Jerry Yarnell

Jerry Yarnell was born in Tulsa. His early art hung everywhere, from relative's homes to his high school hallways. A wonderful high school teacher, Opal Thorpe, introduced Jerry to the art world. She believed he had talent and she gave him more real art instruction than any other teacher. She also gave him special privileges. Instead of being in class with the other students she allowed Jerry to paint by himself in an empty room during school.Another early influence was a well-known portrait artist, Diane Bailey Woodruff. She lived around the corner from the house he grew up in Tulsa. He would baby-sit for her. In return she allowed Jerry to roam around her studio, examine her artwork, ask questions, and learn painting techniques.While still in high school Jerry won two scholarships to the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa Oklahoma. Philbrook has a wonderful art program. The school was mostly modern art and some impressionism art. On his first day of class his assignment was to pai... [Details Intro]