Katherine McGuire
(1958 – 2019)
Painter
Portrait © Donna Granata 2005
Katherine McGuire, artist and advocate for the arts, captured quintessential Ventura landmarks with meticulous attention to architectural detail, not at all surprising when you consider that she once studied drafting and engineering. Her use of deep, rich color gave her work a sun-splashed, full-of-life quality. McGuire is known for her watercolors, executed both on paper and canvas, but early in her career she used acrylics, creating abstract works. A lecture given by Hiroko Yoshimoto in 1992 at University of California at Santa Barbara inspired McGuire to work with watercolors and to study at Ventura College with Hiroko. McGuire was inspired by our hillsides, the ocean’s ever-changing nature, and local architecture, especially buildings from the 1920s. Los Angeles Times critic Josef Woodard stated: “It’s art that makes you glad you’re here.”
McGuire was proud of the fact that all of her art training took place in public schools, from elementary right through college. Without that public exposure to the arts, she might never have become an artist.
Katherine McGuire’s documentation took place in 2005 and was co-sponsored by John and Cherie Brant and JoEllen and Steve Lee. The FOTM Archive contains extensive information about this artist.