Participating Artists

Kathleen Cunning

Artist Statement

“In my watercolors, vintage cars — and the metal that shapes them — become storytellers. Chrome mirrors its surroundings, while rust quietly records time’s passing. The series I call “Shine and Grime” celebrates both the brilliance and the wear that give these machines their character.

Through photographs and careful observation, I search for unusual angles — reflections, fragments, hints of place. Lately, I’ve found beauty in the “grime” of rusted handles, hinges, and weathered doors, where every mark feels like a memory.”

Artist Bio

Kathleen Cunning works primarily in watercolor, creating representational artwork that reflects her lifelong connection to art. She discovered her love of drawing and color as a child growing up on a farm in rural Kansas. With nine children in the household, coloring was a daily activity, and when the books were filled, her mother would draw new images for them. Encouraged by those early experiences — and inspired by her junior high and high school art teachers — Kathleen chose to pursue a career in art education.

She began her studies at Wichita State University, then moved to Texas with her husband during his service in the U.S. Air Force. After raising two children and a 15-year pause in her college journey, she earned a BFA from the University of Texas at Arlington and began a 26-year teaching career with Weatherford ISD.

After retiring in 2011, Kathleen renewed her passion for watercolor, dedicating time each week to the studio. Her current work focuses on vintage automobiles and weathered architectural details — especially aged doors, rusted hinges, and textured metal — celebrating the character that time leaves behind.

Kathleen is an active member of the Weatherford Art Association, Women of Worth, and the Society of Watercolor Artists in Fort Worth. She has received numerous awards locally, statewide, and nationally. She also volunteers as a watercolor instructor at the Weatherford Senior Center in Weatherford, Texas.