Artist Kelby Haugabook recently visited Stratford. She is an Alumni Featured Artist of Stratford who owns Kelby’s Original Art, LLC, which is based in Macon.

 “I started painting when I was in fourth grade from a teacher. Her name is Mrs. Ernie Stofko-Dixon,” Ms. Haugabook said. ” I went to her paint class every Tuesday and Thursday after school.”

She loves to paint animals because she loves the texture of their fur and the bright colors of sea life.

Haugabook graduated from Stratford in 2009, and the only art class she took was an AP art class.

She graduated from Georgia Southern with a Bachelor of Science degree in interior design.

“I wasn’t really serious about art until after I graduated college,” she said. “It was kind of a hobby until I started my business December of last year.”

She has donated her pieces for many charity auctions and has three pieces hanging in the Ronald McDonald House.

Last year, she was the official artist of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Now, she is the poster and pin artist of the 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival. Her work has also been featured in various press releases.

She produces original works of art based on the buyers’ requests.

She also has pieces featured in the Stratford library.