Cancer Patient Sells Art to Pay for Funeral

POSTED: 4:04 pm EDT July 26, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS - When George Overman's sister died, he gave up his funeral plot and arrangements to her. Now living with terminal cancer, Overman is turning to his artwork in hopes he can raise money for his own funeral.

Overman, a Madison native and a former trucker, started painting in his 70s, putting memories of his days on the farm and his love of water and wildflowers onto canvas.

Never Too Late, a group that grants adults' wishes, asked Call 6 for Help to publicize Overman's artwork. Twenty-three canvasses, ranging in price from $100 to $400, are displayed at the Indianapolis Art Center.

(Look for George Overman Naïve Paintings, Ruth Lilly Library) Four of them were sold as of Wednesday.

"He sees the art as a way to share his legacy and pay for his burial," said Bob Haverstick, of Never Too Late.

A list of Overman's artwork on display and available for purchase is listed below::

Ohio River, Madison IN, Mixed Media, $150
Purple Peacock, Mixed Media, $200
Chapel Below Hazelton, Mixed Media, $200
Drink Coca Cola, Mixed Media, $200
Drink Coca Cola #2, Mixed Media, $200
Drink Coca Cola #3, Mixed Media, $200
Tour Kentucky, Mixed Media, $150
Fruit Bowl, Mixed Media, $250
Farm Scene, Mixed Media, $400 (in storage)
Lighthouse, Mixed Media, $200
Pink Dogwoods, Mixed Media, $250
White Dogwoods, Mixed Media, $250
Strip Pit in Clay City, Mixed Media, $200
Otter’s Fishing Pond, Mixed Media, $250
Ohio River in Madison, Mixed Media, $300
Yates Pay Lake, Mixed Media, $200
Country Livin’, Mixed Media, $200
Two Cardinals, Mixed Media, $100
Strip Pit in Clay City #2, Mixed Media, $300
Repainted Landscape, Mixed Media, $400 (in storage)
Drink Coca Cola #4, Mixed Media, $100
Cardboard Pheasant, $100
Cardboard Pheasant, $100.

For more information, call the Indianapolis Art Center at 317-255-2464.