Watercolor artist Kathy McChesney is a second-generation Southern Californian with a lifelong attachment to the ocean and coastal landscapes. She resides in La Jolla with her husband Ron, her cats, and a dog. Painting in her garden studio or in nature, she produces colorful watercolors that express her passion for rustic and natural settings. Her award-wining paintings are in private collections across the U.S.
Artist Statement: My art reflects my yearning for a return to simpler times, as when I was a child growing up in Santa Monica's picturesque Rustic Canyon. Certainly, my idyllic childhood memories are the strongest influence on my painting. Nestled gently between the coastal hills and the ocean, life then seemed timeless, and it was not possible to miss the magic and beauty all around. I know my painting has succeeded when an observer says 'I'd like to be there,' or 'I'd like to live there.' I hope my paintings bring the viewer a peaceful respite from the fast pace of today's life.
Styles: Landscape, still life
Memberships: San Diego Watercolor Society, San Dieguito Art Guild, Grasshopper Art Group
Classes: B.A., UC Santa Barbara; classes with Ken Goldman, Annette Paquet
Awards & Exhibits: San Diego Watercolor Society Juried Member Shows, Best of the Miniatures (November, 2002), Honorable Mention (May, 2002), Third Place (August, 2001); San Dieguito Art Guild, First Place, Watercolor Division (August, 2002); "Small Images at the Offtrack," San Dieguito Art Guild, Third Place, Watercolor Division (June, 2002); San Diego County Fair Exhibition of Art (2001-2002); "Masters of the Moment," El Cajon Art Association, (2001)