Ed Wahl
Exibit Date: September 2010
Although his career was spent in the ministry, Pastor Ed Wahl, of Cardington, has
been linked to the world of art since he was a teenager.
He combined both careers and after he became semi-retired Lutheran pastor, he has
been devoting more time to the world of art. A Bellevue native, Wahl always loved
to draw and, “I finally got to take an art course in high school,” he said.
When he entered Capital University, art was his major but having developed an interest
in the ministry when he was confirmation age, he switched his major at Capital and
entered the seminary. He served parishes in North Dakota and Indiana before coming
to Cardington. The art was in his blood – “my mother was artistic and my dad could
draw” and although he faithfully fulfilled his pastoral duties, he continued to
put paint to canvas.
He took art courses (including one from Jody Beck); attended workshops (Ivy Tech
at Evansville, Indiana) presented art shows (The Art Guild – Jasper, Indiana), taugh
art at several public schools, had his own studio (Michael’s Blue Dove) and he and
his wife, Carol, owned their own franchise (Decorating Den) for eight years. He
has also given private art lessons.
His paintings capture aesthetic beauty with their distinct colors and figures. Although
he has worked with water colors for 40 years he still prefers acrylics “because
you can put them on thick or thin,” and he points to a painting of flowers that
he did just that, layered the paint.
He is currently a substitute teacher in Morrow County schools but continues to concentrate
on art. His paintings can be purchased.