Wells was inspiration for writer

To the editor:

I wish I could truthfully claim even a little credit -- even somewhat -- for inspiring my deceased friend Jake Wells' 27 paintings of Missouri water mills. However, to do so would be a grievous error.

Jake's paintings inspired me to write about his work, first in an article published in Missouri Life magazine (1978) and later in a book titled "Water Mills of the Missouri Ozarks" (1990).

I repeat. Jake's paintings inspired my work, not the other way around. Jake was truly a superb watercolorist whose work continues to be highly prized much beyond this region. More importantly, he was a great human being.

GEORGE G. SUGGS Jr., Cape Girardeau