KathyHarlan

KATHY HARLAN

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Kathy grew up in West Virginia. She attributes her love for art to her
parents, her Dad being a residential contractor and skilled furniture
craftsman and her Mom whom was always working on projects such as
painting, sewing or quilting. Therefore, for Kathy and her two brothers,
creating and working with their hands were a way of life.

After receiving a foundation in higher education at the West Virginia
University at Parkersburg, Kathy went on to receive a BFA at the
prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. She continued her formal
education at The University of Connecticut where she obtained an MFA
in painting in 1991. Afterward she began teaching classes at the
college level and giving workshops as she continued to make and sell
her work. She has won numerous awards, including the Governor's
Award (the top award) in the 1995 West Virginia Juried Exhibition.

In 2002 she married and moved to northeast Ohio where she continued
to teach at such colleges as Akron University, Kent State University, The
College of Wooster, Ursuline College, and most recently Ashland
University.

Although Kathy has enjoyed working in many mediums throughout her
career, for the past fifteen years pastels has become her primary
medium. She enjoys working in a representational style while also
revealing the raw qualities of the medium. Her subject matter ranges
from still-life to interiors to figurative. Recently, she has also become
fascinated with capturing the beauty and uniqueness of alpacas.

Kathy currently lives in the Ashland area with her family consisting of
her husband, their two year old son and a fat and friendly Siamese cat.
Since the move to Ashland County in 2007 she has fallen in love with
the people and the countryside where she is recapturing her love for
gardening, a hobby she sees as yet another creative medium. Her art
is represented by Art 101 Gallery, 149 W. Main St., Ashland.
Additionally, she puts her design skills and creativity to good use by
freelancing in graphic design.