Nebraska Painter Fills COVID Lockdown with New Art Career

A self-taught painter who picked up his first brush during COVID lockdowns is now exhibiting his work at a Nebraska hospital, proving it's never too late to discover a hidden talent.

Lon Krugman started painting in 2020 when the Lincoln resident found himself with extra time as an empty nester during shutdowns. He bought some supplies and began learning from YouTube videos by artists like Bob Ross and Kevin Hill, falling asleep each night watching painting tutorials.

Four years later, his oil paintings are on display at the Walkway Gallery at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney through November. The exhibit features diverse scenes, some inspired by photographs and others purely imaginary. Most include a bird or animal, reflecting Krugman's love of nature.

The works hang in a 200-foot corridor connecting the hospital's main building to the West Tower. Since 2008, this dedicated gallery space has showcased regional artists while providing a peaceful respite for patients, families, and staff walking the hospital halls.

Sunny's Take

There's something beautiful about Krugman's story that goes beyond the paintings themselves. In a time when the world felt like it was closing in, he opened up a new part of himself. He turned isolation into creation, uncertainty into skill building, and fear into something tangible and lovely.

The hospital developed the gallery with the belief that art supports healing. What they might not have expected was how much healing would come from the artists themselves. Krugman still works his day job but dreams of retirement when he can paint full time, continuing to learn and grow in the craft he discovered during one of humanity's hardest moments.

His journey reminds us that the worst times can plant seeds for our best chapters.