My Background

​I was lucky enough to grow up in Northern California and have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the hillsides, forests, trails, beaches and more that the area is blessed with. A hike in the woods provides a multitude of ideas for paintings. Capturing the special sense of being there is my goal. I enjoy the little beauties as well; a fern leaning over a small stream, a colorful mushroom on a mossy log—the jewels that are sometimes overlooked.

​I find outstanding beauty on the local trails and backroads of Marin and Sonoma Counties. In my painting process, I re-live being at that site and the feelings of beauty I felt at the time. The painting is a jigsaw puzzle I find joy in creating.
 Thank you for visiting, 
—Katie

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My Painting Process

I like to have two to four hours of UNINTERUPTED time to start a new painting. Working from several reference photos, I use a large brush to quickly lay out the flow- maybe the sweep of hillsides on a large, expansive landscape; strong trunks in a grove of trees; or the angle of grasses on a detailed subject. During this time, I paint quickly and boldly, adding paint directly onto the canvas, trying different angles and moving the canvas from side to side. The easel is something to rest an edge of the canvas on, not to calmly hold the canvas still. Don’t talk to me now!

​Once I get the underlying flow and layout, I slow down for the details, and this takes time. Sometimes I get 80% of the painting (the layout) done in 25% of the time it takes to complete. I try to really think about the items I’m working on- “Is this rock smooth or rough-does it look that way on the canvas?” “Is that tree root reaching out enough?” NOW you can talk to me!

​Acrylic on canvas works well for me. I work quickly enough that the rapid dry time is an asset. Oil paints would slow me down, making me be careful not to smear previous work, and watercolor would be too delicate, preventing me from making many adjustments.

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