What Makes Us Create?

Why Do I Paint

Kathryn Bessie started painting at 14 years of age, took at hiatus between 18 and 24, then resumed and continues to paint today. At the age of 24, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where artists abound, she discovered that she had to paint. Why? Mostly it is a fascination with colour. And inspiration from studying the earth, nature and patterns.

Kathryn was born in 1959. She was raised in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, and Lethbridge, Alberta. She graduated from the University of Alberta, specializing in Soil Science, and began a career in soils classification and mapping, and soils remediation and reclamation. Some winters, she would travel the world, taking her paints with her. The island of Bali, Indonesia, was an eye-opener on how art can be thoroughly integrated as part of one's everyday life. Her brother Ken, a graphic designer, and his artist friends were instrumental in keeping Kathryn grounded in Art while she worked in Science.

Now, she lives north of the town of Water Valley in the Alberta foothills with her husband Lyle, in a little log cabin. There, she has a studio where she can paint. And her horses and nature surround her.