David Kessler

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According to David Kessler, Winston-Salem architect, watercolor artist and art teacher, if you don't have fun painting, there's no reason to do it. "I just like to paint watercolors. It started out being a fun thing and worked its way into teaching classes and workshops, and I still have a great time doing it."

story by Donna Emmary

David Kessler's work will be on display at Ollie's Bakery through the middle of October. An opening reception will take place on Friday, September 26th from 7-9pm. Join us for refreshments and see David's wonderfully unique watercolors firsthand.

In Addition to a new art show opening each month, Ollie's will now be open Friday and Saturday evenings offering a selection of their own scrumptious desserts and coffees for an after dinner, European tradition.

Ollie's Bakery is located at 300 South Marshall Street in Winston Salem. Click here for a map.

Kessler considers his biggest accomplishment to date is his inclusion in the Transparent Watercolor Society of America's national art competition. "I was actually accepted the first time I tried to get in," he marvels. "They picked 70 paintings out of nearly 1,000 submitted and my painting was hanging in a Chicago gallery right next to people I've read about and studied under. It was very exciting."

But, despite the honor, Kessler remains focused on what's important, and that's how to loosen up and have fun. "If you look at my work, you would think, 'yeah it's well designed and well put together, but it looks like somebody had a good time painting it,' and," he grins broadly, "that's what I would like people to think, that it must have been fun to paint that."

David was most recently commissioned by the YWCA of Winston-Salem to do a painting to commemorate their 100th anniversary (left). The original will hang in the Glade Street building and a reproduction of the original will hang in the Gateway facility.

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(Click on the image for a larger view)

Other festivities for the celebration will take place in the fall and the painting is only one piece of the celebration. Of the work, Kessler says, "They wanted something that would express the YWCA in Winston-Salem and its hundred years of existence here.

"It was a difficult task to determine how to express that. It was clear to me after reviewing their history here, that everything they have done has been inspired by their mission, so the mission is really the foundation for everything that they do, and have done. That is why the mission - in text form - forms the foundation of the painting. The basis of that mission is boiled down to 8 words: peace, justice, freedom, dignity, eliminating racism, empowering women. This is a very powerful mission, and one that they have continued to pursue throughout their history. I have also included in the painting all of the milestone dates in their development and their landmark structures which are an integral part of their history and growth in Winston-Salem.

"I feel very fortunate, and blessed, to work with such a wonderful, caring organization that has meant so much to our city over the last 100 years."