Kay Gray
Kay Gray was born in Kansas and raised outside the rural community of Winfield. There was never a time, that she can recall, when she didn't draw or paint. There was always leftover house paint, barn paint, or a bucket of whitewash handy and she got in trouble a lot for painting on the sides of cars, trucks, farm equipment, sheds, trees, whatever didn't move. In first grade, a substitute teacher showed her how to blend crayon colors with an eraser which opened up a new world of mixed colors to her. By sixth grade, a monthly visiting art teacher to her two room school house, placed oil paints, brushes and stretched canvas in her hands which became her passion.
She married young, had two children, and divorced. She often worked two and three jobs to support herself and her children, plus continued her education. No longer able to afford her passion, she turned to the then new medium of acrylic paints and board canvas. She now handles acrylics as acrylics but also can make them look like oils or watercolors.
Today, she is an award winning artist. Her work hangs in several galleries and private collections. She regularly contributes work to auctions that benefit cancer research in three states. For several years she has taught art for summer youth programs. She also teaches crochet on the adult level since obtaining her master crochet certification. She is a published author with non- fiction, poetry, fictional short stories and three cookbooks. She builds and decorates miniature dollhouse and vignettes. She is an avid gardener with flower beds and a large vegetable garden. At current count, from working with animal rescue, there is a total of ten dogs, two cats and two birds at home - she doesn't work in that field any more.
She was lucky enough (and smart enough) to marry her best friend, Larry. They now reside just outside of Corbin, Kentucky.
She would like to encourage any one who has ever thought about trying to paint or draw to just do it. What's so very great about the art field is there is no wrong way to do anything. So give it a try, you will surprise yourself. And thanks for stopping by.
