Vernon County woman's creativity takes flight

Sunday, October 12, 2003

It's an unusual hobby and Kim Weber came by it in an unusual way. Weber paints on turkey feathers. "I never painted a lot before, I hadn't painted in 30 years, since school. I got into this when a friend showed me some feathers and I jumped in with both feet." Weber's husband and son provide some of the feathers but the supply is limited -- they must come from tame turkeys. No feathers may be harvested from wild turkeys -- even those found already dead -- without the permission of the Missouri Department of Conservation. "There are only about 17 tail feathers on a turkey, that doesn't go far. Some people have given me feathers because they don't want them. They usually keep a fan for a while and after that just throw them away." Weber's husband raises bloodhounds and she painted a feather she donated to a group to which he belongs. "I just did one for the National Goodman Fox Hunter Association. My husband raises bloodhounds so it was for him," she said. Weber has had health problems that kept her from being as active as she'd like and is very grateful for the help friends have given. "I have a muscle condition that keeps me from walking too much. I got ill five years ago and my neighbor's have really helped out. They've been there to do things for us when this first came on and they've been all through this with us. I wouldn't trade them for anything." Weber's condition put her in the hospital and it has been a long recuperation. "I accomplished getting out of the wheelchair. I had to learn to walk all over again. It's been a long time and it hasn't been easy." Painting is a relaxing refuge for Weber, which she resorts to when other, more taxing activity is too much for her. "It's a great stress reliever. There are times I can't get around and painting helps to relax me." Weber took a painting class after she started. "It was a two-day class. I painted on canvas. I was a little behind the others in the class. There were women there who had been painting eight or nine years. They were very encouraging and said I should keep painting." Feathers aren't the only unusual materials Weber uses. "I do experiment. I'm starting on an acrylic on leather next week. A friend has some rabbit he wants a picture on and I need to get going on that." Weber said she was grateful for the support and help of the many people who have made her recovery possible. "I really want to thank my husband Richard and the ladies at the Southwest Missouri Paint Group, especially my mentor, Joyce."

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