By Bonnie Gangelhoff
Kathleen Dunphy loves the outdoor life—hiking and backpacking through the Sierra Nevada mountains near her home in rural California. So it comes as no surprise that her artistic heart belongs to plein-air painting. “I love being close to nature and the wonders of the world,” Dunphy says. Indeed, the ever-changing seasons and qualities of light are her major sources of inspiration. “I delight in how quickly the light on the landscape can change and make a scene appear so different,” she says. Dunphy has studied with Craig Nelson and Scott Christensen, two painters whose enthusiasm continues to influence and inspire her, she says. “Modern art sometimes tries to convey an angry message,” she says. “I prefer to focus on the beautiful. I want my paintings to make people pause and appreciate the beauty around us.”
Dunphy has received several honors recently, including an award of excellence from the Oil Painters of America in 2003. She is a member of the OPA group and the California Art Club. Collectors can view her work in a show at Meyer Gallery in Jackson, WY, in July. She is represented by The Vault, Sonora and Angels Camp, CA; Meyer Gallery, Park City, UT, and Jackson, WY; J. Proctor Gallery, Seaside, FL; and Artique Limited, Anchorage, AK.
Featured in Portfolio in August 2007