Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, More People Paintings, and Just to be a Fruitcake...

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

 

Here are two of my favorite Alan paintings of the first Birthday party he attended.  The guest of honor was two years old.  Alan jumped up an down when he saw all the toys to play with!

Birthday Party or A Child's View    Original 25" x 40" Oil Painting    $10,000

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

"Birthday Party" or "A Child's View" is a painting done from a photograph I took at a two-year-old's party. I have often been asked why the title is "Birthday Party" since there are no balloons, cake, etc.

The two-year-olds were involved in parallel play and I wanted to paint something that showed the viewer how that age group sees the world. Since they are usually on the floor playing by themselves their view is oftentimes hands and legs of adults hence the second title.

Birthday Party or A Child's View    Original 25" x 40" Oil Painting    $10,000

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

The Rest of the Party is a companion painting. Birthday Party or A Child's View is the other painting of this wonderful event.

I had never heard of a Birthday party for two-year-olds before this one.

My son had such a great time there.  The first painting has parallel play with-in the context of adult hands and feet. This one focuses of the interaction between the adults and toddlers.

 

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

My husband says a lot of strange things. That is putting it mildly.  Anyway the other day he said he was going to make a peanut butter pie sandwich.  He said that because he uses rice cakes instead of bread.  I told him we didn't have any pie to make a sandwich with. 

He said he was going to make one anyway. 

I said he was going to make a peanut butter sandwich pie because he is a fruit cake.

Please check out my Special Promotions that will end today at 5:00pm.  Swirling Color is on special all October!

Click on Kendall Kessler Art and then go to the painting in the Dreamscapes folder  and click on the 24"x 36" canvas print for the 40% discount.

There is a money back guarantee that includes shipping fee!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 18"x24" Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Color Swirl    Original 20" x 24" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

I hope you enjoyed my portraits by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Blue Ridge Parkway, People Paintings, and Line Dancing Tonight!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

 Here are two more portraits of my son Alan.  These paintings are very special!

Alan Looking at Me    Original  24" x 18"  Oil Painting     $7000.00

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Looking at Me is a painting of my son when he was nine months old.  I did a number of paintings from photographs of Alan when he was young and I was amazed at how he seemed to pose for me when he was a baby.

In one photograph, as soon as he saw the camera he grabbed his foot and held it up and grinned.

We are always amazed at how fast our children grow up and I miss a lot of his younger years. I still have many vivid memories of all that he did and said. I wrote down many things he said so I wouldn't forget those times. I am especially pleased with the sumptuous light effect in this painting.

Alan on The Couch    Original  25" x 40"  Oil Painting     $10,000.00

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Alan on the Couch is a painting I did years ago and was not happy with the result. I recently got it back out and worked on it and now I am satisfied with it. My son, Alan, is biting his lip and holding his ball for a rare still moment. I spent a lot of time chasing after him as he tried to jump over the sides of the couch.

I am especially pleased with the light effect and the bold brushwork in this painting.

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Years ago I started taking Line Dancing lessons in an attempt to give up skating. I was becoming more and more afraid of the people that don't know how to skate at rinks. Well, it didn't work so now I do both and my husband took lessons for a while.  He has to get up in the middle of the night for work so he quit the lessons.

He isn't much for going out at night so once in a while I go Line Dancing with friends from the class.  It is great fun and hopefully we will be there tonight!  Looking forward to it!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, People paintings, and Computer Greeting Card...

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

 

More paintings of my favorite guys!

A Naturalist's Legacy  Original 40" x 27" Oil Painting     $10,000

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

 

 

 

 

A Naturalist's Legacy is a painting in honor of my husband's naturalist achievements.  The painting is symbolic as he has taught old and young people about the beautiful region he was born in.

Clyde Kessler, a well known naturalist in Virginia and North Carolina  has been studying the bird and butterfly populations and migrations since 1975. He has participated in Christmas bird counts for the National Audobon Society since 1973.

 

His discovery in Virginia of the endangered Mitchell's Satyr in 1998 led to efforts to protect the species in the state. It was unknown in Virginia at the time. It is considered to be one of the most important wildlife finds in the second half of the 20th century.

Clyde has also led hawk watches since the mid 70's at Rocky Knob and other locations, and has surveyed Wildwood Park for plants and animal species for the city of Radford.

Rabbit in the Pool   Original  30" x 40" Oil Painting     $10,000

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Rabbit in the Pool is a fun genre painting of my son and husband in a baby pool on our deck. My son had a lot of pool toys but my favorite one was a rabbit balloon toy with a carrot in his mouth. This painting is full of life!

