Watercolor Society of Alabama Art Exhibition
2026-08-08 - 2026-09-10 | AL
This year The Kelly has the pleasure of once again hosting the Watercolor Society of Alabama for one of their exhibits! There will be a variety of different themes of skilled watercolor paintings exhibited throughout the month of August into September. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to see these amazing watercolors up-close, so be sure to swing by The Kelly!

Morning Sketch
2026-09-04 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-11 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-18 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-25 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-02 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-09 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-16 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-23 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) and 4 more dates | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Every Friday, we invite everyone and anyone to come “sketch” in the gallery and on the porch! New and experienced artists (or authors or craftsmen) alike can pull up a chair, sit on the porch, and indulge in the arts. Enjoy fellow artists’ company, enjoy the view, and come sketch with us!

Wildlife & Sporting Art - An Acrylic Painting Workshop
2026-09-10 10:00 - 15:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Join Jared Knox at The Kelly for this illuminating acrylic painting workshop! Using acrylic paint and acrylic mediums students will learn to paint a working field spaniel on point. Jared will share his approach to acrylic layering to help students achieve richer colors and textures in their pieces. Since modern acrylic gels and techniques allow for the best qualities of oil paint with the benefit of acrylic drying time, students will leave with a finished vibrant, textured artwork. Supplies will be provided, however, students are welcome to bring their own supplies as well.

Cost: $150 for Kelly Members OR $175 for Non-members
Class Size: 15 Maximum
Recommended Experience: Advanced to Professional
Supplies Provided

<<Register Here>>
Interested in Kelly member discounts on classes? Membership starts at only $50 for an entire year!

Instructor Bio/Portfolio
Jared is an Atlanta-based artist with a passion for the outdoors. His work, most often depicting wildlife, is both powerful and peaceful. Layers of exaggerated acrylic color emit an exciting feeling that mimics a one-on-one experience in front of the depicted subject. Bold brush strokes and palette concepts combined with his desire to achieve a high level of realism offer a unique take on subjects that have been painted for centuries.

Art Start: Pre-School Art Program
2026-09-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-10-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-11-18 10:00 - 11:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Art Start is a Kelly’s Kids arts-and-crafts program designed for pre-school children. We provide the supplies at no charge. No need to pre-register, just have your kiddos bring their imaginations!

Art Gone Wild
2026-09-25 - 2026-11-13 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
We are pleased to announce our fifth annual “Art Gone Wild” art exhibition, celebrating our native wildlife and field sports through the arts. We invite artists and collectors alike to submit artworks of any medium featuring southeastern native wildlife, field sporting life, and regional outdoor wildlife pursuits.

Alabama Wildlife Fine Arts Competition
2026-09-25 - 2026-11-13 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
The Kelly, in conjunction with the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival, is excited to announce year four of our juried fine art competition sponsored by The Alabama Wildlife Federation and LIV Development. The contest will be held at The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts and will coincide with the Art Gone Wild exhibition running from September 25th through November 13th. The goal of the competition is to increase awareness and appreciation of Alabama’s wildlife as well as recognize outstanding artistic talent. The total awards this year will be approximately $26,000, including a $12,000 Best of Show purchase award. The winners will be announced at the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival on Saturday, October 24th.

Art Gone Wild and Alabama Wildlife Fine Arts Competition Reception
2026-10-01 17:00 - 19:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Join The Kelly in celebrating nature and art with our Art Gone Wild and Alabama Wildlife Fine Arts Competition reception! There will be food, drinks, music, and nature’s diverse creatures captured with paint, camera, pencil, and so much more. Don’t miss out on getting to see this broad variety of artistic natural beauty!

Faces & Figures Workshop: Mastering Skin Tones with Light & Shadows
2026-10-03 10:00 - 16:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Linda will lead this class through her process of mastering skin tones in her figurative work. The class will help students understand the concepts of the play of light on the face and skin and working with big shapes to achieve a looser painting that capitalizes on the powerful drama of light and shadows. Participants will watch demos and come away with two pieces of their own. Linda will work in oil and strongly encourages students to do the same for this class. Acrylics can be used if not comfortable with oil.

Cost: $140 for Kelly Members OR $150 for Non-Members
Class Size: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 12
Recommended Experience: Intermediate
Supply List: Limited palette supplies included (feel free to bring your own)

<< Register Here >>
Interested in Kelly member discounts on classes? Membership starts at only $50 for an entire year!

Instructor Portfolio:

From Snout to Tail: Painting Canine Companions (3-Day Workshop)
2026-10-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-10-10 10:00 - 15:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Have you ever wanted to paint a beloved pet or learn the trick behind painting animals, specifically dogs? This workshop will be a study on painting dogs with a high concentration on accurate value judgement and the handling of edges of fur, whether soft or sharper. Come learn from an experienced animal portraiture artist!

