Kathryn Hackney is a lifelong oil painter from Northwest Washington whose work moves fluidly between abstraction and realism. She is drawn to both for different reasons; one for its freedom and the other for its grounding. Painting in multiple styles invites play, discovery, and growth. Abstract work teaches her to let go of outcome, to respond intuitively, and to trust in gesture and movement. Realism asks for patience, precision, and a quiet observation of light and form. Both inform each other in constant conversation.

Kathryn’s landscapes are shaped by memory and emotion as much as by place. She paints not to replicate a scene, but to convey the rhythm and feeling of being there, the quiet weight of a shadowed valley, the warmth of desert rock at dusk, the silence before a storm. Through color and atmosphere, she explores the point where the outer world and inner experience meet.

Living and painting in the Pacific Northwest, her work reflects the subtle drama of shifting skies and the deep calm of natural spaces. Years spent in California and Utah brought a love for light, arid landscapes, and bold color contrasts, elements that now weave into her Pacific Northwest palette.

She is currently based in Woodinville, WA, painting full-time from her home studio.

Background

Kathryn earned her BA in Painting and Art History from Western Washington University in 2007. Her creative career has spanned fine art, design, and the outdoor industry, including work as a visual merchandiser for Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and Eddie Bauer. These experiences strengthened her eye for composition, color harmony, and visual storytelling, skills that now find their purest expression on canvas.

Fun Facts

In 2023, Kathryn donated a kidney to her brother-in-law, who is now thriving and living an active life.
Before returning to painting full-time, she ran a handmade skincare business and taught advanced swirling techniques at national soapmaking conferences in Miami, Portland, and Raleigh. She also served as a judge for the American Dairy Goat Association’s Bath and Body Competition in Idaho.

Current Representation

Brazen Shop + Studio in Bellingham, WA.

Offering a selection of signed prints and originals in store.