Kathy Ikerd
Contemporary art, fine art, post impressionist landscape, abstract and figurative paintings in acrylic and oils by Kathy Ikerd.
Santa Paula California

Kathy Ikerd was born, and raised in Northern California.  She and her family traveled and moved often while her husband served in the U.S. Navy.  The vibrant colors and elegant simplicity of the Far East left a lasting impression that often appears in her work.

Art has always been a passion.  As a child, Kathy fondly remembers walking home with a friend who wanted to trade drawings.  Her interests prior to painting were floral, landscape, fashion and interior design.  She has always liked being creative.

In keeping with her love for the creative field, Kathy studied graphic design.  After completing a course at the Regional Occupational Center, she enrolled at Ventura College.  The variety of art classes offered rekindled her love of art.  Eventually the classes led to painting, workshops, and additional classes at the Art Center of Design, Pasadena and the California Art Institute.

Awards Kathy received at Ventura College were for life painting, acrylic and oil painting, portrait drawing and figurative painting and she won the Barney Dietz, Best of Show Award in 2004.  Her painting, Mirror Lake, is displayed in the college's permanent collection.

Kathy was chosen among several emerging artists to paint an "I Love Ventura" banner, a public art competition and in 2000, her entry was selected for the design of Santa Paula's 33rd Annual Citrus Festival Poster.  Her work has appeared in juried shows at Buenaventura Gallery, Harbor Village Gallery, San Buenaventura Artist's Union, Ojai Center for the Arts, Santa Paula Art and Photography Exhibit, Ventura College, Chaz Benton Gallery, Santa Paula Art and Jazz Festival and she has been a frequent participant in Ventura ArtWalks.  In 2004, she was one of 10 artists selected to decorate a violin for Ventura Music Association's, Festival of the Violins benefit.

More recent awards are merit awards at Buenaventura and Harbor Village galleries, 2008, first prize winner in the oil/acrylic division, Professional Arts Department at the Ventura County Fair, 2007, first place winner of the Hot Summer Days, Hot Summer Nights exhibit at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 2007, first prize in the oil/acrylic category at the 69th Annual Art & Photography Exhibit in Santa Paula, 2006.

Kathy's paintings reflect a post-impressionist style and a heightened sense of color and enjoys life drawing and figurative painting.