Retired McDuffie County teacher, Kathleen Usry, spent her career finding the possibilities in her students.  That included discovering the artist in each of them.  Since that time she has been discovering the artist in herself, thanks to encouragers in her life.  It started when she was asked to do some muraling at her church, then encouraged to do artwork for cards to sell on behalf of a young friend facing a kidney-pancreas transplant.  While working at The Frame Gallery ,then a Thomson business, she found it a delight to talk art with folks bringing in their work and then to begin trying different mediums herself; finding her niche.  She has found success in pencil portraits, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic and oil.  That educator’s desire to learn will keep her growing and improving her technique, especially with the instructive advice of her sister, South Carolina artist, Jackie Wukela.  Kathleen looks forward to the possibilities of the days ahead and is grateful for the association with the McDuffie County Arts Coucil.