Alva Review-Courier -

Kathleen House liked art but it wasn't at the forefront of her early life in Anthony, Kansas. From first grade to graduation, there was no opportunity in school to study art. Instead, she was involved in music, which she loved.

When she went off to college at Kansas State, House suddenly decided to pursue her interest in art. Apparently she liked what she learned because she graduated with a bachelor's degree in art education.

She didn't do anything with that degree at first, staying home to raise a couple of children for several years. Then she decided to "get back in action." She started teaching in the public school at Coppell, Texas. "I actually started their elementary art program for them," she said.

Teaching sparked her interest in continuing her education, and she went back to college. After teaching for about ten years and while working on her master's, House "got back into the studio. I became a studio artist, and I love it," she said. She also obtained her master's degree in art education from Texas Wesleyan. House says she also loves art education. For several years, House owned an art business but sold it about 12 years ago.

Now living in Double Oak, Texas, House says, "I've been called the perfect paradox because I'm super organized. I make a list and I complete it. But when I get in the studio and I start working, I just let it come out. It's free. It's expressive. It's abstract. It's whatever it's going to be."

She has explored many different mediums such as ink, acrylic, oil and pastel. She says she loves them all.

About four years ago, House decided "to really get back in the studio." She now combines journaling with her visual art. "I completed the first journal I've ever written that has to do with the series called Visual Peace which is here on display at Graceful Arts Gallery," she said. Last year she wrote another journal on Visual Discomfort. She said it's about "things that I couldn't maintain and that drove me crazy because I'm so visual."

After writing about these discomforting things, she explored all kinds of mediums including a new one: pan pastels. She also used watercolor and charcoal as well as oil and acrylics. But something interesting happened. With each piece she created, "I was able to let go. It doesn't even bother me anymore."

With the beginning of 2020, House is starting on a new series focusing on inspiration and motivation. It will be about "people throughout my life starting with my grandmother when I was just tiny," she said. She further described her topic as people who "inspired me and motivated me to do what I can do and be what I want to be."

Her series will also involve a dream. "I had a dream that I should ask people to give me their used or damaged guitars and ukuleles and violins," she said. "I have collected 14 of them. So I'm going to create and paint on the front of these instruments, and then I'm going to write the story on the back, of course, because I like to tell about it."

House still teaches some art classes while continuing to work in the studio. You can check out Red Barn Studio and Art Classes on Facebook to learn more about that. She has a website at khouseart.com and is on Facebook under her name as well as being on Instagram.