Kathleen Lack

Kathleen Lack’s earliest childhood art influences were the photographs of famous paintings on the back cover pages of the Reader’s Digest magazine. But her greatest inspirations came from a variety of masters, including John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas and Vuillard. She became an artist because continuously drawing and painting faces from life, and eventually being able to capture a person’s likeness, was of great satisfaction for her. Lack always knew she would eventually become an artist. She loves the creative, explorative nature of art-the never-ending search for color combinations that excite, and compositions that “draw you in”.

“My inspiration to paint and draw people is constant. When I observe people, I am seeing a soft golden hue against the face, an expression of emotional involvement when playing the cello, the strong morning sunlight creating magical contours over a child’s face – and I am compelled to capture that on canvas. To me, it is the intensity of that moment, the graceful body positions, the light, shadows and color that need to be rendered.”

Lack studied Commercial Art at San Jose University and later, after marrying and raising four children, studied under Kent Rupp, Chester Arnold, Bob Gerbracht and Daniel Greene. She works in oils, pastels and watercolor, and specializes in portraits.

Lack’s work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions, and has won numerous awards. In addition, she has garnered many family portrait commissions with up to eight people in a portrait.