Katherine Evan’s life is all about animals – from her artwork to her personal life, animals, and their welfare, are her motivating force. Since moving to Saddlebrooke two years ago, Katherine has begun creating colored pencil portraits of animals, both endangered species and domestic pets, with the goal of donating the proceeds of her work to shelters and organizations to raise awareness and to help conserve wildlife. In addition, she volunteers her time to assist with spay/neuter clinics in Arizona.
Although Katherine always loved animals, her motivation to improve their lives began when she moonlighted at her brother’s restaurant after her regular job working as a database administrator. During this time, she noticed that there were stray cats looking for handouts, so she began feeding them. Eventually, she and her husband began a non-profit shelter/clinic, Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, and she devoted her time to caring for animals in need, writing a best-selling book, The Best Little Cathouse in Maryland, and appearing on CNN for a segment on animal charities.
During this time, Katherine kept art in her life. She painted the walls of the clinic with her favorite shelter animals, and she experimented with acrylic painting. However, due to their extensive travel and RV vacations, Katherine settled on using colored pencils as they “travel well” and are easy to transport. Since her three cats travel with them, paintings tended to have paw prints tracked through the wet paint!
Most of their vacations have been to see animals in their natural habitat. They recently went to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and they have traveled to South Africa and Kenya for safaris. They have a trip planned to Norway, Finland and Sweden in May. When they are home, Katherine enjoys participating in the Knitwits (she knits and crochets) and cross-stitching.
Katherine recently participated in the Saddlebrooke Fine Art Guild’s Open Studio tour, and she will be showing her work in the Art Show and Sale at Mountainview on February 20 and 21st. Be sure to visit her booth to check out her portrait of an amur leopard- found in China and Russia and one of only 130 left in the wild.
If you are interested in learning new art skills and meeting others in the art community, please join the Saddlebrooke Fine Arts Guild. The calendar of upcoming classes, information on membership, and descriptions of upcoming events can be found at www.saddlebrookefinearts.org.
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