The best thing I love about my work is the gratification I feel upon completing a work and then receiving kudos from viewers who enjoy it. How lucky am I to have a passion and be able to pursue it.

My idea of perfect happiness…. in a word….harmony. When there is no stress personally or from external sources and I am free to work at my own pace, listening to music that transcends me and producing work I love!

My greatest fear is having to give up what I do (for whatever the cause may be) and of course the obvious…losing a loved one.

The trait I deplore most in myself is lack of confidence in what I do. No more to be said about that.

Living persons that I admire tremendously (pertaining to art) are Brian Rutenberg and Xenia Hausner. Wonderful artists who are polar opposites in terms of the realism in their work, yet both are united in their flagrant and expansive use of color.

My greatest extravagance are my tools; my supplies…….and my children!

On what occasion would I lie? Relative to work, I have no reason to lie. I am true to myself and have worked diligently to evolve my style and creativity. If there are works by my peers that don’t meet my liking….. no reason for me to say anything, but to remain encouraging.

What I dislike most in my work is my lack of ability to be completely loose and uninhibited. I was trained in “old school” art, complete realism. I, now, tend to agonize over most strokes and am always trying to achieve my “concept” of perfection. In reality, I believe real perfection lies in the in the application of color and then the viewer understanding your implication, or at the very least, finding great interest in it.

I can honestly say I am happiest in my current state of work. I am taking risks, and being rewarded for doing so. I’m not yet where I want to be, but I am on my way!

What would I change about myself? I wish I could go back in time and make up for so much time lost in my creative world. Suffice it to say, life got in the way.

My greatest achievement to date is being acknowledged in many artist circles for what I do and having accumulated an impressive list of collectors.

Where would I most like to live? My dream is New Mexico; to follow the footsteps of Georgia O’keefe in Abiquiu. Enjoying the solitude of the mountainous terrain; the intense southwestern colorations of the landscapes; the spirituality of the people and the thunderous silence so readily available.

My most treasured possession is my family and my rescued fur babies. Above all else, they are my life’s blood, my reason for living, my biggest fans and supporters. My children are an extension of me, and while not involved in the arts they understand and appreciate my passion and are always encouraging.

My most marked characteristic, is my laid back and calm nature, and my intrinsic belief in the good nature of most people. I do tend to internalize what worries me, but to the world at large, I am a happy being who is comfortable in her own skin and in her own space.

What is most inspirational in my city? Well, living where I do, the answer would seem obvious….the beach. The sea, the sky, all so beautiful and calm one minute can change dramatically in the next. The sheer power of it all is mesmerizing.

What role plays art in my life. That’s easy……..ME! I am a painter, always have been, always will be. Yes, I enjoy dabbling in other mediums, i.e. charcoal, pastels, conte, etc…..but give me a brush or palette knife, lots of paint and mediums and I am ready!

Whom would I like to work within 2018. I wish I could say Dali, Picasso, Kahlo, VanGogh, Rothko….the list goes on. For those more current I would say David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter, Anselm Kiefer, Frank Stella, and Xenia Hausner…obviously I could go on endlessly.

As far as projects in the making, I look forward to working on even larger canvasses than the 6 footers that I do now. It would be so liberating to work that large and allow me to be looser and and incorporate more abstract elements in my work.

Ahhhh….an interesting question…”What do the words Passion Never Retires” mean to me? My goodness. I feel like I see the world so differently than everyone else…and I always will. All things, inanimate or not have an energy that for me, emits auras. And for me, that translates into colors. Almost like a prism in a window that catches natural light. That is how my world looks. And yes, it is oh so wonderful and always interesting……and an integral part of my daily existence. We artists are a special part of humanity. We are able to reproduce what we see …the way we choose. Sometimes hyper realistically, and other times with a twist of fantasy. Whatever we choose, whatever the outlet, we leave our imprint for generations to come and ponder our intent.

My work can be seen on my website: www.kathyLstudio.net