Art is often a solitary pursuit, but for the McLaren family, it’s a team effort that brings them closer together. This exhibit showcases the works of John, Cindy, and Chad McLaren, whose shared love for creativity has taken many forms over the years. Whether racing sailboats together, playing board and video games, or capturing forms and figures, the McLarens have always thrived on collaboration. They challenge, encourage, and learn from each other.

John and Chad are quite prolific in their passion for painting. Both are teachers at heart, and enjoy sharing that passion with others. Cindy enjoys ‘completing the picture’ by framing works by all three artists, and still enjoys drawing in charcoal and ink when the inspiration hits.

The McLaren Exhibition

Exhibit Dates: February 20 – April 4, 2025

Location: Janice Mason Art Museum
71 Main Street, Cadiz, KY 42211

Art by John, Chad, and Cindy McLaren
Framing by Cindy McLaren

Artists Reception – February 22, 2-4PM

John – Although he’s been painting for much of his life, John considers himself more of an engineer than an artist. Watercolor pigments have captivated John over the past decade and their unique characteristics remain his primary focus. He approaches a watercolor painting first as a draftsman laying out the scene, then as an engineer planning layers of equal value and inventing ways to protect paper and paint. Finally, he lets the chosen palette provide the emotion and the ‘art’.

Cindy – Cindy’s art consists primarily of figurative charcoal drawings, mostly drawn from life. Cindy’s favorite tool is her eraser, and she enjoys finding shapes in shadows, and incorporating invisible lines in her drawings, allowing the viewer to make their own connection with her subject. Recently, she has been using Inked lines to create ‘bare minimum’ representations of her subjects.

Chad – Though he has dabbled in watercolor with much success, Chad has found soft pastels to be the medium most effective for creating his bright and vivid scenes. Chad is inspired by a variety of subjects, including people, animals, epic scenes, his favorite movies, books, and geeky things. Chad enjoys painting with an audience, and can often be found on the street in downtown Paducah, or live on Tik-Tok.

We are all members of PAPA Gallery, Paducah KY, Murray Art Guild, Murray KY, and the Mayfield/Graves County Art Guild, Mayfield KY. We encourage everyone to find an art gallery or guild near you, and explore your own creative adventure.

John and Cindy: teaksouls.com/twodoves
Chad: happyaccidentgallery.com/

Special thanks to Maya Arb, Carla Clauschee-Black, and family for their long-time support, and for loaning seven of their artworks for the exhibit. We also thank Carol Hudson and Grady Pennington, fellow artists and friends, for the loan of their pieces.