Life & Work with Kathleen Kalinowski of Comstock Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Kalinowski

Kathleen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Kathleen Kalinowski , GLPS (signature member of Great Lakes Pastel Society)
Kathleen Kalinowski is a contemporary impressionist painter who is deeply captivated by the light, atmosphere, and colors of the landscape. Her passion for painting en plein air – directly from nature – allows her to fully immerse herself in the beauty around her, interpreting and capturing its essence in her work. Kathleen’s plein air paintings enrich her studio work by preserving the memory and poetry of a particular place and time, ensuring that her studio pieces retain the vividness and immediacy of her outdoor experiences. Her many landscape subjects include the Great Lakes, forests, fields and farms in all of Michigan’s seasons.
A lifelong resident of west Michigan, Kathleen’s fine art career in the Grand Rapids area has spanned over 30 years. Her paintings are in the collections of area hospitals, health care facilities, corporations and private collections throughout the Great Lakes area. Her work has earned numerous awards and has been featured in prestigious regional and national exhibitions, as well as in solo and gallery shows. Kathleen has also been actively involved in her local art community, teaching and mentoring aspiring artists. In recent years, she has expanded her artistic exploration to include the landscapes and cultures of Ireland, Germany, Italy and France. Notably, Kathleen participated in the Land Conservancy of West Michigan’s Preserved! Initiative, creating artwork on site inspired by protected areas and contributing to a documentary about the program. Kathleen is sensitive to the visual world, looking for the aesthetic poetry in the landscape near and far. She hopes her paintings will encourage others to appreciate nature’s beauty wherever they may find it. She also hopes her work will connect spiritually, emotionally and visually to the viewer, a gift that encourages participation and connection.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A career in the arts is never easy. It takes a lot of drive, determination and time management to succeed. Many long hours of creating, and learning the business side including marketing, working with galleries and maintaining a website. The first 15 years were the toughest, while raising a family and trying to find time at the easel. My four children grew up with a mother that was also a working artist.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in painting the Michigan landscape in all seasons. I use two mediums, oil or pastel, to create vivid, light filled artwork. My work has evolved into a recognizable contemporary impressionistic style. I am thrilled that my work lives in collectors homes and in public places, like the area hospitals that have beautiful collections of artwork. I have received notes from people that are grateful to have art at the hospitals to help lift up their spirits while there with a loved one.
There is always a “work in progress” painting on my studio easel. This gives me the incentive to paint (or draw) everyday. My home studio is filled with paintings and I have plenty to give to the three galleries that represent my work in Michigan. I guess you could say that I am a prolific painter, because that is my passion!
The galleries that have my work are North Seas Gallery in Charlevoix, Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor and New Buffalo Gallery in New Buffalo, MI. My studio/gallery is open by appointment.
As a side story, during the Covid lockdown, I connected with eight other professional women artists over zoom. We call ourselves “Easels Nine”. We meet weekly and share and talk about our work. We are still meeting weekly over zoom and have had three area exhibits of our work. Our next exhibit will be at the Holland Arts Council in the summer called “Visions of Michigan Waters, Fields and Forests”.
I have also been teaching and mentoring art students at the Grand Valley Artist Association for a least ten years and occasionally give a painting workshop. My website will have details of any current and upcoming events, exhibits and newsletter signup. Every month I send out a newsletter to my collectors and those that are interested in new artwork fresh off the easel!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My parents were first to encourage my artistic leanings (maybe because I could not do math!) . My high school art teacher was very supportive and convinced me to go to college. I attended Kendall School of Design in the late seventies and then ended up graduating from Grand Valley State College (William James College) with a degree in Arts and Media.
I worked for a while in the Graphic Arts and then after marriage, my husband, Mike, played the biggest role of supporter. We built a house with a studio! He became my right hand man setting up at art fairs, and taking artwork to the galleries. Soon my art career became a second income and I could “work from home” while raising our children. Now Mike is retired and we travel when possible and I paint and get new inspiration! I do not plan on retiring as long as I can hold a paint brush.

Pricing:

• $300 – $4800.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.KathleenKalinowski.com
• Instagram: kathleenkalinowski
• Facebook: Kalinowski Fine Art