I have been making art professionally for over 50 years, and during the past half century, I have worked in almost every artistic medium. I have often heard that as folks grow older, they tend to return to their roots, While that thought is worthy of a discussion for another day, I must acknowledge that in terms of artistic media and subject matter, I have  drifted back to types of art that were part of my earliest excursions into art-making–drawings in pastel and red chalk.

Sailor Suit – Jacki Kellum Pastel Portrait
Created in 1980

Pastel Portrait of My Older Son, Joseph Kellum.
45 Years Ago

I began my aristic career wih drawings of children in pastel. The reasons for that are complex. First of all, I have admired the work of Mary Casatt since I was in high school, when I saw one of her paintings in an art hisory book I found advertised on television.

I did not see a real Mary Cassatt until 40 years later,  when providence allowed me to visit the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. That was the first time I saw any real art. Before that time, I had only admired art in books

When I lived close enough to do so, I loved to go to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, and although that museum has a vast collection, I rarely moved beyond the rooms that housed Impressionism.

As you can see by the above map that I have created, one of my favorite Van Gogh self-portraits was in that area, and Renoir was in that area, and Cezanne was in that area, and Degas was in that area, but Mary Cassatt was also in that area, and for many, many years, Mary Cassatt has been one of my favorite artists.

Child in a Straw Hat – Mary Cassatt
National Gallery of Art in Washington DC

Let’s Take a Look at Mary Cassatt’s Painting Child in a Straw Hat: A Tour of the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art

Mary Cassatt’s Child in a Straw Hat Was Painted in Oil. But Cassatt is also famous for her drawings of mothers and children in pastel. For well over half a century, I have admired the pastel drawings of both Cassatt and Degas, and I can honestly say that Cassatt and Degas have greatly influenced my own art, Imagine how delighted I was to attend the Degas and Cassatt exhibit in 2014.

All of it was there–the ballerinas, the children, the horses, the opera houses–Mary Cassat’s boxes of pastel were also on exhibition there:

And I saw this monumental exhibit about 40 years after I began  my own career of drawing children in pastels and red chalk.

Jacki Kellum Red Chalk Drawings
Collecion of Dr. amd Mrs. Roy Kellum
Created about 30 Years Ago

I’m not sure of the date, but I did a series of red drawing chalks of the children of Dr. Roy and Susan Kellum about 30 years ago.

Now, those children have children of their own:

Finally, I have an adequate amount of studio space to begin another rash of red chalk drawings of the grandchildren:

Baby Margaret
Jacki Kellum Red Chalk  – Created in 2024
Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Kellum

Kellum Moore
Child of Dr. and Mrs. Ryves Moore
Image Credit: Mallory Kellum

I hope to complete the commission drawing of Sweet Kellum this week — before Art Crawl.

3 Daughters of Dr. an Mrs. Ryves Moore
Image Credit: Mallory Kellum

My commissions are for individual drawings of each of the grandchildren, but now that I have space to work, I hope to do other drawings and paintings of this bunch.

The Front Porch of Dr. and Mrs. Roy Kellum
Image Credit: Mallory Kellum

I hope to paint the above Tea Party in both pastel and oil, and when I fatigue of the front porch. I can sashay around to the backyard,

Entry into the Backyard
Dr. and Mrs. Roy Kellum
Jackson, Mississippi

You know you are in the South when there is a back door into the backyard.

But when I have finished working with that set of in-laws, I have only begun.

My ex-husband had 5 brothers — A Painting Feast for Me!

Darby and Jack
Daughter and Grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Kellum

Sweet Caroline

And when I’ve finished with in-laws’ kids, I can focus on the kids and grands of my friends:

Suri Reynolds

Grandchild of The Honorable and Mrs. Tommy Reynolds

And then, I can focus on all the pets:

Clementine Presley
Dog Baby of Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Presley