May | 2012 | The Studio

Archive for May, 2012

Patti’s Kids – A Fun Surprise

Posted in daily painter on May 20, 2012| 2 Comments »

Every once in a while I get to take part in a fun surprise. Yesterday was one of those times. Years ago I met Patti through Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue, a wonderful group of people who help these lovely dogs find homes. It’s where I got my sweet Rosie. (Click the links to read more.)

Patti and her husband Matt live down near D.C. along with their lovely dogs, Carmen and Cosmo. A few months ago Matt contacted me about painting a portrait of the “kids” for Patti’s upcoming birthday. And he wanted to surprise her with it.

And that’s what we did. He made all the plans and brought her and the pups out to Front Royal for the weekend. The festival was going on so that was a great cover story. They came to the shop where I was painting in the booth outside and I acted so surprised to see Patti after so many years. We went into the shop where we had her painting hanging on the wall just waiting for her. And yes, she was surprised! But my favorite part of the surprise was when they came back by as the festival was winding down and Cosmo, Carmen and their Mom posed with their portrait for this photo. Happy Birthday Patti!!!!

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Wine Festival in Front Royal

Posted in Small Town Life, Travel, tagged Festival, Virginia Artist on May 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

If you are in the Front Royal, Virginia area today you want to be sure to come downtown for the Wine Festival. It’s a huge festival that takes up Main and Chester Streets with wonderful vendors and wineries not to mention specials at the stores along the streets.

Stop by Delilah’s at 105 E. Main where everything is on sale today. We will also be having a tent sale out front and there will be artists demonstrating their work there most of the day. Stop in and say hello.

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Fisherman and Painters

Posted in Plein Air, tagged daily painter, daily painting, Fisherman, impressionism, Lake Frederick, Landscape, oil painting, Virginia Artist on May 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday I got to meet with the Thursday Plein Air painters for the first time in at least a year. It was great getting out there with other painters and chatting and painting.

I found a great spot by Lake Frederick with a fisherman sitting in a chair in the perfect spot. I didn’t even have to ask him to move for my composition to work. (Ha! Just joking. I wouldn’t do that.)

I like the way this little painting turned out. I did take some creative license and change color of his shirt since the green one he had one just blended with the background.

Fisherman at Lake Frederick, oil on canvas, 9″x12″, available by contacting kwalker@kellywalkerstudios.com .

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Splatter Painting

Posted in Art Class, tagged acrylic, Art Class, art lessons, daily painter, modern. splatter painting, Virginia Artist on May 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

In our Young Painters classes each week we try to paint different subjects as well as explore different types and styles of art.

Yesterday we worked on a piece of modern art. This almost always turns out to be the favorite of the kids. Especially when we go outside and do splatter painting. They LOVE it! Olivia demonstrates here how to flick the brush. Great job girls!

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TIme to Sign up for Summer Art Camp

Posted in Art Camp, tagged Art Camp, Art Class, art lessons, Small Town Life, Summer art camp, Virginia Artist on May 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Hard to believe but summer is almost here and it’s time to start planning the fun camp events for your kids for the summer.

Take a look here for information about Art Camp for Kids for this summer. We have five fun and exciting weeks planned where kids ages 7-13 will paint beautiful creations based on famous artists work. Each week will feature different styles of art and not only do we paint, we learn about art and art history in a really fun environment. Sign up now for you young artist. Contact kwalker@kellywalkerstudios.com .

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Shenandoah River Plein Air Painting Completed

Posted in Plein Air, tagged daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, Virginia Artist on May 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Shenandoah River in Plein Air, oil on canvas, 11″x14″, SOLD.

I worked on finishing up this painting while working at Delilah’s on Sunday and am pleased with the finished product.

Here is how it looked when I returned to the studio from a day of painting down by the river. Painting in Plein Air is a challenge that pushes artists to develop their skills. I like it! Read about the Plein Air day here.

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Young Painters Show Off Variety of Paintings

Posted in Art Class, daily painter on May 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Young painters this week worked on pieces to give their moms for Mother’s Day so I promised not to put them on my blog til Monday. 🙂

They do lovely work, don’t they?

And here is their birdhouses from a few weeks ago. They complete a painting every week so sometimes I get a little behind in showing them to you. But they remind me. 🙂

And the week before that it was lemons.

I just love the stunning work that they turn out. Good job young painters.

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Painting in Plein Air by the Shenandoah

Posted in daily painter, Plein Air, tagged daily painter, daily painting, impressionism, Landscape, oil painting, Plein Air, Plein Air painting, Shenandoah River, Virginia Artist on May 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday I had a great day painting at the Shenandoah River with two painters who wanted to give plein-air painting a try.

It’s not as easy as you would think. It takes some planning just to get the equipment to the location and set it up.

Luckily we had a great spot down by the boat landing. We were lucky to have a picnic table, a trash can and even a porta-potty! That’s a big deal for plein air painters. 🙂

Jeff looks like he’s been doing this all his life. And he really got into it.

And here is Mary Lou, who was thrilled to be painting outdoors.

It was fun to see these two fine artists exploring a new aspect to their painting.

River View to the South, oil on canvas panel, 11″x14″ (SOLD)is the first piece I worked on that morning. I got a splendid start and plan to finish it in the next week or so. And it’s already spoken for, so that’s good news!

And this is the reference photo for that painting.

I had time to start a second painting but didn’t get quite as far along on it before the sun got to high for the light to work for us. Just as I got it laid in a boat pulled up with two guys fishing so I put them in the painting.

This is the shot I took of them. Glad I added them into my painting because one of the wives of the fisherman pulled up to give them lunch (they were fishing in a tournament) and she yelled up to me, “Are you painting my husband fishing?” Of course I said yes, and she picked up a card and emailed me later in the day to say she’d like to buy it for him for father’s day.

All in all, it was a perfect day for painting. I helped two great students explore outdoor painting; I have two sold paintings; and I got to spend the morning with Breezy (Jeff’s dog who came to help us paint)!

An excellent morning.

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Denim and Diamonds

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life, tagged acrylic, daily painter, daily painting, Denim and Diamonds, flowers, impressionism, Landscape, poppies, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Artist, Warren Memorial Hospital on May 12, 2012| 1 Comment »

These are the poppies that I painted last night at the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Denim and Diamonds event. There was a wonderful crowd of women there exploring the different vendors with information on women’s health and well-being. I had a great time seeing so many friends.