About Kathryn Beals
I am a self-taught professional artist from British Columbia, Canada. I currently live in Mountain View, California with my husband Travis. We enjoy a lot of camping and backpacking in the Sierra mountains. Travis is an amateur photograher and takes many of the reference photos I use for my landscape paintings.
I have been painting since before I can remember, and selling my artwork professionally for seventeen years. I have owned and operated Beals Studios full-time since 2005.
My style is a mixture of realism and expression. I enjoy the challenge of painting portraits because paintings convey more than photographs ever can. Animal portraits pose an even greater challenge because these subjects cannot speak for themselves. I believe the secret to every great portrait is the expression in the eyes. I strive for warmth and character over photorealism.
I was fortunate to have many wonderful animals in my life when I was growing up in rural Canada. I am also very lucky to have a job that combines two of my passions. Though I often don't get to meet the animals I paint, I love to hear their stories and the ways they enrich the lives of the people who love them.
As a self-taught independent artist, I value the opportunity to share what I've learned and offer advice for beginner artists on my art technique blog. I recommend you watch my short time lapse videos to get a better idea of my artistic process. Thank you for visiting my website!