Paintings by David Friday

  David Friday is a mixed-media artist living in Russell, Kansas. His work is mostly acrylic and the thick textures he creates are made with crushed marble and acrylic medium that dry to a stone-hard and durable surface.

He taught himself to paint by copying the Masters: Picasso, Matisse, Sandzén, Thomas Hart Benton. He always likes to include a copy in each show to illustrate his beginnings.

Friday has a large, colorful studio and gallery on Highway 281 in Russell which is open to the public. He is also the town’s barber and the addition of a barbershop at one end of the building creates a unique combination of studio, gallery, and barbershop. When he is not cutting hair, he is working to improve his painting skills.

Friday went to high school in Russell and then left to go to WSU in Wichita and was gone for 45 years living in Dallas, Denver, San Diego, Austin, and Albuquerque. He returned to Russell in 2016 to escape the traffic and chaos of the city.

His subjects vary from faces from his imagination to the Kansas landscape he enjoys every day.

“After being away for 45 years, I have a new appreciation for the prairie landscape, the endless wheat fields, the cottonwood trees, the rural farm scenes, and our vast, open skies. I hope everyone stops in to see my incredible studio and gallery in Russell.”

        Diane Lawrence's focus as an artist has always been color and trying to achieve colors so intense that the viewer is drawn to the artwork, like a moth to a flame. Nature inspires her with many surprises in color and pattern. The purpose of her paintings is to make us more aware of our surroundings and their beauty.

         Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Diane graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking. After the Art Institute she went on to receive my teaching certification from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Her teaching experience began in the public school system of Independence, Missouri. After moving to Kansas in 1975 she continued teaching in my studio and other venues.  She has taught workshops and given demonstrations in Kansas and Missouri in Silk Painting and Watercolor. Because of her experience, she was selected as an instructor for Silk Painters International Conferences in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016.

       Diane is a member of the Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society, Kansas Watercolor Society, Silk Painters International, National Association for Independent Artists and Topeka Art Guild. She is also on the Board of Directors for Silk Painters International.  Her work has been selected for many private and corporate collections. Including those of Sprint Corporation, Lockton Insurance Company, First National Bank of Chicago, Anderson Accounting in Chicago, Hays Medical Center, Hadley Foundation in Hays, Topeka Public Library and the Kansas State Treasurer’s office.  Her work has also been published by Leanin’ Tree, Inc., in two different issues of Silkworm magazine, Koi U.S.A., Topeka magazine and Topeka Capital Journal.  Diane and her work has been featured on “Kansas Arts Today”, for KTWU television station in Topeka. 

 Recent recognition and awards include First Place award in the Silk Painters International Exhibition at Arrowmont College, Third Place award in Watercolor U.S.A. National Exhibition at Springfield Art Museum, Honorable Mention in the “National Fiber Directions” Exhibition and cash awards in the MOAK Four State Regional Exhibition at Springfield Art Museum.  Gallery representation includes Santa Fe, San Antonio, St. Louis, Emporia, Manhattan, Lindsborg and Topeka, Kansas.