Staunton Ghost Story near The Blue Ridge Parkway and What an Error!

My Artwork

Spinning     Original Tempera Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

One of my favorite florals.  I am especially pleased with the movement that gives the flowers the appearance of spinning in the space!

Pawleys Island Evening     Original 30"x40" Oil Painting      $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART

This is a beautiful home on the north end of this great South Carolina resort!

Flower Backyard     Original 30"x40" Oil Painting       $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

This painting combines my love of architecture with flowers

Staunton Theater Ghost Story

The Gypsy 4 Theater of Staunton was once an Opera House. A fire broke out in the mid 1900's and significant damage was done to the building.

According to a former projectionist, very strange things have happened there.  Once while threading a movie the person's eight inch braid was lifted straight up in the air.

A young blond girl, dressed in white and about eight years old was sitting on the pallet playing with the projectionist's hair!  She silently laughed and vanished.  The projectionist's mother
claimed to have run ins with the girl also, and she is a skeptic concerning paranormal sitings.

I found this ghost story on Ghosts of America online publication.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

I have mentioned several times that my naturalist husband is uploading bird sightings to Cornell University.  Yesterday he told me he is ranked 10th in the country for this information.  In a number of blogs I wrote he is uploading over 2000 files.

I don't know how I got that so wrong!  He has already uploaded 15,000 files and says he has over 30,000!  Wow!

Kendall Kessler Special Promotions!

Every week I put up three of my popular paintings in the Limited Time Section of Fine Art America under Buy tab!   Here are the three that are ending tomorrow evening.  40% off regular price of a large canvas price with a 30 day money back guarantee including shipping!

Natural Rhythm

Burning Shore

Blue Ridge Jewels

Kendall Kessler Paintings in Art News and I couldn't hit them with a Diesel Truck...

I belong to a number of great groups on Fine Art America but I am especially pleased with all the features of my work on the online publication, Art News.  I have lost track of the number of paintings I have had on Nadine and Bob's publication and will continue to submit more.  They work hard to promote artists and we are all very thankful!

Still working away at uploading artwork to my portfolio.  Be sure to check out the 2011-2013 folder on my website.  Most of the works are new and I am pleased with how well they look on the site.  I am especially pleased with my recent paintings in the Kendall Expressions folder.  I just put up a new one and it is my favorite so far!

At church yesterday we were discussing the loss of a great cantor.  He and his family are moving away for a better job opportunity and they will be greatly missed.  The congregation is a small one so my husband and I were wondering who would take his place.  It certainly would not be him.



He said he couldn't hit notes with a diesel truck if they were lying flat in the middle of the road!

I don't think he will be asked to sing.



Looking forward to the new season of The Mindy Project September 17th!  Hope to see Reaching Out again and again in her office!



As always I have Limited Time Promotions on Fine Art America.  Don't miss out on 40% off large canvas prints of popular works!

Sold another canvas print of Marsh View at Pawleys Island and On a mission...

So glad to sell another print of Marsh View at Pawleys Island.  This is one of my best sellers and I hope to sell many more. The original is still available but it is 41"x60".  I hope to find a patron that would like a large landscape for their home or office.  It is one of my favorites but I want to find a home for it.  I am one prolific artist and I like to see my "children" move on out into the world.  Looks like I may be getting another commission so I had better get the one I have now done soon.  I have never had to wait so long for each layer to dry due to the change in white oil paint.  I had better count on that in the future or find a manufacturer that has not turned white paint into something a littler thicker than melted butter.  This is going to take some getting used to.

My husband and I often wonder why some drivers go so far over the speed limit in town only to end up at the same red light the others end up at.  Why are some people in such a hurry?  Could it be their butts are on fire and they have to get some where fast to put it out?  Or, as my brother-in-law says, they must be on a mission for God so we have to get out of the way.  I like both reasons.  Love to laugh!



Be sure to look for "Reaching Out" on The Mindy Project". It is in Mindy's office and so far there have been shots of it on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 18th episodes.



Check me out on www.thehourofjoy.com with Joy Sutton who wants to be the next Oprah!  I am on Episode 5 Stardom.

Glad I Paint Standing Up and Didn't I Just Call you Stupid...

Painting is a lot of work as any painter will tell you.  A lot of people think it is done sitting down and finished in a few hours.  Actually, most painters stand up so they can walk back and forth and see how it looks from a distance.  Artists want people to get the full effect of their work in a room without having to get up close.  We want out work to carry into the environment.  I remember when I was a student I only stood up once in a while because the professor said I should.  I can't image sitting now and since I have developed some soreness in my hip I am glad it is done standing up.  Many people are finding out that we shouldn't sit that much.  My husband says some of his co-workers have put their computer up high so they can stand and work.  Older bodies sure do need a lot of maintenance.

