Pacing the floor in her tiny classroom, she walks from student to student providing one-on-one instruction for the next step on each painting.

 

The passion levels in the room ignite as each student grows more and more in love with the craft.

 

Barbara, a painter specializing in acrylics, is one of many artists teaching at the Arts and Design Society in Fort Walton Beach.

 

Teaching others to share the love of art is just what Barbara has always wanted to do, but she was once on the other side of the fence.

 

Barbara’s desire to create was discovered long before any training.

 

“My parents kept me supplied with paper and crayons,” Barbara explained. “I was always doing something – drawing, coloring – back as long as I can remember.”

 

This love for art grew inside of Barbara. In high school, she took on a part-time job as a bookkeeper in a local department store.

 

“In these days, department stores would hire their own illustrators to draw women’s fashion for magazines and newspapers.”

 

With the illustrator’s art studio right next to Barbara, she grew fascinated with the idea of drawing for a living.

 

She made a decision to spend the rest of her life dedicated to art. Barbara enrolled in the Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio.

 

In 1946, Barbara married and started a family. While she was a stay-at-home mom, she took Norman Rockwell home study courses. As the kids grew, she earned some extra money painting portraits on commission.

 

She got her first big break as a commercial artist for North Electric in 1972.

 

With several illustrators on staff, North Electric assigned tasks according to talents. Barbara was given the more artistic assignments and all projects requiring painting.

 

“Most of the work I did there was done with an airbrush and colored inks, but the special artwork they had me do was done with acrylic paints.”

 

In 1976, Barbara’s husband had a heart attack. Deciding that the warmer air and casualness of Florida would be better for his failing health, they picked up and moved to Fort Walton Beach.

 

Shortly after moving to Florida, Barbara and her husband opened Hobbycraft Harbour. They sold art, craft and hobby supplies.

 

Barbara, already having a rich background in art, started sharing her knowledge with the local community in her store with art lessons.

 

Hobbycraft Harbour was open for seven years before it closed its doors forever.

 

“The economy wasn’t good. All the craft stores closed that year,” Barbara explained. “Plus, I was worn out with all the responsibilities that came with owning a store and was ready for a change.”

 

After closing the store, she decided it was time to earn her living combining two of her passions – art and travel.

 

Barbara started entering art shows. Winning awards and earning a decent living, she and her husband traveled the country.

 

Her husband’s health took a turn for the worse, and they decided it was time to stay home. Barbara took a job as a secretary at Eglin Air Force Base.

 

With an established name in the local community, Barbara started teaching again. She taught painting and various art classes through the Adult Education Program in Okaloosa County, Michael’s Crafts in Destin and Pensacola, and the Arts and Design Society.

 

Barbara continues to teach to this day. She has three art classes – two at the Arts and Design Society and one at Michael’s in Destin.

 

She does not let her teaching get in the way of her learning. Barbara continues to stay current on the latest art trends. It is not uncommon to catch Barbara attending a seminar in a nearby town.

 

She recently went to Gatlinburg with her daughter to watch a demonstration of a technique that mixes oils and acrylics to create rich, textured brush strokes.

 

“Some people paint a base coat using acrylics and then add highlights and shadows with oil. Others paint the whole thing in shades of gray or brown and then they color it with oils,” she said with excitement in her voice. “It is truly a unique technique. Everyone is begging me to teach a class on this, so I am going to work one up one of these days.”

 

Barbara and her daughter spend any spare time they have exploring the beautiful countryside. Traveling from coast to coast, they always take the back roads to make sure they see the natural landscape. Many of her ideas for paintings are conjured up on these excursions.

Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon – ADSO

Thursdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m. – ADSO

Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m. – Michael’s

 

Barbara has published three books through Plaid paints:

 

Visit Barbara Fudge online at http://barbfudgeart.com.