 

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Yesterday I had a brainstorm, well maybe a brain shower but I thought it was a good idea!  As usual, I am fighting the urge to tear out my hair as I try to figure out a site I work on.  It occurred to me that we need another Holiday for the Greeting Card Companies. 

We can call it The I want to Throw my Computer out the Window Day. Think of how many people would buy a card! 

My husband's response was, think of how many people would be killed by computers falling out of windows.  Oh well, back to the drawing board- literally!

Please check out my Special Promotions that will end tomorrow at 5:00pm.  Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September!

Click on Kendall Kessler Art and then go to the painting the Mountain Paintings folder and click on the 24"x 36" canvas print for the 40% discount.

There is a money back guarantee that includes shipping fee!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 18"x24" Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

A Break in The Clouds   Original  Oil Painting  has been sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Eagle Fire    Original 16" x 20" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

I hope you enjoyed my portraits by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, People Paintings, and Hang up and Try Again...

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

Please take a look at my latest video on The Art Blob!

Here are more of my portraits of my favorite guys!

Window Al   Original 7" x 5" Oil Painting    $500

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

Window Al is an intense painting of my son by the window with a venetian cord in his mouth. He was always playing on the couch by the window when he was a toddler and he liked to chew on the cord.

I was forever taking it out of his mouth and putting it up high but it often fell down and he would be at it again. This is one of many fond memories of his young years.

Concentration   Original 7" x 5" Oil Painting    $500

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Concentration is a close-up of my son staring at a toy when he was three by a window.

I am especially pleased with the brushwork and color contrast of this work.

A Naturalist  Original 7" x 5" Oil Painting    $500

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

A Naturalist is a portrait of my husband, Clyde Kessler, who is a well-known naturalist in the New River Valley.

I am extremely pleased with the brushwork and intense textural surface of this painting.

 

 

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

As I have mentioned a number of times my husband and I did not grow up with computers and I am beginning to be very thankful.  They are great but they are extremely aggravating at times. 

My husband is better with them than I am since he is one one all day at work.

Yesterday I called him with another computer problem.  Here is what he had to say.

You did not reach the I want to Throw my Computer out the Window Help Desk.  Please try again.

 
 

Please check out my Special Promotions that will end Tuesday at 5:00pm.  Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September!

Click on Kendall Kessler Art and then go to the painting the Mountain Paintings folder and click on the 24"x 36" canvas print for the 40% discount.

There is a money back guarantee that includes shipping fee!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 18"x24" Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

A Break in The Clouds   Original  Oil Painting  has been sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Eagle Fire    Original 16" x 20" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I hope you enjoyed portraits and landscapes by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, People Paintings, and Hawk Migration!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

I am pleased to blog about my people paintings.  They are very important to me.  My two favorite models are my son and my husband. 

I have done a number of paintings of both of them over the years and plan to do a new one of my husband when I can find some time and he is not out studying nature on a mountain top!

Clyde and Alan  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This painting is of Alan when he was a few months old.  Clyde did not like to sit in a rocking chair so when he put him to sleep he would lie down and rock him. 

I noticed that almost every time he held him in his arms, Alan would go to sleep.  I guess he associated Daddy's arms with bed time.

 

Alan by Our Window  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This painting is of Alan when he was a toddler.  He liked to stare out the window.  I am especially pleased with the energetic brush work in this painting.  

Frank Webb commented at a competition that I was able to weave paint together in a very impressive way.  

I won one of the cash awards at the show.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

Fall is Hawk migration time and hundreds are flying over! Two of Clyde's friends, Tom Moser and Todd Frederickson led a hawk watch at Rocky Knob with a class and there were 500 hawks, mostly Broad-winged hawks!

Kendall Kessler Special Promotions

Be sure to click on Kendall Kessler Art for my Special Promotions!  I will have three up tomorrow.  Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September. 

Click on the Mountain paintings folder, then click on the painting and choose the 24" x 36" canvas print for 40% with a 30 day money back guarantee that includes shipping fee!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 24" x 36" Oil Painting $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Thank you for looking at paintings by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist, People Paintings, and Chief of the Beef

Blue Ridge Parkway People Paintings

I have done a number of family and friend portraits over the years.  I have also done some commissions but most of my people paintings have been done because I wanted to.  They are for sale and a number of them have been sold.  My son's friends were a favorite source of inspiration. 

