“Whether working on-site or in my studio, the pattern of light and shadow is the first thing that draws me to a subject. My intent is to capture the sense of the place. The relationship of elements, quality of light, and color harmonies create a visual poetry that I seek to express on canvas.”

In 2008 and then again in 2011, she was awarded First Place at the Annual Elected Artist Exhibition of the Lyme Art Association by Juror Amy Kurtz Lansing, Curator, Florence Griswold Museum and Nancy Stula, Director and Curator of the Lyman Allyn Museum, respectively. “The thought that my work carries on the standard set by the Connecticut Impressionist painters who founded the Lyme Art Association made this award very satisfying. In 1914, American master painters such as Childe Hassam, Willard Metcalf, and Henry Ward Ranger founded the Association in order to present the finest art for sale - a tradition continued by the Association today.”

Known for her sensuous landscapes and deft brushwork, Kathy draws inspiration from early Masters such as William Merritt Chase, Dennis Miller Bunker, and John Singer Sargent as well as present-day artists Richard Schmid, Clyde Aspevig, Christopher Magadini, and Kathy Anderson.

Katherine Simmons earned a Fine Arts Degree from the Massachusetts College of Art, rounding out her formal training in master classes with oil painter Charles Sovek and pastelist Robert Scott Jackson. Simmons’ work has been featured in “The Pastel Journal,” “American Artist,”and “Connecticut Magazine.” She is an Elected Artist Member of the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Connecticut Women Artists, Lyme Art Association, Salmagundi Club, and Oil Painters of America.

SELECTED SHOWS AND AWARDS

2011 New England Landscape Exhibition, Lyme Art Association
Juror of Selection, Jeff Cooley, Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, Connecticut

Summer Painting & Sculpture Exhibition, Lyme Art Association
Honorable Mention Award
Juror of Awards: Patricia M. Shippee, Senior Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers, Inc.

90th Annual Elected Artist Exhibition, 2011, Lyme Art Association
Best in show, Juror: Nancy Stula, Ph.D., Director & Curator, Lyman Allyn Museum

2009 On the Green Fine Art & Craft Show, First Place in Oils

Painting the River Exhibition, August 7 - October 10, 2009, Connecticut River Museum, Essex, CT

88th Annual Elected Artist Exhibition, 2009, Lyme Art Association

2008 Annual Member Exhibition of CT Plein Air Painters Society
Honorable Mention, Juror: David Dunlop

2008 Group Show, Hunt Hill Farm Trust Gallery, New Milford, CT,
First Place, Juror: Gregory Mullen, Gregory James Gallery

87th Annual Elected Artist Exhibition, 2008, Lyme Art Association
First Place, Juror: Amy Kurtz Lansing, Curator, Florence Griswold Museum

Solo Show, Hartford Fine Art & Framing Gallery, East Hartford, CT, 2008 and 2002

2007 Still Life Invitational, Susan Powell Fine Art, Madison, CT

2007 Annual Member Exhibition of CT Plein Air Painters Society, Award of Excellence
Juror: Christopher Magadini

2006 Annual Exhibition of CT Plein Air Painters Society, Juror: Don Stone, NA

2006 Westport Art Festival - Best in Show for Pastel

2005 Exhibition of Oil Pastel Society - Awarded Best in Show, Juror: Terry Ludwig

Annual Juried Member Exhibition, Connecticut Women Artists John Slade Ely House, New Haven, CT, 2004

73rd Annual Juried Exhibition, 2004, Hudson Valley Art Association, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Minds Island Juried Exhibition, Pen & Brush Club, New York, NY, 2003

Annual Combined Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 2002

48th National Open Juried Exhibition, Sourthern Vermont Arts Center, 2002

Glastonbury On the Green Fine Art & Crafts Show, Award winner 2000, 2002, 2003

Solo Show, The Potter's House, New Britain, CT, 2003

Annual Juried Member Exhibition, Connecticut Pastel Society, 2002 - Award, juried by Peter Seltzer

West Hartford Art League Annual Open Juried Show - Award winner 2000, 2001 and 2003

Solo Show, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 2001

SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Aetna Life & Casualty, Corporate Office, Hartford, Connecticut

American Savings Bank, Corporate Office, New Britain, Connecticut

American Savings Bank, Branch Office, Avon, Connecticut

Byram Healthcare, Corporate Headquarters, Milford, Connecticut

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance, Corporate Headquarters, Springfield, Massachusetts

Najeti Incorporated, Corporate Headquarters, Southbury, Connecticut

New Milford Hospital, New Milford, Connecticut

Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale-New Haven, Connecticut

Welles-Turner Memorial Library, Permanent Collection, Glastonbury, Connecticut

AFFILIATIONS

Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, President of Board of Directors, 2006 to 2010 | Elected Artist Member

Lyme Art Association, President, Board of Directors, 2008 to Present| Elected Artist Member

Glastonbury Art Guild, Board of Directors, Board Member, 2000 - Present

Connecticut Women Artists, Member and Past Board of Directors | Elected Artist Member

Oil Pastel Society, Signature Member

Oil Painters of America, Elected Member

Salmagundi Club, New York, Elected Member