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* Biography
* Artist's
Statement
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Kay Witherspoon,
Artist
Award winning oil painter
, Kay Witherspoon, has been
identified as "One of the Premier Equine Painters in America" (Coast
Magazine, SC) and painter of "...the best horses I've ever
seen" (Robert Bateman, credited as being the most influential
wildlife painter of all time by art historian and curator, David Wagner). She is a traditional realist painter whose work is
distinctive for its luminous bold color, its accuracy in detail and
form, it's design perspective, and for her technical skills in layering and
brushwork to capture form, texture, atmosphere, and the character of
animals and their environment.
Witherspoon
utilizes the techniques of the oil masters and of 19th and 20th century
classical traditionalists, crediting
Rembrandt's layering, glazing , and scumbling
techniques for the luminous quality in her work. Witherspoon uses her own
photography and field studies gathered at polo matches and racing parks,
rodeos and stock shows, in national, state and city parks, and in country
and urban settings for her resource material.
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FORMAL
EDUCATION
1972 BA, Secondary
Art Educ. * University of Montana, Missoula, MT
1996 MA, Counseling Psych. * University of Colorado,
Denver, CO
INFORMAL
EDUCATION
1998
Jackson
Hole, WY Workshop with Tucker Smith & Steven Quiller2000 Computers in
Art & Computer Imaging * Metro State College, Denver,
CO
1995 Susan K. Black Foundation Workshops with John Banovich, Greg
Beecham, John Seerey-Lester, Mort Solberg
(Kay
Witherspoon is primarily a self-taught artist by experience, private
studies, exhibition and artist demonstration attendance.)
POSITIONS
HELD
1997- Present -
Professional Artist, Oil Painter, Denver, Colorado
1995 - 1998 -
Marriage & Family Therapist -
Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Denver, CO & private practitioner,
Oil Painter
1984-1988 -
Community Living Magazine,
Commercial Art Director, Illustrator; Oil Painter
1981-1983 -
Colorado Art Ltd., Denver, CO - Magazine owner, publisher,
Commercial Art Director, Illustrator; Oil Painter
1972-1975 -
Hamilton High , Hamilton, MT -
Art Teacher; Prof. Oil Painter
COMMERCIAL
ART EXPERIENCE
2000 -
Spring, 2008: Witherspoon Fine Art Academy - Witherspoon taught oil
painting to 24 students, ages 11 through senior adult in her specially designed
studio classroom. Her classes were co-sponsored by The Wildlife
Experience Museum who also co-sponsored their thrice annual "Artistic
Spirit" student art exhibition at the museum.
1999: Witherspoon developed and designed her own website, www.KayWitherspoon.com
1984-1988 -"Community Living Magazine" - Kay
Witherspoon developed, designed, researched, and implemented all graphic
art requirements for the annual magazine publication, Community Living
Magazine. The 1988 Edition was the 4th and final edition to be
published with the first edition titled, "Mother’s Welcome
Book"1984. Witherspoon did all the cartography for the
publication, including the complete and updated map of the city of
Billings, Montana. Witherspoon also took a number of the photographs
appearing in the publication, as well as conducted and authored all of the
interviews and articles. Witherspoon also included the "Collectors
Choice" article featuring prominent regional artists and
galleries.
1983-1984
- "Colorado Art Index: The Complete Resource for Colorado Visual
Arts" - Kay
Witherspoon developed, designed, researched, and implemented all graphic
art set-up for the annual magazine publication, Colorado Art Index.
The publication identified Colorado’s artists, galleries, and arts
organizations and businesses with a growing directory and articles.
