Senior citizen finds his artistic side

For Jim Rahn, Saturdays are for art.

Just a few years ago, Rahn had never tried his hand at painting. But one of his neighbors convinced him to try out an art class held at the Elms senior apartments where he lives.

“I started going every week,” he said simply. “I just do art on Saturdays. I started with pencil sketches and now I do acrylics which I like because you can go over and fix them.”

Rahn, 74, worked as a supervisor at a plant that made flexible packaging in Illinois. The Marine Corps veteran was laid off after 30 years with the company. Shortly thereafter with just two suitcases and a backpack, he moved to Kalispell to be near one of his two sons.

“I like to be creative,” he said. “I like to be proud of my work.”

Mary Sierra, who also resides at the Elms, has taught art classes on Saturdays at the apartment complex for years. Now a group of artists gather informally and Rahn is among them.

“It’s amazing the way he just tries and tries,” she said. “I start everyone with pencil sketches, and he’s weren’t the best. But I suggested he try acrylics and now look.”

Outside Rahn’s apartment hangs a selection of his canvases. There’s a single tree painting and a lake scene with green trees.

A larger canvas with a winter landscape showcasing mountains in the background with trees highlighted with snow in the foreground set off against clouds that appear to be lifting off the mountain range – all painted in hews of blacks, grays, browns and deep greens.

The landscape is a favorite for both Rahn and his teacher.

“Trees and nature,” Rahn says of what he enjoys painting. “I’ve done many landscapes. If I’m not inspired by the subject it won’t turn out well.”

When asked why he only paints on Saturdays, Rahn is matter of fact. His hands, which he used for years working in the plant, wouldn’t last doing it more often.

“I have other interests,” he says. “I can’t put all my energy into painting. I like to get out of the house to walk. I have to get my exercise in and do my chores. I’ll hit up a coffee shop when I walk and then in the afternoon I watch TV.”

When Rahn starts a painting he takes it all the way from beginning to finish. He needs a visual reference for his paintings like a photo or a magazine clipping. He researches painting techniques on the internet if he’s not sure how to paint a certain subject.

Those walks he takes around town have also turned into visual studies as he looks for his next painting inspiration. He takes photos on his phone for future reference.

A set of three trees that appear from the right angle to be a single tree caught his attention recently and he’s been working out how to turn that into his next artistic work. He plans to paint a smaller canvas and if that goes well he’ll make a larger version.

He’s thinking about how he’ll start the background of his painting and how he’ll layer the acrylic paints in the proper order to create his scene. He’s thinking about color choices he’ll select because he mixes his own paints.

When he’s ready, he’ll begin painting.

“That’s what I like to do on Saturdays,” he says.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.