Kadra Nevitt is a self-taught artist celebrated for her captivating and realistic depictions of the Western lifestyle, outdoors, and beloved pets. With a lifelong passion for art, Kadra's journey began at a young age, with early memories of coloring and correcting her brother's artistic endeavors. Her dedication to her craft only grew stronger, leading to the sale of her first commissioned piece at just 14 years old.
Kadra's artwork is characterized by its soft yet natural touch, often incorporating horses, rodeos, ranching, and pasture scenes inspired by her extensive experience as a horse owner and rider. Her pieces have been showcased in numerous Western art shows across the United States, galleries throughout the West and Midwest, and have been sold internationally. She has also been part of traveling exhibitions like Paint the Parks.
As an Associate member of the prestigious Pastel Society of America (PSA), Mid America Pastel Society (MAPS), Women Artists of the West (WOAW), and Cowgirl Artists of America (CGA), Kadra's expertise with pastels is complemented by her exploration of pencil and watercolor. Her artistic mission is to capture the essence of a moment, evoking emotions and touching hearts.
With her recent relocation to Kansas in 2020, Kadra finds inspiration in the heartland's rolling hills, vast skies, and rustic charm. Her art embodies the spirit of the American heartland – genuine, heartfelt, and deeply rooted in the beauty of the everyday. Kadra's goal is to create art that not only reflects the beauty of the world around us but also touches the heart, inspiring a sense of wonder, peace, and connection to the natural world.
Born in Enumclaw, Washington, Kadra's art career has been a journey of passion, dedication, and faith. With a humble spirit, Kadra credits her creativity to the ultimate artist, saying, "I'm just copying the greatest artist of all time – God."
Ashley's love for all things horses and art started in her childhood. She was always fascinated by the look, movement and power of the horse. In her early teens she began to hone her skills as an artist and horsewoman.
As her career as a horse trainer and clinician began to take off, Ashley's art took a back seat. It wasn't until summer of 2020 when Ashley went through a severe depressive episode that her art resurfaced.
That summer, she received a diagnosis of Bipolar I (Manic Depressive Disorder). As part of her therapeutic activities, she chose to dive back into her art.
Her bold color choices along with the soulful expressions in each of her subjects, juxtaposes the light and darkness that Ashley has experienced in her own life.
It is her desire that her works bring joy to first herself and then to others. Her works are enjoyed by private collectors across the country.
It has always been a dream of ours to open an art studio. In fact, we didn’t even know we each had that dream separately until a few years ago.
We were talking over dinner one night, and we both realized that we each wanted to start an art studio in a small town with a loft just above it. Once we both realized we had a shared dream, we went to work slowly making this a reality.
For more than 20 years, Fort Scott had been one of those towns that we would visit for groceries for the family farm. It was a beautiful town inside and out. Just recently, we started watching the entire town undergo a transformation. Buildings were being bought up, and restoration projects were happening throughout town.
One weekend, we were in Fort Scott and walked past a building for sale that we had seen online. It was beautiful and the perfect size for a studio.
There was a number on the For Sale sign, so we called. Phil answered the phone (which he never does on a Saturday) and showed up 15 minutes later to show us around the building. A local expert in building restoration was even in the area, and he answered all of our questions that come with an old building like this.
We like to say that Phil changed the trajectory of our life in 15 minutes because the rest is history. We signed the papers within a few weeks and started moving in.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Clay
Why do you love it so much?
It can be made to look like anything. It can be pottery, metal, wood. I can sculpt with it. It's so versatile!
Who is your favorite artist?
My mentor, John Kudlacek, is one of my favorites because he has been so influential to my style.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Acrylics on canvas
Why do you love it so much?
I love taking scenes from nature and translating them onto the canvas. I love the way bright colors pop off the canvas with acrylics.
Who is your favorite artist?
Monet
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Acrylics.
Why do you love it so much?
I love how acrylics can easily blend together and even when you need to remake a color
Who is your favorite artist?
My favorite artist is Ana Mendieta.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
My favorite medium is photography
Why do you love it so much?
I love photography because each picture captures a specific moment in time. With each photo I take I enjoy expressing a beautiful memory that people will always be able to cherish. I feel honored to be apart and capture peoples once in a lifetime events.
Who is your favorite artist?
My favorite artist right now is George Bellows.
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Photography & Teaching
Why do you love it so much?
In photography, I love that you can focus on details that catch a glint of beauty in the commonplace of everyday life. In teaching, I love the gift of sharing this joy and learning with others as we journey together.
Who is your favorite artist?
There are too many to pick! Anselm Kiefer, Romare Bearden, Makoto Fujimura, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange & Gordon Parks
What is your favorite artistic medium?
Clay & graphite
Why do you love it so much?
Who is your favorite artist?
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