Artist Statement

“Nothing beats that moment, after my initial drawing is transferred to my watercolor paper, when I can start putting down color. I’m drawn to paint things that may seem ordinary or mundane, but because of lighting or color or shape, I find exciting to bring to life. I hope to make the viewer stop and notice the subject of the painting as more than ‘vegetables on a table’, or ‘coffee canisters’, but rather shapes, forms and colors that speak in their own artistic way. I want to show the beauty or interest in that ‘ordinary’ subject matter. I enjoy painting a variety of subjects, but seem to gravitate to close-up still lifes or unusual perspectives. Each watercolor painting is built up slowly with many glazes of transparent color, using the paper for white. This glazing method creates a glow from within and a more solid looking form than can be achieved with some other methods. Bringing a painting to life from a stark white sheet of paper is a source of real joy for me.”

Kathy Armstrong

Artist Resume

KATHY ARMSTRONG

WORK HISTORY:

2000-pres Watercolor Artist
1995-2000 Partner/Art Director/Graphic Designer, Armstrong & Armstrong
1987 -1995 Art Director/Graphic Designer, Armstrong Creative, Inc.
1984 -1987 Owner/ Art Director/Graphic Designer, Washburn Design
1979- 1984 Assistant Art Director, CommuniCraft, Inc.

EDUCAT1ON:

Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Watercolor Classes with Julia Jordan, Golden, Colorado, mid-90's

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

Wisconsin Painters & Sculptors
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

SHOWS & RECOGNITION (* DENOTES JURIED SHOW):

FEB-MAR 2006 WP&S "Madison: People, Places& Events* - Overture Gallery: Madison, WI
SPRING 2006 Selected artist for Art of Note violin fundraiser for WYSO, Madison, WI
FALL 2005 "Two Cultures/One Spirit"- Wisconsin Union Galleries, Madison, WI
"Two Cultures/One Spirit"- Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, WI
Watercolor Society Show - Cedarburg Cultural Center, Cedarburg, WI
SPRING 2005 "Roots"*- WP&S Exhibit, Steenbock Gallery, Madison, WI
Wisconsin Watercolor Society Show - West Bend, WI
12/04-3/05 Watercolor Wisconsin 2004 , * - Racine Art Museum, Racine WI - Award Winner
DEC 2004 WP&S "Non-Traditional Self Portraits",* Steenbock Gallery, Madison, WI
OCT 2004 Wisconsin Watercolor Society - Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI
DEC 2004 WP&S "Collaborations"* - Wisconsin Academy Gallery, Madison, WI
Fall 2004 Wisconsin Watercolor Society - Anderson Art Center, Kenosha, WI
DEC 2004 WP&S "Don't Blink" Exhibit, Madison WI
12/03 - 3/04 Watercolor Wisconsin 2003,* Racine Art Museum, Racine WI - Award Winner
2003-2004 Cover art for 2004 Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission Calendar
SEPT 2003 Judge and speaker for WRAP exhibit, Madison, WI (Wisconsin Regional Art Program)
MAY 2003- Epidemic Peace Imagery Exhibit, traveling Wl
AUG-OCT 2002 One person show at Verex Building, Madison Wl
JUNE 2002 Two person Show at Grace Chosy Gallery
MAY 2002 WP&S Exhibit*, Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI- Award Winner
NOV 2001 Wisconsin Artists Biennial 2001 *
JUNE 2001 California Watercolor Association*- 33rd National Art Exhibition
2001-2002 Four paintings in 2002 Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission
OCT 2000 Calendar WP&S Centennial Exhibition, * West Bend, Wl- Award Winner
JAN 2000 Two Person exhibit at Kneaded Relief, Madison WI

GALLERIES:

Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Fish Creek, WI
Grace Chosy Gallery, Madison WI