Virginia McKimmey
Artist Bio:
Virginia McKimmey grew up in quaint and scenic Eureka Springs, Arkansas, with artistic talent and an unquenchable urge to create beauty. Nurturing this gift, her parents and teachers helped in many ways.
One was when Virginia and her seventh grade class were asked to illustrate the stories they read or wrote. This was a catalyst which propelled her to go further in finding other ways to hone her skills.
Over time, she studied at many workshops, offered by various artists in the area, finally studying at the Arkansas Arts Center. With tenacity and determination, Virginia continued her studies at the Woodstock School in New York and at the Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona.
Afterwards, she was offered a job at a prestigious Arkansas Department store as a fashion illustrator. The company flew her all over the south, working for their advertising department. This sharpened her painterly skills, especially in rendering the human form, which has much to do with the lovely paintings she does today.
Her works are anything but portraits. They are renderings of feeling, breathing people who experience the joys, sadness, successes and insecurities we all know. They are often composites of people she has known, reflections of everything that has brought her to this point in time.
Painting fills her with joy and her works are sought out by collectors all over the south. Her work is carried by many superb, southern galleries.