Mt. Sterling Artist’s Designs Picked as Finalists for Kentucky Quarter
artist, arts, culture, john ward, kentucky quarter,
John Ward may never be famous enough for his likeness to appear on a coin or dollar bill‚ but there is a two-in-seven chance that his work will appear on a soon-to-be issued 25-cent coin.
Ward‚ a Mt. Sterling artist‚ submitted three designs for a Kentucky coin‚ one of 50 state 25-cent pieces being released by the U.S. Mint. The coins are being released in the order the states entered the union.
Two of Ward’s designs - one depicting a thoroughbred and jockey and the other the “Old Kentucky Home” - are among seven finalists‚ narrowed from 1‚800 entries‚ from which the Kentucky quarter will be designed.
Ward is a civil engineer by profession‚ but he has long pursued art as a sideline. His work has won several state and national competitions. His most recently released prints include “Harvest Time” and “Housing Time‚” depicting the nostalgic farm activities of harvesting tobacco and hanging the crop in the barn.
Ward works in a variety of media‚ largely watercolor and oils‚ and describes his subjects as “a little bit of everything.”
He says he has “always been able to draw and paint‚” following in the footsteps of his father‚ who worked in construction but was also an artist. When his father was commissioned to paint murals for restaurants and other businesses‚ Ward helped paint portions of works.
His recent honors include first place this year in a Timberwolf Alliance poster competition for Wolf Awareness Week and the award for best watercolor last year in the Kentucky State Fair competition. He has placed second for the past two years in the Kentucky Trout Stamp competition.
His gallery and studio are in his home at 1121 Shadelawn Drive in Mt. Sterling.
Story by Lois Reagan Thomas
Photo by Harrison McClary
