By Zandra Wolfgram
With bold strokes and vibrant color, Niceville artist Kathy Schumacher will set the tone for the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s 30th Annual Festival of the Arts as this year’s official poster artist. This milestone event kicks off Friday, October 24 with the Arty Kickoff Party, followed by the festival weekend October 25–26 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin.
Schumacher’s winning piece, Sails in Symphony, is a vibrant 30 x 24-inch impasto oil painting bursting with jewel-toned sailboats poised for a magical coastal voyage. “It’s inspired by Destin—by the water, by the coastal lifestyle—and it just feels like Mattie Kelly,” says Schumacher. “I wanted it to be more colorful than my usual sailboat paintings so it would stand out on a poster. It reflects the beauty of our area and pairs perfectly with the festival’s music and atmosphere.”
While this is Schumacher’s first time as the festival’s featured poster artist, she is no stranger to the event. She first exhibited at the MKAF festival of the Arts in 2013, taking home the People’s Choice Award her debut year, and has returned nearly every year since. “I love the festival,” she says. “It offers such a wonderful variety of art—paintings, jewelry, pottery, and more—in a beautiful setting with live music, great food, and activities for all ages.”
From Wisconsin Fields to Florida’s Gulf Coast
Schumacher’s journey as an artist began later in life. Raised in Wisconsin’s rolling farmlands, she developed an early appreciation for the natural world but didn’t pick up a paintbrush until her 40s. At the time, she was a busy mom and military spouse, traveling the globe with her husband and raising two children. A casual acrylic painting class with friends sparked an instant passion. “From day one, I loved it,” she recalls. Encouraged by instructors impressed with her natural ability, she began exploring oil painting using traditional Old Masters techniques.
Her artistic path took a new turn during a move to New Mexico. With no job or kids at home, she immersed herself in classes at the New Mexico Art League, experimenting with pastel, watercolor, figurative work, and realism. The turning point came when she discovered the work of a Ukrainian palette knife artist. Captivated by the sculptural texture and bold color, Schumacher set out to master the technique herself, eventually developing her signature style: richly textured oils with luminous layers of color and an almost three-dimensional effect.
The Palette Knife Signature
Today, Schumacher paints exclusively with palette knives. Her process begins with toning the canvas in underlying colors that peek through the top layers, adding depth and vibrancy. “I think that underpainting gives my work another dimension,” she says. While many palette knife artists work in acrylics, she prefers the richness of oil pigments. Her subjects—often coastal landscapes, sailboats, marshes, wildflowers, and birds—reflect her deep connection to nature and her Niceville waterfront surroundings.
Nature, she says, is endlessly inspiring. “Whether it’s a quiet marsh, a burst of wildflowers, or the rhythm of the sea, I’m captivated by the way light, color, and space interact. My goal is always to create a moment of connection between the viewer and the natural world.”
A Family Legacy in Art
Art is a family affair for Schumacher. Her daughter, Krista Schumacher, is an award-winning palette knife artist based in San Diego, and the two occasionally collaborate on projects, including large-scale commercial installations. “It’s been such a joy to share this journey with her,” Kathy says. “Watching her develop her own style in the medium we both love has been a source of immense pride.”
Meet the Artist at the Festival
Festivalgoers can meet Kathy Schumacher in person and view Sails in Symphony—alongside her other original works—in Tent No. 61 during the festival. As the official poster artist, her winning design will appear on the festival’s poster, program guide, t-shirt, MKAF website, social media channels, and throughout the event’s marketing campaign.
The Festival of the Arts will feature more than 100 artists from across the U.S., competing for $12,000 in cash prizes across 18 categories, including Best in Show and People’s Choice. Visitors can enjoy live music, a collaborative art exhibit, hands-on children’s activities, an art raffle, and a variety of local food trucks with beer and wine available. Admission is free, and proceeds benefit MKAF’s ArtsReach initiatives serving K–12 students, individuals with special needs, and the military community.
Reflecting on her selection, Schumacher says, “This is truly such an honor. The festival has been such a big part of my journey as an artist, and I’m thrilled to help represent its 30th anniversary.”
For more about Kathy Schumacher and her work, visit kathyschumacherart.com. For more information on the Festival of the Arts, visit MKAF.org.
