Kathy Hagerman has been painting professionally since 1979, and her paintings reflect a philosophy of life and living that has earned her broad acclaim. In her home studio in Beamsville, Ontario, Kathy gathers inspiration from her family, her golden retrievers and the nature that surrounds her. Her ability to capture the feeling of these scenes and recreate their atmosphere has contributed largely to the popularity of her work. "Many of my paintings focus on my family, friends and pets. I believe it brings emotion to a painting. As an artist, I rely on other people's lives for inspiration. I become sensitized to their moods and emotions, so I prefer to go that one step further and work with the people and animals closest to me. Inevitably, that intimacy comes out in the moods of my paintings." Dedicated to capturing these precious moments of life, far removed from the hectic and hurried world around her, she finds much of her inspiration in the appreciative eyes of others. "The timelessness of my paintings allows the admirer the opportunity to think back through the years to perhaps a similar remembrance of their own, and to smile for a moment at the recollection. It is in these smiles I find my greatest reward, the knowledge that I touched a personal part of someone's past and summoned forth the feeling of a fond memory." (cont'd above right)

Kathy has an endless fascination with her subjects and their ever-changing moods and expressions, from the relationships children have with their pets, to the strength and power of horses. They are, she says, "images that call out to be painted. I do this the best way I know - with pencil and brush." Accepting the challenges of acrylic, oil, egg tempera, watercolor and stone lithography, Hagerman chooses the medium that best reflects the emotion she is after. "I am always looking for a challenge, a test of the scope of my creativity. As a self-taught artist, my methods may not always be orthodox, but the results are always rewarding. Working with different media allows me the freedom to pursue my search for creative growth. The satisfaction of a well-done painting rekindles my excitement and sends me eagerly back to my studio to do it again." Kathy has received many awards throughout her career, as well as appointments as feature artist for many organizations. Through television, magazine, newspaper and radio exposure, she has received broad recognition. Her original works and limited edition prints hang in corporate and private collections across the country. Following this success, Hagerman has produced a 120-page full color art book representing 15 years of her career.