I have also done a number of paintings of my husband and son.   I remember, years ago, when Elaine DeKooning visited Radford University, she made a remark about portraits.  She said they were like smoking cigarettes.  A habit she couldn't break.  I don't smoke but I do like to paint portraits and welcome commissions.

Alan and Clyde  Original 36" x 26" Oil Painting     $20,000

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

This is a very important painting for me.  Alan was nine months old and when he was two he smiled at the painting and climbed up on a chair and added the mark on my husband's right shoulder and the one on the right side of his nose with a crayon.  He made it complete!

 

Joy  Original 12" x 9" Pastel Painting     $2000.00

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

My husband has a wonderful saying that when someone is happy they smile all over themselves!  This pastel painting is a perfect example!

 

Please check out my Special Promotions that will end Wednesday at 5:00pm.  Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September! 

Click on Kendall Kessler Art and then go to the painting the Mountain Paintings folder and click on the 24"x 36" canvas print for the 40% discount. 

There is a money back guarantee that includes shipping fee!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 18"x24" Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Burning Shore    Original  Oil Painting  has been sold  $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Eagle Fire    Original 16" x 20" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and greeting cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

 

My husband is very good about helping with my stir fry meal.  I do most of the work but he helps here and there.  Yesterday I asked him to pound the beef to make it tender.  I think that works much better than tenderizers.

Hey, please pound the beef.

Should I slam the ham, too?

We don't have any ham.

Okay, I will be Chief of the Beef.

Thank you, smart alec.

I hope you enjoyed paintings by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Blue Ridge Parkway, Cascades paintings, and Blue Ridge Discovery Center News!

 

Blue Ridge Parkway Artist

Be sure to click on my newest video about The Cascades and other beautiful scenes with water!

I took a break from my new Pawleys Island series to paint the gorgeous Cascades waterfall in Giles County, VA.  This beautiful site is one of the most popular attractions of  The Jefferson National Forest and I have made the two mile hike to the falls many times .

The hike is two miles and it is mostly up so I know I will be tired but it is worth it.  The pool below the falls is icy cold but that never stopped me from swimming in it.   I spent many summers vacationing at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and the water there is always cold.

I am very pleased with the painting!  I think I captured the energy of the falls and the beautiful, serene setting with a subtle light effect that emphasizes the warm/cool color contrast. 

Cascades in Giles County     Original  24"x20" Oil Painting    $960

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Here are the latest Special Promotions!    40% off with a 30 day money back guarantee that includes shipping fee! 

 

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September! Click on KENDALL KESSLER ART and then on Mountain Landscapes.  Click on Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter and on the 24" x 36" Canvas print selection for the special rate!

Peaks of Otter     Original  18"x 24"  Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Burning Shore  Original painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Eagle Fire    Original 16"x 20" Oil Painting       $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

 Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

Clyde is traveling to Independence, VA today to meet with the Board of Directors of The Blue Ridge Discovery Group!  Lots of great events to be planned!  Don't miss tomorrow's hike! 

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike Brushy Mountain North of Crandon

Sat, September 13, 12am – Sun, September 14, 12am

 

 

Where	Applachain Trail, Brushy Mountain north of Crandon map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	aaron@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	September 13th on Brushy mountain north of Crandon. All hikes are on the famed Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile footpath from Georgia to Maine, completed in 1937.

I hope you enjoyed by painting of The Cascades in Giles County by an artist of The Blue Ridge Parkway!

Beautiful Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and It is a good thing he didn't use a Pizza!

Beautiful Girl Drawings by Kendall F. Kessler

Looking at the Light      Original 24"x 18"  Mixed Media Drawing       $994

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

Looking at the Light is my favorite clothed model drawing.  The flowing space and the soft pastel accents create a serene mood and peaceful atmosphere.  I like to wear long dresses in the summer.  They are so comfortable.

Resting in The Studio      Original 24"x 18"  Charcoal Drawing       $994

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Resting in The Studio has a special moment to it that is accented by the sharp lines and austere quality of the drawing. 

 

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

I have been reading a book on the history of Physics.  I only took one semester of Physics but thought it was interesting.  I like to learn.  

Anyway, I was discussing with my husband the myth that Galileo dropped two objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to prove his theory that objects fall at the same speed, regardless of their weight.

Of course, as usual, he gave me a comical reply- 

How do they know?  I'll bet he really did that experiment and it is a good thing one of the objects was not a pizza.  Someone would have grabbed it before it hit the ground!

 

 

 

 

My Special Promotions ends tomorrow at 5:00.    40% off with a 30 day money back guarantee that includes shipping fee! 

 

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September!

