Dear friends and collectors,
As spring unfolds, I’ve just returned from an inspiring journey to Portugal, and I’m thrilled to share this latest issue with you. Below, you’ll find updates on upcoming shows, reflections from my musings section—where I dive into the expressive lessons I brought back—and a preview of what’s to come this summer. Scroll on to hear more. Wishing you a soulful summer season!
Warmly,
Kathryn
Taking in the sights at Peña Palace in Sintra, Portugal
Musings: Portugal’s Lesson, The Art of Trust and Expression
On my recent trip to Portugal, training in classical dressage at Morgado Lusitano, I came home with a newfound appreciation for something beyond technique: expression. One trainer asked me—surprisingly—“Where is the expression in your ride?” I found this question simultaneously perplexing and exciting. Along with, “Trust yourself,” that stayed with me. Eight horses, each with a personality, taught me to trust the connection—not just ride, but express.
That question, unexpected yet invigorating, came home with me to the studio. After 35 years of painting, technique is a foundation—but there’s always that “something more.” It’s that expressive quality. When you encounter a painting—like when you ride—you’re asking: What can I express here? Now, each brushstroke reflects that trust—those bold, passionate moments we feel in our core.
As I unveil “West Reimagined,” I hope you’ll feel that “something more.” When you collect a piece, it’s not just what you see—it’s what you feel. I can’t wait to hear your impressions, because it’s your connection that truly completes the story.
Finding the expression in my ride, art and life!
Off The Easel | Featured Painting
I painted Cloud Shadows Dancing from a memory of driving through southern New Mexico near the Arizona border many years ago. What stayed with me was the way the drifting clouds above seemed to echo themselves across the distant mountains below, their shadows moving softly across the land like reflections of the sky itself. I wanted to capture that fleeting atmosphere—the brilliance of the blue sky, the filtered light passing through the clouds, and the quiet sense of openness and wonder that filled the landscape on that beautiful sunny day.
Cloud Shadows Dancing, 48 x 60”, oil on canvas
