Kathy Fincher is an American painter and former National Water Ski champion.
Kathy Fincher at a glance
- Nationality: American
- Grew up in: Duluth, Georgia
- Medium: Pastel and watercolor
- Known for: Warm paintings of children
- Studied with: Lydia McCrary, for about twenty years
- Before painting: Competed in national water ski tournaments in women’s trick skiing
“Kathy laughs that it’s much more pleasing to see her paint than water ski!”
Kathy Fincher represented the United States in Japan as a show skier with Tommy Bartlett Ski Spectacular, skiing in the Wisconsin Dells, for the World Trade Expo on the Navy Pier in Chicago, Calloway Gardens, and Lanier Islands, showcasing her athletic talent on a national and international stage.
In the winter, Kathy Fincher taught snow skiing for five years, starting the first freestyle school in the Southeast, and later she was a downhill racer for Delta Airlines, demonstrating her versatility and athletic prowess across multiple disciplines and seasons.
Kathy Fincher traded in her skis and other sports after having a heart change from a Bible Study on marriage, and she put aside her personal interests to become a stay-at-home mom, and when her children were older, her mother and aunt, both artists, encouraged her to resume her art studies and paint with them, and her career flourished.
Kathy Fincher is grateful to be a painter today, and she laughs that it’s much more pleasing to see her paint than water ski, reflecting her joy in her artistic journey and the transformation from athlete to artist.
- She was a National Water Ski champion for Women’s Trick Skiing.
- She represented the U.S. in Japan as a show skier.
- She started the first freestyle snow skiing school in the Southeast.
- She became a stay-at-home mom after a Bible Study on marriage.
- She was encouraged to paint by her mother and aunt.
Kathy Fincher’s life is a testament to the power of transformation, and her journey from the adrenaline of competition to the quiet joy of painting reflects her deep commitment to her family and her faith, and she continues to create art that celebrates the beauty of everyday life.
Art Category Fact: Watercolor painting is a medium in which pigments are suspended in a water-based solution, and it is known for its transparency and ability to create luminous effects, with a long history dating back to ancient times, and it has been used by artists such as J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and John Singer Sargent, who pushed the boundaries of the medium with bold washes and expressive brushwork.
“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas
Kathy Fincher shares more of her paintings on her own website, kathyfincher.com.