BY PAULA DAYTON

Iris is the title of Georgia Kirby’s colorful painting now hanging in the Deltona City Hall foyer. Kirby is the Deltona Art Club’s featured artist for May.

A member of the art club, Kirby creates many forms of art and has tried many others over the years. She began her journey as a floral designer in 1983, and then she became an accredited flower-show judge in 1985.

Today, Kirby is a master judge and photographer of flowers, using the photos as source materials for her paintings. She also enjoys photographing wildlife and landscapes, and they often become paintings as well.

“I love to create depth and shadows in my work through color and thickness of paint,” Kirby said.

When asked how she got started, she said, “I found a class! I was never one who had any natural talent, but I learned. I wanted to get out of the house and learn something different. Art is a learned skill. I have tried a lot of different things, like beading, pottery, alcohol inks and, of course, painting. It also helps to find people who share the same interests, and they can be your encouragement.”

The Deltona Art Club, established in 1968, is one of the oldest continuously running art clubs in Central Florida. Artists working in any medium are welcome to join the club, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month from September through May.

Learn more at www.deltonaartclub.com, or see the Deltona Art Club page on Facebook.