Friday, November 21, 2014

2012 Artist Series Featured Artist: Katherine Ace

https://www.woodwardcanyon.com/store/products/product_details.php?id=59Each year Rick and Darcey chose a painting for the “Artist Series” label. Over the years they have found the artists’ work in galleries, have had friends and customers suggest artists and have had artists contact them to submit work. Katherine Ace was recommended by a previous “Artist Series” artist. The Smalls viewed her work online and were particularly taken with her still-lifes.  When contacted, Katherine was very interested in having her work used for the label and a meeting was arranged in Portland. While viewing the still-lifes at a gallery Katherine mentioned that she was creating a new series based on Grimm’s fairy tales and offered to open her studio so that they could be seen. “Sleeping Beauty” was captivating as is the tale, and the Smalls ended up purchasing her as opposed to a still-life for the 2012 "Artist Series" label. "Sleeping Beauty" is the first “Artist Series” label that depicts a figure.

In Grimm’s tale the sleeping beauty, Briar Rose, is cursed to one hundred years of sleep when she pricks her finger on a spindle. Thorns, depicted in the painting, grow over the castle hiding it from view. Finally a handsome prince comes to the rescue and they live happily ever after. The story can be found at http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm050.html.

Katherine was born in Chicago in 1953 and received a BA from Knox College, Illinois, in 1975. She works in alkyd/oil on canvas.

Between 1974 and 1990 she lived on three US coasts, in two mountain ranges, in remote rural rentals, in major cities and never in one place for long. Her continuing eclectic education consisted of pursuing a smorgasbord of work: a street portrait artist in New Orleans, a potter in Vermont, commissioned copyist, corporate portraitist, advertising/ magazine/ book and textbook artist. In January 1990 Ace moved to Oregon and established a permanent studio. She has had 32 solo shows since 1992.

Katherine will be joining us at the winery for Holiday Barrel Tasting, Dec. 5th - 7th to talk about her work and sign bottles.