Our Spotlight on the Arts for October 2026 shines brightly on visual artist and small business owner Tiffany Kildale of Kildale Design Co.!
Tell us about your upcoming workshops!
I’m so excited for the fall workshops I have lined up so far! To start, I’m hosting a Fall Watercolor Mini Landscapes workshop at Dahlia & Vine Flower Farm in Prince Frederick, on September 22. After that I’m hosting a free Drop-in & Paint watercolor pop-up on October 2 with the St. Mary’s Arts Council at the SMC Art Gallery on First Friday in October. Come paint a bookmark or a Halloween illustration with me! On Saturday, October 3, I’m teaming up with Sunnyside Florals to host a watercolor and flower arranging workshop at Sunnyside Floral Farm. And of course, I can’t wait to give the community a creative space to come back to by offering smaller workshops and drop-in & paint studio time once my studio in Leonardtown is open. Collaborating with other artists and small businesses is one of my favorite things to do in my workshops and there may be some holiday themed workshops on the horizon so stay tuned.
How long have you been a visual artist and what led you on this journey? What were some of your inspirations along the way?
I’ve been painting in some form or another since 2013, but I didn’t dive into watercolor until 2022. Initially, I painted and refinished furniture, which was really creatively fulfilling for me. I’d snag furniture from the side of the road, fix it up, and give it a face lift by painting pieces with bold and vibrant colors. We moved in 2021, and I lost my dedicated workshop space so I took a break from furniture. In 2022, my father passed away. I needed some sort of outlet to get me out of my head a bit. I found a discounted watercolor palette on sale at TJ Maxx one afternoon, and the rest is history. Prior to that I’d never taken a painting workshop, much less even really painted in the traditional sense. My inspiration is always color, and using colors in unexpected ways. I started with “painting” furniture again, this time on paper. So my pink Chippendale dressers still existed, just in a frame!
Do you have a favorite aspect of your art form?
My mini watercolors will always be my forever favorite. I love the juxtaposition of a vast landscape inside a tiny frame. The contrast can be very captivating!
What brought you to St. Mary’s County?
I genuinely love southern Maryland; I love the water, the wildlife, and the history. I have wanted to open my own studio for a while now, and Leonardtown has such a creative energy. There is so much charm and inspiration within the community that I try to capture in my artwork, so to work right alongside the very people and landscapes that inspire my work is a dream.
What are your other interests outside of your work as an artist?
I’m lucky enough that my art has kept me pretty busy as of late, so right now my other interests primarily focus on spending time with my husband and my dogs, and doing the best I can to keep in touch with my family and friends! I’m also a tarot reader, so I very much enjoy using the cards to reflect on not only my own journey, but helping others reflect on their own lives as well. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I do, and I’m very grateful that people trust me to read for them.
Where can people find your art?
I am opening my own studio above the St. Mary’s Arts Council in Leonardtown at the end of September, and can’t wait to welcome the community to my space! I’m also an artist at the St. Mary’s Arts Council gallery, and my work is available at Keepin’ It Local in Morganza, and Tattered Elegance in La Plata. Additionally, I will be at Artsfest at Annmarie Gardens, as well as the Oyster Festival at the St. Mary’s County fairgrounds in October.
Thank you, Tiffany, for sharing your story and being a valued member of our creative community!
Links of Interest
- Website: www.tiffanykildale.com
- Facebook: @tiffanykildaledesigns
- Instagram: @tiffanykildale