About the Artist
Paintings in Oil and Acrylic
“We, as a country, a world, a planet, are working through a revolution in values and thinking. While embracing change, we need joy in our lives. I strive to hold an element of celebration, comfort, and whimsy in my work.” –Kathy Coulston
The Who
Kathy Coulston is a contemporary impressionist painter whose dramatic images explore the connection between the unexpected and the familiar. Her work elevates the ordinary with vibrant color, deep perspective, and embellished shadows, celebrating spontaneity in quiet moments. Residing on the central coast of California, she is known for her unique vision of beach scenes, architecture, and nature mixing realism with abstraction.
The Process
The approach includes painting en plein air or photographing elements to reference in assembling the image. Starting with a rough under-paint sketch, main values are separated with vibrant colors that show through in strategic areas as multi-colored layers of shadows and highlights are developed.
Rendering the image using edgy, color-saturated brushstrokes, direction is created to steer the eye around the surface in a dance of personal choreography. The challenge is to keep brushstrokes loose and to stop before crossing the line into looking too realistic.
The Journey
From an introspective childhood amidst a family of undiscovered artists, drawing and creativity provided comfort and purpose. After studying art and design at UCSC Extension and Southern Illinois University, Kathy journeyed into the digital realm with a career in Graphic Design and Marketing Communications. The pull of creating fine art never waned as she returned to her roots coming full-circle back to the easel with paintbrush in hand.