Oil Painter Kathie Wheeler is VIVA’s August guest artist
Personal Perspectives
Kathie Wheeler is a representational oil painter whose work is inspired by the people and places in her life. She grew up in the Chicago area and studied at the American Academy of Art. She now lives on a small farm with her husband in beautiful Southwest Wisconsin. Kathie is a lifelong student of painting, and she loves to pass on her passion to others through classes and workshops. She is a signature member of Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, and American Women Artists.
“I count myself fortunate to be an artist. My paintings reflect the scenes and people in my daily life, and many are begun or painted entirely on location or from life. Painting “en plein air” is filled with both challenges and great pleasure. No day is ever the same. To smell the earth and be surrounded by birdsong is a gift, and when it’s the coldest or wettest of weather I can retreat to the sanctuary of my studio. And so, I join a long history of adventurers who translate the beauty of their surroundings onto canvas with brushes and paint. It gives me great pleasure to share these moments in time with those who live with my paintings in their lives.”
VIVA Questions for the Artist:
1) Who or what has strongly influenced your work?
So many artists influence my work, both contemporary artists and artists of the past. I am drawn to the compositions of the old masters, to the use of light and shadow of Rembrandt, to the beauty the ancient Greeks saw in the human form, to the color and feel of light of the Impressionists’ paintings, and to the application of paint and the brushwork of Sorolla, Sargent, Betha Morisot, and Edgar Payne. And I am so inspired by my artist peers.
2) If you could have one work of art in your home from a museum or private collection, what would it be?
If I could sit with a piece of art, it would be in the caves of Lascaux, to contemplate the lives of artists who lived so long ago and who made such beautiful, stylized, graphic representations of the animals they relied on for survival. We can only assume that they were creating art outside of the caves to perfect their skills to such a degree. I don't understand why I need to recreate the world around me on a two dimensional surface, but I feel a sense of connection to these artists.
3) How do you know when a piece of work is finished?
A painting is not finished until it walks out the door. I am forever studying and learning, and as long as a painting is in my studio, it will be worked on. Sometimes it sits for a long time before I reach the next level and understand what it needs.
4) From where do you draw your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from the people and places in my life. Painting is the way I connect with the world. Who else gets to spend three hours or more looking at a tree? Or a distant hill?
The gallery’s First Thursday reception is normally followed by a 7:00 pm dinner next door at Rooted Spoon Kitchen Table. While restaurants remained closed, Rooted Spoon is providing themed meals for pick-up each Thursday. Information can be found at www.rootedspoon.com.