Recommended Skill Level: Intermediate
Cost: $425 for Kelly members OR $450 for non-members
Basic Supplies included (Limited Color Palette) – Instructor palette and supplies list TBD. Basic Kelly studio supplies will also be available.
Class Size: Minimum 4 – Maximum of 15

<<Register Here>>
Interested in Kelly member discounts on classes? Membership starts at only $50 for an entire year!

Instructor Johnna Bush Portfolio:
https://www.johnnalarrimorebush.com/

Painting Wood Ducks with Dirk Walker
2026-10-17 10:00 - 15:30 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Unlock Your Creative Potential with the renowned Southeastern wildlife artist Dirk Walker! Dirk brings an abstract expressionist approach to wildlife art that is charismatic and so uniquely Dirk. Join us for an unforgettable day at The Kelly, where Dirk will break down his personal process of starting an oil painting from beginning to completion. Students can expect to walk away with a more in-depth knowledge of color, texture, and aggressive brush work.

Cost: $150 for Kelly Members OR $175 for Non-members
Class Size: 15 Maximum
Recommended Experience: Intermediate and above
Basic Supplies Provided (limited color palette)

<<Register Here>>
Interested in Kelly member discounts on classes? Membership starts at only $50 for an entire year!

Instructor Portfolio:

Instructor Palette:

Ivory Black
English Red
Vermilion
Alizarin Crimson
Cobalt Blue
Viridian
Emerald Green
Yellow Ochre
Naples Yellow
Titanium White

Additional colors (optional)
Cadmium Yellow
Phthalo Green
Ultra Marina Blue
Transparent Oxide Yellow

5th Annual Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival
2026-10-24 08:30 - 15:00 | Downtown Wetumpka, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092, United States
The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival is an annual one-day festival celebrating wildlife art as well as the natural beauty of Alabama. Art appreciators and outdoor enthusiasts alike gather together for this festival. We strive every year to pack this festival full of educational presentations, art exhibits and classes, vendors, food, children’s activities, and expert demonstrations.
The Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival is held on every fourth Saturday of October in the Historic Downtown Wetumpka.
Learn More Here at TheKelly.org/WEWA

Basket Making Workshop with the Vine Man
2026-10-24 13:00 - 15:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
We have the talented craftsman, Andrew McCall also known as the “Vine Man”, joining us for the Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival this year! He will be having a demonstration of his vine weaving skills before his workshop where students will be able to make a vine creation of their own. If you would love to learn vine weaving from an expert in the art, you should sign up for his workshop on October 24th!

<<Register Here>>

Kelly's Kids Town: School-Age Art Program
2026-10-27 16:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-24 16:00 - 17:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Designed for school-age children, Kelly’s Kids Town is an arts-and-crafts program where we provide the supplies and activities at no charge. No pre-registration necessary, just join us every fourth Tuesday of the month! Kids just need to bring to their imaginations (and maybe some clothes they can get messy in)!
** 2026 Change: Changed from the 4th Thursday to the 4th Tuesday

Mix It Up! - A Mixed Media Workshop
2026-11-07 10:00 - 14:00 | The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts, 301 Hill Street, Wetumpka, AL, 36092
Join Liphus Swindall in his mixed media workshop at The Kelly! Students of all levels will be creating a scene of their choice using acrylic paint paired with various found materials on canvas. Students will leave with a finished mixed media piece of their own! Supplies will be provided by the instructor and The Kelly, but students are free to bring their own supplies if they wish.

Cost: $125 for Non-members OR $100 for Kelly Members
Class Size: Maximum of 12
Recommended Experience: Beginner and Above
Supplies Provided

<<Register Here>>
Interested in Kelly member discounts on classes? Membership starts at only $50 for an entire year!

Artist’s Bio/Portfolio

Dothan, Alabama, native Liphus “Mick” Swindall grew up in Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Stephen F Austin State University there in 1994.
For more than 20 years, Mick worked in the advertising industry as a leading graphic designer, illustrator, art director and creative director. He created art for his own amusement throughout his corporate career. His recent return to Alabama offers time, at last, for full-time painting at his home studio.
Working primarily in mixed media with a nontraditional approach to landscapes, he expresses both bold and subtle aspects of his environment. Some of his works informed by techniques and materials used by rural primitive painters in history. Other recent works include pet portraiture, digital photography and sculpture. When he isn’t making art, Mick is an animal lover and an amateur gardener. You can find his work on Facebook & Instagram under @LiphusDesign.
