Biography

Katherine Rae Bell is a retired commissioned portrait artist of pets, animals and natural landscapes.  Her love of painting the natural world began while spending her childhood outdoors: playing, riding horses, swimming, fishing, gardening, building tree forts, writing, and the like.  She grew up around animals, loving her pet dogs, horses, fishes, birds, cats and even the wild things.  She feels very fortunate to have this bond with nature, something she fears may be diminishing with today's youth. She began drawing as soon as she could hold a pencil, and quickly progressed to painting and experimenting with various artistic media.  In high school, she was awarded the “Excellence in Art” department award for her work in advanced sculpture.  

After putting her art on the back burner to pursue a BA from the University of Michigan and “real jobs” in the corporate world for 18 years, she returned to her artistic roots, and the chance to celebrate the beauty and Divine spark in all living things.  In a short time she was being commissioned by friends and clients, and found her passion through rendering their memories as fine art.  Her finely-detailed, realistic portraits have often been praised for capturing the spirit and personality of her subjects.  

Her works hang in private residences and businesses throughout the U.S.  She has exhibited in local group and solo exhibits, including ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI, Winterset Galleries in Keego Harbor, MI, and 822 Gallery in Royal Oak, MI, in addition to winning  multiple awards.  

Katherine is a five-time recipient of the “Artist of the Year: Portraits” award from Michigan’s South Oakland Art Association.   She also participated as a plein air painter in the Troy Garden Walk, and as a local judge for the National Reflections Art Competition: Visual Arts, in Birmingham, MI for several years.