Artist Spotlight: Katherine Evans

Tracy Nelson

Katherine Evans’ 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 has 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 nonprofit 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 Knit Wits (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 Feb. 20 and 21. 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.

Bighorn Sheep Are Now Adorning the Ridgeview Wall

Jenni Long

The second mural is now installed on the wall at the corner of Spoon and Ridgeview. The painting by Delys Nast titled King of the Mountain has been immortalized on tiles that will withstand the harsh conditions of our desert.

Delys was inspired by the bighorn sheep that were re-introduced to the Catalina Mountains a few years before they moved into SaddleBrooke. She had admired the bighorn sheep for a long time after a close encounter in Glacier National Park. Shortly after moving into their new home, a fire lit up the mountains, and she was concerned for the animals until she saw a post that showed the herd running along a street in a lower area, safe from the fire. A painting of the sheep taking back the mountain after the fire was on Delys’s mind for almost a year, so she got out her palette knife and went to work on the largest canvas she could find.

This installation is the continuation of a long-term project to beautify the walls along Ridgeview Boulevard. The first mural was installed last July, a photograph by Ellen Victor, located between Canyon and Rolling Hills. All of the murals will have complimentary landscaping to enhance the project.

The SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild is excited to hear what our fellow SaddleBrooke community members think about this project. We know that public artwork increases property values in a community and adds beauty. We hope that our community will support future art installations.