Kathy Atchison, Fields of Gold, Pastel, 16 x 24

Originally from Tennessee, Kathy Atchison spent her formative years as an Air Force brat moving from base to base.  Most of her high school years were spent close to London England, a tour in which she was exposed to many of the great works of art and architecture in England and Europe.  She transitioned from London to Marion, Alabama where she attended Judson College, graduating in three years with a liberal arts degree with majors in art and English.  That’s when “real life” intervened.  Instead of accepting an invitation to the initial Bluff Park Art Show, she took the civil service test.  The roles of wife, mother, and Social Security employee relegated any artistic endeavors to doodles on the edges of notes in staff meetings until she was able to take early retirement.

Wanting to reenter the art world, Kathy originally wanted to create pictorial mosaics, but it soon became apparent that was a short road to carpal tunnel. After discovering a long-forgotten set of pastel half sticks she was hooked.  She spent several years painting portraits of people and animals on commission, but is now expanding into other areas.  She is a member of the Alabama Pastel Society and the Elmore County Art Guild.