The inspiration and concepts that inform Kathleen Kalinowski’s studio work are rooted in 30 years of painting in plein air. “Working often on location further enhances the authenticity of how I see a painting within the landscape,” says the artist.
Kathleen Kalinowski, As the Light Fades, 2026, oil on linen, 30 x 20 in.
Kalinowski’s passion for painting is often inspired by her region’s waterways, fields, forests, farms and gardens. The Great Lakes, particularly Lake Michigan, are a favorite subject for the artist, who lives in West Michigan. “I have spent many hours painting barefoot along the shoreline, and in the sand dunes capturing the long vistas,” she says. “I am partial to the early morning shadows cast on the sand and or a sunset reflecting on the waves.”
Kathleen Kalinowski, Poppies in June, 2025, oil on linen, 16 x 20 in.
For Kalinowski, painting a landscape starts with an emotional response to what she observes firsthand in nature. “The spark of inspiration is often the poetic play of light that creates contrast and mood,” she explains. “Envisioning the painting before I start, I think about the story I would like to tell.
“Thoughtful consideration of composition, color harmony and descriptive brushstrokes, portrays an intimate portrait of a landscape that is both engaging and inviting…I look to capture the sense of place with a visual poetry of impressionistic color and brushwork. My intent is to engage the viewer, creating a sense of being present and evoking a memory of a particular place and time.”
Kathleen Kalinowski, Garden by the Bay, oil on linen, 14 x 18 in.
Kalinowski is represented by three Michigan galleries including Synchronicity Gallery in Glen Arbor, North Seas Gallery in Charlevoix, and Button Gallery in Douglas.—
Want to See More?
(616) 446-1308 | www.kathleenkalinowski.com
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