Making creative connections

Drawn to the Beatles.

Jan Cline-Zimmerman’s artistic career has been a long, and sometimes winding, road.

“I drew portraits of the Beatles when I was a teenager,” Cline-Zimmerman said. “I was never encouraged until I was a senior in high school.”

An art teacher suggested she pursue art as a profession.

She enjoyed multi-media portraits.

“But I branched out,” Cline-Zimmerman said.

The artist, musician and minister opened Creative Connection Studio/Gallery last year in Oakland.

“I became an actual business in January -- open five days a week,” she said. “This is the best time of my life -- this building.”

Her Renaissance-style portraits seem to stare down at visitors from the walls of the 90-year-old structure that houses her shop.

“You can miss an eyelash and it makes a difference in the Renaissance style,” she said. “It’s harder to do medieval. You do several layers and let it dry to get the luminescence of skin tones and details.”

Her own face illuminates when she talks about her new endeavor.

“Wherever I go, I try to create a place of refuge and peace where people feel a connection with the Lord,” Cline-Zimmerman said.

She creates -- and teaches -- various media from her newest location.

Cline-Zimmerman earned a teaching certificate and a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Iowa.

“I taught in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but decided to do my own art and music,” she said.

She teaches three art classes and has two open studios. Her gallery also features a variety of works by other artists.

Besides artwork, Cline-Zimmerman also teaches a dozen music students.

Lukas McIlhaney, 11, of Wahoo has been her student for three years.

“She taught him everything from scratch -- she tailors the lessons to the students,” said Mary McIlhaney, Lukas’ mother.

“He is into classical music. With her help, he can play full-length Mozart pieces and Beethoven sonatas,” Mary said.

These days Cline-Zimmerman’s “rock” is Christian contemporary music. Her style includes folk and bluegrass, too. She has written 75 songs and released one CD. A second CD will be available by Christmas.

Cline-Zimmerman plays piano, guitar and sings. She recently started a yet unnamed musical group, where she plays 12-string guitar. Her son, Jeff Bunce, joined her in the ensemble that had its debut at the Fremont Area Art Association. This fall, she also plans to sing at area nursing homes with Pam Spevak of Fremont.

Cline-Zimmerman taught contemporary worship in Missouri and occasionally serves as an interim pastor at the Presbyterian church in Bancroft.

She met her husband, Dave Zimmerman, in northern Iowa at a Bible study.

“I was living across from a creek with a big rock. He would go there to pray,” Jan said.

“The Lord showed us he wanted us to be together.”

Dave, a Vietnam War veteran, grew up in Cherry County. It was his vision to help his wife find a new home in Nebraska.

“We pray each time we move,” Jan said.

“My husband had a dream about a phone nook -- a recurring dream about the (built-in) nook in his grandfather’s house,” she added.

About two years ago, the couple found a home for sale in Craig on the Internet.

Sure enough, it had what the couple envisioned.

“An actual alcove phone nook,” Jan said.

It also had an acre of land, a fireplace and Craftsman-style woodwork.

It was another new start.

“In 1995, he was given two years to live. He has had seven heart attacks,” she said.

“Last year he was in the hospital five times. This year is better �” he started to do woodworking,” Jan said.

He even began pounding out a drum from a log.

“I consider it a ministry to find people’s gifts and talents and help them accomplish their creative goals,” she said.

“She always helps me with what I need help with,” Lukas said. “I’m trying out for a radio program -- kids play music and talk about it.”

Cline-Zimmerman can find it a challenge to have her own creative time.

But whatever she accomplishes, she draws on her faith.