Walker exhibits fine porcelain paintings in DSCC LRC

Local artist Barbara Walker is coming home to Dyersburg State Community College with her current display of fine porcelain paintings. Walker received special certification by the Tennessee Board of Regents to teach porcelain painting for full college credit for eight years at DSCC before she resigned to take the position of president of International Porcelain Artists and Teachers Inc. in 1990. She still serves the association as an instructor and has earned the title of Board Member Emeritus for her many years of service. A reception will be held for Walker at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Learning Resource Center. [Click to enlarge]

Barbara Walker has traveled the globe to teach and learn the art of painting on fine porcelain, and this week she returns to Dyersburg State Community College with an exhibit and reception featuring her beautiful creations.

One look at the vases, platters, limoges boxes, ginger jars, tiles and tea sets on display in the Learning Resource Center on DSCC's Dyersburg campus leaves no doubt of the quality of Walker's work, but her miniature portraits captivate her audience with their lifelike quality and minute detail.

"My main interest, my love is miniature portraits," said Walker. "There are two examples of those in the show."

Pieces of all sizes and subjects are displayed in the exhibit, including Walker's annual limited-edition Christmas ornament.

"Among the things in the display are some Christmas ornaments," said Walker. "This is the 24th year that I have produced a limited-edition, hand-painted Christmas ornament. I usually make about 40. They are all hand-painted, so they are all slightly different versions of the same design."

The ornaments are on sale for $37.50 and can be personalized by Walker.

"All of what I have on display is from my own collection," said Walker. "It's all from my studio. Some of it is for sale. Some of it is the artist's personal collection."

Walker has a studio in her Ripley home where she paints pieces for herself and for commission. She holds classes and hosts workshops with fellow artists from around the world in her studio and travels regularly to show her work and instruct others.

She recently taught seminars in Texas and Louisiana, and will travel to Florida in January to teach and participate in the Florida State Porcelain Painting Show. She was also one of the demonstrating artists and teachers in Nashville last August at the International Porcelain Artists and Teachers Inc.'s first Tennessee show.

Her work will be featured in the winter issue of the IPAT journal Porcelain Artist, and has an article on painting babies and young children in the winter issue of the Porcelain Portrait Society Newsletter.

She worked as a media specialist at DSCC and shared her techniques with the students for several years before moving on to teach others around the world.

"I taught porcelain painting for full credit for eight years at DSCC with special certification by the Tennessee Board of Regents," said Walker. "I resigned to take the position of president of IPAT in 1990, because I was scheduled to be out of the county seven times during that two-year period."

Walker served two years as president of the organization, 10 years as a board member and two years as chairman of the board. She is currently an IPAT Board Member Emeritus.

"I wrote for and helped to produce the magazine for the organization for about 10 years," said Walker. "Now, I am enjoying the emeritus status. I'm a senior statesman, not an active board member."

Items from Walker's personal collection in the exhibit include an oriental design tea set, "The Christmas Dress" large urn, a large vase painted with mums, a punch bowl, "Fruits of Florida" tray, an oriental ginger jar, a porcelain jar painted with sheep, a floral 8-by-10 porcelain tile, a French-style nightlight tea pot and a cotton painting on an 8-by-10 porcelain tile.

Items for sale in the exhibit include two plates with English scenery, an oriental designed platter, a European design bowl or planter, a 14-inch porcelain vase painted with wisteria, Christmas ornaments and a limoges collector's box. Miniature portraits and other portraits painted on porcelain are also available by commission.

A reception for Walker will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the LRC.