Kathleen Dunphy resides in Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California, where the pristine setting of her surroundings provides endless inspiration for her work. In 1998 American Artist Magazine named Ms. Dunphy one of the top Ten emerging artists in the Country. She studied at the renowned Academy of Art University in San Francisco. After graduation, she further studied with Kevon MacPherson, Dan Gephartz, Scott Christiansen and T. Allen Lawson, each helped hone her skills and refine her own unique style of painting. Her national exhibits, honors and awards are numerous;  Best of Show from the American Impressionist Society, Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America. Her work has been exhibited in numerous Museum exhibitions and is in permanent collection at Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. She is a member of PAPA, OPA, California Art Club, Laguna Plein Air Painters, American Impressionist Society and American Society of Marine Art.

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Biography

Kathleen Dunphy

Masterfully capturing the beauty of nature, nationally acclaimed artist Kathleen Dunphy paints with a characteristic passion that radiates true-to-life light and color.

Nearly two decades after American Artist Magazine recognized her as one of its Top Ten Emerging Artists, Kathleen’s star continues rising through her devotion to her career, proliferation of works, participation in distinguished national exhibitions, and sharing of her abilities as a popular instructor to students of all levels.

Kathleen has earned signature status with the Society of Animal Artists, the California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, Laguna Plein Air Painters, the American Society of Marine Artists, and Artists for Conservation. In 2012, she was honored with being asked to join the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America, where she served as vice president in 2016-2017.

Kathleen’s honors are many and include: Best of Show at the American Impressionist Society; an Award of Excellence from the Oil Painters of America; the Federal Duck Stamp Competition; Birds in Art; Arts for the Parks; Grand Prize at the Acadia Invitational Exhibition in Bar Harbor, Maine; and participation in multiple juried shows such as the California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibitions. Her highest honor to date came when the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum purchased one of her paintings from its acclaimed Birds in Art show for inclusion in its permanent collection.

Her work continues to receive coverage in respected publications such as Plein Air Magazine, The Artist Magazine, The American Society of Marine Artists News and Journal, Art of the West, Southwest Art, Western Art & Architecture, and Western Art Collector.

Kathleen’s broad subjects range from landscapes and seascapes to wildlife and still life paintings. Her work is available at galleries in across the United States and to collectors worldwide online.

Kathleen owned a floral design business for several years while traveling the world while her husband, Randy Smart, was in the Air Force. Once back in the U.S., she began focusing on developing her fine art career. In 2000, Kathleen was awarded a scholarship at the renowned Academy of Art University in San Francisco, an institution where she maintains strong ties.

Since 2003, Kathleen and Randy have happily been settled in the pristine Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. Their farm, complete with goats, chickens, cats, and dogs, also contains a studio of her own design, enabling her to find endless inspiration for her work within footsteps. An avid outdoors person and hiker, she relishes painting several times a month “en plein air” with her sidekick and canine companion, Ellie.

Exhibitions

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum: “Birds in Art”: 2001, 2009, 2013, 2014

Plein Air Painters of America, “Why Outdoors?” Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 2014

Plein Air Convention Faculty member, 2013 and 2014

Plein Air Painters of America, “Celebrating Summer,” Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI, 2013

Award of merit, Plein Air Southwest Salon, Dallas, TX, 2013

Plein Air Painters of America, “The Allure of Water,” Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA, 2011

Best In Show, Fine Art Studio Online competition, December 2011

Artists for Conservation, International Exhibition, Vancouver, BC, 2011-12

Blossom II ~ Art of Flowers, 2011

RayMarArt 2009-2010 Annual Art Competition: Year-end Finalist

Masterstrokes: Laguna Plein Air Painters Signature Members, Laguna Art Museum, 2010

Less is More Show, Laguna Plein Air Painters, 2010

American Impressionist Society Annual Juried Exhibition: 2006,‘07 (honorable mention), ’08 (Best in Show), ’09-‘13

Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition: 1999, 2003 (award of excellence), 2006, 2010, 2011

10th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, 2008

Oil Painters of America Western Regional Show, 2008- 2010

2007 Paint the Parks Top 100: 2 paintings

Acadia Invitational Exhibition, Argosy Gallery, Bar Harbor, ME: 2006(Grand Prize), 2011

California Art Club Gold Medal Show: 2004, 2006- 2011, 2013

Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery:‘02,’05(honorable mention),’06,’07(honorable mention, top 50),’08,’09(top 50)

Napa Valley Museum: Northern Views 2007

Haggin Museum: Fall and Winter Scenes: Flatlands & Foothills 2006

Sonoma Plein Air Festival, Juried artist: 2004 and 2005

California Art Club, artist member: 2002

Arts for the Parks Top 200 and Mini 50: 2002

Carmel Art Festival: 2001 and 2002

Academy of Art College, San Francisco: Spring Show 2002, 1st Place still life; 2nd Place landscape

Academy of Art College, San Francisco: Spring Show 2001, 1st & 3rd Place landscape; 3rd Place still life

Academy of Art College: Full Scholarship, Summer Study Grant, 2000

The Artists’ Magazine, Annual Art Competition, Finalist 1999, 2001

American Artist Magazine: “Top 10 Emerging Artists,” 1998

US Dept. of Fish & Wildlife: “Federal Duck Stamp Competition” Top 100 Finalist, 1996

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