About the Artist
Kristy Vantrease
About the Artist
Kristy Vantrease was born in Ojai, California and is a third generation Ojai resident. She studied Fine Art at the University of Maryland and for the next ten years painted exclusively in oils both on canvas and masonite. After living and raising a family on the East Coast she returned to Ojai from Connecticut in 1995. The beautiful, tranquil and scenic Ojai Valley now provides the setting and the inspiration for many of her paintings. After her return to California she began painting in watercolors and became a signature member of the Gold Coast Watercolor Society. Kristy was very active in the organization, serving on the board of directors for six years and as president from 2005 - 2008.
Along with four local artists, Kristy launched “Ojai Open Studio” - an artistic forum with a mission to lend support, provide good humor, and facilitate peer critiques. The members, eventually known as “The Ojai Group”, exhibit together in shows, sponsor "Ojai Summer Evening Plein Air Sessions", and have taught classes and workshops. In November 2009, The Ojai Group was invited to show over 100 paintings at the Ojai Art Center with an exhibit entitled “Ojai Ink”. Kristy and the group also taught “Ink Resist” workshops at the Ojai Art Center.
In the Spring of 2009 Kristy built a solo studio, and began painting mostly in oils. She loves to try different mediums and enjoys the “play” of experimenting with different methods, but her love of oil paintings keeps calling back her back. Most of her work is now done in oils with occasional work in acrylic and watercolors.
Kristy was the featured artist in August 2008 in the Ventura County Star “Artistic Touch”. She is a member of the Santa Barbara Art Association, Los Padres Art Association of Santa Barbara, and a founding member of The Ojai Group.
In the past few years Kristy’s work has been shown at:
- La Jolla Top 100 Artists
- First Thursday, an evening of Art in downtown Santa Barbara (monthly)
- Herzog Wine Cellars, East to West-exhibit with 50 paintings, Aug & Sep 2008
- Thousand Oaks Community Gallery
- Santa Barbara Art Association Exhibit
- Gold Coast Watercolor Society Spring and Fall Shows, with awards for first place in aqua media and honorable achievement in transparent watercolor
- “The Ojai Group” show for the Santa Barbara Art Association
- Featured artist 2008 through 2014 at the 113 Gallery, Santa Barbara
- Faulkner Gallery Show in Santa Barbara
- Ojai Valley Museum
- Ventura County Maritime Museum
- Gallery 113, Santa Barbara
- Blanchard Library, Santa Paula
- Antioch University Exhibit
- Ojai Art Center “Ojai Ink” November 2009, Ink Resist Showcase
- Sponsored Ink Resist workshops at the Ojai Arts Center
- Responsible for organizing an “Open Studio” at the Ojai Art Center- California’s oldest non-profit art center for the purpose of bringing artists together to work in an inspiring setting with other artists.
Recent juried exhibitions include:
- La Jolla Village International Art Competition” Top 100 Artists”
- Santa Barbara Art Association:
- “Heal the Ocean” Exhibit, November 2007
- Featured Artists of the Month, yearly April 2008 - 2014
- Gold coast Watercolor Society Spring and Falls Shows 2003 through 2008 (juried into all shows)
- Ventura County Maritime Museum, yearly 2008 through 2014
- Antioch University Art Exhibit, 2008
- Santa Barbara Art Association Faulkner Gallery juried exhibit, June 2009, 2011, 2012 & 2013
- Ojai Celebrates Art, Ojai Valley Museum, October 2009
- 15 paintings at the “Earthly Joy’s” exhibit at the Fielding Graduate University February-April 2010
- Paintings at the “New Beginnings” exhibit at Community Memorial Hospital march – June 2010
- Cabrillo Arts Pavilion February – March 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (in 2014 awarded Cabrillo Arts Best of Show)
- Semana Nautical Art Show, Santa Barbara – 2013 – awarded 1st Place
