Featuring Pagosa Springs artist Kathy Steventon
My paintings focus on the emotional and spiritual connection to the world around me, especially to my animal friends. Color plays a huge part in the creative process and gives me great joy. Inspiration comes from the masterful, colorful, works by Van Gogh and O’Keefe, but most importantly from nature. As I work on each piece, I try to express to the viewer the same sense of wonder, humor, and excitement that I feel about the subject. I vacillate between the elegance of brushwork, and the rugged expressionism of the palette knife. Quite often the subject matter will dictate which one to use that morning, sometimes both will work its way into a painting.
Intuition and serendipity are the two most powerful resources that help me in the studio. I rely heavily on them, as I strive to express my feelings for the subject. Whether by brush or palette knife, my images are quickly captured on canvas, which is reflected in the strong movement of the work. I have no desire to paint a ‘photo’ image of what I see, but seek to use the oil medium to express the essence of the subject. I love to allow the viewer to fill in the ‘missing’ pieces by not revealing all in the image, by selectively leaving out subject details to be wondered about. This leaves room for vast interpretation by viewers, giving them ample room to imagine, even reject, what they see. That, for me, is a most important element of fun. And fun, is a most important element of my work.
Kathleen Steventon was born in Glen Cove, New York, and lived most of her childhood in the suburbs of New Jersey. As a youngster, art and nature were Kathleen's passions. She grew up visiting the well known art museums in New York City, the artwork making quite an impact on her young mind. Warned by her parents that "artists can't make a living", Kathleen gained a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in Landscape Architecture. She practiced landscape design for 10 years, taking evening art instruction from a local Princeton artist, Karen McLean Peterson. After marrying an Englishman, Kathleen and her husband moved overseas for work and adventure, living in the U.K., Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Luxembourg, over an eight-year period. All the while, Kathleen took private painting lessons whenever the opportunity arose, as well as visited international art museums in Europe, the Middle East, and New Zealand. The greatest influence on her own work has been Vincent Van Gogh, for his mastery of color. movement, and texture. Kathleen also hugely admires O'Keefe for her use of color, and her exquisite skills with contrasted edges. Returning to the USA in the late-1990's, Kathleen took additional evening painting courses at a local community college. She is a primarily a self-taught painter, with various intermittent private instructors helping her along the way.
In July 2003, Kathleen Steventon, her husband Anthony, and their daughter Chelsea, moved to rural Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Left behind in suburban New Jersey were family, friends, and well-paid careers. Ahead, both Kathleen and husband Anthony were finally pursuing their lifelong dream and passion -- to become working artists. In late 2003 and into mid-year 2004, the couple hand-built a rustic art studio on their property. Later that same year they began to paint, both working in oils on canvas. Within a few months of completing the new art studio, Kathleen was given a commission by the San Juan Mountain Association to paint one of the 29 Pumas-on-Parade public art sculptures.
Since finishing the Puma project in June 2005, Kathleen has completed her first professional body of work, “The Gaze Series”. She currently displays her colorful expressionist paintings both regionally and in national juried shows. Kathleen was awarded first place prize in June 2006 for her painting “Ghost Gaze” in the All Colorado Show in Greenwood Village, at the Curtis Arts & Humanities Center. She is represented by The Lucas Gallery in Telluride, CO. Kathleen is supported in her efforts by her artist husband Anthony, teen daughter Chelsea, their three dogs, three cats, and a horse.