During a lifetime devoted to helping Waukegan’s youth, Anita Hanna spent some of her free time watching reruns of Bob Ross’ television show, where he taught people how to paint.
For much of the time after watching the show, Hanna never thought about getting canvases, paints and brushes and trying to learn as she watched. She just enjoyed watching Ross’ images form on her television screen. One day, eight months ago, things changed.
“One morning, I got up and decided I was going to learn to paint,” Hanna said. “It relaxes me. I can just create. Pretty soon, I had a house full of pictures.
“That’s when I called Ty (Rohrer),” she added, referring to the manager of cultural arts for the Waukegan Park District.
Among his responsibilities, Rohrer runs the Jack Benny Center for the Performing Arts in Bowen Park, where an art exhibit is regularly on display in the hallways. He liked what he saw when he viewed Hanna’s paintings.
Hanna, who is a year into her seventh term as a member of the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education, currently has a show of 29 of her acrylic paintings hanging along the walls of the Jack Benny Center through May 30.
Some artists find a spot to look at people, animals or objects like trees or shorelines, and paint them. Hanna’s paintings come from her imagination and memory. One painting is a beach scene with palm trees. It is not a place she has visited. It exists in her mind.
“It’s my happy place when I can be somewhere near the water,” Hanna said.
Some of the time, Hanna said she paints what she has seen, but often, they do not stay in one place as a model. She has a picture in her brain that suffices.
“I painted a fox I saw in my yard,” she said. “It was looking like it was hungry.”
Rohrer said Hanna’s paintings appear to be appealing to people of all ages as he watches them peruse the show at the Jack Benny Center. He likes the opportunity to display the work of local artists.
“Both youth as well as older folks are stopping and taking it all in,” Rohrer said. “Folks have enjoyed looking at the paintings. Folks have enjoyed looking at what Ms. Hanna has done. Everyone in the building has enjoyed it.”
One of the paintings was done after Hanna received a suggestion from Rohrer. Nearly four years ago, Hanna wanted to have the wall in front of District 60’s Lincoln Center administration building on Sheridan Road declared a historical landmark.
Rohrer chaired the Waukegan Historic Preservation Commission when Hanna wanted it preserved. Though the city declined her request, he recently suggested she paint a picture of the wall in front of the building. Later moved to the front of a home on Sheridan, she painted from memory.
“Ty (Rohrer) said I should do the wall,” Hanna said. “I painted it so it looked like it was restored. That’s what I had wanted done.”
When she learned she was going to have an exhibit at the Jack Benny Center, Hanna said she became nervous. She has faced criticism before in her life, but not for something she created herself.
“I was excited, but it was scary,” Hanna said. “I was worried I would get criticized. I am not a professional painter. It would be real good if someone wanted to buy one of them. They’re all one of a kind. I may give some as a gift.”
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Hanna’s paintings are viewable at the Jack Benny Center between 3 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.