PROFESSIONAL
MEMBERSHIPS
Member - American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA)
Member - Society of Animal Artists (SAA)
Assoc. Member - Oil Painters of America (OPA)
PUBLICATIONS
"Royal Ascot Book, 2005", June
2005 - Invitational feature artist along with British master artist,
George Stubbs, Great Britain
"Sporting Classics" magazine, July-August 2005,
Invitational feature artist in the article titled, "A Gallery of Big
Game Artists", p. 156
"International Artist" magazine, Feb/Mar 2004,
pg.122 - Invitation feature artist for the United States
Hurlingham Polo Association's Book of the Season, 1999 &
2000 - Invitational featured equine oil painter for England's first annual
publication with its introduction authored by Prince Charles
"Equine Image, Reflections of the Equestrian
Lifestyle", Feb./Mar. 1999 - Invitational magazine cover
artist & featured artist (renamed "Equine Visions"
magazine when sold)
Polo Magazine - Players Editions 1999, 2000, 2001,
2002
"Coast Magazine", S.C., 1998 - Invitational
featured oil painter, "Polo Ponies at Play and the Dashing
Argentines"
"Southwest Art Magazine", 1979 - Invitational
featured artist, "Wilderness Woman"
American
Artists of Renown: 1981-1982
- Wilson Publishing Co., Gilmer, TX; Anne Avery, Editor
Contemporary Western Artists, 1982 - Peggy and Harold
Samuels, Southwest Art Publishing
Polo
Program Cover Artist
1999 12th
Annual US West Denver Polo Classic
2000 16th Annual Harriman Cup
2002 Polo International Colorado
PROFESSIONAL
AWARDS
Feature Artist
for the American Academy of Equine Art's April 4, 2004 24th Annual
Member's Show's invitation and auction with her oil painting, "Turf
Storm" selling at auction for 1.5 x the asking price and it’s
image featured on the labels of celebratory wine bottles
Best of Show: Oils/Acrylics - Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West
Museum: 23rd Annual Western Spirit Art Show &
Sale * March 4 - 28, 2004
Arts for the Parks National Competition 2000 - Sam Houston
Duck Company Migratory Waterfowl Award, Jackson Hole, WY, Juried
Artist Top 100 2000-2001 National Tour and catalogue
Founder's Award in Oil Painting - American Academy of
Equine Art (AAEA), 1998 Fall Show Case
RECENT
SELECT
COMMISSIONS & COLLECTIONS
2008 - 2009 A commission to complete 25 oil paintings for
December, 2008 installation at the Little Nell
Residences, Aspen, Colorado, Joan Warren-Grady
(Art Curator for the Ritz-Carlton )
Commissioned Artist for 44" x 64" scenic Colorado
Landscape by William and Joan Porter
"Twilight Crossing", purchased by David and Gail
Liniger, founders of the Wildlife Experience Museum and ReMax Realtors,
Inc.
EXHIBITIONS
"Art and the Animal" annual exhibition 2007 - Juried
artist in the 2007-8, 47th Annual Exhibition, and also the 2008 National
tour, sponsored by the Society of Animal
Artists
OPA Central Regional Exhibition, 2007 - Southwind
Gallery, Topeka, KS
OPA 16th Annual National Exhibition, 2007 -
Fredericksburg, TX
"Art and the Animal" exhibition & annual national tour
2006-2007 - Juried artist in the 46th Annual Exhibition and
National tour, sponsored by the Society of Animal Artists
"The Horse In Fine Art" 2006-7 - Juried artist
sponsored by The American Academy of Equine Art "Art
and the Animal" exhibition & annual national tour 2005-2006 - Invitational
feature artist in the 45th Annual Exhibition and National tour, sponsored
by the Society of Animal Artists The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West
Museum's Western Spirit Art Show and Sale - Mar. 2004 American
Academy of Equine Art's 24th Annual Member's Show's invitation and
auction - April 4, 2004 "Equine
Spirit" - Jan-Mar, 2004,
The Wildlife Experience Museum, Denver,CO, co-sponsored by the
American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA)
OPA 12th Annual National Exhibition, 2003 - Taos, NM "Wild
Horses" 2002-3, - The Wildlife Experience
Museum, Denver,CO, co-sponsored by the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA)
Saratoga Springs Summer Fine Art Show - Equidae Gallery,
July 26 * September 2, 2002 Denver Polo Association's
British Airways Polo International - 2002
Arts for the Parks National Competition 2000 -
Jackson Hole, WY, Juried Artist Top 100 2000-2001 National
Tour
OPA 9th Annual National Exhibition, 2000 -
Carmel, CA
International
Polo Expo 2000 -
Las Vegas, NV, October 13-15, 2000
Equestrian's
Perspective ,
2000 - Sportsman's Gallery, Ltd., Atlanta, GA - 4/1 - 5/6
Denver Polo
Classic 2001
& 2000 & 1999, 2001 & 2000 & 1999 - Invitational
Commissioned Poster & Featured Exhibition Artist
Solo Exhibition - 1999 Pacific Coast Open, in Santa Barbara,
California
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Art Prints in the Classical
Tradition