Peaks of Otter     Original  18"x 24"  Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Natural Rhythm   Original  30" x 40"  Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Pawleys Island Sunrise in the Sand Original  30" x 40"  Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

I hope you enjoyed my drawings of Beautiful Girls!

Beautiful Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and Special Promotions!

Beautiful Girl Drawings by Kendall Kessler

 

I have a few more Beautiful Girls to show you and then I will more on to another aspect of my work.  These are clothed.  Sometimes artists like to dress up their models.  

If I were wealthy I would get back to working from a live model but modeling is a hard job and their fee is high as it should be.  My husband won't do it for me and I don't blame him and I am not going to model for myself with mirrors.  Too awkward and too embarrassing! 

 

Anyway, I am proud of the ones I have done and especially proud of my best-seller on The Mindy Project!  I am so pleased that the show has been renewed for a third season!  Yea!!!!!!

This is another example of my work where I prefer the sketch to the pastel painting.  The immediacy in the sketch and the strong contrast is more to my liking.  I have always liked a wide range of values in my work.  

 Renoir once said that black was the queen of colors!

Model Hat Sketch   Original 18"x24" Charcoal Drawing     $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Model Hat   Original 18"x24" Pastel Painting     $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

 

 

Be sure to check out my Special Promotions that end on Wednesday.    40% off with a 30 day money back guarantee that includes shipping fee! 

 

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter is on special all September!

Peaks of Otter     Original  18"x 24"  Oil Painting    $864

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Natural Rhythm   Original  30" x 40"  Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Pawleys Island Sunrise in the Sand Original  30" x 40"  Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

I hope you enjoyed my drawings of Beautiful Girls!

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and Special Promotions!

Nude Girl Drawings by Kendall Kessler

Here are two more nudes that I am especially fond of!  In this case I like the black and white version better than the color.  

I like the extensive color modulations in the second one but there is a visual drama in the first one that I think it extremely captivating!

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

It is Hawk migration time and Clyde is either in the backyard or at Rocky Knob checking out what is going over!  Here is the latest from The Blue Ridge Discovery Center!

Blue Ridge Expeditions: Hike Brushy Mountain North of Crandon

Sat, September 13, 12am – Sun, September 14, 12am

Where	Applachain Trail, Brushy Mountain north of Crandon map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	aaron@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	September 13th on Brushy mountain north of Crandon. All hikes are on the famed Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile footpath from Georgia to Maine, completed in 1937.

 

These three popular paintings are on special for two more days!  40% off regular price with a 30 day money back guarantee that includes shipping!

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter will be on special the whole month of September!

A Break in The Clouds    Original Painting has been sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Cloud Swirl over The Peaks of Otter    Original 18" x 24" Oil   Painting $964

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Lion Explosion    Original 16"x 20"  Oil   Painting $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Just click on my website and then click on the Blue Ridge Mountains folder for the first two and Kendall Expressions for the last one.  Then click on the painting and click on the 24"x36" canvas print selection for the special rate. 

 

For Lion Explosion it is the 30" x 40" canvas print selection.

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed my Nude Girl Drawings!

Nude Girl Drawings by a Blue Ridge Parkway Artist and 31 Stomachs...

Nude Girl Drawings by Kendall Kessler

I want to start off with one of my Youtube videos!  I am adding one a week so I want to be sure to get them out to the public!

Here are two more selections in black and white that I decided to make color versions of.  What a great experience to look at a completed drawing and re-interpret it in color!  

As I have mentioned before, some of them I like better in color and some in black and white.  Art is always an experience for me that can't be explained.

Reaching Out     24"x 18"  Original Charcoal Drawing      $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

Reaching Out in Color     24"x 18"  Original Pastel Painting      $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at     KENDALL KESSLER

When I taught in the Art Department at Radford Univerisity I would try to explain Art to students but I found the only way I could really explain it was to have them do it, which is why my Art Appreciation classes were "Hands On".  

When students had to make visual decisions then they started to catch on to what Art is all about.  Drawing is integral to the discipline but Art is so much more then reproducing nature.

In this case I prefer the color painting to the black and white drawing.  The color accents are strong and I like the light effect better in the pastel one. 

Life with the Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Last year I decided to take off a lot of years from our ages.  I asked my husband how it felt to be thirty years old!  The only response I got was a sour look.

Yesterday was his birthday so I asked him how it felt to turn thirty-one.  This year I got a sour look and a sour comment.

You mean turn 31 stomachs when they look at me?

Ha Ha.  No, that is not what I meant.