In
The News: WISH
#1,500!In
The News: WISH
#1,500!
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW
Kokomo Artist has Wish Granted by Local Non-profit Organization
Lucille Handy, a Kokomo artist, received a private art lesson from Plein-Air artist Mary Ann Davis through Never Too Late, an non-profit organization granting wishes for seniors. |
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Plein-Air artist Mary Ann Davis teaches local artist Lucille Handy techniques in oil painting. Handy is a wish recipient from Never Too Late, an Indianapolis-based organization that grants wishes for seniors. |
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Artist Mary Ann Davis (behind easel) posing with the four generations of the Handy family. |
KOKOMO:
It wasn’t the first time Lucille Handy had picked up a paint brush. The 95-year-old Kokomo resident and member of the
Kokomo Art Association has been cleaning her palette for over eighty years. But when asked what her wish would be if she could have one, Handy didn’t venture far from the paintbrush. She chose to learn a new art medium from a professional artist. “I mostly do watercolor” says Handy, “So I decided I’d like a lesson in oils. I used to paint in oils long ago and thought it might be fun to try again.”
Handy recently had her wish granted by Never Too Late, an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that grants wishes for seniors. Her wish, a private art lesson with
Mary Ann Davis, an award-winning “plein-air” artist, took place at the
Wickliff Fine Art in Zionsville,
Indiana on Friday May 23rd.
Davis, who earned her BFA from Herron School of
Art, is an award winning artist whose paintings can be seen at Wickliff as well as in various galleries throughout Indiana, Florida and Colorado. The artists appeared to inspire each other, “She’s done a fabulous job” remarked Davis. Handy was quick to return the compliment stating that Davis was a great teacher. Handy became interested in art at age 15,
initially working with pastels. She later worked with oils but began using watercolors in ’92 at the young age of 80.
Learning oil techniques from Davis proved to be a fascinating challenge for Handy, “Well, this is entirely new for me” she exclaimed, “I’m excited; this is fun!” Handy has won numerous awards at the Kokomo Art Association Art Show, the Indiana State Fair and the T.C. Steele Plein-Air Paint-outs. She is a member of the Kokomo Art Association, the Logansport Art Association and the Brown County Art Guild.
Handy was nominated for the wish by her granddaughter Tracy Line. Line, a freelance writer, had interviewed Bob Haverstick the founder of Never Too Late for a local magazine last year and later decided to honor her grandmother with a wish. “Interviewing Bob inspired me to do something special for someone I knew. My grandmother came to mind because she is such a kind and giving person, not to mention a great artist” says Line.
Handy’s art lesson marks the 1500th Wish for Never Too Late. Bob Haverstick, founder of the organization, says he takes pleasure in giving back to the elderly, a generation he calls forgotten. He also enjoys the domino effect of giving, “I’ve realized what a ripple effect these wishes have.” Everyone, from wish recipients to family members to the vendors involved are touched by the experience."
Line would agree, “Writing about the organization was one thing. Seeing someone you love have a wish granted first hand, well that just makes you smile inside and out.”
Never Too Late is a 501c3 public charity. The organization is run by volunteers and 99% of all donations go toward granting wishes. Those interested in requesting a wish or helping the organization can check out
www.nevertoolate.org or call 317.823.4705.
Submitted to the Kokomo Tribune by Tracy Line
