Jean Kirkley’s main goal in art is to enjoy the process of creating. She enjoys drawing and has her colored pencil portraits in homes throughout the United States. She studied oil painting at Winthrop University and the University of South Carolina. Since her retirement as an English teacher, she has devoted her time to learning new techniques in watercolor and acrylics as well as improving her oil painting.

She deeply appreciates the instruction she has received from local artists and other artists in nearby states who were sponsored by the Crooked Creek and Trenholm Art Leagues. By entering the leagues’ art shows, she has been encouraged by winning various awards. One watercolor was chosen to be in the South Carolina Water Color Society’s traveling show.

Her advice to beginning artists includes the following: Do not destroy your work when you are not happy with it. Every painting has an ugly phase. It might look better to you later, and if not, you will later see how much you have learned.