About Kerry

Kerry Trout is a mostly self-taught artist, and likes to attribute her talent to her mother's artistic genes. At the young age of 15, she was already selling her artwork to a gift shop, and by 16, had brought home a "Best of Show" trophy for local Chamber of Commerce art show. After a college curriculum in commercial art, she went into the publications field and designed advertising and logos, then painted pastel portraits of adults, children, and dogs as a side job. She was commissioned by the Charlotte Motor Speedway to do portraits of NASCAR drivers including Bill Elliot, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt--

not to mention speedway owners Humpy Wheeler and Bruton Smith.

She switched to painting in acrylics and watercolors, and specialized in covered bridge and barn landscapes, which won her numerous awards at the local and state levels. Kerry began painting on furniture in 1997, and was asked to author a book when the editors of North Light Books saw her furniture. She has since written five books: Handpainting Your Furniture, From Flea Market To Fabulous, Decorative Mini Murals, Handpainted Gifts for All Occasions, and her latest, Painting Charming Cottages and Villages (due out Fall 2008). Kerry has produced several children's works for Scholastic Books, and she has also co-authored books and written many magazine articles for the painting world.

Kerry manufactures Liquid Shadow -- a bottled medium she developed for the decorative painting industry. Her invention was awarded "New Product of The Year" at the 2003 Society of Decorative Painting National Convention.

Kerry and husband Tom live in rural Indiana where she works out of her home studio. She produces wall murals on canvas, paints unique furniture, and gives decorative painting lessons.