by MARK ST.J. COUHIG

Sequim Gazette

Christopher Jeffko is an amazing, and in many ways, accomplished, artist.

The 13-year-old, now a student at Sequim Middle School, already has shown outstanding talent with paint and pencil and with his musical ability on his instrument of choice, the saxophone.

Jeffko came by talent naturally: His dad, Sequim massage therapist James Jeffko, played the string bass, then later turned to the bass guitar. He’s recorded a number of pieces with his brother, a songwriter.

Christopher’s mom, Virginia Jefferson, has a great “artistic eye,” says James.

And Christopher’s 22-year-old brother, Joe, is talented on the piano.

But Christopher is making his own waves.

The pieces reproduced here, for example. Christopher produced all of them when he was just 10 and 11 years old. He still draws and paints, as the mood strikes, but he has since taken up the saxophone.

Blowing his horn

Christopher first was drawn to the instrument when he saw one in the window of a Port Angeles pawn shop. Unfortunately the saxophone was off-limits for sixth-graders at his school, so his parents enrolled him at the Aspire School in Carlsborg.

“He just took off like a rocket,” says his proud dad.

His current teacher Michael Indendi agrees, saying Christopher “is phenomenal.”

“He’s just a very astute student. He has a feeling for the arts and at the same time the world is a real place. His vibrato, tone, rhythm ….”

Indendi said those who have heard Christopher play at public performances have “just been blown away.”

He said Christopher is now learning “Take 5,” the jazz classic by the legendary Dave Brubeck. “This is just his second year,” Indendi said. “Most of the students are still playing pep band music.”

He is as exceptional with his music as he is with his art.

Christopher understands the nuances of music — that a piece is much more than a series of notes. His paintings reveal a similar understanding of the elements that distinguish art from simple representation. The subtle pale outline that frames the goat, for example, or his splendid use of color in the painting of drooping spring flowers.

As a 10-year-old he was able to capture the glistening lens and iridescent iris of the eagle.

Not that Christopher is all serious artist. He also builds model rockets from scratch — serious rockets, some with the capability of reaching altitudes of 1,000 feet or higher.

He also is learning how to cook and bake. That includes a great new pesto prawn fettuccine recipe, said his proud dad.

Reach Mark Couhig at mcouhig@sequimgazette.com.