The other day on The Bill Cosby Show he was discussing with his son the pet names he and his wife had when they were dating.  He didn't want to admit it at first but then with a big smile he said his was Baby Cakes.  I turned to my husband and said didn't I just call you Stupid?  His reply was, yes and I answered to it.  Now that's a big lie!  My husband may have his faults but I would never call him Stupid.  Before I look anything up I ask him first, and unlike the panel of experts on the Red Green Comedy Hour he almost always has a correct answer for me.  It is nice to live with some one who read the Encyclopedia and still remembers what he read.

Just one day left on my large canvas print specials on some of my most popular paintings.  They are on page two and five.
http://fineartamerica.com/art/all/all/special+promotions?page=2

I Think I am Turning into a Computer Part and I can Stump Jeeves...

I think I am becoming an extension of this computer which is not something I had planned to be but it is the way to get my artwork out there so I am typing away and working with sites for much more time then I would like to be.  When computers started to take over I stepped back which I regret.  I didn't grow up with them so  I should have gotten with it right away.  I am still confused much of the time but the one great thing about computers is you can ask them anything! 

My husband used to joke about the Ask Jeeves feature.  Supposedly Jeeves can't be stumped.  You can ask him anything.  My husband claims he stumps Jeeves all the time. He asks Jeeves how much money he makes, where he lives, and what he really does for a living.  I wonder what Jeeves thinks about those questions. Maybe I should ask Jeeves if I will do better with my sales this year.  Sure am going through a slow period right now.  Hope things pick up soon. 

I am having a great time with my paintings right now.  I have never gotten this close to exactly what I want before.  I never get exactly what I want which is why painting is such an exciting experience.  If I knew exactly what I was doing and could do the same thing each time it would be boring. It is always an adventure and I will be pleased to post these new works but it will probably be about two more weeks before they will be ready.

Be sure to check out these 40% off large canvas paintings on Fine Art America in the Limited Time section!  The sale will be over in two more days.

Loving the Magic Hour and That one is Kryptonite

I am really into the magic hour which, as photographers all know, is the hour or so after sunrise or before sunset when shadows are long and cool colors are easier to see.  So many of my paintings have variations of this beautiful light in the mountains and shore scenes.  I do not work plein air because my work is not meant to hang outdoors and a painting done outdoors is completely different indoors.  I mostly work from photographs I take and modify them according to what I have internalized over the years.  I also put my feelings into the work through visual language which is extremely hard to explain.  I love what I do.

My husband and I will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary in late June.  Of course, you can tell by our pictures that we got married when we were both twelve.  Anyway, we are still together and have been very happy.  We have one son, Alan, who drives us crazy, but he is a great guy and we are proud of him.  The 35th is certainly a milestone.   I am reminded of what the character Howard said on The Red Green Show which we miss very much since we can't get a signal due to the digital takeover.  He was going over the different anniversaries, silver for 25th, Gold for 50th, Diamond for 75th, and then he said the 100th is Kryptonite!   I don't think we will make it to that one!

Be sure to check out my specials on large canvas prints of three of my most popular paintings on Fine Art America!

I do not Have Time for the Pain and Statue of Limitations

 I know.  My life sounds like an old Carly Simon song right now.

I am one unhappy workaholic right now.  I am spending way too much time trying to keep from being in pain.  The MRI did not show anything out of the ordinary so I guess it is up to me to figure out how to stop my leg and hip from hurting.  If I just go about trying to do a zillion things in one day I am in so much pain it wakes me up at night and I wake up in pain.  The pain is usually gone after exercise but it keeps coming back so I have to keep stopping and stretching out the muscles.  If I don't get back to painting soon I will flip.  I have a number of large paintings I want to start and I will start them soon.  The physical therapy was useless so I think I will look into some sort of class that may help. Also, I will take Marlene's advice and have some blood work done.  I HATE BEING SLOWED DOWN!

My husband has noticed that a lot of people these days are saying statue of limitations instead of statute of limitations.  Do you think they are talking about the unfinished statue of St. Matthew by Michelangelo?

Sold Another Original to a Great Patron in New Jersey and Studies s

I am pleased and a little sad to have sold one of my four most popular paintings in my portfolio. "Breakers at Pawleys Island" is a special painting that I have sold many prints of and hope to sell many more in the future. My family and I have been vacationing in North Carolina for the past ten years. Pawleys Island is such a beautiful place and I am proud of the paintings I have done of it. Right now I have "Breakers at Pawleys Island" in the Limited Time section. Who says I can't fix my image problems? The last time I put it in the Limited Time section I couldn't list it for 24"x36". I thought my photograph was okay but it must not have been. I took some more shots and this time the offer is for 24"x36" at a greatly reduced price. Check it out!

