Claudia McKinstry Born: 1950, Seattle, Washington BA in Art, University of Washington, Seattle Post Graduate Work, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle "To me, painting is an act of worship."

"I begin at the beginning. The dirt grows the flowers, the seed, the first growth. I watch it all. The glance. The reflections of the city on glass. The wind blowing the curtains open to reveal a foreign skyline. The children's profiles against the red caboose. The trees swaying, reflected on the fender of a shiny car. I lay the color down layer by layer, so that the beginnings shine through. I plan carefully but welcome the miraculous mistake."

"Every day I work, I am grateful to be able to do art, to have as the Russians say 'the blessed work' the opportunity to do what I love for my life's vocation. My inspiration is to live and walk on God's earth with my eyes open. My paintings are parable. Not illustrations of things, but a visual story, about what we see every day and either ignore or take for granted. These images speak to me personally, and the message continues for whoever will stop and listen. Every painting is a teacher, not only teaching me about color and form and the technical problem-solving that each one presents, but about appreciating what is here, before me, and listening to the hidden message, the mystery and beauty of life."

Professional Experience:

• National Award-winning Freelance illustrations for various publications
• Art Instructor, Fort Steilacoom Community College, Steilacoom, WA
• Art Instructor, Olympic College, Bremerton, WA
• Alternative High School Instructor, Bainbridge Island, WA
• Scenic Artist, Bainbridge Performing Arts, Bainbridge Island, WA

Exhibitions:

• 2007 - Installation, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
• 2006 - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Group Exhibition
• 2005 - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Group Exhibition
• 2004 - Installation, M.D. Anderson Hospital, Houston, Texas
• 2003 - Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan, Additional Instillation
• 2002 - Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, Solo Exhibition "Beauty for Ashes"
• 2000 - Installment, San Francisco International Airport
• 2000 - Installment, Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan
• 1999 - Solo Exhibit, Bainbridge Arts and Crafts, Bainbridge Is., WA
• 1998 - Group Exhibition, Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 1998 - Solo Exhibition, Mediterania Northwest, Seattle, WA
• 1997 - Gallery Affiliation, The Frog & Peach, Clayton, GA
• 1997 - Solo Exhibition, Checkers Espresso & Gallery, Poulsbo, WA
• 1997 - Invitational Group Exhibition, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts
• 1997 - Solo Exhibition, Harbor Gallery, Bainbridge Island, WA
• 1997 - Group Exhibitions, Browns Gallery, Boise, ID
• 1996 - Solo Exhibition, Painted Table, Seattle, WA
• 1996 - Solo Exhibition, Jeffrey Moose Gallery, Seattle, WA
• 1996 - Group Exhibition, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts
• 1995 - Group Exhibition, Bainbridge Island Cultural Center
• 1995 - Group Exhibition, Emerald City Fine Arts, Seattle, WA
• 1995 - Solo Exhibition, Harbor Gallery, Port Ludlow, WA
• 1995 - Solo Exhibition, Harbor Gallery, Bainbridge Island, WA
• 1993 - Group Show, Novosibirsk, Russia
• 1990 - Goodwill Games Exhibition, Novosibirsk, Russia (Joint U.S.-Russian Collaboration)
• 1983-85 - Gallery Affiliation, Nature Gallery, Sacramento, CA
• 1983-84 - Gallery Affiliation, David Michael Gallery, Mendocino, CA
• 1983 - Solo Exhibition, Waiohai Gallery, Kaui, Hawaii (show destroyed by hurricane Lwaf)
• 1982 - Solo Exhibition, Sydney Gallery, Port Orchard, WA
• 1978-80 - Group Exhibition, Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair, Bellevue, WA
• 1974-75 - Group Exhibition, The Depot Gallery, Puyallup, WA