The Studio

Painting Party!

September 10, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Painting should be fun! As these delightful ladies found out last Friday evening. I was thrilled to paint with them at their “Girls Night Out” and we had a terrific time. Even though a couple were hesitant at first about giving it a try, in the end they were all really glad they did and thrilled with the result.

Painting Parties are great fun for kids or adults. And there are many, many subjects to choose from to tailor it to whatever theme you may have. Check out more information here and contact kwalker@kellywalkerstudios.com to book your party today.

Great job ladies and thanks for all the laughs. I had fun too!

Posted in Art Class, daily painter | Tagged acrylic, Art Camp, Art Class, daily painter, daily painting, flowers, impressionism, Paint Party, painting parties, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Artist | 1 Comment »

Miss Clara

September 8, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

When I moved to Front Royal almost 15 years ago into a quiet little established neighborhood the first person to come to welcome me was my across the street neighbor, Clara Larsen. She was friendly and warm and made me feel like I belonged.

Over the years Clara and I became really great friends. We had lots in common: the love of politics (even though our views were far apart) and art (she too is a painter). We would go to events together and sometimes just have a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Clara, who turned 92 on Monday, is moving today. I see the moving truck across the street as I type this. It’s a sad sight. She is delighted about the move and change. She is going to Elkton, Maryland to be nearer one of her sons. She’s excited about her new apartment, excited about meeting new people and the new adventure awaiting her there.

I am happy for Clara but sad for me. I will miss her so much. She’s been a surrogate mom and grandmom at times. But mostly she has been a best friend.

Photo by Sandra Patterson

I’ll miss seeing her out in front of her house pulling weeds or cutting flowers with her “bee bonnet” on and her floral garden boots that I gave her. She loves them. I’ll miss having lunch with her and friends where she told us such great stories of her interesting life.

Posted in Small Town Life | Tagged Clara Larsen | 1 Comment »

Maddie and Kallie

September 7, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

I was thrilled when a neighbor and fellow dog lover asked me to paint Maddie and Kallie as a farewell gift for a friend that she works with here in town. Their little group wanted to give her something special to remember them and since the lady loved her pitties they did this. And I loved painting them. Such pretty girls.

Maddie and Kallie, acrylic on canvas in a floater frame, 16″x20″, commissioned painting.

Posted in Dogs | Tagged acrylic, daily painter, daily painting, Dogs, pet portrait, Pit Bull, Rescue dogs, Terriers, Virginia Artist | Leave a Comment »

More Living With Art

September 6, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Living with art that you love is a joy. Most people buy art that speaks to them in some way whether it’s colors or shapes or subject matter. Painters may approach it in a little different way. I know that I often purchase art from artists I admire and then I hang it so that I can see it every day and enjoy learning from it.

I also collected art of dogs -SURPRISE! And in my living room I have a wall that holds portraits of the dogs who have lived in this house with me. You can see them in this photo – Rosie, Truman, Jed, Jeffie, Boo and Lincoln.

Posted in daily painter, Pet Portaits, Serendipity | Leave a Comment »

Living with Art

September 5, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

I was thrilled to see at The Barnes Collection that Dr. Barnes hung his art the same way I do…ceiling to floor…mixing artists and styles. He felt that there was much to be learned by having paintings and styles side by side to study them. I have long felt the same way.

I hang my art along with other artists that I have collected. It helps me to improve my own work.

I think that living with art surrounding every day help me helps me to see what I want to become as an artist.

Posted in daily painter, Small Town Life | Tagged art lessons, daily painter, Virginia Artist | Leave a Comment »

Continuing with the Barnes Foundation

September 4, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Dr. Albert Barnes (photo from http://www.barnesfoundation.org website)

This is Dr. Albert Barnes with one of his 181 Renoir paintings. He owned more than any other collector or museum in the world. For that reason alone you should go to the Barnes new museum in Philly to see it. He once said, “I am convinced I cannot get too many Renoirs.”

You can learn more about Dr. Barnes here.

Posted in daily painter, Travel | Tagged Albert Barnes, Barnes Collection, Renior | Leave a Comment »

The Barnes Collection in Philly

September 3, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Albert Barnes is a collector that I became aware in the last few years and have become fascinated by him and his story. From 1912 to 1951 he collected one of the world’s most important collections of post-impressionist and early modern art. His collection is valued at approximately $25 billion. He collected what he liked. He wanted to share it for people to study and learn and he hung his art in a way that made that possible.

He collected a large amount of Matisse, one of my favorites in the last few years. This is a shot of the Three Sisters, three different panels that Matisse sold to different collectors but that Barnes reunited much to Matisse’s delight. He said, “I’m glad you have brought them back together; they just didn’t work well apart.”

I was overwhelmed by the Barnes. It is a MUST see for anyone at all interested in art. I’ll be sharing more tomorrow.

Posted in Travel | Tagged Matisse | Leave a Comment »

Arcadia at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

September 2, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Last week I took some ladies to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the current exhibit, Gauguin, Cezanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia. You can read more about it here. The popular theme of “Arcadia” was interesting to see in the many forms of what the artists saw as contentment. All so very different.

This photo, from the catalog of the show, features comparisons of different artist’s versions of the same subject matter. In this instance, The Three Graces.

Posted in Travel | Tagged Arcadia, Philadelphia Museum of Art | Leave a Comment »

Stinkin’ Lincoln All Done

September 1, 2012 by kellywalkerstudios

Last week I posted some photos of my art students painting their version of Stinkin’ Lincoln. See it here.

And I promised to complete my demo piece which I did this week. Here is the final version of mine that is now hanging on the wall with all my other dog paintings. We just love that little furry face!

Posted in Art Class, daily painter, Dogs, Pet Portaits | Leave a Comment »