Katherine Larson is a painter, designer, children's book illustrator and classical singer. Described as a true renaissance woman by her clients, Katherine's murals and artwork can be found around the globe from vineyards in Florence, Italy, to Great Harvest Bread Stores across the United States, to many restaurants, retail stores, corporations and private homes. Her singing and children's books span the nation as well. She has won many national and international awards and made appearances with well known orchestras and opera companies. She is the illustrator of eleven nationally distributed children's books, including the award-winning "A is for Arches, Arizona Alphabet" book, published by Sleeping Bear Press.
Primarily self-taught in all disciplines, Ms. Larson began her studies at Ball State University shortly after landing her first job at sixteen as the country's youngest courtroom artist, for WSBT-TV in South Bend, Indiana. At eighteen, she took a summer job as a fashion illustrator for L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis which soon evolved into a full time position. An ad agency found her shortly there after when she won a national retail award for one of her ads. Serving as creative director for that agency gave her valuable experience in all phases of the creative process. She then took an in-house position as advertising manager with an international company in Arizona. This position gave her a client's perspective on advertising and the resulting sales and led to the opening of her own design studio.
Her design business thrives to this day as she works with entrepreneurs and start-up companies to help in all phases of their business development. Over a period of nearly 20 years, her desire to provide a one-stop shop for her clients resulted in an wide diversification of skills and abilites. In an attempt to fulfill their growing needs, Katherine began doing illustrations, murals, in-store designs, interior redesigns, paintings, photography and writing. Each new venture opened new career opportunities resulting in the diversified skills which she is best known for today.
But Katherine's first love has always been painting. She sold her first painting at the age of fourteen. She has done over 150 murals nationwide and many more illustrations for book covers, children's books, magazine covers and articles. She has been commissioned for oils and watercolors by clients across the United States. Most of her work comes to her by referrals or through her website.
Recently, after many years of being a commissioned artist for her clients, Katherine has decided to begin exhibiting her work in galleries and entering painting competitions. Her very first painting competition was the Glen Arbor Paint-out in August of 2011, where she took the "People's Choice" award. She is currently in two local galleries and is selling her work on the web. New paintings are being created weekly.
Katherine was born in South Bend, Indiana and currently resides on a lake in Brighton, Michigan where she gives painting classes and runs a graphic design studio servicing clients in Ann Arbor, Michigan and surrounding areas. She is on the road often doing murals on location around the country. She is also available to speak to groups about her career in singing, the fine arts and as a business owner. She also does school assemblies and works with schools to help students create their own murals (see Hands-on Murals).
Professional Affiliations
Michigan Plein Air Painters
Education
Ball State University- Undergraduate work in Fine Art and Journalism
University Of Michigan- Audited courses in Opera Workshop
Washtenaw Community College- German studies and Welding
British Institute- Florence, Italy- Italian Studies
Goethe Institute- Rothenburg, Germany- German Studies
Private Coaching- Maestro Walter Barrachi, Repetiteur, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Private Coaching, Lorna Haywood, University of Michigan
Recent Exhibits
"Glen Arbor Art Association Paint Out Exhibit" Glen Arbor, Michigan
Winner People's Choice Award- August 2011
"Light through the Eyes of Nature"- HVCA Gallery, Highland, Michigan
One-woman Exhibition- March 2010
"Ann Arbor Observed"- Common Cup Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
One-woman Exhibition - March 2010
Current Galleries
Found Gallery, Kerrytown, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Back Alley Gourmet, Cafe Gallery, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Awards-Classical Singing
National Bel Canto Competition, Winner 1992
International Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Competition, Scholarship Winner 1993
National Friedrich Shorr Memorial Competition, Winner 1992
Queens Opera Competition, New York, Finalist 1994
Lyric Opera of Chicago Center for American Artists Competition, Finalist, 1994
Awards-Art
Gold Key Award, 1979
National Retail Ad Award, L.S. Ayres 1981
Addy Award, Newsletter Design, South Bend, Indiana 1990
Best Cookbook and Best Catering Brochure Design- Katherine's Catering 1991
Grand Canyon Readers Award- A is for Arches, Children's Book Award 1992
People's Choice Award- Glen Arbor Paint Out, Glen Arbor, Michigan, 2011