Kathy’s journey with art began early and has woven through every stage of her life. She earned a degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has shared her love of creativity by teaching art to people of all ages, including, most recently, individuals living with dementia.

Her inspiration can be traced back to her family and her childhood in rural Wisconsin. Growing up on a small farm as one of seven children, she often found peace in long solo walks through the woods. She collected sticks, stones, and other natural treasures, delighting in their textures, shapes, and earth tones. Her mother’s creative spirit also shaped her—turning gardens, tabletops, and even everyday objects into artful arrangements. That influence made Kathy’s own artistic path feel inevitable.

A childhood memory still stands out: one Christmas, her father connected cherry candy balls with wire to decorate the tree. Inspired, Kathy painted them for a school project. Though her teacher mistakenly thought the painting depicted earmuffs, it was the only piece chosen for display on the bulletin board. That small moment of encouragement sparked her lifelong love of painting.

Today, Kathy finds inspiration in her daily walks through the desert. She is captivated by the way mesquite and palo verde trees reach against the vast sky, and by the play of light and shadow carving out the desert mountains in luminous color. Her paintings reflect this deep love of nature, capturing its balance of chaos and simplicity.

Over the years, Kathy has worked in oils, acrylics, and now primarily watercolor. Her style is interpretive and representational, and she has recently entered a new phase of exploration—using a limited palette of bold, expressive colors, simplifying complex forms, and building depth through layers of color and texture.

Influenced early by the expressionist period in the U.S., Kathy continues to draw inspiration from that movement. One artist especially meaningful to her is Mark Tobey, founder of the Northwest School, whose “white writing” style, seen in his painting Threading Light, resonates deeply with her. His blend of imagination, cultural influence, and spirituality reflects the kind of artistic honesty she values.

For Kathy, becoming a Signature Artist is both thrilling and deeply meaningful. It represents recognition of her lifelong dedication to art and a celebration of the creative journey that began with nature walks on a Wisconsin farm and continues today in the wide-open beauty of the desert.