime resident of North Webster; his mother and father took ownership of the M & M Cafe in North Webster in 1942, which no longer stands.
After he graduated high school in 1957, Clark continued his education at Florida State University graduating in 1961.
He has stayed in North Webster, creating paintings for the past 50 years as a self-taught artist. One of his most notable projects was a scene of a Wawasee lake to memorialize a husband who often watched the sunset from the family’s pier. Clark was able to incorporate some of the man’s ashes into the painting.
Clark’s passion for painting was initially inspired by a trip he took to New Orleans, where he admired the art but decided it would be more practical to go home and create his own. His wife, Judy, was quite a help in this endeavor, as she had attended the Fort Wayne Art School.
Judy was able to teach him about basic composition and mixing colors and helped him pick out the proper supplies. Aside from Judy’s contribution, Clark learned how to create incredibly realistic paintings through the process of trial and error.
Clark stated he always found time to paint and develop his skills. “When we had little ones I probably didn’t do a whole lot then, but I was in a used car business. I would sit in the office waiting for someone to come in, so I painted.”
Clark does a lot of commission work and specializes in painting landscapes, seascapes, architecture and rural Indiana scenes.
Prior to the pandemic, the Clarks has a shop in town where he would often paint and exhibit his paintings. “I got a lot of commissions because people would see me sitting out front working on something and they would stop and visit.”
One of Clark’s more recent projects is a North Webster historical calendar. There are paintings of a blacksmith shop, service station, M & M cafe, Culver’s grocery, Tippy Dance Hall, Old Yellowbanks Hotel, Oswego Pound Store, Bart’s Watersports and more. Many of these historical landmarks are no longer standing or have been remodeled, so Clark’s paintings serve to preserve their memory.
The calendar was sponsored by Tangibles, Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall, Kay and Jim Caskey, Ace Hardware, Pilcher’s Shoes, Patona Bay Marina, Sue’s Creation, Sue Health, Jill and Jennifer’s Salon, Bart’s Watersports and Clayton Garden Center, which Clark expresses his gratitude for. All proceeds from the calendar will go to the senior center.