From The Studio - July
Dear friends and collectors,
Dear Friends and Collectors,
Summer has arrived in sunny Santa Fe, bringing with it the vibrant festival season, opera performances, horse shows, and weekly art events. I’m excited to share that there are many chances to view my new paintings this season! Most notably, my annual exhibition at Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe opening next Friday, July 25th, 5-7 pm.
You’ll find more details about this show, as well as other updates and reflections on my creative process, including how I prepare for a successful exhibition, below.
For those who’ve been following my equestrian adventures, I’m thrilled to report that Lark and I earned the title of World Champion in Western Dressage at the Pinto World Show in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this June!
I hope your summer is off to a wonderful start, and, as always, thank you for joining me on this journey from the studio.
Warmly,
Kathryn Stedham
In the studio with my painting, “Parts Unknown”, 20 x 24in., oil on canvas
‘Out West’ at Blue Rain Gallery
Artist Reception: Friday, July 25th from 5 - 7 pm
You’re invited!!! OPENING July 25th, 5-7 pm. Blue Rain Gallery
I am excited to share my new body of work, and I look forward to seeing y’all soon!
“‘Out West’ showcases the landscape paintings of Kathryn Stedham, whose modern expressionist style captures the vast beauty and spiritual resonance of the American Southwest. Influenced by the Taos Society of Artists and grounded in plein air practice, Stedham translates the landforms, skies, and elemental energy of New Mexico and Arizona into bold compositions defined by gestural brushwork, strong shapes, and rich contrasts of light and color. Her work transcends realism, offering an intuitive, emotional response to the natural world that invites viewers into a timeless, contemplative experience of place.” - Blue Rain Gallery.
GO FIGURE: Women Painters and the Figure
East Rotunda Gallery, State Capitol, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
GO FIGURE: Women Painters and the Figure is currently on view and will run through August 22nd! A must-see this summer!
Participating artists:
Pablita Velarde, Helen Hardin, Erin Currier, Rimi Yang, Robin Jones, Kathryn Stedham, Susan Contreras, Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, and Peggy McGivern.
Curated by Cynthia Sánchez, Ph. D., Director, Capitol Art Foundation, Curator, Capitol Art Collection
“Artist on a Horse Named Lark”, 30 x 24 in., oil on linen
Musings:
What It Takes
People often ask me: What does it take to mount an exhibition of this scale?
Beyond the familiar blood, sweat, and tears, it takes showing up—month after month, year after year. It means refining your craft, learning to see with fresh eyes, and getting better at translating what’s in your mind onto the canvas.
It’s being in the studio every morning, ready to put in the work, no matter how daunting the task. There are times when I simply don’t know how to approach a particular painting, and it can take years—even decades—to figure out how to capture a subject or a scene successfully.
My process is structured yet intuitive: sketching, studying references, and contemplating how a piece needs to flow, what it should look like, and how it ought to resonate with the viewer. Then comes the crucial moment—staying with the work as it finally comes together, no matter how challenging it gets.
The creative process is often compared to childbirth: an act of bringing something new into the world that is rarely easy, but always worth it.
This is where the blood, sweat, and tears come in—because the path forward isn’t always clear. But showing up and doing the work, the process itself—the fire that fuels the spark of creation—is what it truly takes.
A few from Pinto World Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma
