My favorite medium and subjects I’ve grown to love oil painting—the texture, the vibrancy, the endless versatility that still surprises me, It’s amazing, Nature is my favorite subject.
I’m especially drawn to sunrises—the quiet promise of a new day, a new beginning. Through my art, I try to catch those raw, fleeting moments that often go unnoticed, and let my voice speak through color and light.
The world has always looked like a painting to me. It's how I've seen everything for as long as I can remember. But for years, that painting was fading, until a risky eye surgery in 2019 gave me the chance to see it in full color.
I’ve struggled with vision problems my whole life. From the moment I was born, I had a passion for visual art—but my eyes didn’t always cooperate. The surgery had been a long time coming. After it was successful, and the bandages were finally removed, I was overwhelmed. There, before me, was a world of colors I had never fully seen before. It was emotional. I felt a deep urge to translate that newfound vibrancy into my art.
Then came 2020. Like so many others, I faced unimaginable challenges. For me, it was a reckoning: a divorce from a mentally abusive, alcoholic spouse. It was a hard time, but I found solace in my creativity.
Building an art studio in my garage became my anchor during the pandemic. I turned to oil painting—something I had only explored a little during my time at university, where I majored in Visual Art. Art has been my constant since I could pick up a pencil, and for years my focus was on drawing, charcoal, and oil pastels. But in recent years, I’ve ventured more into painting and have even had a series of pop-up exhibitions.
My latest body of work is a personal escape and a way to share something profound. It’s about escaping the toxic remnants of a painful relationship, and sharing my passion for capturing the raw beauty and richness of nature—the simple, quiet moments that often go unnoticed but hold so much meaning.
I'm Kat Shanahan, and this is how I see the world.
WOW, we have a great town.
Bliss for a coffee with my daughter.
Alfonso’s and Verve for some drinks with friends. Both great in different ways.
But often I can be caught drawing on an iPad on Division Street.
And Seoulville is our favorite place to eat.
Although, we really do love all the great options.
