Actually, Kathy did not marry until her early thirties. She was a National Water ski champion for Women’s Trick Skiing and she represented the U.S. in Japan as a show skier with Tommy Bartlett Ski Spectacular. She skied in the Wisconsin Dells, for the World Trade Expo on the Navy Pier in Chicago, Calloway Gardens, and Lanier Islands.
In the winter, Kathy taught snow skiing for five years, starting the first freestyle school in the Southeast. Later she was a downhill racer for Delta Airlines.
The list of athletic accomplishments goes on… but she traded in her skis and other sports after having a heart change from a Bible Study on marriage. She put aside her personal interest and became a stay-at-home mom. When her children were older, her mother and aunt, both artists, encouraged Kathy to resume her art studies and paint with them…her career flourished.
Today Kathy says she is grateful to be a painter, and laughs that it’s much more pleasing to see her paint than water ski!
Considered one of today’s leading inspirational artists, and the most licensed children’s painter in America, Kathy’s painting style combines her discipline of classical art training with the freedom of impressionism. Kathy is frequently called a “feminine Rockwell” because of her gentle painting style and illustrative storytelling.
Kathy’s most recent work, “The Dream Keepers 9/11 Memorial” is based on her painting of “The Dream Keepers”. The monument in the heart of Duluth, Georgia’s Town Green is the largest patriotic bronze of children in the country.
Kathy Fincher is one of the most licensed children’s painters in America. Awarded “Life Time Achievement Award” by the Save the Arts Foundation at their Grammy Awards 2013.
Fincher was born in an artistic family. She entered in the world of drawing, painting and illustration at a very young age. She focuses on painting children using pastels. She is the proud recipient of the Quintessence award which is given to the America’s best painter and which is organized by “Save the Arts Foundation”.
She is a daughter of a fine artist mother who worked to raise funds for starting fine art centers. Many people in the family of Kathy are into fine arts; Kathy’s aunt was also into the field of painting. Thus, it is evident that she was hugely influenced by her family members with their rich art culture. Apart from drawing and painting, Kathy showed huge interest in skiing. She is also the national champion in water skiing. She also had much interest in Ballet Skiing. She tied a knot and entered into the institution of marriage at the age of 33 and this was the time when she decided to devote much of her time into arts.
The captivating paintings of Kathy Fincher have found their way into the hearts and homes of families across America. Considered one of today’s leading inspirational artists, Kathy Fincher’s paintings of children, landscapes, still lifes and more can be found in lithographs, books, calendars, sculpture lines, greeting cards, inspirational giftware, journals, music boxes, and other products.
Kathy Fincher combines a discipline of Classical art training with the freedom of Impressionism to create a unique pastel painting style of “Romantic realism“. Kathy Fincher is frequently called a “feminine Rockwell” because of Fincher’s ability to combine a soft painting style with Storytelling. As a painter of children, Kathy Fincher strives to awaken in adults their sense of wonder, and encourages them to experience the unbridled hope and trust like that found in the spirit of childhood. Although the children in Kathy Fincher’s paintings are her own daughters, relatives, neighbors, or friends, Kathy Fincher’s faith reaches out as a reminder, that all children are a precious gift from God.
Collections
- Permanent Collection of George W. Bush Library, Dallas. Presented in the Oval Office.
- Georgia State Capitol, Governor’s office. Permanent Collection of Governor Nathan Deal
- Georgia Governor’s Mansion, permanent collection (2018)
- Duluth, Georgia City Hall, permanent collection
- Gwinnett Medical Center, Bronze Statuary
- Women’s Pavilion, Gwinnett Medical Center
- Save the Arts Foundation, Permanent Collection
- Herman Cain, permanent Collection
- (Multiple offices of Senators and Congressmen in these Buildings.)
- Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
- Pamela Kennedy Western Art Collection
“The Dream Keepers”
Following the events of September 11th, I lost my desire to paint. However, I realized my responsibility and decided to fight back with a brush of the American spirit and my palette.
Illustrator Norman Rockwell painted illustrations that became a comfort to weary Americans following WW II. In the same light, I wanted to encourage today’s generation during this tragic time. A blank canvas sat before me for a very long time as I contemplated what the heart of the message would be.
I chose… Faith and Freedom.
To illustrate freedom, I drew a rectangle symbolizing the shape of the American flag. Representing “faith” I drew the symbol of a cross to intersect the stars, ( the states). Bringing the cross to life, I used light and shadows from a side window. Light is a symbol of faith and represents hope and truth. Wasn’t September 11th a battle between darkness and light I asked President Bush years later in the Oval Office?
There are seven children representing the seven continents; Biblically seven is considered the perfect number.
But it was a bystander that pointed out the bloodstained hand print on the finished painting as I was showing it to my mother and aunt on the Town Green in our hometown. He saw what we did not; a red hand print at the foot of the cross created by the footprints of the children.
My husband and I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero months later and a policeman, hearing our story, took us inside the barricade to see and meet the REAL Dream Keepers. The destruction inside formed a mountain range of devastation. Yet the mood and attitude of these volunteers revealed a unity, strength, and hope greater than the mountains of rubble.
I felt that my painting was coming to life! Just like the children in my painting, my husband and I witnessed adults- of all different backgrounds- united and working side by side. They reflected a child-like hope and became united in their efforts; painting for us a picture of the American spirit.
Some say our innocence is forever lost; we will never be the same. Maybe so. However, painted in my memory are the young men and women, working together among the rubble, refusing defeat. Their example invites all of us, young and old, to join the children and offer our own hand prints as a testament of our faith and freedom.
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
Kathy Fincher Painting
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