Library Award Winner Among Artists Featured in Fall Art Show

Southeastern Indiana Art Guild’s fall art show runs October 19-26 at the Lawrenceburg Library.

Kathy Driscoll’s painting “Femme Jouant du Violin” was chosen for the Lawrenceburg Public Library District Services and Resources Foundation’s Library Select Award during the Southeastern Indiana Art Guild spring show. Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - While participating in an art workshop in France last fall, Kathy Driscoll was trying to decide what to paint when photographs featuring a band of gypsies caught her eye.

Other artists were focused on painting fish and flowers. She felt drawn to the bohemian nature of the people featured in the photos.

She entered three of her paintings created from those photos into the Southeastern Indiana Art Guild Spring Art Show in April. One of those three paintings, “Femme Jouant du Violin” was chosen for the Lawrenceburg Public Library District Services and Resources Foundation’s Library Select Award.

Now she is one of two artists whose art will be featured in a special showing following the Southeastern Indiana Art Guild’s fall art show that will take place during business hours at the Lawrenceburg Main Library Saturday, Oct. 19, through Saturday, Oct. 26.

The special show, also featuring the artist named the fall library award winner, will take place Monday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Nov. 2.

Driscoll, of Dry Ridge, Ky., was at an art retreat with other SIAG members when she started receiving texts about winning the spring library award, which includes an honorarium and the chance to be featured in a special art show. She was at dinner, so she did not see the texts right away.

“I started to cry, because it was so overwhelming that I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Wow!’ … There is nothing more thrilling and/or gratifying than to know that people like your work,” said Driscoll.

The technique she used for the painting is called independent layering. Her surface was Yupo, a synthetic paper that is waterproof. From there she layered the image using acrylic paints and paper collage. It took three days for her to create the painting, she said.

Driscoll only started painting about 5 ½ years ago, with more time after she retired. Around five years ago is when she moved to the area from Minneapolis.

“I started as a photographer first to take pictures, so I could paint them,” said Driscoll, who had never taken any professional or college art courses.

After moving to the area, she started working with local artist Sandy Maudlin and joined SIAG.

“I think I have always been an artist at heart,” said Driscoll, who works with different types of mediums and techniques.

Next, she wants to learn more about pastels, she said.

“When I paint these pictures, I’m surprised. I don’t brag and say, ‘Look what I have made, this is so cool.’ I go ‘Holy cow, look at what I made. I can’t believe I made this,’” she said.

Driscoll also will be at the fall art show reception taking place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Lawrenceburg Main Library.

The public is encouraged to attend the free reception. Light refreshments will be served.