Homebuyer Highlights: With Every Canvas, Kathleen Hartman Creates a Cherished Experience
For Kathleen Hartman, art is deeper than a passion in her life – it’s been a continuous journey of creativity, evolution and expression. A professional artist for more than 30 years and the owner of Kathleen Hartman Fine Art, located at galleries in Venice and North Port, she has committed herself to mastering the craft, learning new techniques and pushing the boundaries over the decades. Along with her husband, Jeff, who is enjoying retirement, from golfing to fishing, jet skiing and boating after owning Pro Cable Services for many years, they’re now entering an exhilarating chapter of their lives, bringing their aspirations to life in Everly at Wellen Park with Lee Wetherington Homes.
But while Kathleen and Jeff experience the “Wetherington Way” – our tailored design and building process – her art remains the true centerpiece of her story.
“My process begins by doing sketches of my subject and designing how it will be laid out on my canvas, next rough sketching it on the canvas, choosing my colors, and then painting,” said Kathleen, who is represented by Collectors Gallery & Framery in Venice. “For my abstract pieces my process is one of choosing my colors and then letting the painting evolve naturally and freely through expressionism.”
Art has been a part of Kathleen’s life since she was a child – and she’s studied under and alongside some of the best artists in their areas of expertise. Over the years, her work has transformed from realism to impressionism to non-objective abstract paintings.
“The biggest reason for the evolution is the learning of new techniques and processes for painting,” Kathleen said. “I love to experiment and try new things and to keep up with the latest. I’m always learning something new and exciting.”
For Kathleen, her process is personal, choosing her medium – mainly using oil, acrylic or pastels – based on the subject she paints or, occasionally, what her buyers seek in a masterpiece on a large canvas. Through her artwork, she creates an emotional experience, tending to evoke feelings of happiness, calmness, peace or even crafting the perfect atmosphere for recollecting a special moment in her viewers’ lives. From a husband who invests in a painting, depicting yellow tulips because of his wife’s affinity for the beautiful flower, to breathtaking vistas of windmills in Kinderdijk, Netherlands that a customer bought to remember their special journey abroad, Kathleen’s art holds a deep meaning with those who buy her pieces.
What does her future hold? Kathleen paints a clear picture – her passion continuing to grow throughout life… and creating lasting experiences that transcend the canvas.
“It’s a huge part of who I am,” Kathleen said. “Whether I’m painting for others or my own pleasure, I will be painting as long as I am able. I aspire to continue learning and experimenting with art always because it is what truly brings me happiness – and I hope, happiness to others.”
