Member Spotlight on Katherine Evans
Katherine Evans shows off two colored pencil portraits created to benefit animal sanctuaries across the country.
Dawn Price
One of the newest members to SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild is Katherine Evans. Evans and her husband found SaddleBrooke in the way that many do. They were traveling all over, looking for places to consider retiring in. They visited some friends who were already here, came over the ridge on SaddleBrooke Boulevard, saw the mountains, and the rest was history! Along with the views, they loved the golf courses and the activities available, and they felt that the people in the community were very welcoming.
Recently retiring in June and arriving at SaddleBrooke in September of 2023, Katherine has already joined a couple of local clubs, one being the Knit Wits, a group that knits baby blankets for foster kids. She also discovered the Fine Arts Guild and has enjoyed participating in the Art Salon discussions and attending the general meetings as well. She is enjoying retirement after her long career and turning over the reins of her volunteer work with her heart project, serving animals in need.
Evans worked in Maryland for 25 years as a self-proclaimed “Government Computer Geek.” While working her day job, she and her husband came up with the idea to address the stray cat problem in the area. They started a nonprofit with their savings, which they named Rude Ranch Animal Sanctuary. Staffing the sanctuary with top-notch veterinarians helped them stay on task, handling 8,000 spay/neuters per year, along with offering emergency surgeries and dental services. The husband-and-wife team of Katherine Evans and Bob Rude handled the administrative part of the business and would often don scrubs to help prep animals for community animal outreach days.
A lifelong love of art helped Katherine use her natural talents to create artwork, which would raise funds for their nonprofit, as well as the subsidiary programs, The Spay Spot and Neuter Nook and Save Cats, also based in Maryland. Her latest project is a book for children and cat lovers alike, called The Great Garden Adventure. This little gem of a book is available on Amazon and in our SaddleBrooke One Gift Shop, and the proceeds will benefit Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, as well as the other programs linked to it. This little book is rendered in her favorite medium, colored pencils, and one can see why she has earned the nickname of “Cat Lady,” as the expressions and actions of the kittens are spot-on!
When asked why colored pencils are her favorite medium, Evans states that portability is key. She enjoys RV travels often with her husband, and she can work on something and easily put it away when she is done creating. The supplies take up little space in tight quarters, which is ideal!
Some of the couple’s favorite places to visit, aside from national parks, are animal sanctuaries and rescues. Katherine especially loves to photograph endangered species and then create animal-based artwork from which she creates prints to sell. The artist has created portraits of ocelots, grey wolves, African cheetahs, and more. In turn, she likes to donate a portion of the proceeds right back to the sanctuary from which her art inspiration came.
If you are interested in learning new art skills or meeting others in the art community, consider joining the SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild. You can check the calendar of events and class offerings at www.saddlebrookefinearts.org.
Join Us for April 17 Art Salon Discussion
Art Salon facilitator Terry Flanagan (portrait by Terry Flanagan)
Connie Kotke
The Art Salon, hosted by the SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild, is a place where like-minded artists come together in a friendly environment to bond, network, and learn from one another. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Topaz Room at the Arts & Crafts Center adjacent to the MountainView Country Club. All SaddleBrooke residents are invited to join—whether or not they’re a member of the Guild. Refreshments are provided, no reservations are needed, and there is no charge.
The next Art Salon is Wednesday, April 17, and the topic is Part 2 of The Golden Age of Illustration. Our facilitator, SaddleBrooke resident Terry Flanagan, returns to continue the discussion he started at our January Salon. We will dig deeper into questions like: What are the various definitions of illustration and “fine art”? Where is the line between illustration and fine art drawn, if at all? When was the Golden Age and who were its major participants? What forces contributed to its rise and demise?
Terry is a retired lawyer and lobbyist who puts a contemporary style twist on the Japanese print method. He is presently concentrating his artistic efforts on Southwestern culture and history.
Membership in the SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild is only $25 per year and includes monthly meetings, open studio, non-critique sessions, Art Salon discussions, opportunities to exhibit and sell your work, and so much more. Guild members also enjoy a discount on class fees. Visit www.saddlebrookefinearts.org for details.