Yesterday on Facebook someone posted this scientific gem. Studies show that people that have more birthdays live longer. I love that kind of humor and just have to repeat it. I have told a number of people but that have already heard that joke. Oh well! Hope some people haven't heard it. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!

Sold Another Print of Marsh View at Pawleys Island and Hot Water

I am so pleased to sell another print of Marsh View at Pawleys Island to a great patron in Ridgeland MS. I am especially pleased with this painting. It is 41"x 60" and takes up a large section of the wall in my living room. I'm so glad there a number of people with prints of this work. I hope someone will want to buy the original but I think they would have to be local. I have never shipped a painting that large. I know there are shipping services for such an item but I haven't crossed that bridge yet.

I am still whining about piriformis and have decided that I am probably having this problem because I have stopped two activities that I used to do weekly - skating and swimming in a heated pool. I only like to skate at rinks but I have become too worried that I might have a serious accident . I hated to give it up but I don't want to break a hip at my age. The heated pool at the hospital is no longer having free swim sessions so that is the end of that.

I told my husband that I think people our age need to spend time in hot water. He said he is always in hot water. Not true! He is one of the good guys.

Better Day in the Studio and Why My Marraige Works

Yesterday I arm wrestled a painting down. Still not happy about it but it is much better. Now is the time to let it live for a while and then see if I want to go back into it. I'm back on the balance beam but still shaky. Painting will drive me crazy if I let it. I refuse to let that happen. Too much else to do.

New promotion on one of my favorite paintings, "Marsh View, Pawleys Island"! I have 20"x24" canvas prints for sale until June 18th. The price is $136.00 which is about 30% off. Just check out the Limited Time Only section on kendall-kessler.fineartamerica.com

My husband and I figured out why we hardly ever argue. I never listen to what he says and he never listens to what I say. Just a joke! Love you, sweetie!

Special Promotion on Three Favorites and Good-bye Goats and Chickens

Right now I have three of my most popular prints at a greatly reduced price here on FAA. Just go to the Limited Time Only section above. "Breakers at Pawleys Island" and " A Break in the Clouds" are on page one. "A Pair" is on page two. Just four days left! My artwork will light up any home or office. One patron emailed me to tell me that when she and her husband divorced, my painting was the only thing they fought over!

As I said in the last post, the neighbor down the street in this suburban neighborhood has goats and chickens. I'm still painting to the sounds of screaming babies, noisy children, boisterous neighbors, screeching cars, goats, and chickens. The neighbor is moving so I won't have nyaah, nyaah or cluck, cluck, cluck anymore. I must say, baby goats are so cute and the chicken crossed our street to peck around in our yard. What a hoot! Or, should I say, what a cluck!

Also, check out my recent upload of "Bluestone Lake"!

Pawleys Island Sales and the Goat at the End of the Street

So pleased to sell two more prints of "Breakers, Pawleys Island", and "Marsh View, Pawley's Island". Interestingly enough, my last sale was prints of these two paintings. My painting experience is becoming more and more intense as I find it so difficult to attend to my other responsibilities each day. I always feel like I am screaming for more time. Sometimes a friend gets me out of the studio for a while. I would probably flip if she didn't do that.

The older I get the more obsessed I become with sales. It is great to sell prints but I want to sell the originals as well. I hope the internet will continue to improve my sales.

My neighbor down the street in this Radford City suburb has goats and chickens. I don't know him but I hear he is working on a doctorate and makes violins! I have done a lot of paintings to the sounds of dogs, crying babies, and loud children but now I paint to Nyahh, Nyahh, Nyahh.

What an interesting artist's life I have!

Living with Autism the sale of Color Blast and the sales of two glicees

As any parent of an autistic child knows, it isn't easy living with mental illness. My husband and I love our son and always will but some days are so hard when he is extremely difficult to communicate with. I wish someone would find a cure for this illness. I do not agree with people that think there is nothing wrong with autism and the only problem is that the rest of us view it as a disorder. It is a handicap and I doubt whether he will be able to successfully live on his own. I'm not asking for sympathy. It is just good sometimes to vent a little. He is a good person and he does the best he can with his lot in life and we will continue to assist him until we are no longer around to do so.

I am so glad I am an artist. Everyday I am excited about whatever time I have to work at my art. It is such a wonderful experience and I love making part of my living at my sales. I will never give up on making it my only job but for now all sales are great. Recently, I sold the original painting entitled "Color Blast". This past week two giclees of Pawley's Island were sold to a patron in South Carolina. My visitors have doubled in the last few months and I look forward to future sales but the most important thing is to paint which I will be doing tomorrow morning as soon as the dishes are done.