Kathleen Yanda's Biography

Kathleen Yanda (Katt) has been creating art for as long as she can remember. In her earliest years she could be found lost in her drawings. Mesmerized by their beauty and strength, some of her first sketches were of horses. Hours would be spent in peaceful solitude, as she was content to be submerged in her drawing creations. Unaware of the true concept of art she just drew, images coming straight from the heart, it was a serene contentment she found in her love of drawing.

Art, being her favorite subject in school, her skill and abilities soured and were commended by many teachers. However, wise counsel of where and how to truly direct her talent was never given. Therefore, without proper influence and direction she continued drawing for the pure love and joy of it.

Uneducated and very naïve about the world of art, it wasn’t until her late thirty’s that she discovered who Vincent Van Gogh was. Plunging into a now exposed world of art; she began gathering new information and recognizing available options. At the age of thirty-seven she was accepted into MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design) and began a whole new outlook on life. Even though her time at MIAD was short due to financial reasons, the wealth of experience, guidance and knowledge learned from a few great teachers was unforgettable.

Though basically self-taught, she is thankful for the time she was able to attend art school. However, it is mostly from her own personal experiences, reading and discipline that she has acquired her valuable knowledge and skill. Kathleen has always been drawn to the art of the Russians and Germans and it shows in the passion and emotion of her own art.

Art embodies Kathleen as it is her spirit, it has taught her a great deal about herself , the beauty of other artists and the world of art itself. There has been a lot of trauma in her life and because of that the majority of her art comes from within her soul. Kathleen’s art is strong in color, movement and passion, and it carries with it emotion and feeling.

Kathleen’s art is a representation of release; of pain, sorrow, joy and triumph. Doing art has and will always be a very strong part of her life; its presence exists within her.“It is in my blood, it is my expression, my emotions and my passion.

"With health in my favor, I will do it until the day I die.” - Kathleen Yanda