Kathryn Barnes has been awarded the Branch County Art Guild's May 2002 Artist of the Month award. Kathryn joined the guild in 1988 and enjoys the fellowship and learning experiences in the guild. She designs the Guild's website and is one of the artists working on the mural in downtown Coldwater. She won the contest for the 2003 Art Guild booklet cover design..
Kathryn began drawing at age 4, sketching farm animals at her aunt and uncle's farm on a summer visit. Her Parents, and especially her Grandmother, were so impressed by the
realistic renditions, that Kathryn decided to become an artist. Also, being able to take time to deeply study the beauty of life gave her inspiration to continue to develop her skills. She
drew on anything she could find, including envelopes, paper bags, sidewalks, her arms, and school desks. At the age of seven, Kathryn was given her first exhibition space at the
elementary school she attended. Her second grade teacher, Mrs. Carlson, gave her free reign of the art supplies after Kathryn drew a realistic portrait of Abraham Lincoln. As
soon as Kathryn finished her school work, she went to the back of the room and created artwork the rest of the day. Other school teachers suggested to Kathryn's parents that they let the girl pursue an art career. Kathryn enrolled in art school at the age of 10, and was
graduated into adult classes at the age of 12 when she began oil painting. At that time she was featured in a magazine feature about young artists. Later, Kathryn studied art in high school, college, lived in art colonies, apprenticed with other artists, and returned to study more at the art school in South Bend, which is affiliated with the South Bend Art Center where she has exhibited her artwork various times.
Kathryn's first art fair was in Crested Butte, Colorado in 1971. Since then she has done art fairs in Michigan where she moved to after 4 years in the Rockies. She named her art
company "Greenwoods Art", and developed an Internet website to showcase her art.
Kathryn's favorite media are pastels and oils on canvas. Artists who have inspired her and influenced her artwork are DaVinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Parrish and the art of India and Tibet. Among her favorite subjects are landscapes, abstracts, wildlife, and portraits. Barnes began sculpture in 2011.
Barnes illustrated the covers for two children's books, Eagle from the Dawn, and Summer of the Bear. She gave free monthly art class for the Branch County Homeschoolers, teaching the children the art basics and developed a website for childern. Ms. Barnes was also the art and nature director for Kimball Camp for two summers and has coordinated other programs for children, including the Backyard Eco Conference and the Kid's Peace Camp.
Barnes painting, "Ribbon Mandala" was in Art Prize in 2010. That year she also joined the Plein Air Artists.
What Ms. Barnes enjoys most about art is "the pure creative flow and freedom when one is doing art...it is the process as much as the end result that is rewarding. I stress to the children I teach the importance of having fun doing art."
Barnes is currently pursuing a degree in graphic design and is on the Dean's List..
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