About the Artist
|
 |
Artist: Kat
Born in Toronto, Ontario, I am self-taught and love nature and working with the basic principles of color, balance, form, and perspective. As a small child I enjoyed entertaining myself by sketching pictures. My first oil painting was created with left over oil paints from a oil-paint-by number set. (My mother still has this painting.)
When I moved to Alberta in 1990, I met Kim Berthelet president of the Palette Pals Art Group. Kim inspired me to take my work more seriously. At this time I entered my first competition, the 1994 Annual Northern Alberta Juried Art Show and won the Beginners Award. Over the next few years I enjoyed many events with the Palette Pals Art Club and helped to organize their 25th Anniversary exhibition and programs. During my Alberta years I met Robert Guest, Esson Gale and Jack Ellis and enjoyed learning many new techniques from them.
While living in the Grande Cache area, I taught several art courses in the local school. I also worked with the Home Educational Program. I enjoy working with children and feel that I can learn more from them than they do from me. Children are still free to use their imagination. Trees can be purple and flowers can be green since the "reality rules" haven't taken over yet. Kids help us to remember, like the T.V. painter Bob Ross use to say, "This is your world. You can do anything you want to do."
I have been involved with three Canadian exhibitions. The exhibition "For Canada...with glowing Hearts," was held at Neilson Park Center in Etobicoke, Ontario, in 1996 in celebration of the Canadian Spirit. The national exhibit, "O Canada; Cross Canada" (1997) started in Victoria, British Columbia, and traveled throughout Canada. In 1998 I was accepted in the "Look '99" annual juried art exhibition also in Ontario.
In recent years, my circle of friends has expanded to include talented artists in the United States. At the moment I am creating many new and interesting watercolor paintings while staying with KRASH in Ohio. The atmosphere of his home and the influence of his many artistic friends is recharging my creative batteries. In my first art competition in the United States (and the only one I entered in 2001), all three of my entries were accepted. My "Summer in the Mountains" watercolor took second place honors.
My First Poetry Book!
I am proud to announce my first self-published poetry book. It is 28 pages of poems that have been written by me and illustrated by me as well. This book has poetry from all the different genres that I enjoy working in. So prepare yourself for laughter, tears and yes, even bone chilling scares. To purchase this book, please contact me at kateaw2009@yahoo.com
Here is one of the poems you will find in this book:
In My Imagination
I have never cracked a whip,
Yet I have had it in my hand,
In my imagination.
Never have I danced upon a stage,
Yet I know the feelings of the steps.
In, my imagination.
I have never flown over mountaintops,
Yet I know how the eagle must feel,
In my imagination.
Never have I had a man love me unconditionally,
Yet I know deep inside how it would feel,
In, my imagination.
I have never been an actress on a stage,
Yet I know the pleasure from the applause,
In, my imagination.
Never have I voyage across the deep blue sea,
Yet I know the taste of salt upon my lips,
In my imagination.
I have walked through the woods and found life.
Here I have tasted, smelt, seen and felt love,
And, it's not my imagination!
Copyright@ 2003 by Kate Clifford
