Reproduction painted by Delbert Fields.

Locally famed musician Delbert Fields has hidden talents that I just had to share with you.  Born in Elwood, Indiana, Delbert grew up in the Muhlenberg, Butler County area where his love of music and art first began to thrive.  

I was totally blown away when local radio personality and ex-wife of Delbert, Rockin’ Ronda showed me a cache of Delbert’s two decades old paintings that she had tucked away.  Although he has not exhibited his work since high school, here is a view of his talent for you to see.

Delbert works with sketches and oil on canvas. He isn’t currently painting but he draws and sketches openly around his home.  “I fix musical equipment for several of the bands and businesses in town and find myself sketching their equipment or their repair needs in draft form while at home and in my thinking mode, I am a doodler for sure”! He said.

   “I would personalize pictures for my older sisters and brothers as a young kid.   In school and at home doing art was a love from the beginning.  I remember drawing as far back as the first grade. My first picture displayed at school was a sketch of a small cabin in the corner of a large page surrounded by grass.  Now I have a collection of art pieces my own children made in school”. Delbert said.

   He has no formal training in art but said he is inspired by impressionism. The honest reason he painted the Mona Lisa was to see if he could.  According to Delbert, “Mystery is a part of art; You are trying to get closer to what you are painting.  Art is like a photograph of nature, of the real thing.  It just takes longer”.

Bandmate Mitchell Plumlee had this to say about Delbert:  “He’s very quiet and introspective, and from what I can tell, spends most of his time working on his art. I never hear him talk about what’s on TV; he doesn’t fool with the internet; he just sits around playing his guitar and working on his artwork. When the band is working on songs, Delbert is generally very quiet; we’ll all be saying we think it goes this way or that way, and Delbert will speak up, with that quiet mouse-like voice of his, and humbly tell us how the part is really played. With him, it’s not about ego, it’s about art, and I love that about him. If The Rank Outsiders are seen as artists, then Delbert Fields is largely responsible.”

   Being modest, he had a hard time accepting praise and does not participate in any art shows nor will he paint for profit or by request.  He says,  “You can’t just find inspiration, it has to find you”.

Delbert Fields has been too busy playing music to put into a painting what he would want to. “So one day I will put more time back into it…I have this end of the road vision that will bring me back to art.” he said. 

Delbert leaves us with these words.  “You got to love something to do it right.  Art takes a lot of work, you must focus, use logic and figure out how to express yourself… and most of all, you got to love something to do it right”.

About the author: Ronnie Jaggers is a seasoned sculptor, fine artist and master crafter. Her work can be seen on ChiseledFeaturesStudio.webs.com. She reminds other artists “Trust the beauty of your art, for if you see the beauty, others will too.” To be considered for the featured artist call Ronnie at 791-3505 or email ChiseledFeaturesStudio@yahoo.com