Charlotte County native Katy Clarke lives a life full of color through her love of art. She currently works as an art teacher and owns her own art studio in the Town of Keysville, “the painted palm.”

“I took a chance and opened an art studio in Keysville and I am so happy with that decision,” said Clarke. “We really needed something like that in our community.” She said next, a local art gallery is needed for the local artists in the community.

Clarke said her grandmother, Maude Hurd, was an artist as well but did not began painting until after retirement. She said her mother is artistic as well.

“While I loved art throughout my childhood, I didn’t even think about using that talent as a career until after I had graduated from Virginia Tech,” said Clarke. “But, let me tell you, once I realized I could teach art as a career I was hooked. I began teaching art in 2004 and never looked back.”

Clarke said she even went back to school to get her master’s in Art Education, which afforded her the opportunity to teach art history and painting at the college level.

In addition to art, Clarke has her own online Younique makeup business. “The makeup business is something I fell into a few years ago, but it has been so rewarding.

She said Younique has taken her on trips around the world, helping her to find herself again and becoming the “woman to blame.”

Clarke said the nickname “woman to blame” came from her love of Jimmy Buffet.

“I could listen to Jimmy Buffett songs all day and all night and never get sick of it,” she said. “I am obsessed with Margaritaville radio station. I feel like I am at the beach. So needless to say, I love the beach.”

Clarke said she has little jars from different beaches around the world and hopes to keep the collection growing.

Currently, Clarke said Croatia is the furthest she has been from Charlotte County and if she could live anywhere else in the world that is where she would choose.

“My husband and I were lucky enough to visit there on our honeymoon. I thought Italy would be my favorite place, but we fell in love with Croatia,” said Clarke.

In light of this, she said her new home is influenced by Croatia and the Mediterranean, combined with the southern charm of Charleston, South Carolina.

Above all, Clarke said her greatest accomplishment are her children Delaney Primrose and Jon “Jack” Linwood Clarke.

“Raising decent and good, well-rounded human beings is my goal,” she said. “I treasure the little

life lessons … ”

Clarke said she loves living in the middle of nowhere and she loves Charlotte County. “I am obsessively grateful for my life, my family and my community,” she said. “I have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure this isn’t a dream, and it is only getting better with every passing year. I am one lucky woman to blame.”