April 5, 2009 — St. John artist Kat Sowa loves being outdoors. In fact, she's so taken with the outdoor life that she spends most of the day outside painting in oils or watercolors.
"Whatever is in front of me I paint," she says.
After painting the way things actually look, she's moved into a more impressionist style.
"It's about how I feel about the world rather than documenting the world," she says.
Sowa spent seven years as artist in residence at Caneel Bay Resort, but gave that up last year. Currently, in addition to painting solo, she teaches individual classes and paints with a group of other St. John women painters.
After spending her life looking for a mentor, she found one in Ovanes Berberian, a Russian impressionist with a studio in Idaho. Last year she headed west to study for several weeks with Berberian.
Her work, including paintings done in the past year, is on display at Michael Banzhaf Gallery in Cruz Bay and through her website.
Sowa, 53, moved to St. John in 1986 after spending her youth and young adulthood in Michigan. Born in Detroit, she spent most of those Michigan years in Ann Arbor, graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in fine arts education.
She came by her talent honestly: Both her parents were artists, with her father spending his career as an automotive illustrator for advertising agencies. Her mother was a painter and graphic designer.
"But nobody else in the family went in that direction," she says, laughing.
Married while still in school, she had her daughter, Shannah, now 32, when she was only 20. Divorced, she taught art, worked as a potter, traveled, and lived for a time in a commune. It was the stint in the commune that led her to St. John.
Years later, she flew down to visit Paul Fredsell, an old friend from the commune days who had moved to St. John.
"I came here for a visit and fell in love with it," she says.
She's still here 23 years later. Married now to Dave Thompson, the two built a house, Sea Rock, that's in the vacation villa market.
The two are taking their lives in a new direction by buying a farm in Oregon. Living full time on the farm are her daughter; her daughter's husband, Jon Shlitz; and her granddaughter, Nova Rose Shlitz, 20 months old. Sowa and her husband spend summers there.
"The next phase is spending more time with family," Sowa says.
They are developing an organic farm, and planted an orchard and a vineyard. Last year, they grew dahlias for sale, and of course, grow fruits and vegetables.
"We're trying to live both places," she says.
Visit Sowa's website at katsowa.com.
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