PAINTINGS
Kay Kato always joked that she started out as a painter and did funny drawings on the side, but later took funny drawings seriously and did her painting on the side. She was a superb portrait artist, blending colors and breaking them up like the impressionists she loved. There were more colors in her shadows than many artists put in a rainbow. Even her charcoal portraits were rich in volume and subtle nuances. Here early paintings were in the style of their time, and she painted both people and scenes. Later she painted many of her drawings and they took on somewhat of a cartoon vibe.
PORTRAITS
PAINTED CARTOONS
DRAWINGS
Drawing, though, was Kay’s first real love. She filled sketchbook after sketchbook after sketchbook with pencil drawings of people she saw first in the classroom, then on the the street, on the train, at the store, on the beach, at the park, in the audience, anywhere. And she drew quickly, catching the essence and movement in an instant. She had the ability to draw a line that seemed to move on its own. She could make one line say it all. I was, and still am impressed. Let me show you a few examples.
EARLY DRAWINGS
LATER DRAWINGS
Later, her line work changed to reflect the change of times. Everything was looser and more casual. But she still commanded control of the line, and never lost her sense of humor.
