It’s no secret that local artist Jacqueline Keough is an animal lover.
Her West Main Street studio bears the name White Cat, after Lola — her feline companion on most days. Lola, who travels back and forth with Keough, is both the studio namesake and mascot.
“She likes to ride in the car,” she said. “This is her safe place from the other dogs and cats. It’s her domain.”
The walls of the space are lined with brightly painted pet portraits in unexpectedly vivid colors one doesn’t normally associate with animals, but that seems to capture each animal’s character to a “T.”
Married to Assistant State Veterinarian Bradley Keough, she opened her downtown location nearly three years ago after working out of the family home.
“I was doing classes out of our house and then started painting the pet portraits and it just took off and I needed more space,” she explained.
Fortunately, the prime spot in the heart of Frankfort was vacant at the time. Keough said her landlady helped her match paintings with the wall color.
“I wanted to be a part of everything happening downtown,” she stated. “There wasn’t anything like this in the area.”
In addition to a variety of art for sale, White Cat Studio also offers lessons, workshops, kids camps and parties for all ages and skill levels. Between Keough and Jody Johnson, art teacher at Capital Day School, the studio offers lessons in painting, drawing, pastels, watercolors, acrylics, ceramics, mixed media, paper crafts, crocheting and knitting.
“We recently completed a six-week art class where we did all kinds of different projects,” Keough added. “In that class, I had a retired woman, kids between 8 and 18 and college kids.”
The studio also hosts ever-popular painting parties, as well as birthday and office parties.
“We have one office who does its holiday party here,” she explained. “Last year, they made ceramic mugs.”
Keough traces her passions for art back to the second grade. When her parents divorced and her father moved to Texas, she remembers she would always pack her art supplies for the trip.
Now, she enjoys sharing her love of art.
“I want this to be a comfy, cheerful place people can shop, take a class or just meet up with folks,” she said.
The Keoughs have an 18-year-old step-daughter, Lucy; a son, James, 8; and a daughther, Aubrey, 6. In addition to chasing her children around, Jacqueline enjoys gardening, baking, sewing and traveling.
“And anything art-related,” she continued. “I just got into resin pouring.”
For more information about White Cat Studio and to find classes and event, visit the website.
Upcoming painting events at White Cat Studio
• Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. — Deer antlers with flowers
• Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. — “Wizard of Oz” ruby slippers
• Sept. 22 at 3 p.m. — Scarecrow
• Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. — Pumpkin spider web
• Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. — Maleficent
• Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. — Wicked witch
• Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — Hocus Pocus
