by Gillian Crowley –
Kathryn Amisson’s journey as an artist is a story of natural talent buoyed by self-confidence and sheer gutsiness. Mainly self-taught, Kathryn says: “Today I marvel at where I started and where I’ve ended up.”
This Brentwood Bay artist’s impressionist paintings of coastal scenes, luminous clouds and prairie landscapes can now be found on the walls of major art collectors, at galleries in B.C. and Alberta and in corporate collections. Many of her recent acrylic paintings are in large format and triptychs to meet customers’ requests.
Born in Manitoba, Kathryn moved with her family to the West Coast as a youngster. She showed artistic talent early on and in grade one was creating full figures when most six year olds were drawing stick people. She jokes: “I became the go-to artist at every school I attended.”
After high school graduation in Victoria, Kathryn attended the Alberta School of Art for a short time but found the faculty’s emphasis on abstract painting didn’t resonate with her. A marriage and a government job followed and for the next seven years she worked for the federal government, advancing to a supervisory position. During that time she sustained her love of art by creating works in chalk pastels.
Following divorce in her late 20s, Kathryn had an epiphany. Single again, with no children, she decided this would be the perfect time to put all her energies into her art. After quitting her well-paying job, she paid the bills by getting a part-time job matting and framing paintings for well-known artist Peter Shostak and his wife. From this opportunity she not only developed artistically but also learned the business side of the art world. Over the next decade she focused mainly on chalk pastels of children and pets which proved to be a saleable endeavour. In 1988, though, a visit to the Tofino area reignited her creativity and she began to paint the dramatic West Coast scenery.
Kathryn observes that at first she was a representational artist who worked from photographs. Today, she says: “At this stage I’m confident enough to start with a photo and then put it away and paint from an image in my mind.” She has gradually moved towards a “looser,” more abstract style, although the subject matter is still evident.
Her acrylic paintings are full of light and movement. In one, a cloud kisses the horizon where the sun peeks through and is reflected on water. In another, a wall of foaming waves appears about to engulf the viewer. As one technique, Kathryn uses drywall compound as a base where she plans to paint the focal point. The shape of that “goop” often helps her decide where to take the painting. She also likes to add layers of tissue paper to build texture into the scene. Thinking about her painting style she says: “I like colour and use it to convey happiness through my paintings.”
A special memory is her 21 years as one of the Artists in Residence at “Painters at Painter’s” in Campbell River at Painter’s Lodge. There she met renowned Canadian artists like Ted Harrison, Toni Onley, Pat Martin Bates and Arthur Vickers. “It was an enriching experience to work alongside such well-known artists,” she recalls.
Kathryn gives credit to her second husband, Graeme Roberts, whose marketing expertise was invaluable on the business side. Happily, he also persuaded her to try acrylics when she tired of chalk pastels and oil. Her paintings can now be found at five galleries: Peninsula Gallery, Sidney; Gallery 8, Salt Spring Island; The Gallery in Oak Bay Village; Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery, Whistler; and the Stephen Lowe Art Gallery, Calgary. Kathryn frequently gives back to the community by contributing paintings to auctions at her chosen charities.
To anyone thinking about becoming an artist full time, Kathryn says: “If you are passionate about your work, that passion will carry you through the hard times.”
