Kathy Dorn Walker is a native of the American West. She spent part of her early childhood in Lusk, Wyoming, and, outside of a short stint in Kentucky, the rest of her time has been spent in Colorado. Kathy fell in love with the horse and the western American mystic when she was very young. Her great-grandfather told her tales of being a chuckwagon cook for various cattle drives. There were tales of her great-great-greandfather's time as a cavalryman. At the age of five, her grandfather gave her a book called "How to Draw Horses."
At the age of eleven, Kathy's step-father bought her a horse- a buckskin Quarter Horse-Arab cross which she named Shane. Shane remained in the family, until his death, at 41 years old.
In her college days, Kathy spent part of one year working at a horse farm in Kentucky, where she had taken a friend to summerstock theater. While driving around the countryside, she stopped in at a farm, asked for a job, and was given one, becoming one of only a handful of female trainers on the Thoroughbred farms around Lexington.
This love of the west, horses, and a natural artistic ability led Kathy down a path that she is still following today.
Kathy has extensive training in many types of art and is currently the art teacher at Florence High School. Her degree is from the University of Northern Colorado in art education and theater. She enjoys working with many types of two dimensional art, pottery, and fiber (weaving, cross stitch, and paper making). She has won several awards for her art including two placing at the UNC art show and a UNC Art Grant for weaving. She has taught courses at the Art Source Colorado Workshop for art teachers at Eagle Rock Ranch near Estes Park. Kathy has been an illustrator for a series of horse training books. For many years she has done custom animal portrait work for hundreds of satisfied clients throughout the west.
When she is not working on her art or in her classroom, Kathy enjoys working with her horses- naturally. She is an area coordinator for Pathfinders, a world wide church youth group. Kathy also enjoys her family, including her four grandsons.
She has been called one of the best horse artists in America. People have come to admire Kathy's touches that bring her paintings to life. Whether the paintings are of horses, dogs, cats, mountain goats, or scenery, there is a spark which makes each special.
